It’s time…it’s time…it’s Vader time! WWE today announced that former WCW champion Vader will be posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
Vader, real name Leon White, started his pro wrestling career in 1985, first with the AWA, Catch Wrestling Association, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. It was in Japan where Vader made a name for himself, becoming the first non-Japanese wrestler to hold IWGP Heavyweight championship.
In 1990, Vader joined WCW whilst still working for New Japan and in 1991, began full time with the Atlanta-based promotion. Vader quickly became one of the monster heels in WCW and was paired with Harley Race, winning the WCW title three times and the United States title once.
He joined the then WWF in 1996, making his debut at the Royal Rumble. Vader was teamed up with Jim Cornette and worked for the company till 1998. He never won any titles in WWE but became pretty famous for attacking WWE President Gorilla Monsoon, hitting him with a Vader Bomb on an episode of Raw.
Vader departed WWE in 1998 and he moved to All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and even TNA, before making sporadic appearances for WWE over the following years.
Vader died on June 18, 2018 after he was hospitalized for a month with pneumonia. He was 63 years old.
