"Too Stiff" Big Van VaderWhile in Japan and working with American stars like Bruiser Brody and Stan Hansen, Vader became accustomed to a very physical smash-mouth style.
Dusty Rhodes (WCW booker at the time) emphasized to Vader working intelligently in the ring by saying, "You only have so many bumps on your bump card until you have to retire."
Dusty proposed teaming up Vader with Sting, primarily for in-ring performance, while relying on Harley Race to fill Vader in on other aspects of their collaboration.
Vader acknowledges these two individuals for aiding his transition into a more Americanized wrestling style, contributing to somewhat tempering his intensity.