Told by 2 heart Drs that my heart is wore out Ihave been given less than two yrs to live Iam only now allowing this as part of my reality
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) November 15, 2016
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Via Wrestling News – Former WCW/WWE Superstar Vader has had a tough week. As previously noted, he was involved in a rollover car accident last week and he is lucky to be alive. On Monday night he shared some news from his doctor. He told fans on twitter that his heart has been worn out from football and wrestling and that he has 2 years to live due to congestive heart failure.
Obviously, we wish him well and hope nothing but the best for him.
In the 1990’s, Vader was known as one of the best working big men in the business. It was rare to see someone as big as him move so fast and it was a bigger rarity to see someone of his size do a moonsault off the top rope. His size, speed and look helped to put him in the WCW title picture and he later had a run with WWE.
He has battled health issues over the years with knee and back issues. He underwent knee replacement surgery several years ago and he has talked about beating alcoholism after splitting with his wife in 2007. He came close to dying after the knee replacement surgery when he passed out on a plane on the way back to Japan. That resulted in him being in a coma for 33 days and he lost 112 pounds during that time period so there is no doubt that Vader is a fighter and a tough SOB.
Well, shit. This news has made this diehard wrestlling fan from the 90s era pretzeled up into one sad panda. Just heart-wrenching news. It’s further evidence of just what being a professional athlete and professional wrestler can do to the body, especially when you’re that big of a man.
Growing up, Vader was without a shadow of a doubt the wrestler I feared most. He didn’t smile. He didn’t shake hands. He was, quite simply, a mountain of a man who beat the ever loving shit out of anyone that stood in his ways.
But, Vader was so much more than that. He’s a world-class worker who has earned the respect of every one of his peers. The man once had his damn eye knocked out of his head during a match. His battles with Cactus Jack were the stuff of Rob Zombie films. As a child, I remember being legitimately afraid that he was going to literally kill Shawn Michaels in the ring. Then, to be a fan long enough to see his return, his match with Heath Slater, and to hear the crowd chanting his name…man, that’s such a cool, powerful thing. That’s the kind of thing these guys work decades to achieve.
Many don’t get the chance at that kind of career.
He’s touted as one of the best super-heavyweights of all time, but I disagree. I don’t think you qualify that statement at all – Vader is just plain and simple, one of the best wrestlers of all time. His run has been vastly underrated, but deserves to talked about among the industry’s elite.
Mick Foley has been lobbying for Vader to be a part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017. This is a given. If Vader hasn’t had a Hall of Fame careeer, no one has.
His work will live on forever so long as there are kids subscribing to the WWE Network. In that way, he’s immortal.
Vader Time forever.
Stoney Keeley is the editor of the SoBros Network, Tennessee Titans Featured Analyst for Pro Football Spot, Contributor to FanSided’s Bama Hammer, and covers the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @PFSpot, @WrestlingNewsCo, @Bama_Hammer
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