Vader: Profile, Career Stats, Titles & Gimmicks

On this page you find the full wrestling profile of Vader, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Leon Allen White was born in Lynwood, California on May 14, 1955.

He died on June 18, 2018 at the age of 63.

Vader is a 8-time World Champion, and has won a total of 12 championships in major promotions during his career.

Vader was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022.

Vader Profile Index

Profile Info

Real NameLeon Allen White
GenderMale
Born May 14, 1955
Died June 18, 2018 (aged 63)
NationalityUnited States
Birth PlaceLynwood, California
Billed From
- The Rocky Mountains
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight
- 450 lbs (204 kg)
NicknamesThe Mastodon; The Rocky Mountain Monster

Career History

Ring Names & Gimmicks
- Vader (November 14, 1998 - May 25, 2017)
- Big Van Vader (July 25, 2005 - September 12, 2015)
- Vader - The Man They Call Vader (January 21, 1996 - November 13, 1998)
- Vader (April 12, 1991 - January 20, 1996)
- Big Van Vader (December 27, 1987 - September 11, 2015)
- Big Vader - World Japan ring name (May 31, 2003 - July 20, 2003)
- Super Vader - UWF-I ring name (May 6, 1993 - April 20, 1995)
- Bull Power - CWA gimmick (May 18, 1986 - December 21, 1991)
- Leon White (November 27, 1986 - May 3, 1987)
- Leon White - Baby Bull (October 18, 1985 - May 17, 1986)
Roles
- Part Time Wrestler (April 18, 2010 - May 25, 2017)
- Wrestler (October 18, 1985 - October 11, 2006)

Promotions History

Promotion	from	to
PromotionINDY	April 18, 2010	May 25, 2017
PromotionTNA	June 24, 2015	June 24, 2015
PromotionAJPWBrand Heavyweight	December 11, 2012	December 19, 2012
PromotionIGF	April 28, 2011	April 28, 2011
PromotionNJPWBrand Heavyweight	September 6, 2006	October 11, 2006
PromotionHUSTLE	January 4, 2004	January 4, 2004
PromotionWJ	May 31, 2003	July 20, 2003
PromotionNWA TNA	February 19, 2003	February 26, 2003
PromotionNOAHBrand Heavyweight	October 7, 2000	January 15, 2003
PromotionAJPWBrand Heavyweight	November 14, 1998	April 7, 2000
PromotionWWF	January 21, 1996	October 25, 1998
PromotionNJPWBrand Heavyweight	January 4, 1996	January 4, 1996
PromotionWCW	July 7, 1990	September 11, 1995
PromotionUWF I	May 6, 1993	April 20, 1995
PromotionCWA AUSTRIA	December 22, 1990	July 11, 1992
PromotionNJPWBrand Heavyweight	December 27, 1987	July 8, 1992
PromotionCWA AUSTRIA	August 21, 1989	December 22, 1989
PromotionUWA	May 7, 1989	November 19, 1989
PromotionCWA AUSTRIA	March 22, 1987	December 19, 1987
PromotionAWA	October 18, 1985	May 3, 1987
PromotionCWA AUSTRIA	May 18, 1986	September 1, 1986

Images History

Apr 2010
Apr 1998
Jan 1996
Jul 1993
Oct 1991
Dec 1987
May 1986
Oct 1985

Face / Heel Turns

Alignment	Details	from	to
Heel	Returned to AJPW as a main-event heel	November 14, 1998	May 25, 2017
Face	Turned for a USA vs Canada feud against the Hart Foundation	July 7, 1997	November 13, 1998
Heel	Appeared in NJPW (and WWF vignettes) as a heel	January 4, 1996	July 6, 1997
Tweener	Attacked by Ric Flair/Arn Anderson, after Vader failed to beat Hulk Hogan	July 16, 1995	January 3, 1996
Heel		October 18, 1985	July 15, 1995

Card Positions

Status	Details	from	to
NJPW Low Card		September 6, 2006	October 11, 2006
TNA Mid Card		February 19, 2003	February 26, 2003
WWE Inactive		October 12, 1998	October 25, 1998
WWE Low Card		June 6, 1998	October 11, 1998
WWE Mid Card		April 26, 1998	June 5, 1998
WWE Inactive	Written off television	February 16, 1998	April 25, 1998
WWE Mid Card		July 7, 1997	February 15, 1998
WWE Upper Card		June 23, 1997	July 6, 1997
WWE Mid Card		March 3, 1997	June 22, 1997
WWE Upper Card		March 31, 1996	March 2, 1997
WWE Injured	Shoulder surgery	January 23, 1996	March 30, 1996
WWE Upper Card		January 21, 1996	January 22, 1996
WCW Inactive	Firing/last tape delay matches	August 7, 1995	September 11, 1995
WCW Upper Card		October 25, 1992	August 6, 1995
WCW Injured	Knee surgery	September 3, 1992	October 24, 1992
WCW Upper Card		April 27, 1990	September 2, 1992
NJPW Injured	Eye surgery	February 11, 1990	April 26, 1990
NJPW Upper Card		December 27, 1987	February 10, 1990

