Vader in ECW

[IrishCanadian25]

Could you imagine if Big Van Vader had been an ECW wrestler for any of his career?

The man who popped his own eye back into his head during a match, the man who broke a jobbers back, the man who concussed Mick Foley with a powerbomb onto concrete and then beat him down in a Texas Death Match, the man who defeated Sting in a White Castle of Fear Strap Match, the man who kicked out of a Hogan legdrop at a 1-count...

Had Vader been in ECW for any of his career, you may as well add another World Title to his resume. He'd have run roughshod over Dreamer, Sandman, RVD, and even Mike Awesome, Tazz, and Tanaka.

It's frightening what could have been, yet never was, in ECW in the late 90's. Had Paul Heyman picked up Vader after the WCW Orndorff incident, he'd have changed the landscape of Extreme.

 

[Shocky]

Yeah. The resume speaks for itself. He's a bad mother fucker. Any guy that can leave Mick Foley's ear hanging off in Germany somewhere is pretty bad ass.

However, i equate it to Bam Bam Bigelow. Bigelow had one helluva run in ECW, and in my opinion, he made the best moments of his career there. The matches Bigelow and RVD had were beyond amazing. Truly the only person that probably could have looked legit with Vader would have been RVD, but I cringe at the possibilities of violence with guys like New Jack, Dreamer or Sandman in the ring with the man.

 

[Kane666]

I'm Honestly surprised that Vadar never did venture into ECW.Especially after how Vince pretty much squashed him.Would've been interesting to see him face Bam Bam or Tazz.

 

[thewrestlinghero]

that would be interesting if he ever got a old ecw title run i could def see as world champion in two months have memorable fueds with sandman rvd dreamer raven shan douglas even the dudleys

 

[klunderbunker]

Vader would indeed havebeen a perfect choice to head to Philadelphia. ECW really had one high profile super heavyweight that i can remember which was Bigelow. While the Beast From The East was great, Vader was that much better. With Vader you have a guy that is viewed as legitimately tough and crazy. ECW was always viewed as kind of a semi-shoot company anyway, so I could have seen him working out very well there. Put him in a weapons based enviroment, give him a manager maybe, and he'd be in heaven.

 

[NSL]

I loved old school ECW, and would have loved to see Vader run roughshod over the company. Being a super-heavyweight, he has the unique ability to ground and pound with everyone in ECW, beat someone with any weapon he chooses, or fly off the ropes and cause considerable damage.

The matches he could have had with Tanaka, Awesome, and Bigelow would've given ECW the biggest boost possible. Matches with RVD, Lynn, The Impact Players, Tazz, Raven, and everyone else that was in ECW towards the end could've saved the company.

Advertising RVD v. Vader for the TV Title would've saved ECW's ratings, sold a ton more PPVs, and would've made other wrestlers give ECW a second thought as a potential career move.

 

[Mr. TM]

It's Vader Time! would have shaken the feet that the ECW wrestlers walked on. You think they are tough, wait until those tough guys with cheese graters are pitted against a 400 pound tank that can move like a leer jet. Do you think Taz had the ability to even think about choking this man out? It would be like trying to stop a bulldozer by throwing kittens at it. ECW would be decimated if the big man was in there, even Bam Bam wouldn't stand much of a chance. And Vader has that ECW-like feel behind him.

 

[NSL]

It's Vader Time! would have shaken the feet that the ECW wrestlers walked on.

I said this in the tournament thread, but I'll talk about it here again. His music is legendary in it's own right. It meant someone was getting their ass-kicked, and struck fear into pretty much everyone he faced.

The perfect scenario for his arrival, would be a heel like RVD, Justin Credible, or even Raven parading around the ring, proclaiming how they can't find any sort of challenge in ECW, and they should just go to WWF or WCW to find someone worthy of a fight. Then they go on to say whatever, but starting the sentence with "I think it's time..." and then they're cut off by "IT'S TIME! IT'S TIME! IT'S...VADER...TIME!"

They'd get the "Oh shit" look on their face, and Vader would proceed to mangle their ass around each ring post.

 

[jmt225]

Vader in ECW would've been awesome, no doubt, but in the end... what I mostly picture is Taz choking his ass out, and RVD kicking the living shit out of him. It's very similar to what happened to Bam Bam Bigelow.

As big of a monster Vader was, he was still nothing compared to the way Taz was booked, and there's no way the fans would've bought into Vader beating Taz. Taz was just unstoppable.

And RVD, well... he was just the Whole Fuckin' Show, and if Vader is in ECW around the time RVD is Television Champion, then Vader undoubtedly falls victum to RVD during his run as Champ.

