Vader was my number 41 in 2016 and I'd guess he'll be about there again next time. He was my highest ranked superheavyweight and I wouldn't imagine that'll change either. I suppose his peak was relatively short, but it was a hell of a peak and he was good for lot longer than those 3-4 years anyway. Obviously one of the greatest bulldozers ever, and while some are down on the bumping, even if he maybe did go overboard at times I'm very rarely bothered by it. 

 

VADER YOU SHOULD WATCH:

v Shinya Hashimoto (New Japan, 4/24/89)

v Keiji Mutoh (New Japan, 8/10/91)

v Sting (WCW Starrcade, 12/28/92)

v Sting (WCW Superbrawl, 2/21/93)

v Kiyoshi Tamura (UWFi, 6/10/94)

Looking a little closer at the 2016 results, Vader finished 14th and didn't get a #1 vote and only one #2 vote. His average vote was 26. But Vader tied Ric Flair & Terry Funk by appearing on the most ballots at 148. I think this tracks with the general discussion I've seen of Vader over the last 20+ years.  You'll rarely find anyone who puts Vader at the absolute top, but he's never too far from it and everyone loves it. 

I was wondering what younger hardcore fans think of Vader? Folks that grew up watching Daniel Bryan and modern NJPW. I can imagine folks like that watching Flair or Terry Funk & not really liking them, but I can't really comprehend someone watching prime Vader and not enjoying him. During his career he was able to transcend stylistic differences and get over in a major way basically everywhere he worked. I wonder if he's someone that will be able to transcend time as well? 

I'm one of those fans, actually, and yeah I love Vader. Not my favourite big man (Hansen exists) but pretty close. He'll probably make my top 30, surely top 50. The shoot stuff was a great reinforcement of his case, he was able to adapt to the ringwork there while retaining his overall style and aura. I love the "subtle versatility" he has, specially for a monster powerhouse.

 

PS: and I LOVE Flair and specially Terry, too

In 2016, we talked a lot about how Vader brought a different kind of versatility. He didn't adapt hugely as he jumped from one promotion or opponent to another, but you could build immensely entertaining stuff around him in any environment. That's still how I view him. He's a highly rewatchable action movie, and I'd rather spend a random evening with him than with most of those who'll beat him on the list. 

You can only watch 3 Vader matches for the rest of your life. Which ones are you picking?

Cactus Halloween Havoc, probably the Dome match against Misawa, maybe Jun? I also really like the Starrcade match with Flair.

 

On 5/11/2021 at 2:17 AM, elliott said:

 

I was wondering what younger hardcore fans think of Vader? Folks that grew up watching Daniel Bryan and modern NJPW. I can imagine folks like that watching Flair or Terry Funk & not really liking them, but I can't really comprehend someone watching prime Vader and not enjoying him. During his career he was able to transcend stylistic differences and get over in a major way basically everywhere he worked. I wonder if he's someone that will be able to transcend time as well? 

I like all 3!

10 hours ago, elliott said:

You can only watch 3 Vader matches for the rest of your life. Which ones are you picking?

Strap match with Sting. The second (I think) Takada match. Maybe Inoki at the Dome in 96.

12 hours ago, elliott said:

You can only watch 3 Vader matches for the rest of your life. Which ones are you picking?

Can I just put the Tamura match on repeat?

13 hours ago, elliott said:

You can only watch 3 Vader matches for the rest of your life. Which ones are you picking?

1991 G1 vs. Mutoh, Starrcade 1992 vs. Sting, 1998 RWTL final with Hansen vs. Burning.

It would be some combination of two matches above and VS Otto Wanz from December 1989.

I’d take three Wanz fights. 

Is there anything in AWA other than VS Hansen or in CWA other than VS Wanz worth seeking out? I'm realizing after Elliott's post and after thinking more about the scope of his career I might actually be underrating Vader with him just outside of my top 10 currently.

53 minutes ago, Clayton Jones said:

Is there anything in AWA other than VS Hansen or in CWA other than VS Wanz worth seeking out? I'm realizing after Elliott's post and after thinking more about the scope of his career I might actually be underrating Vader with him just outside of my top 10 currently.

His match against Fujinami in CWA was a thing of beauty.

 

 

Awesome, thanks. I love the way they matched up in NJPW.