Could Van Dam be a viable WWE main eventer?

[Superfly Snuka 0]

Posted this as a reply to another post, but thought it should have its own topic:

 

When Van Dam comes back, he NEEDS to be in the WWE title picture, if for no other reason than because he is versatile. He can fight heavyweights like Taker (actually got a good an entertaing match out of him a couple years ago on raw), mat technicians like Angle, and even cruiserweights like Mysterio convincingly; versatility is what makes a champion appealing if only because one doesn't have to retread the same main event matches against the same wrestlers (also, title matches (like barbed wire steel cage) wouldn't need to have gimmicks to be interesting (because the big show sucks). Lack of versatility in the types of people a wrestler can wrestle against is one of the main problems I see with the WWE product today; this leads to the same matches. Most people forget when Brock Lesnar first came up as the unstoppable monster, the only wrstlker he had problems with/couldn't beat cleanly (even lost i think) was to Van Dam...and those were entertaing matches that made both look good). Obviously, the major problem I suppose is his skills on the mic. But if you take the whole 420/Laid back stoner thing and amp it up, I think it could become huge (he has a subtle charisma in his backstage promos). Maybe make him heel and have a manager/mouthpiece to help. What do you guys think?

[Enigma 0]

The whole "RVD sucks on the mic" thing is bullshit. Watching his promos from ECW prove he knows what he's doing. WWE just puts him in situations to come off like a total lush.

 

And as far as I'm concerned, his feud with HHH completely killed any drawing ability he had. HHH made him look like a total jobber.

[Superfly Snuka 0]

While I agree that HHH made RVD look like a total jobber (not unlike HH and Booker T...or most anyone else for that matter), I think since he's on smackdown away from HHH (although, obviously Stephanie runs smackdown) his past history in this regard won't matter. Would anyone else think an Angle versus Van Dam match (one on one) would be great with the way Van Dam is able to take bumps/contort his body body it would make an angle german suplex look ridiculously good. Also, I think promos between angle (the pseudo-serious/moral/intense guy) and Van dam (the slacker/stoner/laid back guy) could be gold.

[SamoaRowe 0]

The whole "RVD sucks on the mic" thing is bullshit. Watching his promos from ECW prove he knows what he's doing. WWE just puts him in situations to come off like a total lush.

 

And as far as I'm concerned, his feud with HHH completely killed any drawing ability he had. HHH made him look like a total jobber.

It was almost three years ago, I'm sure the common mark isn't going to think "No, I'm not going to cheer that RVD, HHH made him his bitch three years ago in a forgettable feud and why am I remembering this shit now?"

[haws bah gawd 0]

Remember in the Spring of '02 when RVD got the fluke win over 'Taker for the Undisputed title? The place fucking ERUPTED when he got the win. It was one of the loudest pop's I had ever heard on RAW up until that point. Its just a shame WWE felt it necessary for Ric Flair to immediately restart the match, and after the kick.WHAM. Last Ride, 'Taker had the belt back. If they were so dead-set on Taker getting the title back ASAP, why not have him job it back on the following RAW?

 

RVD wont be able to go forever. I dont think it would hurt WWE to give him just a one month trail run with the title, to see how things work out. Then it he remains over, keep the title on him for a while longer.

[Steviekick 0]

It's been three years since HHH. With proper build up upon his return, RVD could definitely main event again. Hell, they made Bradshaw a credible champ.

[tominator89 0]

It's been three years since HHH. With proper build up upon his return, RVD could definitely main event again. Hell, they made Bradshaw a credible champ.

I completely agree with this. If they wanted, they could present RVD as a legit contender. How many other guys get their name chanted during a PPV main event which they aren't even a part of?

[Superfly Snuka 0]

What I think would be a great way to come back as a heel is to have RVD during a smackdown PPV come out during the main event at the end and attack Cena or whoever is champ and do a Van terminator.

 

I suppose he could form a stable with Carlito Carribean Cool...because they'd be cool...just kidding

[tekcop 0]

I quit paying attention to the original post after the Big Show comment, but in respones to the title: Yes. Bradshaw has proven that anyone can be a main eventer in the WWE if pushed properly. It all depends on how well the WWE gets behind him and how well he does with the spotlight on.

[Myxamatosis 0]

Damn right RVD is viable main eventer.

 

In fact, out of anyone on Smackdown or Raw (except HBK), no one gets the consistent pops and reaction like RVD does.

[CanadianChick 0]

Damn right RVD is viable main eventer.

 

In fact, out of anyone on Smackdown or Raw (except HBK), no one gets the consistent pops and reaction like RVD does.

Cena? Eddie? Jericho?

 

I think it's safe to say that out of the unpushed midcarders, no one gets a reaction like RVD.

[AndrewTS 0]

Well, it's RVD's fault he's treated like this. If he'd not rocked the boat, if he's kissed a little more ass, if he worked the WWE style, if he sold more and flew less, if he's not gotten over when the bookers weren't ready for him to be, I'd imagine he'd be...uh...on Velocity.

 

If he did all that and could cut good promos, he'd be on Raw putting over Hassan.

[Superfly Snuka 0]

Could RVD ever be a credible heel? The only way I think he could do it is if he were incredibly arrogant, but he did that in ECW and became a huge fan favorite. I think he needs to be repackaged as a heel to be taken more seriously and smackdown needs heels, but I'm not sure if he could draw heat.

[Steviekick 0]

They could definitely utilize him as an über-heel. Just play off his natural arrogance/smugness. He doesn't have to be an evil heel, just an ass. By being self centered, he could definitely draw heat.

