In a recent episode of his podcast, “1 Of A Kind,” Rob Van Dam discussed the WWE ID program, an initiative aimed at providing a pathway for independent wrestlers to join the company.
The WWE has entered into partnerships with various wrestling training schools such as Reality of Wrestling, run by Booker T, Cody Rhodes’ Nightmare Factory, and Black & Brave Wrestling Academy, founded by Seth Rollins.
Here are some key points from the podcast:
Talking about the WWE ID program, Van Dam said, “If WWE continues along this path and partners with, and hence validates, certain organizations, it could resemble the days of the old wrestling territories. Various firms across the country could operate under WWE’s umbrella, leaving others to become what I used to call the ‘outlaws’ that weren’t part of the major league. It would be intriguing to see the history repeat itself in this cyclic manner. WWE is expanding and needs avenues to channel that growth. They are an unstoppable force, always finding new ways to grow and effectively harness their expansion.”
Speaking about the fresh energy in WWE, he commented, “Yes, it seems that way for the most part. Our discussions often focus on the core essence of wrestling, which is something I am grateful that NXT and hopefully all of WWE’s products will incorporate into their foundation. Without it, wrestling can lose its original essence.”
An episode from his podcast, where Van Dam discusses these subjects, can be viewed below:
[Embed Podcast Link]