Ok, for all of you Savage supporters out there who feel that The Macho Man has a tournament edge over a man like Vader, listen up. I prefaced in the original post of this thread the "Vader Fact" that the big man won his first IWGP title with wins over three men in 1989, similar to Savage's win over 4 men at Wrestlemania 4 for his first title reign. There are a number of reasons Vader's win is far more impressive than Savages.
1. Vader wrestled longer than Savage did, despite the stigma of the SHW having "less stamina" than a man of Savage's size. Vader wrestlers 3 matches in a night, or 30:16. Savage wrestled 24:45.
2. Vader defeated a far greater QUALITY of wrestlers than Savage did.
Let's examine this:
Vader defeated:
Masahiro Chono. 1-time IWGP World Champion, 7-time IWGP World Tag Champion, 5-time G1 Climax winner, 1-time NWA World Champion, Best Heel of 1995.
Tatsumi Fujinami. 6-time IWGP World Champion! 5-time IWGP Tag Champion. 1-time NWA World Champion. 2-time WWF International Heavyweight Champion. 3-time "Best Technical Wrestler" award winner.
Shinya Hashimoto. 3-time IWGP World Champion, 3-time IWGP Tag Champion, 1998 G-1 Climax Winner, 1-time NWA World Champion, 1-time AJPW Triple Crown World Champion.
Savage Defeated:
Butch Reed. 2-time WCW/NWA World Tag Champion w/ Ron Simmons. That's about it on major titles.
Greg Valentine. 1-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, 3-time NWA Television Champion, 2-time NWA US Champion, 4-time NWA World Tag Champion. Nice resume. A jobber to the stars by the time WM 4 rolled around, though.
One Man Gang. 1-time WCW US Champion. That ties him with David Flair, at least.
Ted DiBiase. 1-time AJPW World Tag Team Champion. 1-time WWF North American Heavyweight Champion. 3-time WWF Tag Champion. 1988 King of the Ring. Best technical wrestler award in 1981, Best heel award in 1987 and 1988. Lost to Savage in the finals after Hogan hit DiBiase with a chair.
I would take Vader's 3 over Savage's 4 EVERY SINGLE TIME!