 

Like in this scenario, RVD keeps hyping that he's returning at the next PPV and costs the main event face the victory by running in and hitting the Van Terminator. Not because he had a grudge or a reason.

 

But just because he wanted to show off.

 

He'd still be completely over and would have a reason to feud with people by continually doing shit to upstage others.

[Superfly Snuka 0]

Good idea , stevekick

[AndrewTS 0]

He doesn't have to be an evil heel, just an ass. By being self centered, he could definitely draw heat.

...

He'd still be completely over and would have a reason to feud with people by continually doing shit to upstage others.

HBK is a babyface right now with that same character.

[Cuban Linx 0]

He could be, especially since Smackdown isn't exactly brimming with established main event stars, but they have to strike right when he returns from injury, if he comes back only to go right into some forgettable midcard feud with Rene Dupree or something he'll be right back where he was pre-injury.

[Guest Tjhe CyNick]

This is as good of a chance as they'll get. He'll get a big pop when he comes back, so its just a matter of pushing hm the right way. But its stupid to even think it will happen. WWE wants a bunch of Hunter-clones, which RVD is not, so he wont get the right type of push.

 

He was as over as anyone was in the Fall of '01, but they ignored it, so I'm not very optimistic.

[Special K 0]

Here's my take on RVD.

 

In ring: He's capable of having really good matches, but putting him in the ring with a great worker does not in any way gaurantee a great match.

However, he's capable of having pretty good matches with complete slugs.

So, that being said, he's above average, but not great in the current WWE roster. (and yes, he can do more than the flippy-floppy. He's perfectly capable of pin-reversal sequences and throwing a few suplexes and biels. Chalk that up to WWE style. ) Also, while he sorta sucks at long term psychology, he will sell individual moves like a god. He still has the best piledriver and stunner sell I have ever, ever seen.

 

On the mic: again, above average. He's very funny when in given a bit of mic time in that role, but he can also cut a pretty darn decent angry promo, though his voice isn't really suited to it.

 

Charisma: Almost off the charts. We all know this. People reacted to Benoit's in-ring charisma, they reacted evem more to RVD's laid-back cocky persona and high-flying.

 

I would say he should be in the lower main event. Maybe have a month-long title reign or big win against somone established to set him in stone as a contender. Then He works in the upper midcard.

 

Like many performers, all they need to do is give RVD a little mic time, and a little more time in the ring, and they have an absolute asset.

[iggymcfly 0]

When RVD comes back, they need to keep him out of shitty boring tag matches with random jobbers. If he wrestled only single/multi man matches, and found excuses to use ladders/chairs in a lot of them, he could get over again easily.

 

When you're whole gimmick is your broad "hardcore" moveset, you can't wrestle four minute tag matches with a frog splash as the only possible highspot, or of course people will lose interest. As for the title shot, it's great, but they need to wait until Cena's reign is over and a credible heel's held the title for a while. If Big Show or Taker had a solid monster heel run for a few months, I think Rob would be perfect to win the title around Survivor Series time or maybe even next year's Wrestlemania the way title reigns have ben running lately.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

RVD has been consistently over with the crowd, even after WWE's attempts to bury him repeatedly, so I see no reason why he can't main event and draw money.

[Guest Loss]

RVD will come back fresh after a layoff. That's their chance to push him hard. All the talk about how good of a worker or interview he is is really irrelevant -- the fans have wanted him in that position for some time now, and he's over enough to justify pushing.

[res37618 0]

RVD will come back fresh after a layoff. That's their chance to push him hard. All the talk about how good of a worker or interview he is is really irrelevant -- the fans have wanted him in that position for some time now, and he's over enough to justify pushing.

Agreed there . . . as much as I hate that he's injured, it may be the best thing that's ever happened to his career - he can come back with renewed energy, and if they build up his comeback ala HHH back in Jan. '02, the fans should respond well. I could see him winning the title next year at WrestleMania after winning the Royal Rumble to get the main event spot.

[Guest bigm350]

We all know that RVD should have already been a World Champ, and should get a main event push when he comes back from his injury, but this is the WWE we're talking about. I honestly don't think he'll ever get the big prize while he's in the WWE. He has never had it yet, and I doubt that he ever will because of stupid, unnecessary biases against him.

[Guest Loss]

RVD will come back fresh after a layoff. That's their chance to push him hard. All the talk about how good of a worker or interview he is is really irrelevant -- the fans have wanted him in that position for some time now, and he's over enough to justify pushing.

Agreed there . . . as much as I hate that he's injured, it may be the best thing that's ever happened to his career - he can come back with renewed energy, and if they build up his comeback ala HHH back in Jan. '02, the fans should respond well. I could see him winning the title next year at WrestleMania after winning the Royal Rumble to get the main event spot.

It's possible, if they actually wanted to execute this plan, that they could do it to great success. Now, if we can just get Jericho to get a serious injury and have to be sidelined for 6-12 months, he'd come back more over than anyone.

[NoCalMike 0]

Considering this topic is started once a month or so, instead of having everyone rehash their opinion over and over.....and over again, why not just pin this topic!?!

[CanadianChick 0]

Because then we'd have to pin the numerous other topics that come up monthly and really, I'm not one to discriminate.

[Promoter 0]

Okay, we have BRADSHAW AS CHAMPION. If they want RVD can be a main eventer easily.

[humongous2002 0]

RVD is a good example of a wrestler with a shitty character, he might be a pot smoker but WWE has made him into a dopey hippie, just imagine if WWF decided to keep Austin as the Ringmaster or The Rock as the ultimate babyface Rocky Maivia.

[SuperJerk 0]

Okay, we have BRADSHAW AS CHAMPION. If they want RVD can be a main eventer easily.

100% correct.