6 Ups & 4 Downs From Vader's Legendary Wrestling Career

2. "Big Fat Piece Of Sh*t"

There was something deeply upsetting about Vader uttering the above phrase following his Over The Edge 1998 loss to Kane.

Their 'Mask Vs Mask' match was inherently silly anyway - 'The Mastadon' used to remove his own mask in bouts of furious anger anyway; there were no stakes compared to the horror that allegedly lurked below Kane's own facial fireguard. That he threw a self-pitying tantrum in the aftermath signified the beginning of his WWE end.

Vader's tank-like build hadn't impeded him at any point before Vince McMahon tired of his act a couple of years after booking him as the company's most destructive force. And yet, in defeat, the company elected him to talk as though his confidence was shot due to his previously devastating barrel chest. It was senseless character assassination - mirroring then talent gaffer Jim Ross' own sly digs towards him, Mark Henry and others in his 'Ross Report' columns in the company's in-house publications.

Reading the writing on the wall, he called Vader Time on his own terms. Following more jobs to Henry, Bradshaw and others, Vader bailed back to Japan in October that year to rebuild what was left of his monster aura in Japan.