10 Major Career-Making Wrestling Matches

6. VADER Vs. Antonio Inoki - NJPW Year End In Kokugikan 1987

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NJPW

The wrestling world lost a legend last week with the untimely passing of Leon 'Big Van Vader' White. This night in 1987 was the one on which his legend was born.

Vader terrified audiences in the west with an aura we inferred as utterly formidable. It was forged here in a shockingly decisive and economical victory over the weakened founder and icon of New Japan Pro Wrestling, Antonio Inoki. Debilitated following a war with Riki Choshu (thus protecting a talent ordinarily allergic to jobbing), Vader emerged from the back to pick the bones. This was Vader's debut. This was perhaps the ultimate statement of intent; Vader set upon Inoki like an actual battering ram, knocking both the wind and the will out of the legend, who found himself outside of the ring, beleaguered. From dominance to disrespect, Vader toyed with Inoki by trapping him in mid-air with a standing suplex. This was a complete squash. Inoki mounted no offence whatsoever before losing within three minutes.

Vader was the proto-Brock Lesnar; a super-powerful, vicious heel able to generate sympathy on behalf of his babyface opponents through their very survival. This was his heartbreaking WrestleMania XXX moment. The ultimate rub rubbed the Sumo Hall crowd the wrong way; a riot ensued, one so scary that it compelled arena management to ban NJPW from the premises for two years.

This, unequivocally, was now Vader's time.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!