Jim Ross On His Frustration With Vader

JR shares his thoughts on Vader not doing himself any favors during his time with the WWF
FULL SHOW: • Survivor Series 1998: ...
#wwe #jimross #ricflair #wrestling #wrestlingnews #aew #prowrestling

[@adamlone5548]

Gotta love how he glosses right over the fact that that Vader DID have the accolades and had already paid his dues by that point, so much so that it was undeniably petty to put a weight loss clause in his contract when they already had Nelson Frazier looking like a human blimp and were apparently fine with that. Leon's only mistake was agreeing to such nonsense in the first place.

[@tonyclifton2230]

In fairness big daddy v was doing the big fat comedy gimick/midcard enforcer gimick. He was not getting pushed past that level. Vader was thought of differently.

[@EGarrett01]

And Vader was well over 40-years-old by that point. Your body chemistry changes and it's a lot harder to do that. It's much more likely that Shawn Michaels and his buddies decided that Vader needed to lose weight, since there seems to be every possible excuse not to push someone who isn't one of the Clique's friends when they're in control.

[@allencollins5666]

Truth. Vader Didn't Need To Lose Weight. Fat Wrestlers In Main Events Have To Weigh No Less Than 400 Pounds. Vince McMahon Knows That, And Commanding That Vader Lose Weight Was A Sabotage So He Could Weigh Less Than 400 Piunds & Then Not Get Pushed To Top Because He A WCW Guy. And Vince McMahon Didn't Command Rikishi Lose Weight, Because He A WWE Guy. When Paul Wight First Went To WWE, He Was Told He Needed To Lose Weight. He Had Surgery Before Going To WWE. If He Had To Lose Over 100 Pounds, It Would've Been Clearly What The WWE Were Doing, Sabotaging His Push Because He Was A WCW Guy. WWE Fat Wrestlers Under 400 Pounds Who Some Felt Were Worthy Of A Push, WWE Never Commanded Them To Gain Weight, To Weigh At Least 400 Pounds.

[@PontFlair]

@@tonyclifton2230 awesome name

[@erikaw7767]

he needed to lose weight.. he refused. easy to not feel bad for him.

[@garethcullen9604]

When they fed him to Kane you knew it was goodnight Irene for Vader. Putting the new monster over on the way out is booking 101.

[@cutekanjii]

The real reason was he wasn't a Vince McMahon creation he was the same character in the WWF as he was in WCW and that in itself means he was never going to last with McMahon.

[@cra0422]

My thoughts exactly. Vince MacMahon has always had problems with characters/personas that got over but weren't his creation. Look at "Broken" Matt Hardy and Sting in WWE

[@sebastiannock942]

@@cra0422I’d rather never think about Sting in WWE again thanks. What an absolute waste of one of the best performers ever. I lost a lot of respect for Vince and HHH with their handling of Sting.

[@specialagentorange4329]

That's why Cody Rhodes will never be champ

[@TheFailedmessiah]

What's crazy about sting in wwe is how back in 2001 when wcw folded and sting was thinking about signing with wwe he was worried wwe was going to bury him. Then some 15+ years later he finally signs with wwe and they bury him anyway.

[@kaiserrino8774]

After his run in 98 he went to All Japan and killed it over there. The WWF simply messed it up with him. Thanks Shawn and Vince.

[@johnpenguinthe3rd13]

Vader in All Japan after he left WWE was AWESOME. Vader won the Triple Crown (their most prestigious championship and one of the most prestigious championships in all of wrestling) and had some amazing matches (especially the Vader versus Misawa matches). It's crazy how WWE completely misused Vader and let him go, only to see Vader immediately come back to glory in All Japan.

[@terskatti4994]

shawn was and still is a douchebag

[@MakeLifeExtraordinary]

I agree. WWE dropped the ball with him. They had somebody who actually looked like a threat to Hogan and everybody else in the company. He was big, but he wasn’t terribly fat. He was just bulky. The fact is, Leon was always around that same weight. So I don’t understand what WWE thought they were getting out of him, but they certainly dropped the ball. because he was one of the big guys, with natural talent, who had the engineering skills and microphone skills that he could’ve done anything. I think him and Dusty Rhodes, the way they used him, even though he got over with it… Ridiculous mindset towards them. Vince should’ve been slapped for not knowing what to do with either. Dusty should’ve been put in red white and blue and carried on his every man gimmick that he had with WCW. Dusty was the continuation of people like Bruno Sammartino. Teaming him and Hogan in red, white and blue against any of the large tag teams they had at the time would’ve been pure money. Again, stupidity. Vince was one of the smartest men in the business, but for whatever reason, he got brain clots every once in a while, and just couldn’t foresee a future in anybody like these guys. Even though again, Dusty got himself over and there was a little he could do about it. And he had a hell of a career after the ring for WWE. I just wish he was able to go out with a huge bang, like he deserved. Like a world championship win at one of the wrestlemania, let him hold it for a year, and at the next wrestlemania, drop it and retire. Maybe even with Hogan.

