5 Great moments in Vader's career

#2 Match vs. Stan Hansen AJPW - NJPW February 1990

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Big Van Vader and Hall of Famer Stan “The Lariat” Hansen were, perhaps, the two most highly regarded gaijin (foreigners) in Japanese professional wrestling, and both men were top draws in their respective promotions of All Japan Pro Wrestling (Hansen) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (Vader).

The match started ominously with Vader’s nose being broken by Hansen’s bullrope and would only become more harrowing for the former Colorado Golden Buffalo when an exchange of punches dislodged Vader’s eyeball.

In a moment that could make even the hardiest of men sick to his stomach, Vader was able to place his eye back into the socket and continue the match, which ended in a no contest. This match, as well as his prior success in the Orient, was said to have caught the attention of WCW and led to his signing with the company later that year.