But yeah... all in all, I wish it could've happened. I would've LOVED to see the two scenarios ahead go down, and plus... Vader vs. Sabu is something I always thought would've been a fun match to watch. Not to mention a possible Bam Bam vs. Vader feud, which of course would've been spectacular.

 

[NSL]

And RVD, well... he was just the Whole Fuckin' Show, and if Vader is in ECW around the time RVD is Television Champion, then Vader undoubtedly falls victum to RVD during his run as Champ.

You're right, RVD would have been booked to beat Vader. But, defeating Vader during his run as TV Champ, would have made him ECW's version of Hogan. No matter how Tazz was being booked, fans aren't idiots. To see RVD go over Vader during that stretch, would've wowed a lot of people, and would've boosted RVD to levels he only wishes of reaching.

Vader wouldn't have been hurt by losing either, precisely because of the way RVD was booked back then. They would've had a hell of a string of matches, and Vader would've beaten him to within an inch of his life, only to fall victim to the VanDaminator.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Vader in ECW would've been awesome, no doubt, but in the end... what I mostly picture is Taz choking his ass out, and RVD kicking the living shit out of him. It's very similar to what happened to Bam Bam Bigelow.

As big of a monster Vader was, he was still nothing compared to the way Taz was booked, and there's no way the fans would've bought into Vader beating Taz. Taz was just unstoppable.

And RVD, well... he was just the Whole Fuckin' Show, and if Vader is in ECW around the time RVD is Television Champion, then Vader undoubtedly falls victum to RVD during his run as Champ.

But yeah... all in all, I wish it could've happened. I would've LOVED to see the two scenarios ahead go down, and plus... Vader vs. Sabu is something I always thought would've been a fun match to watch. Not to mention a possible Bam Bam vs. Vader feud, which of course would've been spectacular.

You need some Vad-u-cation.

I want you to take time out to watch the Vader matches I post over the nest few weeks. And I want you to realize two things - 1) RVD is over rated, and 2) Vader in the early- and mid-90's, before the booking massacre that was WWF, was unstoppable. He held winning records against Sting AND Cactus Jack, both of whom are light years ahead of both Tazz and RVD.

And Vader vs Bam Bam has happened. And it was awesome. 2 of the 4 greatest Superheavyweights in history in a match. Vader and Bigelow were also a legendary tag team in Japan, known as "Big, Bad, & Dangerous." Amazing stuff.

 

[jmt225]

You need some Vad-u-cation.

I want you to take time out to watch the Vader matches I post over the nest few weeks. And I want you to realize two things - 1) RVD is over rated, and 2) Vader in the early- and mid-90's, before the booking massacre that was WWF, was unstoppable. He held winning records against Sting AND Cactus Jack, both of whom are light years ahead of both Tazz and RVD.

And Vader vs Bam Bam has happened. And it was awesome. 2 of the 4 greatest Superheavyweights in history in a match. Vader and Bigelow were also a legendary tag team in Japan, known as "Big, Bad, & Dangerous." Amazing stuff.

No one, and I mean, NO ONE, could ever convince me RVD is overrated. I don't care what anyone says; the dude is the shit and as far as I’m concerned, when it comes to match quality and charisma, he’s one of the greatest the business has ever seen.

And I have a DVD of Bam and Vader's tag team stuff in Japan. It was good, but man... the Steiners work in Japan was vastly better. Kobashi and Misawa as a team were loads better. Hell, honestly, I enjoyed Doug Furnas & Philip Lafond's work in Japan more so then Big, Bad, & Dangerous. I guarantee you there is not one match Vader and Bam had as a team that is better then Doug Furnas & Phil Lafond vs. Kobashi & Kikuchi.

 

[Shocky]

People seem to forget that Bam Bam Bigelow destroyed Taz in their first meeting. They only remember the second match where Taz was victorious, but I seem to remember a knocked out Taz getting drug back into the ring for Bam Bam to finish off. Bam Bam made the toughest, most legit guy in ECW look like a bitch. If you throw in someone like Vader, it would have only been worse for a guy like Taz.

 

[justinsayne]

You need some Vad-u-cation.

I want you to take time out to watch the Vader matches I post over the nest few weeks. And I want you to realize two things - 1) RVD is over rated, and 2) Vader in the early- and mid-90's, before the booking massacre that was WWF, was unstoppable. He held winning records against Sting AND Cactus Jack, both of whom are light years ahead of both Tazz and RVD.

And Vader vs Bam Bam has happened. And it was awesome. 2 of the 4 greatest Superheavyweights in history in a match. Vader and Bigelow were also a legendary tag team in Japan, known as "Big, Bad, & Dangerous." Amazing stuff.

