What did they do to you, RVD? It was what, 2 PPV's ago that Rob was wrestling Triple H in the main event for the World Title.
After that, he was still hanging around near the main event, holding the IC title for a while.
This week on RAW not only was he not in the 2nd hour, he wasn't even in the more meaningful tag team match, instead wrestling with Dreamer against Regal and Storm.
At least the WWE has enough sense to put the 2nd most over face on RAW in the elimination chamber match at Survivor Series, but really, does anyone think that RVD has a legitamate shot at the belt after what they have done with him the past two months?
Please WWE, please don't bring in Scott Steiner and then proceed to knock RVD another notch down on the ladder. I'd much rather watch Rob wrestle almost anyone than watch one juiced up freak brawl with another one.
Who says Steiner's gonna be a face? Wasn't he a heel for a good long run at the end?
And maybe they're using RVD to elevate Dreamer... after all, he cost Dreamer the match by taking a completely unnecessary dive to the outside. Even JR mentioned it.
I just hope the Elimination Chamber isn't just a way for Triple H to put himself over EVERYBODY AT ONCE! I mean, having RVD, Booker T, Kane, and Chris Jericho all in the same match against Triple H just gives me a feeling of dread.
Then again, maybe it's just the cynic in me.
"See Nash, you can wear any Halloween costume you want to, but you know and I know that you're only half the man that I am - and I have half the brain that you do."
There's still fearless HHH defenders out there? Its pretty clear that on RAW that there's Triple H and then there's everyone else.
Not only couldn't Kane beat HHH without the help of a retired cripple tonight, but he gets about 2 seconds of glory before all the attention shifts to HBK. Ridiculous.
I am an RVD fan but I can see why his push is come-and-go.
Simple fact, his matches get boring real quick. They just turn into the same spotfest over and over. Combine that with his relative weakness on the mic AND his tendency to injure his opponent (see Lance Storm, last night) and you have three good reasons his push is not sustained.
I think they are playing him just right at this moment. He's over, so bring him to the top for a while. But if they leave him at the top, he won't stay over for long.
"You're always 17 in your hometown." - Cross Canadian Ragweed
The Salami's analysis is sophisticated and, under current WWE conditions, probably correct. When you subtract the things current WWE contract performers won't do/aren't permitted to do from an RVD match, he can't do his best work. There wasn't a size problem when RVD joined the promotion (with SCSA and HHH at the top), but there is starting to be one now, with Brock, Kane, 'Taker, and soon Bautista (Show can be disregarded, as always) all receiving pushes toward the top.
Also, when people start throwing out 'how someone beat someone that time' arguments, I love it: it shows the mark surviving in us all. Like saying, "That would never happen IN REAL LIFE!"
Losses of all kinds can be artfully integrated into a push; it's just that WWE hasn't had a level of booking skill worthy of 'artful' in about four years.
M. Cole: Oh no, what's Angle going to do with that chair. Tazz: Well, I think he wants to, you know, HIT HIM with it.
"We're pretty sure we know how the universe started, but we don't know what some of our own internal organs are for. Bet few intelligent species have hit THAT exacta!"
Originally posted by drjayphdAnd maybe they're using RVD to elevate Dreamer... after all, he cost Dreamer the match by taking a completely unnecessary dive to the outside. Even JR mentioned it.
Using RVD to elevate Dreamer? RVD should be a Raw ME'er since he's consistently getting the biggest face pops, not being used to elevate a low card guy like Dreamer.
Matthew: You would've loved it, David. A week in a foreign country, strange people, strange customs... Dave: Oh, I know what you mean. I've been to Canada.
Originally posted by The Amazing SalamiI am an RVD fan but I can see why his push is come-and-go.
Simple fact, his matches get boring real quick. They just turn into the same spotfest over and over. Combine that with his relative weakness on the mic AND his tendency to injure his opponent (see Lance Storm, last night) and you have three good reasons his push is not sustained.
I think they are playing him just right at this moment. He's over, so bring him to the top for a while. But if they leave him at the top, he won't stay over for long.
He should find whoever taught Matt Hardy to cut a promo. IMHO, that's his #1 flaw. He never seems to care about a belt or a fight, and if he doesn't care, why should I? To watch another spotfest?
