WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam believes too much was made of the All In 2023 backstage altercation, which was “more like ECW-style.”
The altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry resulted in both men’s suspensions from AEW, and Punk was fired following a week-long investigation.
On a recent edition of his “1 Of A Kind” podcast, Rob Van Dam expressed his opinion regarding AEW’s decision to air the Punk and Perry footage from AEW All In 2023.
RVD pointed out that this move has given AEW a distinctive feature similar to that of ECW.
He said, “That’s how people are taking this whole AEW thing, saying by AEW filming it that they’re localizing their growth potential to a point to where they’re coming across small, some people think they’re gonna implode they’re so small, and I look at it like it’s more like ECW-style.”
RVD noted that ECW sometimes incorporated real-life legal issues into its TV programs and storylines.
He further noted that the Punk situation was a good angle for The Young Bucks’ storyline with FTR.
Perry made a surprise return to AEW last Sunday at Dynasty 2024, helping The Bucks win the vacant AEW Tag Team Titles.
Title: Rob Van Dam Believes AEW’s All In 2023 Altercation was “More Like ECW-Style”
Introduction:
Former WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam recently shared his thoughts on the backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry at AEW’s All In 2023 event. Van Dam believes that the incident, which led to both men’s suspensions and Punk’s subsequent firing, has given All Elite Wrestling (AEW) a unique feature reminiscent of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). In this article, we delve into Van Dam’s perspective and explore how incorporating real-life issues into storylines can enhance the wrestling product.
Body:
Rob Van Dam, known for his time in ECW and WWE, expressed his opinion on AEW’s decision to air the footage of the Punk and Perry altercation during a recent episode of his podcast, “1 Of A Kind.” Van Dam highlighted that this move by AEW has given the promotion a distinctive feature similar to that of ECW, which often incorporated real-life legal issues into its TV programs and storylines.
Van Dam noted that some people view AEW as a small promotion that may implode due to their localized growth potential. However, he believes that showcasing real-life altercations like the Punk and Perry incident adds an ECW-style element to AEW’s programming, which can generate intrigue and captivate the audience.
The former WWE star also mentioned that the Punk situation served as a good angle for The Young Bucks’ ongoing storyline with FTR. This suggests that AEW is utilizing real-life events to enhance their narratives and create engaging storylines that resonate with fans.
Jack Perry, who made a surprise return to AEW at Dynasty 2024, played a pivotal role in helping The Young Bucks win the vacant AEW Tag Team Titles. This unexpected twist further demonstrates how AEW is leveraging real-life incidents to create compelling moments and keep fans invested in their product.
Conclusion:
Rob Van Dam’s perspective on AEW’s decision to incorporate the backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry into their programming sheds light on the promotion’s approach to storytelling. By drawing parallels to ECW, Van Dam suggests that AEW is embracing a unique style that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. This approach has the potential to captivate audiences and differentiate AEW from other wrestling promotions. As AEW continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how they further integrate real-life incidents into their storylines while maintaining a balance between entertainment and authenticity.