Leon White
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 14, 1955
- Died
- June 18, 2018 (aged 63)
- Birthplace
- Lynwood, California, USA
Biography
Leon Allen White better known by his ring names Big Van Vader or Vader, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. White is best known for his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, WWE and All Japan Pro Wrestling in the 1990s. A super-heavyweight wrestler capable of aerial maneuvers such as the moonsault and the dropkick, White was both a face and a heel in several professional wrestling promotions. During his career, he became an eight time world champion, having won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship three times, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship three times and the AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship twice. Vader returned to Japan, wrestling at a NJPW Wrestle Land show. He also worked in the independent circuit as Big Van Vader, including a tag match against Samoa Joe and Dan Maff in Jersey All Pro Wrestling with Mike Awesome as his tag team partner. On May 12, 2007, Vader faced Brutus Beefcake at Spartan Slamfest, a World Wrestling Coalition charity show. The match was held at the Kingston Armory in Kingston, Pennsylvania. After wrestling his last match in 2007, White began working as a high school football coach. O April 29, 2010, White made a return to wrestling under his Vader ring name at the event Vader Time 5 Return of the Emperor. At the event, he teamed with his son Jesse and former tag team partner 2 Cold Scorpio to successfully defeat Makoto Hashi, Tamon Honda and Tatsumi Fujinami in the main event. In May 2016, Will Opsreay and Ricochet faced each other during the NJPW tournament Best of the Super Juniors. During the match, both wrestlers performed a high flying, fast paced sequence. When Vader saw the sequence, he complained in social media about the current direction pro wrestling is taking. During the following weeks, Vader and Ospreay feuded in Twitter, so England-based promotion Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro) booked a match between them. The match took place on August 12, 2016, where Vader defeated Ospreay. Two days later, he made an appearance in Colchester, England for the XWA Wrestling (XWA) promotion, where he defeated "Savvy" Sid Scala. On April 20, 2017, Vader made an appearance in Japan at Korakuen Hall as part of the Dradition show to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the debut of Tatsumi Fujinami. Following a six-man tag team match, Vader collapsed due to being dropped on his head during the match, but he was able to walk backstage under his own power and he remained in Japan as he was scheduled to work two more shows in Fukuoka and Osaka.[On April 22, Vader, Takuma Sano, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara lost a six man tag team match to Koji Kanemoto, Shiro Koshinaka and Tatsumi Fujinami. On April 23, Vader, Riki Choshu, and Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Shiro Koshinaka, Takuma Sano, and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. The final match of his career took place May 25, 2017 at WrestleJam V, where Vader defeated The Ironman. Return to AJPW (2011–2012) In the aftermath of the 2011 natural disasters in Japan, Vader and his son Jesse wrestled on special tribute cards for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and Pro Wrestling Zero1. On December 7, 2012, Vader returned to AAJPW, teaming with Keiji Mutoh and Kenso to defeat Bambi Killer, Franz Dynamite and Mazada in a six-man tag team match.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
WWE Hall Of Fame 2022
Movie · as Vader
Biography: WWE Legends
TV · as Big Van Vader (archive footage) · 1 ep
Dark Side of the Ring
TV · as Big Van Vader (archive footage) · 1 ep
RevPro Uprising 2016
Movie · as Vader
Sting: Into the Light
Movie · as Vader
WWE Table For 3
TV · as Vader · 1 ep
WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1
Movie · as Vader
Timeline: The History of WCW – 1993 – As Told By Vader
Movie · as Himself
WWE: True Giants
Movie
WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
Movie · as Vader
WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash
Movie · as Vader
WWE: The Best of Sting
Movie · as Vader
WWE: The Best Of In Your House
Movie · as Vader
Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection
Movie · as Vader
JCW Bloodymania 6
Movie · as Vader
The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions
Movie · as Vader
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection
Movie · as Big Van Vader
Ringside with Big Van Vader
Movie · as BIg Van Vader
WWE: Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '90s
Movie · as Vader
The History of the World Heavyweight Championship
Movie · as Vader
The Rise & Fall of WCW
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
Movie · as Vader
WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005
Movie · as Vader
WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream
Movie · as Vader
WWE: Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses - A Life in Wrestling
Movie · as Big Van Vader
NOAH: Accomplish Our First Navigation 2001 - Day 9
Movie · as Vader
NOAH: Great Voyage
Movie · as Vader
AJPW Super Power Series 1999 Finals
Movie · as Vader
Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows
Movie · as Vader
WWE Royal Rumble 1998
Movie · as Vader
WWE Breakdown: In Your House
Movie · as Vader
WWE Over the Edge: In Your House
Movie · as Vader
WWE Fully Loaded: In Your House
Movie · as Vader
WWE Unforgiven: In Your House
Movie · as Vader (Appearance)
WWE King of the Ring 1998
Movie · as Vader (Appearance)
WWE No Way Out of Texas: In Your House
Movie · as Vader
WWE Heat
TV · as Vader · 2 eps
WWE Action Zone!
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WWE WrestleMania 13
Movie · as Vader
WWE Royal Rumble 1997
Movie · as Vader
WWE Badd Blood: In Your House
Movie · as Vader
WWE In Your House 13: Final Four
Movie · as Vader
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WWE In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede
Movie · as Vader
WWE Survivor Series 1997
Movie · as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume Three
Movie · as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume Four
Movie · as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume Six
Movie · as Vader
WWE Ground Zero: In Your House
Movie · as Vader
WWE One Night Only
Movie · as Vader
WWE In Your House 9: International Incident
Movie · as Vader
WWE SummerSlam 1996
Movie · as Vader
WWE In Your House 11: Buried Alive
Movie · as Vader
WWE Survivor Series 1996
Movie · as Vader
Best Of Raw • Volume One
Movie · as Vader
WWE Royal Rumble 1996
Movie · as The Man They Call Vader
WWE WrestleMania XII
Movie · as Vader
WWE In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WWE In Your House 8: Beware of Dog
Movie · as Vader
WWE King of the Ring 1996
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WWE In Your House 6: Rage in the Cage
Movie · as Vader (Appearance)
WCW SuperBrawl V
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Uncensored 1995
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Slamboree 1995
Movie · as Vader
WCW Bash at the Beach 1995
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXX
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW All Nighter 1995
Movie
WCW: Ric Flair - 2 Decades of Excellence
Movie · as Vader
WCW SuperBrawl IV
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Spring Stampede 1994
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1994
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Starrcade 1994
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Slamboree 1994
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Bash at the Beach 1994
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW SuperBrawl III
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Slamboree 1993
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Beach Blast 1993
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Fall Brawl 1993
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Starrcade 1993
Movie · as Vader
Deadly Venom: The Best of Sting
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXII
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1993
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of the Champions XXV
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW BattleBowl
Movie · as Big Van Vader
Raw
TV · as Big Van Vader, Bull Power · 1 ep
Boy Meets World
TV · as Frankie Stecchino Sr. · 3 eps
WCW/New Japan Supershow II
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW The Great American Bash 1992
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XX: 20th Anniversary
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1992
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Starrcade 1992
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW WrestleWar 1991
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Halloween Havoc 1991
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW Starrcade 1991
Movie · as Big Van Vader
WCW The Great American Bash 1990
Movie · as Big Van Vader
Clash of the Champions
TV · as Big Van Vader · 10 eps
AWA Blood on the Sand
Movie · as "Bull Power" Leon White
AWA The Brawl in St. Paul
Movie · as "Baby Bull" Leon White
WWF Superstars
TV · as Vader · 2 eps
AWA Arena Shows
TV · as Leon White · 1 ep
WWE Old School
TV · as Vader · 1 ep