Another RVD Radio Interview

[bobobrazil1984 0]

I look forward to RVD radio interviews more than I do RAW

[Lil' Bitch 0]

RVD was HUGE last year and could have been for WWE's business especially in the marketing department (which would have been great for them $-wise).

 

HHH killed that last fall.

[cabbageboy 0]

One thing that is an odd criticism of an RVD match is that they are crazy spotfests. What is so wrong with this? A wild spotfest can be a great match too if guys hit their spots.

 

You want to know about RVD in ECW, and why he never got the title? It boils down to this: Heyman wanted to save it for when he could get on a better network than TNN and truly draw money with an RVD title run.

 

Hell, the only promotion at this point that could draw money with RVD is the NWA. Between Heyman's inept business decisions and WWF backstage politics RVD hasn't ever won a world title. Unless Jerry Jarrett is a fool, he'd likely take advantage of this.

[Guest bort]

RVDs time was 2 years ago, he has lost alot of his face momentum and will be stuck in the mid card till he leaves, i went to a Smackdown taping 2 years ago and RVD was over huge, ihe was facing austin and i thought that they were gonna give him the title but during his whole HHH fued i knew nothing was gonna happen because he has lost somthing, his ring work looks weaker

[Guest MikeSC]

This guy is a good example of an RVD hater, people will come out with plenty of good reasons for RVD getting a push, but this guy will shot them down every chance he gets. In other words trying to have a reasonable discussion with this guy is out of the question, but believe me if for some rerason WWE decides to let RVD carry the ball Mike will be the first one to jump into the bandwagon, but right now his biased mind won't allow him to listen to reason.

And you're and RVD lover who refuses to acknowledge that he's hardly great in the ring, nothing special on the mic (contrary to Rob's opinion), and should never get pushed until he does improve.

 

Or, in other words, pot meet kettle.

-=Mike

[Guest MikeSC]

One thing that is an odd criticism of an RVD match is that they are crazy spotfests. What is so wrong with this? A wild spotfest can be a great match too if guys hit their spots.

 

You want to know about RVD in ECW, and why he never got the title? It boils down to this: Heyman wanted to save it for when he could get on a better network than TNN and truly draw money with an RVD title run.

 

Hell, the only promotion at this point that could draw money with RVD is the NWA. Between Heyman's inept business decisions and WWF backstage politics RVD hasn't ever won a world title. Unless Jerry Jarrett is a fool, he'd likely take advantage of this.

Nothing is wrong with the occasional spotfest --- but it's ALL Rob can do. Once you see his pretty little flips and what have you, there isn't a heck of a lot more to see. It was MUCH worse in ECW as they gave him 30 minutes on a regular basis to kill, but he's STILL yet to learn how to work a match and to get a crowd involved in a match.

 

Even with PPV's MARKETED around his matches (a colossal mistake on their part), he didn't draw squat numbers. ECW didn't get ANY bigger when they decided to use RVD as one of their top draws.

 

If Rob went to TNA (which the WWE would be idiotic to do), he wouldn't draw money for them, either. He's a decent midcard worker. He's not the guy you put on top.

-=Mike

[NYU 0]

And Bill Goldberg is ?

 

Please. Don't sit there and tell me with a straight face that RVD doesn't have the ability or the mic skills to win the Heavyweight title - while Goldberg is about to win it this Sunday.

 

If given the chance, RVD could shine. But WWE refuses to give him the chance.

[Guest Eagan469]

RVD should have been given a title run in 2002. They blew it.

 

Right now I honestly wouldn't care if he won the title.

[Guest Eagan469]

Nothing is wrong with the occasional spotfest --- but it's ALL Rob can do. Once you see his pretty little flips and what have you, there isn't a heck of a lot more to see. It was MUCH worse in ECW as they gave him 30 minutes on a regular basis to kill, but he's STILL yet to learn how to work a match and to get a crowd involved in a match.

Somebody sure likes Scott Keith.

 

Even with PPV's MARKETED around his matches (a colossal mistake on their part), he didn't draw squat numbers. ECW didn't get ANY bigger when they decided to use RVD as one of their top draws.

 

RVD drew great in 1999. He was one of the main reasons they got the TNN deal.

 

Or, in other words, pot meet kettle.

-=Mike

 

This guy's like Johnson with a shitty catch-phrase.

[haVoc 0]

 

M.I.C.K.E.Y. M.O.U.S.E.

 

 

 

Seriously, this guy must be trying to get out of his contract. Even if they do release him their throw one of those gag orders on him where he can't work anywhere else or say anything negative about the company for six months -- a year.

[AndrewTS 0]

I thought it was merely a 30-day no-compete clause, and that was only for WCW back when it was still around.

