Which Vader comes to mind first?

[J-MANN: Tag Team Champion]

WWF

[MKSavage]

Jan 2, 2024 15:06:24 GMT -5 ClassicFan2 said:

wwf because they shafted him so bad its 1st thing i think of when i think of him now

he shoulda got the 96 rumble win and the belt at summerslam, but he wasnt a boy toy, so!

That definitely would have helped him. But, unfortunately for him, he was coming in during the reign of HBK; Shawn didn't like to share the spotlight. Him coming in and winning the 1996 Royal Rumble, then attacking Monsoon and getting suspended, could have been a good storyline for him. He wins the Rumble to earn the shot at WM12, but on Raw he attacks Monsoon and gets suspended which costs him his WM12 title shot. HBK then becomes the #1 contender, and you go ahead with the Bret/Shawn WM12 match. Once Vader returns from suspension, he goes after HBK right away saying he should be champion. Then they face off at Summer Slam 1996 with Vader winning the belt. That definitely would have put him over strong. Then you make Shawn the underdog in their feud trying to get the belt back. Shawn can either win at Survivor Series 1996 or Royal Rumble 1997. 

[JimRiga]

When I first think of Vader, I think of how wasted he was by Vince. I see him in his Vader Time attire jobbing to Michaels, Shamrock, Taker, Kane and Sid, before really sliding down the card and jobbing to Bradshaw, Mark Henry and Edge!! Makes me so annoyed!! It unfortunately eclipses what he did in WCW where he was a total beast. Mind you, I didn’t like how Flair or Hogan beat him so easily.

One of my 5 year old nephews is a big fan and just calls him “No Pain”.

WWE also did him dirty regarding the HOF by not inducting him until he died.

[JokerFC]

Another thing to consider about Vader was the many issues he had in 1996. He had that shoulder issue...he broke his foot and his weight was out of hand completely and giving him other nagging injuries.

I don't tend to listen to Prichard about him but I do tend to listen to JR(because hes a big fan) and he always says its a good thing they DIDNT go with the trilogy vs HBK because Vader broke his foot filming Boy Meets world and had another injury too....so the whole thing was kinda f*cked.

His time in WWF(especially 1996) was just snakebit.

His intro and suspension to cover for the injury was good stuff. His WM 12 tag match was meh but needed to happen to cover him not being 100%. Hall being so competitive against him on the way out was NOT good. Hall was leaving...Vader should have steamrolled him.

KOTR96 was ok...he wasnt going to win it(and Im glad he didnt) but hit fit his storyline and served another master later in the show.

Then we get Vince being annoyed with his weight issues....then we get the awful booking of International Incident. then we get the unexpected rise in popularity with Sid. then we get SSlam 96 and Vince pivots but when Vader gets injured in the fall(twice) he feels justified he made the right move.

Its tough to call.

[The Brain]

Still surprises me Gorilla went along with the attack post Rumble that year considering his bad health