Vader in NWA

[Haiku Warrior]

Did anyone see Vader debut on NWA:TNA? I knew NWA had a deal with Zero-One but I knew nothing about a deal with NOAH. Last time I checked Vader was still on the roster. Does anyone know anymore to this story?

[The Franceman]

I'm not sure but i think ZERO-ONE is affiliated with NWA. (Hashimoto is a former NWA champ).

[Haiku Warrior]

NWA is affiliated with Zero-One.

I'm wondering if NOAH is with NWA or if Vader was released.

[Luds]

Does Vader have a year long contract with NOAH? He could probably work anywhere he wants in the US...

[EvilMidnightBomber]

Don't know about Vader's contract status, but they're adverstising a tag match with him and Dusty vs. the Harris Brothers for next week. Can the ring even support the combined weight of Vader and Big Dust?

[Jason]

I think Vader will make just a couple of appearances for TNA like the Road Warriors, Rock n' Roll Express, and Nikita did and that's it. I don't know that for sure of course, but it seems like TNA just likes to have suprises show up on all of their shows without really developing long-term plans for them.

I don't know about a specific relationship they have with NOAH but last fall Omori worked a TNA show when he was still with NOAH.

[RoaringElbow25]

this is great, Vader is great, I wish the WWE woulda used him better when they had him, and maybe he still would be wrestling in the states...although its prolly better for him he isnt

[Mutoh-Mania]

I like Vader, always have. But I think that like Mutoh and so many more this is likely a guy nearing the end of his career, atleast as far as being a realistic threat/draw. If this was a "guest shot" look for a quick swerve on Big Dust, maybe a match between the two and then I see Vader gone. If he stays longer than that then I feel it will be more of a case he needs TNA more than TNA needs him.

[Jason]

Meltzer is reporting that Vader is apparently leaving NOAH and signing with TNA. I really like Vader too, but he looked REALLY slow and over the hill during his debut there. TNA can certainly use more heavyweight talent, but I'm just not convinced Vader has much left. The last I saw of Vader before that was not that long ago in either a 6 or 8 man tag with him on one side and Kobashi on the other. The Vader-Kobashi stuff was pretty good and I was hoping NOAH would follow up on it, but it didn't happen. I was pretty surprised at how bad Vader looked last week since I thought he looked pretty good on the NOAH show.

[Muiyan]

I was pretty surprised at how bad Vader looked last week since I thought he looked pretty good on the NOAH show.

Well hey, NOAH demanded workrate. TNA didn't.

[Hisaharu Tanabe]

I forgot to make a policy to ban the word "workrate".

[Mantis X]

Apparently Vader has signed a deal with TNA and has resigned from NOAH.

[Muiyan]

Hisa, why ban "workrate"?

[El Fiasco]

Vader had a great match with Akiyama for the GHC title a while ago(I think early 2002, maybe late 2001), but other than that he hasn't looked too good. I remember really anticipating a bout he had with Takayama and it ended up being really sloppy, and ending with a confusing DQ when Scorpio interfered. I really like Vader though, and hopefully he still has some good matches left in him.

[Mutoh-Mania]

Did his fairly recent DWI play into this move from NOAH to TNA?