You need some Book-u-cation

Vader would only have been as good as Heyman would want him to be, if Heyman would want Taz to go out a squash you beloved Vader then that's what would have happened, you seem to forget that no wrestler and I mean NO WRESTLER is any better than how they're booked, Christ for all we know Heyman would've booked Mikey Whipwreck over Vader, prolly not but you never know, Heyman was a bit a crazy bastard at times

And as for RVD being overrated, please, name one other ECW original that was able to come out of ECW and move into another major promotion and have the shear amount of success that RVD had, RVD was the only ECW original to come to WWE and win the "big one", and he still remains the own original to get an entire DVD dedicated to his work in the ring, the only others that even come close to haveing success like RVD has had outside of ECW are Raven, Rhino, and the Dudleys, Raven won the NWA title in TNA back when hardley anyone knew what the fuck TNA was, Rhino won the same belt and held it for what? all of two weeks before Jarrett squashed him to win it back, so both their title reigns were all but meaningless, and the Dudleys have never been able to do anything outside of the tag division, RVD is by far the most succesful wrestler to come out of ECW, and far from overrated

 

[Azamuth]

You need some Book-u-cation

Vader would only have been as good as Heyman would want him to be, if Heyman would want Taz to go out a squash you beloved Vader then that's what would have happened, you seem to forget that no wrestler and I mean NO WRESTLER is any better than how they're booked, Christ for all we know Heyman would've booked Mikey Whipwreck over Vader, prolly not but you never know, Heyman was a bit a crazy bastard at times

I would have loved to see Vader dominate the ECW. Tazz vs Vader would have been a good fight but I dont think Taz would have won the match. I could just see Shane Douglas and the triple threat fighting Vader and the Pitt Bulls.

However as for Hayman possibly booking Whipwreck over Vader, I will agree that Hayman has done some crazy things but I think he would want to put the strap on Vader to use his name as a big draw to fans.

 

[Mr. Serotonin]

I didnt find Vader all that stimulating, he was incredibly unfit, and he lacked real mobility. I remember the last time i saw him in a match, he fell over his own boots. How can anyone take someone seriously, if they can barely function as a person, he wasnt the worst big guy, but he was pretty bad, no wonder he couldnt stay more than 3 years in one company

 

[Hacksaw Highway]

I would have loved to see Vader dominate the ECW. Tazz vs Vader would have been a good fight but I dont think Taz would have won the match. I could just see Shane Douglas and the triple threat fighting Vader and the Pitt Bulls.

However as for Hayman possibly booking Whipwreck over Vader, I will agree that Hayman has done some crazy things but I think he would want to put the strap on Vader to use his name as a big draw to fans.

I don`t think the poster was saying Whipwreck would eat Vader, it was just a reminder that Vader wouldn`t win every match just because he was a legit tought guy. The point was that it`s all in the booking.

 

[RVDgurl]

Vader in ECW?? Holy shit...I would have jumped through the ceiling. Vader, as someone has previously mentioned, was comparable to Bigelow- a super heavyweight who had agility and speed. Vader could match high flying moves with the best of them while displaying his phenomenal power.

It would have been tremendous to see Vader involved in fueds with Sabu, RVD or Jerry Lynn. Or imagine a Bigelow v. Vader fued in the house of hardcore. That's almost too much to wrap my head around. Those two beasts would have torn the ring down competing in matches with no rules.

Oh...to imagine what could have been. Now that I think about it, I am actually surprised Heyman didn't manage to get his grubby little paws on Vader- at least for a little while. Vader was the prototypical guy that Heyman looked for. Vader had a great career in Japan, but overall in the US he was sorely under appreciated and under utilized. ECW would have been a great catalyst for Vader to get some recognition for his great work.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

I didnt find Vader all that stimulating, he was incredibly unfit, and he lacked real mobility. I remember the last time i saw him in a match, he fell over his own boots. How can anyone take someone seriously, if they can barely function as a person, he wasnt the worst big guy, but he was pretty bad, no wonder he couldnt stay more than 3 years in one company

Worst post. EVER. No wonder you're red repped to the moon.

I am willing to bet the last time you saw him was towards the end of his WWF stint, and that you never went back to watch his older matches. It's the same bullshit people do to Andre the Giant. They remember him as the slow lummox of a man from Wrestlemania 6, not as the quick, agile, amazing athlete he was pre-Wrestlemania and in Japan. It sickens me to no end.

Barely function as a person? Lacked real mobility!?

Vader was easily the most mobile Superheavyweight in the history of professional wrestling. He was a shade ahead of Bam Bam Bigelow, though Bigelow had more pure technical skills. If you've never watched Vader's dominance of Sting in early 90's WCW or his work with guys like Inoki in Japan, then you are going off of a Vader who was booked for shit by Vince McMahon and his anti-WCW attitude, where no guy from the competition got over without paying through the nose.