In a recent episode of the podcast “Something To Wrestle”, JBL filled in for Bruce Prichard and engaged in a discussion questioning whether Vader represents the biggest ‘what-if’ moment in the chronicles of WWE history.
The podcast episode had myriad of highlights which are summarised below:
Drawing attention to whether Vader could be the biggest ‘what-if’ in the archives of WWE history, JBL commented,
“Yes, I am convinced. It’s beyond any doubt. When Vader arrived, it was apparent he had lost a bit of his edge. For instance, he was in a brawl with [Paul] Orndorff, which I suspect negatively affected his confidence. Additionally, he had to get clean, and that, in my opinion, also took a toll on him. He was grappling with shoulder pain and was often discontented. He was perceived as cantankerous, but I believe that was largely due to his discomfort. Vader was not the same when he joined WWE. We were expecting the Vader from perhaps four years earlier, but that’s not who showed up. Accordingly, it remains a huge ‘what-if’. Perhaps, if Vince had brought him onboard in 91, things might have been different.”
JBL also discussed the potential of missed matches between Vader and Bret Hart in the early ’90s,
“Had he gone head-to-head with Bret, I am confident we would have witnessed some extraordinary matches. Similarly, some unforgettable bouts could have happened with Sean during his rise. I recall a renowned match with Otto von Graz in Austria where, unbelievably, Otto instructed, ‘Break my nose.’ Their fight was incredibly intense, and Vader did indeed break his nose. It was notably savage. Regardless, Vader was talented. He had remarkable stamina.”
To listen to all the incredible stories shared in the new episode of “Something To Wrestle”, you can watch the linked video below: [embedded content]