 

Unless he's negotiated a new contract, he's fine since they wouldn't have had a chance to put a "can't go to NWA-TNA for X months" clause in his contract. NWA-TNA didn't even exist in 2001 when he was signed to WWF.

[Guest The Hamburglar]

One thing that is an odd criticism of an RVD match is that they are crazy spotfests. What is so wrong with this? A wild spotfest can be a great match too if guys hit their spots.

But he's not even a good spotfest king. If I want to see a mad spotathon I'll watch Lo Ki. Hell, I don't particularly like AJ Styles but I can see he does better spots then RVD. Rob has certainly never taken part in a spotfest as gloriously over the top and engaging as the legendary Ring of Honour three way between Ki, AmDragon and Daniels.

[Guest MikeSC]

And Bill Goldberg is ?

 

Please. Don't sit there and tell me with a straight face that RVD doesn't have the ability or the mic skills to win the Heavyweight title - while Goldberg is about to win it this Sunday.

 

If given the chance, RVD could shine. But WWE refuses to give him the chance.

Oh, I'm sorry --- I must've given you the ridiculous notion that GB should be in that position, either.

 

Just because GB is being pushed idiotically doesn't mean that RVD should be.

 

And, just to defend him a little, GB can point to the crowd and rating he popped when he won the World Title from Hogan.

 

What, exactly, can Rob point to?

-=Mike

[Guest MikeSC]

Nothing is wrong with the occasional spotfest --- but it's ALL Rob can do. Once you see his pretty little flips and what have you, there isn't a heck of a lot more to see. It was MUCH worse in ECW as they gave him 30 minutes on a regular basis to kill, but he's STILL yet to learn how to work a match and to get a crowd involved in a match.

Somebody sure likes Scott Keith.

 

Even with PPV's MARKETED around his matches (a colossal mistake on their part), he didn't draw squat numbers. ECW didn't get ANY bigger when they decided to use RVD as one of their top draws.

 

RVD drew great in 1999. He was one of the main reasons they got the TNN deal.

 

Or, in other words, pot meet kettle.

-=Mike

 

This guy's like Johnson with a shitty catch-phrase.

1) I could care less what Keith thinks --- but my opinion on him (RVD) is HARDLY a rarely-held opinion. His work never impressed me and still has yet to do really do so. If you wish to paint all of the criticism as people who are "Keith" marks, feel free. It's par for the course for you.

 

2) RVD drew "great" in 1999. Explains the monster buyrates, big crowds, or huge ratings they got while on TNN.

 

Oh, wait, they didn't get squat. Heck, Vince did more to keep ECW afloat than RVD did.

 

3) You are one of a kind.

 

For that, we are truly grateful.

-=Mike

[Guest MikeSC]

One thing that is an odd criticism of an RVD match is that they are crazy spotfests.  What is so wrong with this?  A wild spotfest can be a great match too if guys hit their spots. 

But he's not even a good spotfest king. If I want to see a mad spotathon I'll watch Lo Ki. Hell, I don't particularly like AJ Styles but I can see he does better spots then RVD. Rob has certainly never taken part in a spotfest as gloriously over the top and engaging as the legendary Ring of Honour three way between Ki, AmDragon and Daniels.

I'm not nearly as enamored with guys like Low-Ki and Daniels as many others are --- and I'll clearly state that they are much better in the ring than RVD.

 

Chris is better on the stick, to boot.

-=Mike

[Fökai 0]

You want to know about RVD in ECW, and why he never got the title? It boils down to this: Heyman wanted to save it for when he could get on a better network than TNN and truly draw money with an RVD title run.

I'm sure the process of finding a better network to broadcast on can be explained in one easy step.

 

1. Draw ratings on the station you're on.

 

 

....and ECW didn't do that.

[Guest The Hamburglar]

I'm not nearly as enamored with guys like Low-Ki and Daniels as many others are --- and I'll clearly state that they are much better in the ring than RVD.

 

Chris is better on the stick, to boot.

-=Mike

That's kind of my point - without Dragon controlling their matches I don't see these guys as much more than spot machines. However, they are entertaining spot machines, unlike RVD. Lo Ki's crazy cartwheel spin-kick thing into the corner is just as ridiculous as RVD's Rolling Thunder, but its just executed with that extra bit of smoothness and panache that makes it a laugh to watch. Plus Lo Ki's kicks, although stupidly dangerous, aren't nearly as pansified as RVD's.

[cabbageboy 0]

RVD has something that guys like Daniels and Lo Ki don't have: an ability to get over. That's the main problem with the NWA's X division. It's guys who can certainly do spots more bizarre than RVD, but they lack the charisma to get over.

 

Drawing money is a relative term. RVD hasn't ever drawn much in the technical definition of ratings or buyrates. But to anyone who watched ECW circa 1998-99 you would know RVD was basically the guy who held the promotion together. It's hard to draw much money when your promotion is almost going under. Ask Flair.

