Although most famous to Western audiences for his three reigns as WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Big Van Vader's big break came in Japan. It was when working for NJPW that he began to wear the distinctive leather mask that would come to define him. Already intimidating due to his height and bulk, Vader's mask made him a truly terrifying prospect. It didn't do a very good job of obscuring his face, but made him seem almost like a muzzled animal or psychotic criminal. Nothing like it had quite been seen in the world of pro-wrestling before, and it simply screamed danger. Vader's image took an irreversible hit at Over The Edge 1998, when he lost a mask vs mask match against Kane, and was subsequently forced to lose the most recognisable aspect of his attire. Visually reduced to just another big guy, he left for All Japan Pro Wrestling shortly after. However, the fact remains that Vader's look made him one of the most terrifying forces in wrestling for the majority of his career.