[@wizzerwiser2056]

He was such a beats. Vince didn't create him therefore he was never a star.

[@Rjensen2]

That's an entirely different country, you moron.

[@glengabruch4664]

Why did Vader have to lose weight at all? His size was part of his gimmick. He was a proven main event performer and huge draw everywhere he worked. He was and is regarded as one of the best big men performers in all of wrestling history. He was a proven commodity who already paid his dues and showed his ability and worth. Why mess with a proven commodity?

[@Nickgray649]

Cause he was too fat to move stupid

[@christopherjames9843]

Vader was a terrible wrestler with no mic skills or charisma.

[@RedfishCarolina]

Horseshit, Vader was one of the best monster heels ever. He fit the definition of a monster heel perfectly.

[@christopherjames9843]

"monster heel" is filled with crappy wrestlers like he and Bundy. Big fat guys. @@RedfishCarolina

[@InotziaCityArt]

Vince doesn't like fat people

[@PontFlair]

Vader should've been a multiple time WWF World Champion. My opinion. Or at least held it once for 6mos or so. One of my all-time favorite pro-wrestlers. R.I.P. *"NO PAIN"*

[@lehtroon9653]

🤣

[@PontFlair]

@@lehtroon9653 Idk what's funny. I'm just gonna assume you don't know what you're talking about. It's all good

[@kingdjack6]

Actually with Cornette another commitment issue JR had was Vader wasn't making his dates and this was happening around Summer Slam 96 which is why he didn't win the title.

[@lehtroon9653]

Vader? Champ??!! 😆. What's next?? You're going to say that Hornswoggle vs little giberg would be a great mania main event? 😂

[@robertmcelwaine7024]

His talents were wasted in the WWE. Apparent;part of the reason for that was Shawn Michael being a diva and refusing to drop the belt to him.

[@djpuplex]

Talking to Conrad about weightloss. 🤣

[@ZealKingdom]

I still remember the OSW episode that had the animation of Vader and Yoko sneaking out to get chicken 😂😂

[@PatrickBarnes86]

They had to ketchup with the Colonel

[@KB-hh8rt]

What didn't work about Vader was SHAWN MICHAELS. Vader was already a known name. People knew who he was and he had all the accolades. Vader should have been a WWF champion. Hell Vince pushed big guys like Yokozuna and Mabel so I don't want to hear about his weight. We all know the real reason why Vader's push was ended. Cornette talked about this before. That was just a reason to get rid of him, the same reason why Vince got rid of Bret. It was all SHAWN and him being such a diva.

[@wesleywarsmith1113]

That was a major part. Shawn( along with most) can't slam Vader and that's the argument. Vader doesn't go up for anybody,,you need to pick him up IF you can LOL.

[@vanthdreadstar8039]

Vader went from WWE to taking on Misawa in Japan. I would have never guessed that period of his career was post WWE. Freaking LEGEND.

[@PatI-zg9gm]

White, like other gaijin( Brody, Hansen, Gordy, Williams, The Funks), really didn’t need the American wrestling scene. They took pay cuts to work outside The Orient.

[@GoodDredd]

Watching Shawn Michaels beat Vader killed any love I had for wrestling. I just fathom, no matter how scripted, they could tell me that little tiny man could beat this dude. WWF mishandled him.

[@Rschr101]

So you missed the entire attitude era when that crybaby Shawn was at home with the fake back injury? Bummer. You should check it out cuz the show was never better than in those 4 years Shawn was gone.

[@Ringmaster222]

​@@Rschr101proof it was fake?

[@redeastwood4850]

Wrestlers who made a name for themselves not in wwe, were buried when coming to wwe. Another example is Sting, Dusty Rhodes, and many more im sure. The only guy that was a star before wwe, that came to wwe and wasn't buried was Ric Flair. He was just to good to bury as far as charisma and marketability.

[@kazman_6899]

Vader jobbing to HBK was fine imo. HBK was being put over huge. There wasn't a wrestler that shouldn't hae jobbed to him in the company. The same for Bret.

[@AssClown-wi6og]

I’ve always hated Shawn Michaels. We all know he let Vince blow him to be where he is today. I wish Shawn fell from the rafters instead of Owen.