 

Now, some might say RVD couldn't draw for the NWA. Define draw. If RVD could have a good title run and perhaps get them in position to get a national TV deal, that is great.

 

Obviously the NWA isn't going to start drawing 10,000 a night. WWE isn't even doing that now. I doubt adding RVD to the roster would triple buyrates, but I'd imagine more people would watch the NWA if he was on it.

[Guest MikeSC]

RVD has something that guys like Daniels and Lo Ki don't have: an ability to get over. That's the main problem with the NWA's X division. It's guys who can certainly do spots more bizarre than RVD, but they lack the charisma to get over.

 

Drawing money is a relative term. RVD hasn't ever drawn much in the technical definition of ratings or buyrates. But to anyone who watched ECW circa 1998-99 you would know RVD was basically the guy who held the promotion together. It's hard to draw much money when your promotion is almost going under. Ask Flair.

 

Now, some might say RVD couldn't draw for the NWA. Define draw. If RVD could have a good title run and perhaps get them in position to get a national TV deal, that is great.

 

Obviously the NWA isn't going to start drawing 10,000 a night. WWE isn't even doing that now. I doubt adding RVD to the roster would triple buyrates, but I'd imagine more people would watch the NWA if he was on it.

Let's really not compare RVD to Flair. Flair kept NWA/WCW afloat for years. As I mentioned elsewhere, Vince kept ECW afloat --- RVD didn't draw anywhere near enough to do it. If he went to TNA, I doubt he'd make enough of a difference to warrant the money they'd have to pay him.

 

The X Division does have a lot of guys who probably could never get over, but I think Low Ki MIGHT have the best shot simply because his kicks are stiff enough to get him over(see Tajiri, Yoshihiro). Most of the present division just dont come across as anything special. Terrific spots (when they hit), but a dearth of charisma.

-=Mike

[Guest Coffey]

Would anyone really be against Rob Van Dam joining NWA:TNA? Well, I mean anyone who gets to see both WWE & NWA:TNA. Sure, RVD would make less money (most likely), although the schedule wouldn't be as hard and he would be higher on the card in the indies. It might be better for RVD himself. I know I would rather see him work his old ECW style at the top of the card than to watch him work the toned down WWE style at the bottom of the card. I can't be in the minority.... Maybe RVD could be the tool that NWA:TNA could use to succeed? He couldn't hurt. So, if Rob ever does leave the WWE to pursue other interests, I hope that NWA:TNA and maybe some RoH won't be too far behind.

[Guest MikeSC]

Would anyone really be against Rob Van Dam joining NWA:TNA? Well, I mean anyone who gets to see both WWE & NWA:TNA. Sure, RVD would make less money (most likely), although the schedule wouldn't be as hard and he would be higher on the card in the indies. It might be better for RVD himself. I know I would rather see him work his old ECW style at the top of the card than to watch him work the toned down WWE style at the bottom of the card. I can't be in the minority.... Maybe RVD could be the tool that NWA:TNA could use to succeed? He couldn't hurt. So, if Rob ever does leave the WWE to pursue other interests, I hope that NWA:TNA and maybe some RoH won't be too far behind.

RVD working his "ECW style".

 

God, that would KILL TNA's workrate.

-=Mike

...RVD was sloppy in tonight's match, apparently. Color me not shocked.

[Guest MikeSC]

Would anyone really be against Rob Van Dam joining NWA:TNA? Well, I mean anyone who gets to see both WWE & NWA:TNA. Sure, RVD would make less money (most likely), although the schedule wouldn't be as hard and he would be higher on the card in the indies. It might be better for RVD himself. I know I would rather see him work his old ECW style at the top of the card than to watch him work the toned down WWE style at the bottom of the card. I can't be in the minority.... Maybe RVD could be the tool that NWA:TNA could use to succeed? He couldn't hurt. So, if Rob ever does leave the WWE to pursue other interests, I hope that NWA:TNA and maybe some RoH won't be too far behind.

RVD working his "ECW style".

 

God, that would KILL TNA's workrate.

-=Mike

...RVD was sloppy in tonight's match, apparently. Color me not shocked.

[Guest THE MIGHTY THOR]

This guy is a good example of an RVD hater, people will come out with plenty of good reasons for RVD getting a push, but this guy will shot them down every chance he gets. In other words trying to have a reasonable discussion with this guy is out of the question, but believe me if for some rerason WWE decides to let RVD carry the ball Mike will be the first one to jump into the bandwagon, but right now his biased mind won't allow him to listen to reason.

And you're and RVD lover who refuses to acknowledge that he's hardly great in the ring, nothing special on the mic (contrary to Rob's opinion), and should never get pushed until he does improve.

