On a previous episode of WWE NXT, Rob Van Dam graced the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, PA with his presence.
In the recent “Busted Open Radio” podcast episode, the legend himself, the Whole F’n Show, discussed his thoughts on WWE’s increased focus on recognizing its past heroes. He stated:
“Being a legend right now is indeed a blessing. WWE is now directing more effort towards paying respect to those who paved the way. This has brought an uplifting change for those of us peer, like you, Tommy [Dreamer], and myself. Significant transformation has happened over the past few years. Back then, current wrestlers might not have even been aware of their forerunners, considering how much one needs to let their ego swell for this profession, thinking only about oneself. Yet the act of pausing and saying, ‘Let’s acknowledge the past,’ makes a huge difference.”
He noted further, “It’s a fantastic time in history to be a legend. It feels as though legends will become more prevalent, contributing more, being included more in the show, and I am absolutely thrilled about it. I’m a history buff and relish how it enriches the experience, compared to erasing the past as if it never existed at all… I’m optimistic about the future, whether it’s related to the royalty deals, or the legend deals that are in the pipeline. I genuinely believe it’s going to be a fruitful year for the legends. They’re going to be honoured greatly for their contributions, which is crucial.”
Lance Archer, who served WWE as “Vance Archer” under the ECW brand, was also present in the WWE universe between 2009 and 2010.
In the latest installment of his “Hawk’s Nest” podcast, the present-day AEW wrestler reflected on his debut on the November 3rd, 2009 episode of ECW, providing a play-by-play analysis of the event. Here are a few key excerpts from the podcast:
On the subject of his debut, he said: “I was utterly clueless about my debut until Joey Styles informed me that they’ll get my information for the website at a later stage. That was the first hint I got that this was, in fact, a full-fledged debut… I was thrust from ignorance to finding out on the morning itself.”
Regarding the sudden change demanded by Vince McMahon, he commented: “Both Vince McMahon and Johnny Ace were engaged in discussion, following which Johnny Ace summoned me. He commanded, ‘Kid, come here.’ Following my reply of, ‘What’s up?’, he ordered me to cut my hair. Without even questioning, I agreed … Johnny immediately walked me over to the hair and makeup ladies and instructed, ‘Alter his look’. After the transformation, I was presented before Vince, who approved, saying, ‘Yes! Love it!’… I always say they converted me into ‘Big Guy No. 3,’ and thus Vance Archer was born.”
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