[@BishopWalters12]

Jim Cornette is probably right about this one, WWF/Vince mixed with HBK being a diva and Vader's own attitude problems is why the ball was dropped. I don't think Vader was a bust in WWF but it just could've been so much more. I love JR but he's letting WWF creative off the hook too much here.

[@homedeezyfasheezy5662]

You’ve said “his” name… prepare for the onslaught of haters that will reply to this comment regardless of how much truth is being stated.

[@DoctorBastard]

​@@homedeezyfasheezy5662Make it worse by saying Harpo Fingerfuck and All Inept Wrestling.

[@KB-hh8rt]

It was 100% due to Shawn. That's exactly why Vader's push was ended early. WWE fans don't want to address the elephant in the room but I will.

[@oscarjohnson5549]

I remember as a young fan, thinking Vader was a terrifying monster. And it was believable. Him "losing 20 pounds" wouldn't have matter to a fan back then. Guy was a fucking monster character.

[@jeffrichards1537]

Cornette is never wrong about anything wrestling. Point blank dude is a fountain of knowledge.

[@dtfonmyballs8752]

They had Vader back in 2012 and he looked amazing. I'm not sure what the weight clause was rather than a way to release him.

[@taylorbible]

Wasn't he like a turtle on its back?

[@usa5439]

JR please don't smoke. It isn't good and we want you here for years to come 🙏

[@SEGAHEADDY]

When Vader lost to The Rock in the 1998 King of the Ring, you see/hear him say, "I'm just a fat piece of shit!" as he walked up the ramp to the curtain after the match. My buddies and I were like "Whoa!!" When we saw that live on RAW at the time. Clearly, something was wrong.

[@greenskiis]

You mean when he wrestled Kane?

[@SEGAHEADDY]

@@greenskiis No. Vader vs. The Rock was in the first round of the 1998 King of the Ring tournament and was a televised match on RAW.

[@bubbacalling]

he was asked to say that by Vince.

[@SEGAHEADDY]

@bubbacalling Really? Say "shit" live on TV? He seemed really upset and I don't think the camera/audio was supposed to pick it up.

[@bubbacalling]

Bruce Prichard confirmed that Vince asked him to say that, maybe not the phrase 'piece of shit' but he did ask him to call him self fat and come across as dejected. Also, it's PPV, not their weekly USA Network show so they could be more liberal with language if they wanted to be.@@SEGAHEADDY

[@CamSTL]

Imagine seeing security footage of an almost 400lber and a 600lber being sneaky af to get some kfc 😂. R.I.P to Vader and Yoko

[@PatI-zg9gm]

They probably called The Colonel an hour prior, to make sure all the friers were utilized lol.

[@Bambino_60]

Leon was terrifying when I was a kid.

[@PatI-zg9gm]

He needed to come to the ring wearing that smoking mask, and be known as Big Van Vader. That is the way he needed to be presented, period.

[@thesupervisor3270]

I was hoping WCW would have brought back Vader in 2000-2001. Maybe if WCW made it pass March 2001 they would have

[@SylentEcho]

WWF and HBK did him dirty. The guy could go! His whole gimmick was being big and he never got dangerously fat for his frame.

[@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854]

Funny how Visera/Mable was never hassled...

[@danielhawthorne1838]

Yeah. Had he been. He might still be alive today.

[@jayballa1121]

Agreed

[@EGarrett01]

Yes, and his whole gimmick was no-selling and being stiff. That's what Inoki taught him to do (Inoki's gimmick was being a legit fighter and Vader was brought in as a villain for Inoki to fight), and as JR said, he brought Vader in for the Stan Hansen-style match.

[@greenskiis]

​@mcgannahanskyjellyfetti6854 And unlike Leon Mable didn't have any muscle mass whatsoever. All flab!

[@VegasTwins]

there is a huge problem they don't address with asking Vader to lose weight. Much of the character was the massive imposing look. Losing weight could have hindered that, and who pays for that vader, so its not just that simple, WWE at the time probably was serious about wanting him to lose weight, but had he lost his look and aura, they also would have seriously ditched him.

[@billymarino4452]

Same thing with Yokozuna. They wanted him to lose weight but his whole gimmick was this massive figure who was larger than life. They even had early vignettes of him eating bowls of rice. That wouldn't of worked with a skinny Yokozuna. And I'm sure Yokozuna thought "if I lose weight, I'm gonna look like everyone else. I have to be big to stand out." You could also make that case for Andre the Giant, who declined to have the surgery to stop the growth gland because he thought it would impact his career. Although admittingly it's not the same because, even if he got the surgery, he would of still been a huge guy.

[@Jukeboxster]

I'm sure a certain weight is dangerous for other wrestlers to deal with. It doesn't sound like they wanted him to get down to 250 lbs, but lose about 20 lbs so that he can still be skillful in the ring and safe for other wrestlers.

