The Plot: The Man They Call Vader was actually on Boy Meets World three separate times, each time playing the same character: the father of school bully Frankie Stecchino, Jr. (Making Vader 'Frankie Stecchino, Sr.', but he still used the "Big Van Vader" stage name.) In his first appearance, Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) joins the wrestling team to prove something to Frankie Jr., but ends up almost having to fight his father, Vader, instead. Thankfully for Cory, Mr. Feeny intervenes, threatening to reveal Vader's real name 'Leslie' (which is neither Frankie or his real first name, Leon, for those of you who like to find mistakes in television continuity.) In his second appearance, Cory and Shawn befriend Frankie, Jr. but their intentions are not pure, and Vader has to come in to help smooth things out. In this episode, Cory's mom accidentally calls Vader by his embarrassing real name 'Francis,' which, for the record, is his fourth "real" name on the show. In his final appearance, Vader needs Cory's managerial skills to defeat Jake "The Snake" Roberts to earn a title shot against Shawn Michaels. This episode brings another sitcom staple to our list, as Cory agrees to help Vader on the same night as his girlfriend, Topanga's, sixteenth birthday, and has to go back and forth between the party and the wrestling match... with hilarious results. Actually, the funniest part is Cory's wrestling manager tips to Vader, which consisted of "Avoid Jake's DDT!" and very little else. But three separate appearances as (basically) the same person is a record in the world of professional wrestling and sitcoms/movies combining, and it deserves the fitting praise. Which are your favourite as themselves cameos by wrestlers on TV or in movies? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.
The 'House is a father of two and husband of one in Minnesota. He is an improv comedian, and in his spare time follows WWE, MLB, The Simpsons, and Bob's Burgers. Growing up he was a huge fan of He-Man, and refuses to believe that it was in fact terrible.