Finishers
- Vadersault - Moonsault (December 27, 1987 - May 25, 2017)
- Vader Bomb - Corner Slingshot Splash (December 27, 1987 - May 25, 2017)
- Release Powerbomb (October 18, 1985 - May 25, 2017)
Theme Songs
- Theme Song"Eyes of the World" by Rainbow - Single (November 14, 1998 - May 25, 2017)
- Theme Song"It's Vader Time" - Single (October 7, 2000 - January 15, 2003)
- Theme Song"Mastodon" by Jim Johnston - Single (January 21, 1996 - October 11, 1998)
- Theme Song"Eyes of the World" by Rainbow - Single (December 27, 1987 - July 8, 1992)
- Theme Song"Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen - Single (October 18, 1985 - May 3, 1987)

Titles & Accomplishments

Career Awards
- WWE Hall of Fame - Individual (Year2022)
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- x3 IWGP Heavyweight Championship
- x1 IWGP Tag Team Championship (with Bam Bam Bigelow)
- NJPW Super Grade Tag League (1991) (with Tatsumi Fujinami)
World Championship Wrestling
- x3 WCW World Heavyweight Championship
- x1 WCW United States Heavyweight Championship
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- x2 AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship
- x1 AJPW World Tag Team Championship (with Steve Williams)
- AJPW Champion Carnival (1999)
Pro Wrestling NOAH
- x1 GHC Tag Team Championship (with Too Cold Scorpio)
Catch Wrestling Association
- 3 CWA World Heavyweight Championship
- 1 CWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship
Impact Zone Wrestling
- 1 IZW Heavyweight Championship
Universal Wrestling Association
- 1 UWA World Heavyweight Championship
Union of Wrestling Forces International
- 1 UWFI Pro-Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship
Xtreme Wrestling Alliance
- 1 XWA World Heavyweight Championship
Other Accomplishments
- WCW BattleBowl Winner (1993)
- NJPW Super Grade Tag League Winner (1991 - with Tatsumi Fujinami)
- NJPW IWGP Title Tournament Winner (1989)
- WWF Slammy Award - Crime of the Century (1996 - for assaulting WWF President Gorilla Monsoon)
- PW Noah GHC Tag Team Title Tournament Winner (2001 - with Scorpio)
- CWA Bremen Catch Cup Winner (1987)
- UWFI Best of the World Tournament Winner (1994)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (1993)
- 2° in PWI 500 (1993)
- Tokyo Sports Best Tag Team Award (1998 - with Stan Hansen)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
- WON Wrestler of the Year (1993)
- WON Best Heel (1993)
- WON Most Improved Wrestler (1999)
- WON Best Wrestling Maneuver (1993 - Moonsault)

Teams & Relations

Tag Teams & Stables
- Vader & Scorpio - Too Cold Scorpio (August 25, 1999 - January 15, 2003)
- KAOS - Too Cold Scorpio, Bison Smith, Richard Slinger, Michael Modest, Donovan Morgan, Bull Schmitt (January 1, 2003 - January 15, 2003)
- Stan Hansen & Vader - Stan Hansen (May 1, 1998 - March 4, 1999)
- Camp Cornette - Jim Cornette, Owen Hart, The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith (March 31, 1996 - September 23, 1996)
- The Masters of the Powerbomb - Sid Vicious / Sycho Sid (June 7, 1993 - September 19, 1993)
- Big Van Vader & Crusher Bam Bam Bigelow - Bam Bam Bigelow (January 6, 1989 - July 8, 1992)
- A Half-Ton of Holy Hell - Harley Race, Kevin Nash / Diesel, Mr. Hughes (January 21, 1992 - February 28, 1992)
Managers
- Paul Bearer (January 19, 1997 - August 29, 1997)
- Jim Cornette (January 21, 1996 - December 29, 1996)
- Ric Flair (March 11, 1995 - June 17, 1995)
- Harley Race (January 21, 1992 - February 11, 1995)
Family
- Jake Carter - Son