[@VegasTwins]

@@billymarino4452 yup same deal. I mean yoko was still gonna be like 450 or so, so still stand out but I could still see him being concerned about it. For Vader I think the risk was greater.

[@VegasTwins]

@@Jukeboxster it isn’t safe but looking huge was a big part of vaders success. It isn’t mutually exclusive. Yes, health wise it isn’t for the best but honestly neither is being a pro wrestler. Reality is a guy like Vader protected his gimmick and probably knew he could go to Japan and wrestle. So he didn’t want to lose the weight and risk it.

[@hellohell77]

I don't think him going down to 320 would've made him less menacing. Def not 350. But he also had a built-in perception. Everyone knew he was a menace. I mean maybe some strictly WWF fans didn't. But most did. It was just a bad fit. Vince just didn't get him. And Maybe Vader didn't really get Vince either. Different wrestlers but it kind of reminds me of RVD. Vince was nicer to him but it's like they never got each other and that hindered robs run a little bit. Obviously better run than vaders. Difference is, I think Vince at least respected robs athleticism and the fact he kept in good shape. I don't think he respected Vader. I think he saw him as a fat wcw guy wth a jockstrap on his face that could be molded. Vader was already a big name though.

[@firewalker1372]

Sh*t didn’t realize Jim was a smoker. One of the greatest commentators in wrestling history.

[@Benjames9696]

Hope it was just a little weed Jim's smoking.

[@matthewnikitas8905]

@@Benjames9696That was definitely a cigarette lol

[@2020Bookworm]

A guy smoking a cigarette and looking like death is giving out health advice. Oh brother.

[@Dadmcdadface]

He’s 72 and a widower. Let him live 😂.

[@danielaquino2002]

I still remember his Boy meets world episodes.

[@ScoobieDoobie197474]

With all his health issues WTF is he doing smoking

[@thaistomp]

A man can enjoy a smoke and a drink every now and then 😎

[@kennethsmith8968]

not when ur dead.@@thaistomp

[@dougwhaley1734]

Dead or alive u gonna be both 1 day

[@earlofdrumer1851]

I remember they had Blackjack Bradshaw get a clean pin over Vader at Breakdown, using a modified neckbreaker. That's when I knew they'd disposed of his services in all but name, and reduced him to jobber

[@benjamindesanti7899]

Shawn Michael's is the reason for Vader's down fall

[@hiddensword9387]

nah no it's not. Vader was considered a bully by many and a lot of top guys didn't want to work with him because he would hurt them. Bret didn't like working with him for that reason, he said he would hurt guys.

[@ShadowAngel18606]

@@hiddensword9387 LOL. Bret's a whiny cunt who complained about everybody who made body contact. Just read his stupid diatribe about the chop in his book and how it would be "better and more realistic, to slap your thigh instead of making actual contact". That crybaby really shouldn't be listened to in that regard. Vader was fine, he wasn't any stiffer than Funk or Foley around the same time.

[@donjohn2695]

Vader always had good things to say about Shawn in shoot interviews the problem wasn't Shawn it was Vince who booked Vader wrong

[@heyeye81]

@@haroldhall1517 imo he was great he was one of the first big men I ever saw do a moonsault. was pretty athletic and was a good antagonist for baby faces to overcome. Vader to me was a valuable part and something lost in wrasslin today.

[@ShadowAngel18606]

@@haroldhall1517 Don't cut yourself on that edge

[@pavlovsdogman]

JR smoking and drinking whiskey? 🤣 Good for you old timer! 🤠

[@petertristan5885]

Mean Jean Oakland Jim Ross. My favorite two wrestling commentaries..

[@mariogallego5513]

I mean, damn, some guys are just big-boned. Thats just life. Did he show up to work everyday? On time? Did he do his work to the best of his ability? Did he do job and put people over when asked? A weight loss clause is just petty.

[@Ramblebar]

A shame to see that you have started smoking again JR ,I remember you talking about finally quitting smoking some years back and how much better you felt when you got that monkey off your back but as someone who lost their mother a few months back to lung cancer due to her being a long time smoker for over 50 years I hope you can quit for good sometime in the near future but much respect JR you are an absolute legend and as a Colorado dude I appreciate you keeping the memories of CU and longtime Colorado resident Leon White as well as Lakewood Colorado born and raised Dr Death Steve Williams very much alive Much Respect Mr.Ross!!!

[@milesdvd]

Everybody has their vices. He a grown man and knows the consequences let him live.. worry about your own shit.. its 2024 people are bat shit crazy and you want to make someone feel bad for smoking.. pitiful

[@positively_broad_st3780]

Brilliant idea to send Vader and Yoko to try to lose weight in North Carolina, the land of BBQ and Bojangles...

