In a recent episode of his podcast titled “1 Of A Kind,” WWE Hall of Famer, Rob Van Dam, opened up about his experiences cooperating with AEW. Below are the main takeaways from his conversation:
Discussing AEW’s reception among fans, Van Dam observed a certain negative trend on Instagram, stating: “Yes, there are some antagonists who take to Instagram. It’s amusing to see some of the content they post, notably the mistakes. They often remark, ‘only the best wrestlers mess up.’ Since my last appearance in April, things may have changed.”
Regarding his personal experiences in AEW, he highlighted the commendable attitude of Tony Khan, saying: “Based on my interactions, Tony is an extremely cordial person. He is always cheerful and comes across as an authentic friend. He takes time to express gratitude and often commends: ‘Rob, your performance was splendid. The audience adored you. Thank you so much for your participation.’ It’s refreshing to see such appreciation.”
Van Dam further spoke about the creative freedom AEW wrestlers seem to possess: “The wrestlers at AEW do appear to have significant control and a keen interest in charting a unique course for the product. The evaluation will largely depend on if their version of product is perceived as inferior to the more conventional, mainstream versions. This debate has always been present. As a niche wrestler myself, due to ECW, I have a committed fan base. There is a difference in being a mainstream hit, like Cena, loved by all age groups, and being a wrestler with specialized talents and therefore, a more specific fan base.”
Below, you can find the entire episode of “1 Of A Kind With RVD.”