On a recent episode of his podcast “1 Of A Kind”, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam provided insight into the nuances of navigating success in the wrestling industry, including financial mishandling common among wrestlers, and more.
Here are some standout remarks from the episode:
When discussing the inevitability of certain wrestlers facing a similar fate as Randy The Ram from the film “The Wrestler”, Van Dam shared an alternative strategy. “There are countless wrestlers who have lived and lost extravagantly only to crash hard when facing reality. We see this cycle repeating frequently, differing only in scales. My approach diverges. I’d rather price myself out of the industry, continuing to protect my value, health, and abilities, irrespective of my last TV appearance,” he said.
Van Dam further explained, “If I’m not booked or not on TV, it could be because they want me to lower my standards- something I’m not going to do. Instead, I’d exit the business on my terms, healthy and prepared for the rest of my life. Although the path to dwindling prices seems expected, it has not been the case for me. Every so often, something boosts my name value, like an appearance on SmackDown… Even when the money isn’t there for me, it is for someone else. But I’m firm on not devaluing myself like so many others in the industry.”
Discussing his stance on smaller wrestling promotions, he said, “People assume I’m very picky about whom I accept bookings from. But in reality, if they fulfill my booking conditions and match my fee, I’m in. There are enough such opportunities that keep me busier than I’d like. Conversely, if a promotion can’t accommodate me, I’m not interested in wrestling for their small company in front of a reduced crowd. The only condition which might make me consider that is if they pay me likewise to a 10,000 people audience.”
Watch the complete episode of “1 Of A Kind” podcast below for the in-depth discussion: