5 WCW stars that deserve induction into the WWE Hall of Fame

#2 Vader

Vader: Former three-time WCW World Champion

It is a great shame that Leon “Vader” White died before he had the opportunity to stand in front of his peers on the Hall of Fame stage. He openly campaigned for induction, which conversely may have counted against him in the petty world of WWE politics.

Vader was one of the highest paid stars in wrestling in the early-nineties when he reigned as WCW World Champion (a title he would hold on three occasions). Vader contested sterling matches with the likes of Sting, Ric Flair, Cactus Jack and Hulk Hogan during his WCW run which began in 1990 and lasted through to October 1995 when he was fired after a legitimate backstage brawl with ageing veteran, Paul Orndorff.

He was subsequently snapped up by WWE and made an electrifying debut in the 1996 Royal Rumble match and the following night on Monday Night Raw. However, Vader was nursing a shoulder injury and immediately took time off for surgery and recuperation. However, in desperate need of stars, Vince McMahon rushed Vader back to television before he had fully recovered and when Vader queried the decision he became persona non grata in WWE.

For many long-time WWE fans, their lasting impressions of Vader are of that disappointing 1996-98 WWF run, wherein WWE vindictively booked him in less than favourable situations and he ended his tenure in the company, losing to the likes of Blackjack Bradshaw and Mark Henry, a full decade before either were singles stars.

However, Vader's WCW run remains the stuff of legend and his hard hitting, realistic bouts with a wide array of opponents as well as his terrific resume of Championships makes him one of the most deserving WCW alumni that warrant inclusion into the WWE Hall of Fame. However, with his untimely passing in 2018, one would think he would be a leading contender for induction in either 2020 or 2021.