Never before had the wrestling industry seen a performer like Big Van Vader. A super heavyweight who made a name for himself in Japan and as a member of the Los Angeles Rams team that had lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, he was a phenomenal athlete capable of throwing his 300-plus pound body around the squared circle like no other big man ever had before. He was agile and fast and mixed those elements with his bruising, hard-hitting style to create an on-screen persona that became the most feared in professional wrestling. On March 17, 1993, he defeated longtime rival Sting in Dublin, Ireland, to capture the WCW World Heavyweight Championship for the second time. Easily the most dominant force in the sport, he tore through the likes of Sid VIcious, "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith and Dustin Rhodes while establishing himself as one of the great champions of the decade. His series of matches with Cactus Jack were brutal and violent affairs which set a whole new tone for WCW programming. With every win, he became stronger and nastier. Then in December, he battled Ric Flair in the main event of Starrcade, a match in which the Nature Boy's legendary career at at stake. On that night he was upset, bringing an end to his 285 days atop the WCW mountain. It would not be until Hulk Hogan and his huge, throbbing ego entered the company that WCW would see a champion capable of dominating for such a long period of time again.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
