Rob Van Dam has been making many media appearances lately where he has been vocal about his unhappiness with how WWE has been pushing him. RVD had an interview with Get In The Ring that will air Sunday. Word is that he pulls no punches in that interview about his feelings towards WWE right now.
RVD's contract with WWE expires next summer and it seems as if, right now at least, a chance remains that he could opt to leave WWE then.
Word is that RVD is considering a mix of working TNA shows as well as regular stints in Japan. ----
This could be terrible loss for the WWE. RVD has been one of their most over talents and he'll probably take some viewers with him.
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
Personally, I'd love to see RVD get out of WWE and go work for TNA or MLW. I think his career has been in a downward spiral ever since WWE decided to stop pushing him whatsoever in early 2002, and he's definitley not happy there. I'd much rather prefer watching RVD be the main-star in MLW and TNA than a horribly misused curtain jerker in WWE. Plus, RVD going to TNA would be just the thing to get me to pay 10 dollars every week to see the show.
However, I seriously doubt that RVD is going anywhere. For a guy who's only in his early-30's and has a wife (and possibly kids in the future) to take care of, a lucrative deal with WWE is just too much to pass up. For his and his family's future, the best thing to do would be to re-sign with the WWE.
However, for me personally, I'd like him to run like hell straight out of that company.
I think the pros and cons of staying or leaving WWE are fairly obvious (stay for the money, leave for the push), so let's say he leaves...a year down the road, is he in a better or worse bargaining position in terms of coming back to WWE? Clearly the money in WWE is better than he'd get elsewhere, so unless he's already set financially (a bit early for that, no?) it only makes sense that WWE is his long term plan. If he does, say, go to TNA for a year, though, would that put him in a better position coming back down the road than just sticking around the WWE midcard for another year?
If RVD's presence brought enough new viewers to TNA, then he might end up making more money on account of TNA having more money. If he keeps talking about his current unhappiness, he will burn more bridges than if he simply leaves when his contract runs out. I don't know how much WWE superstars make, but I doubt his family will be out on the streets if he makes less.
The money might be a small step down but he's still going to be making good coin on the indy's and Japan. Plus he gets to work when he wants and the way he wants. Raven and D'Lo are getting $2,000 per shot, all expenses paid whereas the WWE guys have to pay for everything. A guy like Spanky is making FAR LESS in WWE then he was before but WWE was his dream. It's not RVD's dream.
RVD's decision will probably be whether he wants to take less money but still make a good living in exchange for being able to enjoy what he loves to do again or does he take more money to work in a place where he's never going to be appreciated?
RVD's got the whole zen, hippy mentality so I think he's going to walk away. I hope he does walk away because it will send a clear message to the company and all the other wrestlers. Perhaps it would also tell the company that they can't take all of these wrestlers for granted just because they have a monopoly.
Originally posted by fuelinjectedThe money might be a small step down but he's still going to be making good coin on the indy's and Japan. Plus he gets to work when he wants and the way he wants. Raven and D'Lo are getting $2,000 per shot, all expenses paid whereas the WWE guys have to pay for everything. A guy like Spanky is making FAR LESS in WWE then he was before but WWE was his dream. It's not RVD's dream.
RVD's decision will probably be whether he wants to take less money but still make a good living in exchange for being able to enjoy what he loves to do again or does he take more money to work in a place where he's never going to be appreciated?
RVD's got the whole zen, hippy mentality so I think he's going to walk away. I hope he does walk away because it will send a clear message to the company and all the other wrestlers. Perhaps it would also tell the company that they can't take all of these wrestlers for granted just because they have a monopoly.
That's actually a really good point. Plus, RVD is a much bigger name than Raven and D'Lo Brown were, which means he could probably get more than $2,000 a shot if he wanted to.
Unfortunatley, I just don't see him leaving the WWE. As much as I'd love to see him get out of the company and go wrestle for TNA and MLW and ROH and overseas, I just don't think it's gonna' happen. I think he feels (like most others do) that WWE is the only real game in town. Raven has mentioned in the past that when he was fired from WWE, he truly believed that his career was over. He didn't realize what the indies could offer him until he was gone. I think most guys in WWE have that same mentality. "Sure, I hate it here. But it's better than working indies and not being able to pay bills."
Still, I hold out hope that RVD's preparing to leave the WWE behind.
I'd love to see RVD getting out of the WWE ASAP! I heard when he signed that i was only a 2 or 3 year deal. Nothing exstended. The WWE has misused the RVD character and he's produced fairly steady matches except for the rash of injures on the Van Danminator. I'm always entertained when he's in the ring. His selling isn't the greatest but I'll live with that any day as long as he's using those "well educated feet".
