Ranking Every Major Monday Night Wars Jump From WORST To BEST

8. Vader

X Pac WWE Debut
WWE

Vader looked like a monster precisely three times in his hugely disappointing two year WWF run. His killer first two nights in marked the arrival of a deadly new force—before he succumbed to injury and politics.

He stiffed Savio Vega in the face with clubbing blows before, in an awesome spot, staring a hole through the 1-2-3 Kid while in the process of casually wiping the sh*t that was Doug Gilbert from his shoe. He eliminated a ‘Squat Teamer’ but not before d*mn near lifting his head off by way of his trademark gruesome upward strike to the ear. Eliminated by Shawn Michaels before returning to the ring in a rage, the following scene resembled a dangerous shift for the Animal Control Service.

The next night on RAW, in an angle of seminal, transgressive violence, Vader brutalised the beloved Gorilla Monsoon from behind. The Mastodon looked dangerous and ugly enough putting his claws on his fellow competitors: this was so disturbing as to be harrowing, called perfectly by Vince McMahon and his histrionic, repeated pleas of “That’s Gorilla Monsoon!”

The WWF tranquillised the animal upon his return from suspension (surgery), but what a tremendous debut this was.

Inimitable, sadly.

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!