PMMJ
"Nothing remains interesting where anything may happen." -H.G. Wells "Show me the country in which there are no strikes and I'll show you that country in which there is no liberty." -Emma Goldman
Agreed, RVD needs some mic help. But doesn't anyone believe that he hasn't been shunted down the card? He's in the elimination chamber, but that's because they need to round out a card of 6 people and he's too over not to include. (I'm actually looking forward to that match, now.)
"My brother saw the Undertaker walking through an airport." - Rex
I don't think RVD's mic skills are ever going to change. Either you like his laid back stoner style or you don't. Personally, I loved that promo of his from Raw where he cracked on HHH's water spitting skills.
One thing you got to remember though, it's much easier to get the fans to hate you then love you. In RVD's case the fans have loved him ever since he joined up. Considering he was a supposed heel at the time, that's very impressive. I think he deserves a face title run at some time. It that never happens, I'd also love to see a heel title run. The guy was an awesome heel in ECW. It's great how he can just tweak his charecter a little bit and turn from nice guy to full of himself jackass.
Way off topic...Where did the Jericho-Booker fued go?
Concerning triple H losing. I've stated this once before a while back I'll do it again. It really doesn't matter when you lose the important thing is if you put someone over which Triple H never does. All his loses come mid-feud but he wins to get his heat back and keep/ elevate his postilion while his opponents drop.
Examples Feb 02 feud with Angle/ Angle wins PPV next night HHH wins Raw. aftermath HHH gets world Title shot at WrestleMania, Angle vs. Kane... HHH/Jericho feud may(?)02. Jericho wins SD match, HHH wins Hell in the cell PPV. Aftermath HHH title feud with Taker, Jericho v. Simmons/ Henry/ Cena. Don't you see a pattern? Hell the one feud he lost (kinda) was with HBK and the next night he was declared Raw figure head and given a World Title.
Let's see the great Triple H as champion is. RVD was as popular as they come until goes against Heel H and all of a sudden his popularity dies down a little. Some Blame his mic skills, I personally like it, it's different, it's not the same overhyped steroid freak we are used to. It played well vs. heel Austin, their interplay was fun. Why wasn't it as good with Triple H, could it be because Trips is a piss poor heel that when he's in their with someone not named Rock or Austin he steals all the heat away from his opponents and make them less important.
Happened to Bubba, I'm no Bubba fan but he was getting some nice reaction as Trish's protector and feud vs. Brock. He goes in there with HHh all of a sudden he cuts a promo and no one cares about him... Latest victim Kane, was getting monster over as leader of Freaks. Get's stuck in necrophilac angle, gets "whated" out of the building for explaining why he killed his girlfriend. Bischoff announces him in the elimination chamber gets mild reaction and later that night 'wins' a match v. HHH just to have HBK overshadow him by cutting Kane's music off 5 seconds in his 'victory' celebration to play HBK "sexyboy"
But I'm sure that's all one big coincidence. strange thing is that there is once constant with all of that. But I'm sure it's not HHhis fault
(edited by Net Hack Slasher on 30.10.02 1845) Don't really know if going into detail here is the right place because we all know a wrestling messageboard is no place for wild speculation and innuendo
Originally posted by The Amazing SalamiI am an RVD fan but I can see why his push is come-and-go.
Simple fact, his matches get boring real quick. They just turn into the same spotfest over and over. Combine that with his relative weakness on the mic AND his tendency to injure his opponent (see Lance Storm, last night) and you have three good reasons his push is not sustained.
I think they are playing him just right at this moment. He's over, so bring him to the top for a while. But if they leave him at the top, he won't stay over for long.
I have got to say that I agree... RVD is not ready to be the champ. Too one dimensional in both his matches and his promos...
I think Rob Van Dam is a victim of the "HHH" effect, but I still think RVD needs to develop a mean streak if he really wants to get over. The problem with his stoner persona is that when he tries to get mad he cant pull it off.
When a chicken in this neighborhood gets angry, it will chase you down...
can anyone remember the last guy who went down RVD's path of spotfest+wierd/bad promos.
Jeff Hasbeen anyone.
Hardy fueds with Triple H for a month, wins intercontinental title in the Mark out moment of last year, loses it back to Triple H stays mostly popular but doesn't change his style or promos leading to stale-ocity
Swap world title for IC title minus the title change and it's a mirror image.
ONWARD TO MEDIOCRITY!!!!! or You Should Write That Down - Van Wilder
I have so much more respect for Roman Reigns after this promo. He carried the weight of that terrible dialogue on his shoulders and carried it to the finish line like a champ. This is absolutely not the sort of stuff this character should be saying.