On a recent episode of his podcast, “1 Of A Kind,” Rob Van Dam shared his perspective on his experiences in WWE and his belief that his lack of involvement in politics affected his opportunities within the company.
In his podcast, he discussed several topics, some of the highlights can be found below:
When discussing his political influence within WWE, Van Dam stated, “I don’t think I utilized politics in the way that others may have and I believe that resulted in my experience being limited in some ways. Although I reached a top position, I never had the sense of being their chosen individual. My discussions weren’t focused on strategic planning. Instead, my heart was with ECW. This passion, however, I perceived would eventually use against me. Despite this, perhaps it could be said that I showed political savvy with an ECW alignment. Arguably, my continuous advocacy for ECW—its figures, its fans, and its potential, could be seen as a form of politicking.”
When asked whether he considers his experiences wrestling for all the major companies, Van Dam noted, “In reflecting on my long and compelling career, I view these experiences as commendable achievements. I believe that in order to be considered versatile in this field, one must have wrestled for a diverse range of companies. Japan, for instance, provided a unique challenge and still does with its array of companies and distinctive styles. Only certain wrestlers thrived there as the country demanded athleticism, endurance, and adaptability in aspects like food and lifestyle.”
Evidently, Van Dam’s journey through the wrestling world has been dynamic and full of intriguing turns. Here is the full audio of his podcast: [embedded content].