[@shaunlafountain7189]

Vader was the best with his stiff wrestling style... i personally feel this overly aggressive style wasnt particularly popular in the WWF at that time...in WCW it was popular...correct me if im wrong

[@robertclarke8811]

Vader losing weight wouldn't have made any difference. WWE(F) always had a habit of not pushing talent or gimmicks who were very successful elsewhere.

[@PatI-zg9gm]

Yes. McMahon either saddled established stars with stupid gimmicks (Race, Taylor, Windham), or he allowed them to keep their previous name( Rhodes, Vader), but try to devalue them. McMahon would be a fascinating psychological study.

[@greenskiis]

Vader was the only wrestler called fat by wrestlers and commentators in his WWF run. Even Yokozuna, Earthquake, etc. never crossed that line. You could tell there was legit heat.

[@KB-hh8rt]

Shawn got Vader's push ended early and complained about how stiff he was in the ring. The weight thing was just an excuse to let him go.

[@magazineretriever9036]

Vince McMahon allowed Vader and Yokozuna to balloon up to a ridiculous size. In 1990, when Yoko was a mere 480 lbs, he needed to lose weight. Then he arrives in the WWF in late 1992 at 505 lbs, and becomes an absolutely enormous 650 lbs by 1996.

[@hardkoregamer1981]

All these stories told in pro wrestling always seems to be all over the place and i feel like we're never given the complete honest truth about any of theses stories.

[@FiveNumberJonny]

Jim Ross. A cigarette smoker. Never knew lol

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Can JR stop drinking and smoking long enough to so the podcast? Jeez!

[@MrRyanlennie2005]

I don’t really get why it’s a big deal if Vader is 370 rather than 350 when WWE around this time had Yokozuna and Mabel/Viscera at 500lbs+.

[@ShadowAngel18606]

Well Mabel injured people left and right because he hadn't had his weight under control and Yokozuna was sent to weight loss programs all the time. At some point weight does become a problem. Still, Vader had it under control and w as a great wrestler who definitely deserved a lot better than what he got in the WWF.

[@PontFlair]

*@ShadowAngel18606* Idk if he improved, and it's no disrespect to him, at one point Mabel/Vis was a horrid worker. Shit. Weight wasn't what hurt people. Now, maybe you can say it was a combo, you just can't say it was weight alone. R.I.P. Vis

[@ShadowAngel18606]

@@PontFlair At one point? He always was shit and injured people left and right because due to his weight he was clumsy

[@tritchie6272]

They were demanding Yoko loose some weight as well. From my understanding their was concern that Yoko was getting dangerous to work with because of his weight. My guess is their was concern with Vader over that as well.

[@MrRyanlennie2005]

@@tritchie6272 yeah I know but realistically Yoko wasn’t going to drop like 200lbs. He was even if he lost a significant amount of weight going to be bigger than Vader at 370, hence why I don’t get what the big deal was about Vader’s size.

[@harleyjackson3708]

Cant believe i popped into the comments section only to see a bunch of people complaining that an old southern man smokes and drinks. Big fucking surprise 🙄

[@mikebryant614]

I hope they didnt soil their panties over it , but they probably did.

[@mcknice]

Jr sounds great and clear headed

[@iamjustjoseph]

Vader didn't need to lose weight. Wtf would his gimmick be if he was thinner? Mankind? Nah he got ousted by politics, obviously.

[@histochronos]

The amount of disrespect to Vader was very apparent. From HBK kicking him at SS 96 to the "weight clause" to having WWF script that he calls himself a "fat pos." This guy won the IGWP and WCW titles, he beat Inoki, Sting, Flair, ect. He almost lost his eye and had superb battles against Stan Hansen and Cactus Jack. Like stfu JR, you are covering for the fact WWF misused Vader. You cant say he was over-the-hill when he went back to Japan and won the Triple Crown.

[@PatI-zg9gm]

Yes. The guy was the epitome of an ass kicker, and that had to be his persona. Ross comes across as a McMahon apologist, and I am not sure why. The fact is, McMahon was always better at finding a better gimmick/ style for wrestlers who were a bit adrift, than he was in dealing with guys well established. With the latter, he often screwed them up, and some of it appeared to be deliberate. Terry Taylor was a terrific worker, and would have been ideal as an arrogant prick heel. Instead, he tells him to get a stupid red Mohawk, and cluck like a chicken. There was no reason to put Rhodes in polka dots and saddle him with a terrible valet. Rhodes still got over, but I am not sure that even pleased McMahon.