 

Or, in other words, pot meet kettle.

-=Mike

I'm just a big fan of RVD.To me RVD is entertaining to watch when he gets the chance to shine, right now the RVD everybody is watching is an unmotivated one, he is in auto pilot control and just doing his job day by day since WWE is not giving him any type of push that indicates he will go to the next level or not.His mic skills were good in ECW, not great but good and way better than the WWE champion Lesnar, who by the way can't act and can't cut a good promo at all. RVD mentioned in a radio interview that the promos that he cuts are actually being written for him by a dopey writer who doesn't know what RVD's character is all about, how is any wrestler going to get over if a booker tells you to say cool everytime you open your mouth in a promo? But anyway i'm not going to sit here and waste my time by trying to reason with you, you are an RVD critic and that's fine but try to be a little bit more open minded, like it or not RVD is still over, not as over as he once was, but still over even though politics are trying to bury his career in WWE.

And please stop with the shitty dumb catchphrases.

[Guest Goodear]

Pot meets kettle is not a catch phrase, its something that like 14 people a week say around here.

 

Anyway, RVD is fine when he's motivated since he actually puts some velocity into his work and makes his spots flow rather well. The problem is right now is that he's not motivated. He is working constantly at 3/4's speed and running the ropes noticably slower than everyone on the roster. And while some might say, 'well if he was getting pushed he would try harder' I would counter that by saying that I wouldn't push people that are slacking as hard as RVD is right now.

 

And as far as the character of RVD is concerned, he doesn't really have one and never really did to begin with. All he was in ECW was 'the cocky guy that never lost' and that just doesn't play when you aren't the top dog in a company and have to do a job now and again. It was a flat and lifeless character that obviously couldn't survive in WWE.

[Guest Coffey]

RVD working his "ECW style".

 

God, that would KILL TNA's workrate.

You mean the same NWA:TNA workrate that used to involve New Jack on the roster? How about the Sandman? How about the NWA:TNA X-division spot fests (as you pointed out spots earlier)? What about the Raven Vs. Shane Douglas match where Shane Douglas was throwing up due to exhastion ten minutes into the match?

 

That work rate?

 

Have you ever even seen NWA:TNA or ECW before?

[Guest Goodear]

If I might be so bold, workrate basically is an equation of number of moves divided by the time in the ring. Now I think its just about the dumbest way to actually monitor the talent of an individual but I would have to admit that ECW Rob's style of stalemate... Point to Self... spot ... Point to Self... etc... Talk to Fonzie ... was just about the slowest there was in ECW land.

[cabbageboy 0]

Here's the thing. RVD might work a totally different style in the NWA. Jerry Lynn doesn't wrestle the same way he used to in ECW, I dare say his NWA stuff has been better.

 

Heyman used to actually ENCOURAGE RVD to go out there and point at himself and all that. Let's face it, without the WWE match style restrictions and some common sense (i.e. not letting RVD take 10 mins to get to the ring or pose during the match) he would be on fire.

 

You know what's sad? RVD was sloppy and sluggish last night but his match was probably the best match on the PPV.

[Guest MikeSC]

RVD working his "ECW style".

 

God, that would KILL TNA's workrate.

You mean the same NWA:TNA workrate that used to involve New Jack on the roster? How about the Sandman? How about the NWA:TNA X-division spot fests (as you pointed out spots earlier)? What about the Raven Vs. Shane Douglas match where Shane Douglas was throwing up due to exhastion ten minutes into the match?

 

That work rate?

 

Have you ever even seen NWA:TNA or ECW before?

I've seen both (far more ECW than TNA --- but I was less impressed with ECW) and wasn't exactly blown away by EITHER --- but TNA actually has some competent ME'ers (Douglas, of course, excluded).

 

I'll take Raven, Daniels, Styles --- heck, I'll take JJ (who is FAR from a favorite) --- over RVD. They are almost definitely CHEAPER than RVD, can actually SELL, and have matches that have SOME semblance of flow to them. Rob's spots not only seldom hit, they are by and large pointless. Spins and flips for the sake of spinning and flipping is asinine.

 

Pointing out TNA's flaws (and, ironcally enough, they were the same flaws ECW had and only accentuate how utterly mediocre ECW was post-1996) is hardly a justification for RVD's push. Heck, it only shows how weak ECW was that RVD got pushed as long and as hard as he did there.

 

The X Division, you're right, is almost all spotfest --- but they avoid the LONG dead spells in their matches that RVD was WELL-KNOWN for in ECW and they HIT THEIR SPOTS, something RVD is iffy, at best, about. There are no major names in the X-Division who can't outwork RVD in the ring. And since they ALL tend to suck on the mic, go with the ring work.

-=Mike

[TheFranchise 0]

Stop dissing Douglas :|