Big Van Vader
Inducted by MizFan
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Why should Vader be in the Hall of Fame? You’d be better off asking yourself if a Hall of Fame worth Vader is even one worth having! This is a man who could do it all. Power and brutal striking? Of course, that’s obvious. Agility and high flying? We’ve all seen the Vadersault! Technique and grappling? Sure, he could do that as well as anyone if you know where to look. Bumping, selling, and making others look good? He’s the man who took Sting to his best matches of all time, of course he checks all of those boxes! And really many more besides, the man had a physicality and an aura that was almost impossible to match.
Everywhere he went, he went to the top. He conquered Japan, a five time world champion between New Japan and All Japan, he ruled WCW as a multiple time world champion and was on the way to a WWF title before he was undercut by politics, he wore one of the top titles in Europe with the CWA organization, and even reigned as a top champion in Mexico for over a year in the Universal Wrestling Association. Who else has had such incredible success in every major area of wrestling in the world? The list very well may be only one person, Big Van Vader.
And perhaps most incredible, he succeeded in every part of the world without ever needing to change his style. His stiff, powerful style matched with incredible agility got him over as a main event threat no matter where he was, no matter what kind of wrestling or opponent he got involved with he was always seen as the favorite. There are no superheavyweights on the level of Vader, and indeed perhaps no wrestlers who can match the ability of Vader at his peak. So here’s to the man who always knows what time it is. VADER TIME!
Career Accomplishments
- 3-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
- 3-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 3-time CWA World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time IWGP World Tag Team Champion (w. Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow)
Wrestling Headlines.com welcomes Big Van Vader into the Hall of Fame class of 2021.
Related Links: Sting Discusses His Legacy, Talks Feud With Vader, Connecting With The Fans
Doctor’s Orders: Remembering When It Was Vader’s Time
