Wrestling idol from ECW, Rob Van Dam, recently expressed his disapproval of a hardcore scene that transpired during the latest episode of AEW Dynamite last week.
In a combat scenario that unfolded on the city streets featuring Jon Moxley and Cope, Cope employed a nails-laden board as a weapon, effectively slamming Moxley into it. This occurrence elicited a variety of responses across social media outlets. While discussing the incident on his “1 Of A Kind” podcast, RVD conceded that such scenes made him lean towards preferring an association with WWE rather than AEW, stating:
“That’s not my thing, not my kind of thing. That’s not wrestling to me, but, obviously, it’s sacrificing a lot for the business. However, the more AEW indulges in such actions, the more I lean towards preferring an association with WWE rather than AEW.”
“A few years back it was commendable that they’re expanding and experimenting. But now, it seems like the protagonists are in charge of the narrative which has its pros and cons. This, for me, exemplifies why that might not always be beneficial. However, it does categorize as a variant of wrestling. I equate it with the light bulb matches, the death matches involving two parties jumping off a truck into a heap of light bulbs; it’s not my cup of tea. I personally consider it below par, a substandard style that caters to a specific niche crowd.”
Expressing further, he added, “I wasn’t pleased, it’s incredibly perilous. I wouldn’t challenge their freedom of expression, but to me, it’s bordering on insanity. It must appeal to them, otherwise, they would reject it at the concept phase. So, congratulations for executing an outrageous, life-threatening act.”
Moreover, during a recent feature on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” wrestling star Bill Goldberg shared the possibility of exploring mixed martial arts (MMA) during his wrestling break. He confessed almost participating in an exhibition for GLORY, a 2012-founded kickboxing promotion. Goldberg acknowledged that his wrestling style always mimicked an MMA vibe, even during his WCW era when UFC was relatively unknown and hadn’t taken the world by storm. He elucidated:
“Always have toyed with the idea of transitioning into MMA. GLORY and I were contemplating a joint venture, like an exhibition. Admittedly, my capabilities are not at par with my self-expectations in such sport. My physical condition deters me. The probability of sustaining an injury inflicted by another is negligible, I am concerned about the consequences my body will suffer on impact. I don’t have a strong foundation in wrestling, although I was the co-owner of a prominent MMA gym in the early 90s. There was no big money during my time, as it was in case of Mike Tyson’s bout with Jake Paul. If the stakes were high, perhaps I would have contemplated it more seriously. I always set a high bar for myself and unless I’m fully prepared, I won’t take the risk.”
Please note: If you have any news insights or podcast summaries you’d like us to announce (full credit will be provided), please reach us via email at [email protected].