Rob Van Dam: Difference between revisions
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*Running cartwheel into [[Moonsault#Standing moonsault|moonsault]] |
*Running cartwheel into [[Moonsault#Standing moonsault|moonsault]] |
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*RVD Shoulder Thrusts (Hits two shoulderblocks into the mid-section of an opponent who is standing or leaning against a turnbuckle, then does a backflip, approaches turnbuckle again and hits a third shoulderblock) |
*RVD Shoulder Thrusts (Hits two shoulderblocks into the mid-section of an opponent who is standing or leaning against a turnbuckle, then does a backflip, approaches turnbuckle again and hits a third shoulderblock) |
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*[[Professional wrestling |
*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Spinning heel kick|Kick counter to Spinning Heel Kick]] |
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==== With [[Oscar Gutierrez|Rey Mysterio]] ==== |
==== With [[Oscar Gutierrez|Rey Mysterio]] ==== |
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Revision as of 02:15, 5 February 2006
| Robert Szatkowski | |
|---|---|
| File:Rvdportrait.jpg | |
| Born | December 18, 1970 Battle Creek, Michigan |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Robbie V The Whole Fucking Show The Whole Dam Show Rob Van Dam (RVD) |
| Billed height | 6 ft (183cm) |
| Billed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Trained by | The (Original) Sheik |
| Debut | 1990 |
Robert Szatkowski, better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam (born December 18, 1970 in Battle Creek, Michigan), is an American professional wrestler performing for World Wrestling Entertainment on its RAW brand. He is the last person to hold the WWE European Championship and the WWE Hardcore Championship.
Wrestling career
He debuted in 1990 after being trained by "The (Original) Sheik" and wrestled in many independent promotions across Michigan. He signed with World Championship Wrestling in 1992 and was dubbed "Robbie V" upon his arrival. His WCW run was uneventful and largely unnoticed; he left in 1994.
He wrestled in several independent promotions across America, and in All Japan Pro Wrestling. Then in 1996, he signed with promoter Paul Heyman's recently re-invented, Philadelphia-based promotion -- Extreme Championship Wrestling. ECW openly targeted testosterone-charged males in their teens and twenties with ultra-violent (but also unusually athletic) matches, plus sexually aggressive female-sidekick characters.
He became nationally (and internationally) known in ECW. RVD was an instant hit after a series of hardcore, high-flying matches (beginning April 20, 1996 at Hostile City Showdown) with long-time rival Sabu where Van Dam failed to show proper respect for his opponent. Eventually, RVD united with Sabu under the management of Bill Alfonso and formed one of the most successful duos in ECW history. They later teamed with Jerry Lawler to "invade" Monday Night Raw in May of 1997. Despite his arrogance and "betrayals" of ECW, "Mr. Monday Night" was thoroughly applauded by fans recognizing his athleticism and unique maneuvers.
Van Dam's popularity culminated in a record 23-month reign as ECW World Television Champion, before he suffered a broken leg just weeks before he was scheduled to perform in a "TV champion vs. World champion" pay-per-view bradcast's main event. Many ECW fans have cited this unfortunate event as the beginning of the end for the trendsetting, yet financially shaky, promotion. This match would have been the most (potentially) lucrative PPV main event in company history; Heyman was depending on this mega-match to bring an influx of badly-needed cash. Business problems aside, "RVD" was arguably the most popular wrestler to ever grace an ECW ring.
He stayed with ECW until its 2001 demise. A couple of months later, he signed with the WWF, the company that had bought what remained of ECW. RVD's reputation preceeded his WWF debut: He was an immediate smash hit with WWF/E fans, despite being cast as a heel (i.e., a villain) member of the invading "ECW Alliance." WWF fans, like most pro wrestling fans, frequently sample the 'product' of competing promotions. Between ECW tapes circulated between friends, word of mouth, and ECW's short-lived cable-TV show, millions had been captivated by RVD's one-of-a-kind blend of acrobatics, showmanship, and toughness. After the WCW/ECW Alliance storyline was discontinued, he turned face (i.e., popular hero). Despite being extremely popular with WWE fans worldwide, Van Dam has yet to cement his legend by being promoted to World Heavyweight Champion status. RVD has captured the WWE Intercontinental, European, and Hardcore Championships, as well as both the (WWE) World Tag Team Title (with Kane & Booker T, on "Monday Night RAW") and WWE Tag Team Title (with Rey Mysterio, on "SmackDown!").
On March 21, 2004 Rob Van Dam was "traded" from RAW to SmackDown! (as part of WWE's recent brand extension strategy, the roster of performers were split between appearing exclusively on either just RAW, or just SmackDown!). He made his SmackDown! debut on March 24, 2004, defeating Charlie Haas. During his run on WWE Smackdown! RVD was known as "Mr. Thursday Night."
On January 27, 2005 Rob Van Dam underwent reconstructive knee surgery under Dr. James Andrews in Alabama to repair a torn ACL and meniscus he suffered earlier in the month.
Van Dam made an appearance at the ECW One Night Stand PPV in New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom on June 12, 2005, accompanied by his ECW manager, Bill Alfonso. Van Dam, still months away from a full recovery, wore a knee brace and did not wrestle. He delivered a scathing shoot interview, criticising the way he had been booked in WWE, until he was attacked by Rhino. Sabu defended Van Dam, leading to an impromptu match, which Sabu won following assistance from Van Dam.
On the June 27, 2005 edition of Raw, Van Dam was traded back to Raw in the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery. His selection was introduced during the "talk show" segment "Carlito's Cabana". The two exchanged words, after which Carlito brutally assaulted RVD's knee.
