In a recent episode of his podcast, “1 Of A Kind”, pro-wrestler Rob Van Dam discussed his choice to walk away from WWE in 2007.
Here are a few notable moments from the podcast session:
When discussing his decision to leave WWE in 2007, Rob noted, “I was suspended for a month in which I had to give up both my championship titles. It felt as if ECW was spiraling into the abyss and they were all too ready to let it go. My enthusiasm for it faltered. So I thought, I’ll see out my contract and then I need a respite. I was not in favor of renewing my contract. We’d gone over several times what it would entail for me to go back, but I decided that my spirit’s health was more paramount. I could not restore my spirit if I were bound to a set schedule, as I would be just counting down the days until I had to report back to work.”
“They proposed, ‘Why not extend your contract for another six months, or agree on a return after six months. Go relax a bit or give it a year even.’ But I declined, stating ‘I can’t. I have to experience what genuine freedom feels like in order to evolve from my current position.’ That was something clear to me from my introspection. My career had consumed the past seven years of my life, and I had reached my saturation point. All I needed then was spiritual renewal. I needed liberation from what was consuming me. Only then could I grow enough to recognize when I was in a much stronger position to return to WWE. That, however, never came to pass.”
Regarding his state of mind at the time, Van Dam expressed this: “I was so exhausted I didn’t even relish the thought of getting on another plane. I was just utterly spent. Months rolled by during which I felt no inclination to engage in anything. This was until my friend, Kirk White from Big Time Wrestling in California (not to be mistaken with its less appealing version in Ohio), brought up a conversation he’d had with someone interested in inviting me to wrestle in Portugal. This unexpected detour ended up raising my standards and giving me a fresh perspective. That incident around 1997-1998 also led to a friendship with the promoter in Portugal.”