WWE Hall Of Fame Class Of 2016 - 10 Possible Inductees
9. Vader
The Baby Bull from Boulder, Colorado was undoubtedly one of the greatest big-men to ever compete in a professional wrestling ring. The former 'Big Van' Vader dominated the Japanese scene before competing stateside for WCW and, eventually, the World Wrestling Federation. In 1989, Vader became the first non-Japanese wrestler to hold the famous IWGP Heavyweight Championship and later would become a three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion. He would also challenge for the WWF Championship in 1996 and was supposed to dethrone champion Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam '96, and then again at Survivor Series '96, before backstage politics prevented both victories from taking place. It might not have really happened for him in Vince's company, but Vader has a hell of a legacy in Japan and in WCW, where he is a former World Heavyweight Champion. He drew big money opposite the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair and is clearly on good terms with WWE, since he's popped up here and there over the years. Vader has been invited to previous WWE Hall Of Fame ceremonies and 2016 could be the year he goes from spectator to honoree.
A former stuntman for Paramount Pictures, Matt enjoys sports, water skiing, driving fast, the beach, professional wrestling,
technology, and scotch. At the same time, whenever possible.
Having attended many famous (and infamous) shows including WrestleMania XV, In Your House: Mind Games, and the 1995 King of the Ring, Matt has been a lifelong professional sports and wrestling fan. Matt's been mentioned in numerous wrestling podcasts including the Steve Austin Show: Unleashed, Talk Is Jericho, and Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard.
As a former countywide performer, Matt has been referred to as Mr. 300 for his amazing accomplishments in the world of amateur bowling. He is also the only man on record to have pitched back-to-back no hitters in the Veterans Stadium Wiffle Ball League of 2003.
