Vader, Legendary WWE and WCW Wrestler, Dies at 63

Former WWE wrestler Vader, whose real name was Leon White, has died after a two-year-battle with congestive heart failure. 

His son, Jesse White, broke the news via Twitter Wednesday morning, saying his father passed away Monday.

Vader had open-heart surgery in March and was reportedly doing fine. His health, however, began to deteriorate in recent weeks. 

Vader, who launched his wrestling career in 1985, was a household name in America and Japan before becoming a marquee figure in the WCW in the early 90s, becoming a three-time heavyweight champ. 

By 1996, Vader had moved to the WWE, where his star would shine the brightest while he battled foes like Shawn Michaels, Kane, and The Undertaker. 

Before launching his historic wrestling career, he was a football star at the University of Colorado and a two-time All-American lineman. He was later drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1978 and faced off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIV. The Steelers won t he game by a score of 31-19.

Vader also appeared on episodes of "Boy Meets World" and “Baywatch” in the 90s. 

WWE and the wrestling world as a whole took to social media to pay their respects to Vader. 

The Iron Sheik offered well wishes to his friend. 

Former wrestler D-Von Dudley also paid tribute to Vader. 

Wrestler Somoa Joe gave Vader’s famous "V" finger salute on Twitter. 

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