Rob Van Dam had a lengthy, successful career in WWE, but the Hall of Famer was very cautious about joining the promotion early on.
After the demise of ECW, RVD joined the then-WWF in 2001 and would become WWE Champion five years later.
On a recent edition of his “1 Of A Kind” podcast, RVD admitted that he was worried WWE would give him a goofy character far from his true self. He said,
“That’s why I didn’t want to go to WWE in 2001. I was afraid that they would give me some lame character and change everything about me. That really bothered me because, obviously, it’s always been important for me to be myself, and I really thought that was going to be up for battle. I thought they were going to come up with some lame, who knows what. That’s why I was even upset… I didn’t tell them that I kissed Ted DiBiase’s foot because I didn’t want them to make an angle out of it.”
The angle RVD is referring to played out years before he signed and saw the young Van Dam kiss DiBiase’s feet for money in a sign of the Million Dollar Man’s immense wealth.
Rob Van Dam, also known as RVD, is a professional wrestler who had a successful career in WWE. However, before joining the promotion in 2001, he had concerns about the character WWE would give him and how it would affect his true self.
After the demise of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), RVD made the decision to join the then-WWF (now WWE). He would go on to become WWE Champion five years later. But in a recent episode of his podcast, “1 Of A Kind,” RVD opened up about his initial worries.
He admitted that he was afraid WWE would assign him a goofy character that was far from his true self. RVD has always valued being authentic and staying true to himself, so the thought of WWE changing everything about him bothered him. He was concerned that they would come up with some lame character that would not resonate with his fans.
RVD even mentioned that he was upset about a particular incident involving him kissing Ted DiBiase’s foot. This incident occurred years before he signed with WWE and was a part of an angle in which the young Van Dam kissed DiBiase’s feet for money, showcasing the Million Dollar Man’s immense wealth. RVD didn’t want WWE to make an angle out of it because he feared they would create a character based on that incident.
This revelation from RVD sheds light on the behind-the-scenes concerns and anxieties that wrestlers may have when joining a new promotion. It highlights the importance of maintaining one’s identity and staying true to oneself in an industry that often requires performers to portray characters.
Fortunately for RVD, his fears were unfounded. When he finally joined WWE, he was able to maintain his unique persona and continue being himself. Throughout his career in WWE, RVD showcased his high-flying and innovative wrestling style, which made him a fan favorite.
RVD’s story serves as a reminder that sometimes, taking risks and stepping out of one’s comfort zone can lead to great success. It also emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and not compromising one’s values and identity for the sake of fitting into a certain mold.
In conclusion, Rob Van Dam’s initial concerns about joining WWE highlight the anxieties wrestlers may face when transitioning to a new promotion. RVD’s commitment to being himself ultimately paid off, as he was able to maintain his unique character and achieve success in WWE. His story serves as an inspiration for aspiring wrestlers to stay true to themselves and embrace their individuality in the world of professional wrestling.