On the January 9, 2006 edition of RAW, it was announced that Van Dam would return to action as a participant in the Royal Rumble. He was in the final four, before being eliminated by Rey Mysterio. Before that he got revenge on Carlito by elimating him.
On the January 30, 2006 edition of Raw, Van Dam made his return to television, facing and defeating Gene Snitsky. After chasing down Carlito as shown on WWE.com Unlimited, he told the fans that Carlito is a piece of trash and that he is no stepping stone.
Trademarks
- Airbrushed singlets often featuring bright colors, dragons, and ying yangs.
- Is a marijuana enthusiast, and occasionally has 4:20 airbrushed onto his singlet.
Trivia
- Rob Van Dam has also appeared in several films and television shows in the past few years, and currently owns a comics shop (RVD's 5 Star Comics) in Lomita, California.
- He is also the inventor of the Van Dam Lift for weightlifting. This involves doing a split between two benches and lifting a dumbell from the floor to the waist. The lift was approved by the International All-Around Weightlifting Association in 1998, and RVD holds the current record, at 166.5 lb.
- RVD's theme song in WWE is "One of a Kind" by Breaking Point. He appears in the music video for the song, in which he loses his car to the band's lead singer, Brett Erickson, in a street race. At the end, he spin kicks the cars keys into his opponent's hands. The song appears on the WWF Forceable Entry CD.
- RVD's theme song in ECW was "Walk" by Pantera. The song was covered by Kilgore for the ECW Extreme Music CD; subsequently, RVD used their version as his theme music.
- RVD's ECW debut-match was against Axl Rotten.
- RVD defended the ECW World Television Championship for 1 year 11 months 18 days 2 hours and 42 seconds before he had to relinquish it due to injury.
- A comic book fan at heart, he is one of many WWE Superstars who share a love for comic books. Others include Edge, Matt Hardy, Al Snow, Paul London, and, Gregory Helms.
- His favourite comic book character is Ghost Rider - the skull headed demonic anti-hero who rides a motorcyle and carries a chain.
- RVD's favorite band is The Kottonmouth Kings.
- RVD was once featured on an article in High Times issue of March 1999. It is a common error that he was on the cover of this issue, in fact he was not.
- RVD's trademark is the Yin Yang sign.
- RVD appeared in an episode of Pamela Anderson's show VIP as well as the NBC teen-oriented sitcom City Guys.
- RVD shares his birthday with fellow wrestlers Trish Stratus and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Profile
Nicknames
- "Mr. Monday Night"
- "Mr. Pay Per View"
- "The Whole Fucking Show"
- "Mr. Thursday Night"
- "The Whole Dam Show"
Previous managers
Quotes
- "I'm R-V-D!"
- "Everything's cool when you're Rob - Van - Dam!" (the last three words said with thumbs pointed inward toward the shoulders and with pauses between them; he also does this when announced before matches, the fans join along in repeating his name)
- "RVD 4:20 - I just smoked your ass."
- "I'm the whole Dam show!"
- "I'm the whole.. fucking.. show!"
- "Nobody gets higher than Rob Van Dam!"
- "Cool"
- "Dude"
- "Yes, RVD can say more than, 'Cool!' and, 'Dude!' "
- "I'm Gonna Keep Speaking!"
- "Whatever"
- "Because you see, Lance Storm, by beating you here, Rob Van Dam is worth more money here, and Rob Van Dam is not worth more money elsewhere!" (Van Dam at ECW's first Pay Per View "Barely Legal" after defeating Lance Storm.)
Films
- Superfights as "Mercenary"
- Superfights 2 (not found in Internet movie database)
- X-Files
- Bloodmoon as "Dutch"
- Black Mask 2: City Of Masks as "The Claw."
Finishing and signature moves, and weapons
- Five-Star Frog Splash (Frog splash)
- The Van-Terminator (Corner to corner missile dropkick with a steel folding chair)
- The Van-Daminator (Spinning heel kick to opponent who is holding a steel chair by their face)
- Rolling Thunder (Forward roll into a jumping somersault senton)
- Hollywood Star Press (Split-legged moonsault)
- Corkscrew leg drop
- Air Van Dam (Top-rope somersault plancha to opponent outside of the ring and in the crowd)
- Lifting double underhook facebuster
- Steam Roller (Rolling fireman carry slam)
- Skateboard (Baseball Slide to an opponent in a seated position in the corner of the ring)
- Running cartwheel into moonsault
- RVD Shoulder Thrusts (Hits two shoulderblocks into the mid-section of an opponent who is standing or leaning against a turnbuckle, then does a backflip, approaches turnbuckle again and hits a third shoulderblock)
- Kick counter to Spinning Heel Kick
With Rey Mysterio
- 4:20 (Double leg drop)
With Sabu
- Stereo Leg Drops (Double flying leg drops)
Championships and accomplishments
- 1-time ECW World Television Champion
- 2-time ECW World Tag Team Champion (with Sabu)
- 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 4-time WWE Hardcore Champion (unified with IC title)
- 1-time WWE European Champion (unified with IC title)
- 2-time World Tag Team Champion (with Kane, and Booker T)
- 1-time WWE Tag Team Champion (with Rey Mysterio)
- PWI ranked him # 152 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- RVD won the PWI Comeback of the Year Award in 2001. He also won the PWI Most Popular Wrestler Award in 2001 and 2002. RVD was ranked # 1 in the 2002 "PWI 500".
- Other championships
- 1-time SAPW Tag Team Champion with Chaz Rocco
- 1-time NWC Tag Team Champion with Bob Bradley
- 1-time ASW North American Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time PSW Cordele City Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time IWF Television Champion