Vader On Warning Bret Hart Before Montreal Screwjob, Backstage Paul Orndorff Fight, Mick Foley, More

I sat down with Leon White (aka Vader of WCW and WWE fame) for a one hour interview recently.

Here are some highlights from the full video interview above.

His health status:

"I simply believe in my heart that I'm not gonna die. I'm sitting here and I feel good. I got up at 6am this morning. I had quick workout and went to the airport for a 10 o'clock flight and l am here. And I feel fine. I really do. I did receive the bad news from three different heart specialists. Because of the way I've lived my life, and they (doctors) asked me if I drink and I haven't drank in 15 years so it surprised me that it would be one of the causes. I originally reported it was because of football and my wrestling career but that was not the whole story."

Advertisement

Working with Sting:

"The thing about Steve [Borden], he was easy. We didn't have to talk. We just go out and tear the house down. Every time and it was that easy. He was by far one (of my favorites). We were probably closer in terms of being on the same wave link. We really communicated well in that regard."

Mick Foley's ear tearing off during his match in Germany:

"I remember when he hung himself in the ropes and it initially was torn. I had thought all these years that I had done it. I was getting the credit for it. I was watching some footage of it at WWE film room with Mick and he did tear his ear in the ropes. It was later in the match when I got my hand in and I pulled it away from the ear and it flies up. So I think the final tear was from me."

Advertisement

When Ken Shamrock broke script during a WWE match:

"You see, I had given him too much credit as a worker and I actually wanted to get down to his level so he could punch me in the face to make those shots look good. So I gave myself to him. And it was intentional but that is part of the deal. And I gave them that big shot to the head as a receipt. I hit him as hard as I could. I don't think it phased him but it look like it did. I clocked him pretty good.

The infamous backstage fight with Paul Orndorff that led to his WCW departure:

"He (Orndorff) still talks about it and does interviews and it's complete adulterated bulls***! The whole story was I had woke up that morning to a phone call from Eric Bischoff. He says, 'Leon you promised me a photo shoot for weeks. He says you do it today or I'm going to fire you.' And he was serious. So I said OK when do you want me there. Later I told Eric to make sure to call over there and let them know I am going to be late. Because if you don't, you'll catch hell. And sure enough he didn't call and I often wonder if that was planned. So I walk in there and Paul approached me and says why the f–k are you late? And I said what a minute Paul and I was trying to explain. And as far as I was concerned Dusty and Eric were my two bosses that I had. And Paul starts barking at me for being late and saying who the f*** did I think I was and I said a few choice words to him and we separated. So he's in my face and he is hollering, spitting and saying he's going to beat me up and he's going to break my back. And it wasn't idle threat she was threatening me so I slap the s–t out of him. He was out cold and if I wanted to I could've jumped on him or sat on him. Paul was crippled. He couldn't fight. He was 210lbs. I was 400 lbs. I was bench pressing 550 lbs. I could have murdered him. When I slapped him, his head just misses the steel toolbox and I freaked. I lost a great job for a ton of money and that's the sad part about it because I was responsible as anyone in WCW in that era with Sting, Foley, Rick Rude, and Sid Vicious before Hogan came along."

Advertisement

Warning Bret Hart the night of the 'Montreal Screwjob'

"I told Bret straight out don't get yourself in a near fall because if they have something planned, that's what will happen. The ref will count three. He said no Leon I trust (Earl) Hebner and I've talked to Shawn. I said you're wrong – you're crazy. I said you think the businessman that Vince McMahon is he's going to allow you to go to WCW with his belt as World champion? I said Bret you're not that important. Nobody is that important but somehow he thought he was going to walk out of that ring world champion and go to WCW. How many employees does Vince feed? He fed me! I didn't want Bret to take that belt down there."

Source: GOProWrestling YouTube Channel

Comments

Recommended