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Rob Van Dam, in his “1 Of A Kind” podcast, reflected on WWE and the work the company is doing. It seems this experienced wrestler is not happy with the direction WWE is heading, believing they could end up becoming just a television product to make money. RVD clearly isn’t satisfied with this, likely emphasizing how WWE used to be as a company.
“If they’re making most of their business off of TV and not at the actual live events, then there’s not as much incentive to even do them. You know, I could see it maybe becoming just a television product if that’s the way that the money flowed.”- he said, as quoted by Pwmania.
Rob Van Dam talked about how busy his schedule was in WWE. He explained that he often had to do four house shows each week and two television tapings. While not everyone was on both TV shows, he seemed to always be involved. There were also times when he participated in pay-per-view events and international shows, which meant he had no days off.
He emphasized that it was a lot of work; really overwhelming at times. Recently, he’s heard that WWE is getting better at recognizing when wrestlers need time off, but he’s not sure if that truly indicates a change in the company’s approach.
Wrestlers during Rob Van Dam’s time in WWE had to tackle demanding schedules, but they generally accepted their responsibilities without much complaint. The old-school wrestlers, like RVD, differ greatly from today’s generation in many ways. Vince McMahon, the former WWE boss, had strict principles that everyone had to follow. However, some believe that the current system and ideas from Triple H are much more modern and mature compared to Vince’s era.
Rob Van Dam was always a dedicated wrestler who never shied away from hard work. In fact, he often went above and beyond what was expected of him. This mindset continues even now, as he stays connected to wrestling, despite being away from the spotlight of WWE.
RVD made his WWE debut in 2001, quickly gaining popularity for his unique style and charm. Over the years, he became known for his incredible athleticism and high-flying moves, which amazed fans. He won several championships, including the WWE Championship and the ECW Championship, and many remember him by that.
Throughout his time in WWE, RVD created a lot of special moments, including iconic matches at WrestleMania.
RVD on today's wrestling
Rob Van Dam recently shared his thoughts on modern wrestling in his podcast, expressing some dissatisfaction, especially with the acting. He drew an interesting comparison that didn’t sit well with everyone, but he clearly believes that today’s wrestlers need to be more dedicated and invest more in their characters. RVD wants wrestlers to produce real emotions in fans, making them believe in what they see on screen.
It seems that old-school wrestlers are not entirely happy with what’s happening in wrestling today, often pointing out that they did their jobs much better back in the day. RVD’s perspective highlights a desire for more authenticity and passion in performances, aiming to connect deeply with the audience.
“Why did WWE movies look like low-budget * acting?"- he said laughing.
"I thought I would take that question to address a point that I would like to make, in case somehow this has escaped capture by a lot of people’s minds or imaginations. Alright, you ready for this? Wrestling is *. When you look at it, no matter which one you’re talking about, wrestling or *, you’re watching something to escape the reality and the more you can believe what they’re doing, the more you invest your emotions, and that has a lot to depend on their acting and their performance."- he said.
RVD on wrestlers and their mistakes
RVD stressed that when wrestlers make mistakes during a match, it can ruin the illusion for the audience. Instead of feeling caught up in the action, fans might realize that it’s all staged, which takes away from their enjoyment. The whole point of wrestling is to let people escape reality for a bit. At least that's what RVD thinks, and that's the standard that's always existed in WWE.
He pointed out that how well the wrestlers perform really affects how involved the audience feels. If wrestlers are good at what they do, fans are more likely to get lost in the story and feel their emotions tied to it. While people often remember the big finish, everything that happens before that is just as important.
RVD also said that if fans see wrestlers just standing around waiting for something to happen, it breaks that feeling of being in the moment. He believes wrestling is an art, and when performers seem disconnected, it takes away from the experience. He compared it to a director giving instructions that pull viewers out of the story, which he finds frustrating.
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