[@60BloodyChamp60]

Asking Vader to lose weight is like asking Abdullah the Butcher to lose weight. Or asking the Road Warriors to lose steroids. Wtf. Just wasn’t happening. And that was part of their appeal.

[@D2Kprime]

This is absurd. Vader being 450 pounds but being able to move like a 200 pounder in the ring was all apart of his mystique and legend. He didn't need to be down to 370 or 350 or whatever. Big Show was never asked to be that light. Neither was Mark Henry. Neither was Viscera who had a history of injuring people BEFORE he came back to the WWF in 1998 and proceeded to only get larger over time despite being over 500 pounds. There was some other reason that they wanted Vader gone and they just used his weight as an excuse. Maybe it was because he never washed his ring gear and he stank all to be damned. Who knows.

[@ajdynamo6866]

I think a lot of guys didn't appreciate how stiff Vader worked. That may have played some part of how he was treated backstage once he jumped over.

[@georgealvarez1195]

They didn't appreciate it because it's not a real sport. Being known as "stiff" in a faked sport with a fixed winner is fucking lame. It's like being a boxer or MMA fighter and being known for hurting your sparring partners. You know the people who explicitly aren't trying to beat you or hurt you? Yeah Vader loved beating the shit out of those guys for fun

[@r2b2sw25]

no offense to jr, but hes a multi millionaire, hardly the average joe

[@Jeremy252]

He wasn't a multi-millionaire at the time this story takes place. Use context clues.

[@onamattapeeya]

He was not a multi-millionaire at the time but he was also definitely not an average joe, to be successful in the management side of wrestling you have to be a crooked yes man, that's how he got his start being Bill's boy, you also forgot one of the fundamental rules of pro wrestling, it's a work, the guys who seem nice on TV are often the a-holes and the ones that are jerks turn out to be nice, it's also important to know that it's impossible to feel bad for him taking a break from announcing due to health issues while he's sitting here chugging soft drinks and chain smoking, I guess that means he does not have enough commitment, commitment to his life, because he won't stop smoking cigarettes, you see how something can be turned around on a dime? So stop being such a useless fanboy, class dismissed

[@datacipher]

@@onamattapeeyawell said and true.

[@GnosticHermes]

​@@datacipherWell said? Bro wrote a paragraph as one run-on sentence. 😂

[@datacipher]

@@GnosticHermes I was not judging him on his eloquence or grammatical skill - which would be a very foolish thing to do (as your own reply stands in testament to) Rather, I was commenting on the content of his diatribe - it was excellent.

[@texascreekcowboy1587]

cigs and a bottle of Jack? whoa!

[@sphresa]

Hard to justify the demand when you know the amazing athletic matches he put on in Japan after with two Triple Crown wins several years after the demand was made

[@TheRealVerbalAbuser]

Look at JR, smoking a cigarette, looking like a bad grit sandwich talking about Vader's lack of commitment.

[@Drewman8]

We love you JR...please no more smoking...we care about you too much.

[@PatI-zg9gm]

McMahon has a history of punishing wrestlers for letting their weight balloon: Adonis, Vader, Yokozuna, among others. He did not “plan” on giving Makhan Singh the Bastion Booger gimmick. That was a punishment.

[@trevorphilips9484]

Meanwhile, Viscera/Mabel, Rikishi, Big Show, and a bunch of other guys were allowed to be the size of oil rigs? Leon was a solid worker, didn't need to lose weight, when a percentage of the card was heavier and allowed to be so. It smells like JR is siding with Shawn and the office.

[@PatI-zg9gm]

To be fair. McMahon punished a lot of guys for not regulating their weight. Adonis was saddled with that ridiculous gimmick because he inflated, and Wight was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestlng because of it.

[@TheBaitShopGuy]

I'd be funny if Yoko and Vader did a sumo match sometime around 96 but McMahon would have to let Vader gain weight. That Earthquake v. Yokozuna sumo match was awesome legendary. Canada v. Japan in pure sumoness.

[@thankgod4rednecsinnitt290]

Just love JR in the background chugging a whiskey out of the bottle and smoking a cigarette like it’s the most casual thing in the world.

[@paulhuszti947]

looks like tea

[@ShadowAngel18606]

What isn't casual about that? Also takes either a lot of balls or dead taste nerves to down Jack Daniels like that, compared to proper Whisky, it's quite disgusting.

