What was the downfall of Vader in WCW, WWE & TNA?

Hey guys, I want to talk about a man who has been so dominant in the 1990's:

Leon White better known as Big Van Vader

Vader wrestled in Japan for many years and continues to do so to this day, he captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on 3 occasions

But when Vader came to the US and wrestled, he signed with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling

Vader would pair up with his manager former 8x NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race and soon, he won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship @ The Great American Bash when he def. The Man Called STING

Vader would capture the belt 3 times

and in 1993, Vader would go to defeat other wrestlers and legends such as The Stinger, Ron Simmons, The British Bulldog, Cactus Jack Mick Foley and The Legendary Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

But it was in November of '93 when he took on Ric Flair

Flair would go on to defeat Vader 3 times

@ The Clash of the Champions in November of '93, Flair def. Vader via DQ, but Vader was still the champion and the following month @ Starrcade in Charlotte, NC, Flair would finally def. Vader in his hometown and captured the WCW World Heavyweight Championship

and in February of '94 @ SuperBrawl, Flair would def. Vader one more time, this time in a Thundercage Match to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with The Big Boss Man Ray Traylor as referee

@ Starrcade '94, Vader would soon capture the WCW U.S. Heavyweight Championship from Hacksaw Jim Duggan and in 1995, he would soon feud with The Hulkster, but Harley Race would soon be out of WCW when he was injured in a Car Accident

and in March of 1995, Vader was stripped of the WCW U.S. Heavyweight Championship

But when Vader got fired from WCW due to a backstage altercation with Paul Orndorff, he would soon jump ship to Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation and he would soon feud with Shawn Michaels, Kane, The Undertaker, the late Yokozuna and Bret "The Hitman" Hart and he would also feud with fellow WCW Alumnuses The British Bulldog, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Sid Vicious, "Goldust" Dustin Rhodes and of course Stone Cold Steve Austin

But in 1998, Vader left the WWE and his last televised match was when he lost to an up and rising young star named Edge

After leaving the WWE, Vader would continue to wrestle in All Japan Pro Wrestling/Pro Wrestling NOAH from 1998-2002

However, on July 1, 2002 Vader was arrested on suspicion of spitting and threatening officers, resisting arrest, drinking and driving, careless driving and leaving the scene of an accident

According to reports, he had apparently driven his sports utility vehicle into a bush about a block from his home, suffering a cut on the head, and left the scene to go home.

The police went to his home and he said he was looking for bullfrogs and catfish in a pond and crashed while driving home.

The officers said that he appeared to be drunk, and when asked if he'd been drinking, said: "I will and can kick all of your butts! Let's fight," according to the arrest report.

The officers got their dogs out and Vader did the Vanderlei Silva with the dogs, picked up two rocks and threatened to throw them at the officers, and spit at one, but missed.

Eventually the officers talked him into cooperation and he was handcuffed and taken in without an incident.

This would be his third drinking and driving arrest in Boulder.

But on February 19, 2003, Vader appeared in the NWA-TNA Wrestling PPV to defend Dusty Rhodes, who was attacking the Harris Brothers.

He won a tag team match the next week against the Harris Brothers, albeit via disqualification.

He then had problems with Nikita Koloff, whose career Vader ended long ago.

However, TNA and Vader soon parted ways.

Today, Vader is still wrestling in Japan and in the Independent Scenes

However, Eric Bischoff admitted on WCW Monday Nitro in the fall of 1998 that he was the man responsible for putting Vader out of WCW

On Halloween 2005, Vader made a surprise appearance on RAW and he attacked Batista, but then the following night @ Taboo Tuesday, Batista took on The Coach in a Street Fight and Batista would soon give Vader and Goldust, The Spinebuster and he gave Coach the Batista Bomb and he won the match.

But Vince McMahon was furious @ Dusty Rhodes for bringing in Vader to the WWE and he admitted that he was NEVER a fan of Big Van Vader.

and so, I ask you all this:

What was the downfall of the career of Vader in the WCW, the WWE and his appearance in TNA?

What were your thoughts on Vader losing to Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan in WCW?

and do you think that Vader would've survived w/o his manager Harley Race?

That's the Question!

Please share your thoughts on all of this.



and now, here are some clips of Vader for those of you that don't remember:

Here's Vader in his last WWE Match from 1998 against Edge from Sunday Night HEaT on USA Network