algrim 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 I just saw this posted on wrestlingplanet.com. I haven't seen it posted anywhere else, so take it for what it's worth. We're being told that there is a lot of heat backstage on Rob Vam Dam after he refused to go on the "voluntary" middle east SmackDown! tour. The guys were all told backstage at a meeting last week that the trip was 100% voluntary and it was to be left entirely up to them. Luther Reigns approached management last week and told them he didn't want to go. WWE talent VP John Laurinaitis then told him that if he didn't go, it would have been a huge mistake because although the tour was optional, Vince McMahon expected everyone to attend. He was basically told in more ways than one that if he didn't go, there would be heat on him After being given a long lecture, Reigns reconsidered and went. Rob Van Dam on the other hand was a different story. He had absolutely no desire to attend the tour and he didn't. Rob told Laurinaitis last week that he wasn't going and was told to go meet with Vince McMahon. Many WWE employees would have likely reconsidered the idea of not going due to having to meet with the boss. Rob Van Dam went to Vince McMahon though and told him he wasn't going. WWE tried one last time to get him to go and he stood by his ground and never went. WWE management is less than happy with his decision Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spman 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 This was copied and paser fron Prowrestlinginsider Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Masked Man of Mystery 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Frankly, I would not blame anyone for not wanting to go in there right now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lil' Bitch 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 That's like telling people not to attend a mandatory meeting, WTF? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Loss Report post Posted December 20, 2004 If they feel that strongly about it, they can make it mandatory. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MARTYEWR 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 I usually take pwinsider news with a grain of salt, but if this is true, God bless RVD. I love how, whether he's in character or not, he approaches everything in such a pain-free manner. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geniusMoment 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 The voluntary thing is to protect their own ass. If they made it mandatory, and just one wrestler died or was seriously injured his/her family would be producing raw and smackdown from then on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Twisted Intestine 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Frankly, I would not blame anyone for not wanting to go in there right now. He probably didn't want to go to get a little time off of work, more so than because of the danger involved. I wouldn't go either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
humongous2002 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 If WWE wants to make this trip into a big deal then just make it mandatory, RVD did the right thing by standing his ground since he's not getting pushed either way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Robbie probably would rather spend the time with his wife than go playing job boy in the middle east. I don't blame him. What are they going to do...fire him? HE COULD ONLY BE SO LUCKY! sorry, had a Taz moment there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Loss Report post Posted December 20, 2004 He should have said he would go if they would kill HHH and serve his dead carcass to the soldiers in small pieces. Then, he could at least say that he offered to go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SamoaRowe 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 I don't blame RVD either, but I do commend the others who did go. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Duncan Eternia Report post Posted December 20, 2004 I think RVD knows that whether or not he goes there his "push" will be stopped as soon as he gets remotely main-event over again...like every other time he's seemingly been there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Twisted Intestine 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 I don't think RVD gives two fucks about his "push" He's there collecting his pay cheque, and he's given up on any sort of push at all. He wouldn't mind jobbing on heat every week, as he'd still cash out on his contract the same. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeJordan23 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Don't blame anybody for not going. I guess he feels safe about his job security or doesn't care? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest LooneyTune Report post Posted December 20, 2004 I'm not much of a RVD fan these days, but him standing up to the office = awesome. The guy had the right to say no since it was "optional", and didn't cave in under worthless threats by some guy who couldn't get over in the United States to save his life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 It's not like it would make a difference either way. He's not going to get pushed up significantly higher no matter what he does. "Heat" basically means being mid-card to being slightly lower mid-card. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Trivia247 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Standing up to the office means little at this point, unless you wish him on the unemployment line. Its sad state how RVD is treated and or have brought himself into this situation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Heppyhack Report post Posted December 20, 2004 He's presumably also realised that they can't exactly fire him just now with a DVD coming outg soon. Major kudos to him for taking a stance either way. If Vince is going to make it a voluntary exercise, trying to strongarm the roster into going is taking the mick. There's probably a few folk out in Iraq thinking - "Why didn't we try that?" He's in a good position too. If they fire him, he can drum up loads of publicity by saying he was punished/fired/etc for taking an anti-war stance (even if he just fancies Xmas week back at home with Sonia). And he neither needs the money, nor would be short of job offers should WWE do the unthinkable and offer him his P45. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Shadow Behind You Report post Posted December 20, 2004 RVD is one of the very few people on the WWE Roster who don't need the wwe to be successful. So his whole stance here is very admirable but it's not the first time he's done something of this kind. Remember HHH and Stephanie's wedding? the whole roster was invited... RVD was the only noticable name besides Jericho (@ his first son's birth) who didn't attend. Instead RVD went home to take advantage of the mini-break. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Twisted Intestine 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 RVD would probably be a huge name on the indys. He knows that, and that's why he doesn't bother much with WWE and their "politics" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Shadow Behind You Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Not just the indies; he managed to make a good living in ECW by also doing Movies. He has a successful Comic store, so he can run a business as well. Most wrestlers only know that; wrestling. The amount that have the ability or potential to have other success is actually marginal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest INXS Report post Posted December 20, 2004 The company should really respect RVD's decision, especially as it is a freakin warzone and all. Obviously the company have to push their workers to go otherwise no one would go at all - but to punish RVD for opting out isn't necessary IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest INXS Report post Posted December 20, 2004 The company should really respect RVD's decision, especially as it is a freakin warzone and all. Obviously the company have to push their workers to go otherwise no one would go at all - but to punish RVD for opting out isn't necessary IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ronnie755 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Why did RVD renew his WWE contract(for 3 years) over the summer if he doesn't need WWE and if he could do better on the indy scene? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sideburnious 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 The man's an inspiration to us all Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Shadow Behind You Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Why did RVD renew his WWE contract(for 3 years) over the summer if he doesn't need WWE and if he could do better on the indy scene? $$$ and security. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
geniusMoment 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 So who main events the ECW ppv now? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Shadow Behind You Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Luther Reigns Vs Val Venis is penciled in for now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Murmuring Beast 0 Report post Posted December 20, 2004 Why the hell are WWE Management not happy with Van Dam when he turned down a volluntary role? Maybe some of the clowns should buy a dictionary. He doesn't need to go at all. I don't know why they are moaning. It's not like he's a key figure anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
