In Memoriam: Wrestlers who passed away in 2018

VADER

Vader was a big hit in Japan and in the US.

DIED: JUNE 18, 2018, AGE 63

CAUSE OF DEATH: HEART FAILURE AFTER COMPLICATIONS FROM PNEUMONIA

Big Van Vader truly was a larger than life personality in professional wrestling.

He was actually drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1977 but was only able to play two seasons in the NFL.

He was forced to retire after rupturing his patella.

Since he was forced to retire, he, like many pro wrestlers before and after him, set his focus on a career in professional wrestling.

He started wrestling for the AWA in 1985 and had an AWA Title match against future tag team partner Stan Hansen.

His first run in NJPW saw him win the IWGP Heavyweight title at the end of an eight-man tournament.

He became the first non-Japanese wrestler to hold the IWGP Heavyweight Title. He would win the title two more times in his tenure.

He also was a part of one of the most famous stories in wrestling history when his eye was popped out by a strike from opponent Stan Hansen.

Vader popped his eye back into the socket and continued the match.

He would also win the WCW Title from Sting, but would have to drop the title shortly thereafter to Ron Simmons (Farooq) because of a knee injury.

His WWE run wasn't as successful as a lot of backstage politics from the Kliq stymied any chances atop the card.

He had feuds with Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels and Yokozuna. He also battled Kane and the Undertaker.

Like many other wrestlers in the mid-to-late 1990s, Vader could have had a much bigger impact in the WWE had the Kliq not ruled over the WWE onscreen and off of it.

He would return to the WWE sporadically including against Heath Slater when Slater would run down wrestlers from the past.

Vader passed away on June 18, 2018 due to complications from multiple heart surgeries.