Yummy?
Banned Once! The independant thought alarm went off, knew to much about b*tching.
I will have immense respect for any wrestler above the low-card level who chooses to jump to TNA. Rob's not gonna have to worry about clothing his kids here, people. The Zen stuff may be complete kayfabe, but even if it is I think RVD has enough wisdom to keep his priorities straight.
It would send a message to everyone, fans included. Management at WWE just might wake up.
Originally posted by LotusMegamiI will have immense respect for any wrestler above the low-card level who chooses to jump to TNA. Rob's not gonna have to worry about clothing his kids here, people. The Zen stuff may be complete kayfabe, but even if it is I think RVD has enough wisdom to keep his priorities straight.
It would send a message to everyone, fans included. Management at WWE just might wake up.
So you must put Hogan on a pedestal right now?
Sometimes I think a significant loss or two would be enough to give the WWE a shot in the ass. Competition is what made wrestling hot.
I'll admit, I've never been a huge RVD fan. His style just doesn't do it for me. I find him useful to the WWE, but not necessarily one I want to hang the world title on.
If he does leave, what is his most likely exit? A loser-leaves-town match or a booting out the front door after a publicly announced failed drug test?
On the other hand, all this public unhappiness and talk of walking away from the WWE may just be a bargaining ploy to squeeze a bigger contract out of management.
(edited by Gavintzu on 18.10.03 0529) "Now let me correct you on a couple of things, okay? Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself'. And the London Underground is not a political movement."
Look at it from Vince's perspective: If he goes, there will be another acrobat given a chance to replace him. It's not like his CHARACTER is making him any money. Put a slogan on Spanky and you'd end up with a younger, cheaper result.
Originally posted by SimbaLook at it from Vince's perspective: If he goes, there will be another acrobat given a chance to replace him. It's not like his CHARACTER is making him any money. Put a slogan on Spanky and you'd end up with a younger, cheaper result.
Then why don't we hear "Spanky" chants on Velocity?
-- Asteroid Boy
Wiener of the day: 23.7.02
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex "Was he no-selling?" - Me
If RVD leaves, I hope he doesn't go to TNA. It will be a miracle if Panda hasn't given up on TNA by then, anyways. I'd love to see him in Japan and Ring of Honor though. Let's see if he can hang with American Dragon.
RVD's character could make plenty of money if they used him right. Just listen to the crowd. And I must not put Hogan on a pedastal, smartass. Hogan was fired.
Originally posted by SimbaLook at it from Vince's perspective: If he goes, there will be another acrobat given a chance to replace him. It's not like his CHARACTER is making him any money. Put a slogan on Spanky and you'd end up with a younger, cheaper result.
When all the other heavily pushed non-wrestlers and part-timers don't do house shows, RVD's usually put into the Main Event slot. He also sells lots of merchandise.
It's like they know he's very popular and valuable but don't push him anymore then they have to.
Originally posted by LotusMegamiRVD's character could make plenty of money if they used him right. Just listen to the crowd. And I must not put Hogan on a pedastal, smartass. Hogan was fired.
But wasn't he fired (if he was fired, I'm not sure) after walking out like Austin did due to craptastic storylines they had set up for him?
Tribal Prophet
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Originally posted by fuelinjectedWhen all the other heavily pushed non-wrestlers and part-timers don't do house shows, RVD's usually put into the Main Event slot. He also sells lots of merchandise.
It's like they know he's very popular and valuable but don't push him anymore then they have to.
Actually, it's like they know he's very popular and valuable but don't push him, but instead give his entire gimmick to Shane McMahon and push HIM instead.
I swear to god, if Shane waltzed out this Monday wearing an air-brushed singlet, I wouldn't be suprised.
Originally posted by OMEGAI swear to god, if Shane waltzed out this Monday wearing an air-brushed singlet, I wouldn't be suprised.
Christ, just as long as he stops that Goddamned dancing. It's like a Saturday Night Live Mango-version of Brock Lesnar's 'happy dance'.
RVD's career for Shane not bouncing around like an idiot anymore. I consider it a fair trade.
Tribal Prophet
Wrestling exists in the eternal present. What is, has always been, and when it no longer is, it never was. It has no past and no future, and sometimes even today is in question. - Madame Manga
Click Here (welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com)
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Is this the same report that said Williams "just had his first day at OVW and was aghast at the state of things"? I thought that was funny since Williams had been at OVW for the past six months or so.