TPWW Forums - View Single Post - RVD, Did WWE drop the ball, or does he just suck?

**Fox** · 10-18-2004, 03:18 AM

I'm gonna have to go with number 5. Do you even remember how over Rob Van Dam was during the Invasion angle? He was the ONLY good part of it after the initial invasion, and was having 5 star matches every week with guys like Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Jeff Hardy, Triple H, Kurt Angle, and Steve Austin.

This was before he was forced to tone down his style. If you watch maybe his first 10 matches after joining the WWE, and then watch the last 10 matches he's had recently, you'll see a distinct difference in how he wrestles. Before he would throw in new and innovative moves every match. These days it's exactly as you said: kick, punch, shoulder thrusts, karate kick, rolling thunder, 5 Star, pin (or job, depending on the match). He's obviously been toned down, and I'm willing it bet it has to do with the higher ups telling him what he can and cannot do in the ring.

I recently downloaded RVD vs. Jerry Lynn from ECW Hardcore Heaven, and it is one of the best matches I have ever witnessed. Van Dam was special for a reason. Not just because he was a "big fish in a little pond." The guy has a uniqueness to him that isn't there in a lot of today's wrestlers.

So to answer your question, the WWE dropped the ball on RVD.

10-18-2004, 03:18 AM	#9
Fox "Ask him!" Posts: 10,075	I'm gonna have to go with number 5. Do you even remember how over Rob Van Dam was during the Invasion angle? He was the ONLY good part of it after the initial invasion, and was having 5 star matches every week with guys like Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Jeff Hardy, Triple H, Kurt Angle, and Steve Austin. This was before he was forced to tone down his style. If you watch maybe his first 10 matches after joining the WWE, and then watch the last 10 matches he's had recently, you'll see a distinct difference in how he wrestles. Before he would throw in new and innovative moves every match. These days it's exactly as you said: kick, punch, shoulder thrusts, karate kick, rolling thunder, 5 Star, pin (or job, depending on the match). He's obviously been toned down, and I'm willing it bet it has to do with the higher ups telling him what he can and cannot do in the ring. I recently downloaded RVD vs. Jerry Lynn from ECW Hardcore Heaven, and it is one of the best matches I have ever witnessed. Van Dam was special for a reason. Not just because he was a "big fish in a little pond." The guy has a uniqueness to him that isn't there in a lot of today's wrestlers. So to answer your question, the WWE dropped the ball on RVD.