RVD Radio Interview

[Chris]

Rob Van Dam calls into Extreme Pro Wrestling Radio on 100.3 FM The Fan in Minneapolis. He talks with Big D, Tim, and Crisco the hosts of the show about how holding out and staying in ECW in its final years developed him, how physically he hasn't changed, how he would change the X-Division, and if marijuana use has kept him from being the poster boy of the different organizations he's been with. Highlights from the interview are as follows:

How staying in ECW in it's last few years helped develop RVD into what he is today: ... WWE didn't want RVD to get over when I was there. They tried so much to... to... not get me... to...to... keep me from that. They didn't understand why the fans liked me because I don't fit the cookie cutter formula because I am a non-conformist. I'm so confusing to wrestling promoters, and I'm used to that, but because I stayed in ECW and learned how to express myself the way, ah, that I could connect with my fans, it made my strong Rob Van Dam character uncompromising... and I owe that to ECW. If I would have left and went to WCW way back then, they were gonna make me... they were gonna put a mask on me and make me one of those Glacier characters... "

On whether age has affected his physical condition and does he have to stop doing some moves because of it: "Not even in the slightest... not even a little bit. ... as a matter of fact, every once in a while, I'll pull out a move because I haven't done it in awhile. I was wrestling Jeff Hardy, I think this was, like, two months ago, I went up to the top rope and I went, 'you know what, I don't think I've done a 450 splash in like 10 years'. Boom... I just bust it out.

"...I haven't cut anything out, and if it was up to me, ah, I would change that X-Division title into hardcore rules and I would have 20 minute matches every night, bouncing off the guardrail, bring in a chair... and hell yeah, that's what I got to show still!"

On whether being "420 friendly" has kept him from being "the man" everywhere he has been: "I would think, ah, with TNA, probably not so, because they, they usually like to make those references, ah, whenever they can. and I think they appreciate the extra, ah, the extra cool attention that it gets them. Obviously, my... high profile bust, when I got pulled over in Ohio with possession of 18 grams, uh, and..and... resulted in suspension and loss of the titles... I mean, there is no way in denying that that definitely knocked me off from the track that I was on. Ah, at the same time, I don't mind going down in history for that or drawing attention to, ah, a cause that I believe is worthy..."

Van Dam also talks about the political climate in WWE vs. TNA, his current relationship with Paul Heyman, and more. The audio interview is available at www.facebook.com/extremeprowrestlingradio

You had to know there'd be some WEED talk in this.

 

[Rated R Superstar]

He seems to stutter a lot or something. Anyway, the pot probably didn't help much in any of his cases with WWE. I'm really digging hat he's doing in TNA, but I hope he stops soon before he doesn't some serious damage to his body.

 

[Dale]

It comes off as him saying TNA voluntarily lets him smoke the weed because they love the attention it brings them. What a fucking stupid thing to say.

 

[zigglerHEEL]

Yeah, I got no problem with someone smoking weed in their personal life, used to do it myself quite a bit, but to say it brings a "Cool" attention to something is just not right... I have noticed that Tazz and Tenay will hint at it or bring it up subliminally and I kinda cringe a little every time... Hell even before they went to commercial right before RVD's debut Tazz said "Hey Mike what were you doing at 4:20 this afternoon?".... It's cool that RVD doesn't shy away from who he is and accepts the consequences that come with it, but it's not cool to promote it when young, impressionable kids are watching

 

[PHX]

That weed comment is stupid as fuck and the fact that he can openly say this shows why Jeff Hardy can go out for a PPV fucked up and no one does anything about it beforehand.

 

[Kiffy Lube]

I think TNA have to be more restrict with Jeff. RVD has never proven that being fucked up has hurt his performance. I swear at Hardcore Justice he was quite damn messed up and it only helped him around it. Of course I thought he was hilarious the way he worked the match.

However I still have never seen Jeff to do that, TNA needs to put up some scenarios for him.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

Let the guy do what he wants in his own time, it could be argued that alcohol does more to the human body than weed does. But we dont get all up in arms everytime Austin mentions beer in his interviews. Also never heard of RVD beating the shit out of his wife.

I do agree with his points on trying to be held back, as it seemed like that was the case for some time in WWE.

 

[Mick Donalds]

He was held back because the guy isn't marketable. He can't talk, and can't get anybody to care about his (lack of) character because it's one dimensional.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

Benoit couldnt talk, and had no real character, still got the crowd behind him. Ultimate Warrior couldnt talk, and asides from shaking the ropes like a redheaded step child had no character, still got over. Some argue that Bret Hart couldnt talk, yet was as over as anyone on the roster during his run. RVD was stupid over in WWE, and was getting some of the biggest pops out of anyone on the roster.

If the crowd is behind you, you dont need to be able to do anything else. Some of the greatest wrestlers, talkers, & gimmicks have all been forgotten due to not being able to get the support of the crowd. Some of the worst have been at the top of the industry due to the crowd.

 

[Dale]

Let the guy do what he wants in his own time, it could be argued that alcohol does more to the human body than weed does. But we dont get all up in arms everytime Austin mentions beer in his interviews. Also never heard of RVD beating the shit out of his wife.

I do agree with his points on trying to be held back, as it seemed like that was the case for some time in WWE.

Nobody is saying he can't do whatever in his own time, it's the fact that the way he mentions it is as if TNA is encouraging him to do it because it's cool and gives them an edge.

Also, beer isn't illegal like weed is in most places.

 

[Mick Donalds]

Benoit couldnt talk, and had no real character, still got the crowd behind him. Ultimate Warrior couldnt talk, and asides from shaking the ropes like a redheaded step child had no character, still got over. Some argue that Bret Hart couldnt talk, yet was as over as anyone on the roster during his run. RVD was stupid over in WWE, and was getting some of the biggest pops out of anyone on the roster.

If the crowd is behind you, you dont need to be able to do anything else. Some of the greatest wrestlers, talkers, & gimmicks have all been forgotten due to not being able to get the support of the crowd. Some of the worst have been at the top of the industry due to the crowd.

Benoit, Warrior and Bret Hart most certainly COULD talk. They'd talk circles around RVD.

RVD is as bad on the mic as the likes of Bobby Lashley, Paul Burchill and Billy Kidman, lol.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

[MENTION=547]Dale[/MENTION], and whats wrong with TNA doing that? WCW did it with a tag team called Kronik, WWE did it with Godfather. The differance being that right now, the legalization movement is bigger than its ever been, and thats marketable. Also Alcohol may be legal in most places(there are places it is still illegal), but that does not change the fact that it is in fact a drug, and should always be treated as such. Just look at the prescription drugs being taken recreationally.

@Mick, all those names I mentioned are all considered to be some of the worst talkers in the business. Sure they are not Ahmed Johnson bad, but they had no range of character, Warrior was always "gotta talk like a tourettes patient", Benoit only had the "Im Angry, HULK SMASH!", and Bret was boring enough to put people to sleep when he touched the mic. RVD is alot like them, with his "Thats Cool Bro", still got over, even held 2 titles in WWE at the same time, one being a spinner belt won off the most over guy in the company.