Why did Vader live in a trailer?
He was a main event wrestler across two major promotions for much of the 90s.
shareSadly a lot of wrestlers didn't earn much money in the days Vader was around. He didn't really wrestle in WCW when they were paying everyone big money. In WWF the big payday was Wrestlemania, which he wrestled at WM12 and WM13 (1996 and 1997). Both matches were tag team matches and not main events. So I doubt he made that much money overall. Seems pretty accurate to have him living in a trailer. The episodes he had were either before his first Wrestlemania or the same year as his first.
share“Leon '(Big Van) Vader' White was one of the top 3 earners in pro wrestling in 1993. That year, he signed a four-year contract with WCW, worth $625,000 per annum, and an eight-match deal with Japan's wroked shoot UWFI, which paid him a not inconsiderable $25,000 per match.”
When you quote something you need to cite your source. I've searched that quote and found multiple places just quoting it but nowhere credible. I don't see anywhere citing the primary source of that info. I'd be shocked if WCW was paying that much per year to Vader.
shareLol if you think Vader wasn't making enough money to live in something better than a tiny rundown trailer you're fucking nuts. He was a huge name in pro wrestling, he made ALOT of fucking money.
It was extremely absurd this show made his home life look so poor.
I never said that. Wrestlers during that time in WWF were constantly on the road. Unless you were married with children you may not find it worthwhile to purchase a home until you were done. You were barely going to spend money at that home. Anyway, its just a show.
shareWCW wrestlers in the 90s were extremely well paid (https://ibb.co/fF3s8j3 ). Vader’s net worth at the time of his death was over $1 million (https://www.celebworth.net/2019/01/how-much-money-does-big-van-vader-make.html). He could have at least afforded a nicer home and perhaps even sent Frankie to private school.
shareThose years shown are all after the episodes aired which I pointed out in my original comment. Also, I believe I pointed out the amount of travel during those days so I'm not sure if he would feel a need to own a home. Those guys were on the road all the time. They would have a home if they were married or had children but otherwise they were constantly traveling.
Anyway its just a show.
By the time he appeared on the show in 1995-96, he had already been a three time World Heavyweight Champion for WCW. As one of the promotion’s leading workers, he would have had an annual salary in the six figure range (as referenced above) and could easily have afforded a home in one of the nicer suburbs of Philadelphia. Even if he did travel frequently, why would he leave his wife and children to fend for themselves in the gang infested trailer park?
shareIt's a TV show my guy Also, this is a time when wrestling was still holding onto "kayfabe" Big Van Vader being a rough guy from the trailer park fits better than him being a guy living in a nice suburban neighborhood. It's not real life...its all part of the show.
shareAre you suggesting Vader, within the Boy Meets World universe, deliberately chose to live in a trailer to make his wrestling character seem more authentic?
shareThey address this topic in depth on the latest episode of Pod Meets World (Starting around 47:30). They debunk all of your points.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0imLQE6DDDoU0zSAn8PzbC?si=YpMn-tZTTIiXf_-rmDiM-g