[@Jukeboxster]

that's not whiskey, you can see the tea leaves on the label

[@BassPro2]

Vader is in my top 10 list, when he came in and destroyed gorilla I was crying as a child it felt like this man was going to actually kill som1

[@SupaStah01]

Calling bs. Not a KFC in the world open at 1230am. Especially in 1997. Not denying Vader didn't lose weight, just saying it wasn't bc of sneaking to KFC at midnight

[@meanmattworld]

OK, I saw JR on Tales of the Territories, now here, and when did he start smoking cigarettes, knew he smoked cigars. The WWF title should of been held by Vader, he won almost every other title

[@richv3742]

Crazy thing is Vader and HBK had chemistry. There match was just booked wrong. Vader needed to be a monster heel. You can’t have a smaller baby face beating up a big heel like that.

[@PatI-zg9gm]

Yes. their styles complimented each other. The problem was that Michaels, great as face or heel, was best as a bumping heel worker, much like Hennig and Blanchard.

[@AstralWolf86]

For a split second I though this video title meant Darth Vader

[@jeffrichards1537]

Vader should have been allowed to be the monster he was in Japan and WCW. WWE fumbled him.

[@LouisBee]

Jim Ross won't exactly say Shawn Michaels played some part in the way Titan Towers handled Vader in the end. I think they knew what they had, and the program Vader did with Shamrock was proof enough of that. There is a big "What-if" had things been booked differently although Vader's Renaissance in All Japan Pro Wrestling was made that much more worthwhile because his WWF run ultimately underwhelmed.

[@Crodmog83]

I didnt know Jr has a youtube channel. Sweet!!

[@lovelyhurlin6494]

When did JR get back on the smokes?😢

[@NefastusJones]

JR is ABG. Always Be Grilling ( his lungs )

[@matthewnikitas8905]

He’s always been a smoker no?

[@lovelyhurlin6494]

@@matthewnikitas8905 He gave them up for a long time after his Bells palsy. Spoke about it on Stone Colds podcast.

[@ingotants3809]

I don't think that Leon was ever under 360 Lbs in his entire Career.He was already close to 400 when he came over here to Germany as Bull Power.What kind of sense does it make to take away what made Vader and that's his size and how good he was with all that Weight.And he proved that WWE was wrong when he went back to Japan and had another great run.

[@ferox965]

Why didn't Bundy, One Man Gang, Bigelow, and others have that clause?

[@PatI-zg9gm]

Yes, I don’t recall Kamala having a SlimFast clause in his contract. I love the history of wrestling, but there is a “ton” of lying going on.

[@makuIa]

why is conrads energy so low all the time, he feels draining to listen to

[@aderek79]

For a "why didn't this wrestler work out in the company" segment I didn't hear anything about his work in the ring, audience reaction, promo work, tv audience retention during matches, or anything else that would tell me this person was not or would not be a high level draw for the program.

[@alanr4263]

Wow Jim Ross drinks & Smokes I thought with his Stroke he gave all that up.

[@MartianY2S]

I've seen it all JR SMOKIN A J..YOOOOOOO

[@JesusSavedMeFromASuicideAtempt]

JR smoking surprises me…Not good for his vessel..

[@edwinafamefuna4383]

Shawn Michaels was the gatekeeper that fucked up the WWF for many talents. That's why the product went the next level SSA took over.

[@Thex-W.I.T.C.H.-xMaster]

Vader was promised 2 runs as WWF Champion, look up that in shoot interviews about it sometime. Cornette talks about it and Vader mentioned it in shoot interviews before he died. Micheals killed it tho after Vader was too stiff with him at Summerslam 1996. After that Michaels pilled up ass put the bad month on Vader and if you remember Sid actually got the two WWF championship runs Vader was promised... the problem was Vader never got anything put in writing from what I understand from the shoot interviews.

[@yoewarriorgod]

all this could of, would of, should of Vader was Vader. It is what it is. That’s not on anybody. The machine keeps moving. Love him or hate him he was awesome in the ring to watch for some people. I appreciate these backstage stories.

[@williamoxendine6121]

Vader was a force

[@tomwigal8856]

Why Vader push didn't really happen I got two words for you shawn Michaels

[@Infam0usKiller]

You mean two names

[@yeoldsloth5549]

Talking about someone's heatlh while smoking oh the irony

[@gazof-the-north5708]

Yoko and Vader put the Chicken over!

[@PatI-zg9gm]

Vader was learning the cross faced chicken wing.

[@hymansahak181]

Good old JR.

[@garrymacfarlane9344]

thats proffessional smoking and drinking bourbon from a bottle during an interview

[@williamkious5349]

Vader should have whooped HBK's ass. He should have said fuck it and taught the kid a lesson in respect. I wanted a Vader and Kane tag team.

[@AssClown-wi6og]

I saw Arn Anderson at my local Pizza Hut. I thought it was a human snorlax. Arn needs to go to the Duke weight loss clinic ASAP

[@RickRudeMark]

Weight? WTF. He was always big. LOL. He didn't just become big when he got to WWE. Sounds like excuses cause Shawn didn't like how he worked stiff... Just like he always did before

[@KB-hh8rt]

Yup it was nonsense how they treated Leon. Shawn and Vince did him dirty.

[@Benjames9696]

It was all apart of Vince McMahons sick infatuation with body types. We all know Vince likes his wrestlers to fit a certain look.

[@chemicalreagent120]

Didn’t have commitment to his craft? Who else carried on wrestling with literally his eye popping out of its socket? I think by the point he was in wwf he saw what it was becoming

[@newpersonatuni]

I didn't know jr smoked

[@mjdf122]

JR smoking cigs

[@johnny5805]

It's disturbing to see an almost 72 year old man, and recovering cancer sufferer, smoking cigarettes.

[@invictusunum4808]

How exactly did WWE get a hold of that security camera footage???

[@positively_broad_st3780]

Don't believe JR on the security footage. Duke's clinic is outpatient. They go to classes, see doctors, and do physical therapy in the daytime, but have the rest of the day and night to themselves. They live off campus. They're not required to live in the clinic like a substance abuse rehab clinic. They have free will to come and go...

[@Jukeboxster]

why would they need to get a hold of it? someone working there could've just told them what happened

[@invictusunum4808]

​@Jukeboxster Jim Ross said they saw the security cam footage. It would make sense if WWE owned that weight loss clinic - maybe they did, but if so, Ross didn't mention it.

[@donjulio4025]

kfc are not open at 1230

[@PontFlair]

Somebody is making food or has it at that time LOL R.I.P. Vader and Yoko

[@positively_broad_st3780]

Duke clinic is outpatient. No one has to stay there. They live off campus when part of this program. They went to the clinic in the daytime, had the rest of the day and night to do whatever, and then go back to their hotel rooms. JR is bs'ing on some of this here...

[@BruceMichaelFilms]

I heard from podcasts that Vader was supposed to win the belt from Shawn, but that all got nixed after Shawn had a series of rough matches with him. As for the weight, look at Gunther. He got in shape for the main roster, and he’s still a hoss.

[@HelosWorldRailroadReseller]

JR talking about someone weight. He’s had all kinds of health problems and still smoking. Vader appeal was his size. Was he big ? Yes. Loosing weight for him makes no sense.

[@pwnranger3496]

I can hear Jim Cornette right now. JR saw Vader and Stan Hanson beat the hell out of each other in Japan, how in the fuck was his first thought Vader would make for a big money heel with Shawn Michaels, knowing how Vader worked and how Shawn would have reacted? In hindsight, signing Vader to the WWF was just a big waste of everyone's time

[@Anuskasv0]

Smoking and drinking, after all the health problems he has had?!

[@justworkingfortheweekend8504]

Weight lose can be easy if you are aware of what you eat.

[@colethompson2892]

Never thought I'd say this but jr was full of bull shit on this answer Leon didn't commit no shawn and vince didn't like him and with withe guy vince does rub himself to whispering in his ear this dudes the shots that's exactly what vince saw

[@hiddensword9387]

nah no it's not. Vader was considered a bully by many and a lot of top guys didn't want to work with him because he would hurt them. Bret didn't like working with him for that reason, he said he would hurt guys. JR had more first hand experience than some randomer on the internet.

[@colethompson2892]

@hiddensword9387 and Jim has many more reasons to defend the company that made him millions and millions of dollars Brett complains about nearly everyone he worked as his dad's top protected guy then went touring but spent the bulk of his time in wwe where there style is more exaggerated and commit book style less realism Vader came from Japan and the NWA where look real mattered and they laid there stuff in Taker has said yes he did work stiff but never hurt him, Foley worked with him before and during their run so while you have you examples I have mine

[@hiddensword9387]

@@colethompson2892 Jim has spoken bad about the company many times lol Vader had a history of being a baby and having attitude problem. Orndorff had to give him a beating back in WCW for being unprofessional and Harley Race said he was a whinner.

[@honeybadger9425]

I honestly believe you don’t need to be a good wrestler to be a good wrestler as we all luv a big fat person squashing someone. Wrestling today needs more of that imo I miss it.

[@edwinafamefuna4383]

WCW nor Japan had a problem selling Vadar. WWF was problem not Vadar. His size made his gimmick. You don't put an adonis in costume like that and sell him

[@mouseman2807]

I Love that Jim Smokes Cigs inside

[@PatI-zg9gm]

That is old school. They are probably unfiltered.

[@reymondlopez7468]

Here is why Vader flopped in WWF. He wasn’t a Vince guy. Simple. If Vince didn’t have a hand in getting you over then he didn’t care. No way he was putting Vader over one of his guys.