Could Van Dam be a viable WWE main eventer?

[cabbageboy 0]

RVD always has credibility to the fans mainly because no one cares about him jobbing to Renee Dupree or whatever...they remember either his ECW TV title run or his awesome first year or so in the WWF where he beat Austin, Angle, UT, Jericho, Eddie, and Benoit. RVD could beat anyone on the roster and nobody would find it at all goofy (as opposed to say Orton beating Benoit).

 

When RVD comes back they basically HAVE to push him...I don't even think they are dumb enough to have him come back from a 6-12 month injury and then put him right back in a tag situation with Rey or whoever. I'm not saying he shouldn't be involved with Rey initially, because it's only logical for RVD to come back and turn heel and just DESTROY Rey (there's always the old "You didn't have my back and didn't give a shit when I got hurt" motive...and in this case it makes total sense).

[humongous2002 0]

The sad thing is WWE will drop the ball on RVD again just because of politics.

[King Cucaracha 0]

The one thing that bothers me with RVD is the fact his offense doesn't look authentic enough for the main event style. If he's playing the face in a main event environment, at some point he's going to need to learn how to punch somebody. At the moment, he has Chyna-esque forearms and his kicks, which aren't exactly Tajiri-esque.

 

He needs a moveset overhaul actually. That's the problem with his matches when somebody works on his knee. His entire offense revolves around flying about, so more often than not he either forgets to sell his knee or simply doesn't bother.

 

Other than that, obviously he's viable.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

The one thing that bothers me with RVD is the fact his offense doesn't look authentic enough for the main event style. If he's playing the face in a main event environment, at some point he's going to need to learn how to punch somebody. At the moment, he has Chyna-esque forearms and his kicks, which aren't exactly Tajiri-esque.

 

He needs a moveset overhaul actually. That's the problem with his matches when somebody works on his knee. His entire offense revolves around flying about, so more often than not he either forgets to sell his knee or simply doesn't bother.

 

Other than that, obviously he's viable.

The one thing that bothers me with RVD is the fact his offense doesn't look authentic enough for the main event style. If he's playing the face in a main event environment, at some point he's going to need to learn how to punch somebody. At the moment, he has Chyna-esque forearms and his kicks, which aren't exactly Tajiri-esque.

 

While the authenticity issue might have some credibility, the fact that his offence is strange is part of the appeal of Van Dam. He does a lot of things that nobody else does, or that nobody else does as well as he can. His forearms are a little weak, but I daresay that he doesn't want someone bitching about a bloody nose here and there. Same with his kicks. When he hits them with force, they look great, but someone gets a bruise or two, and they go bitching to management. That's not to say he should be granted the freedom to stiff people at will and hit as hard as he likes, but that if his kicks are to look good, some people are going to have to accept a couple of bruises here and there. If Van Dam was given a serious push, then the complaints to management would be minimal at best, because the other wrestlers would realise that it's those kicks getting Van Dam over, that are in turn drawing people, which in turn makes money for everyone. When Van Dam was so huge in lat 2001, people didn't like getting stiffed by him, but they tolerated it because they felt it was worth it because he was getting over and it could make some money. Once Van Dam got cut off at the knees, people were more open to complaining, because Van Dam wasn't being pushed, so it wasn't worth taking the shots.

He needs a moveset overhaul actually.

 

That is the worst thing to do to Van Dam. His unique offence is part of the reason he is so over. Change his moves, and you take away part of the reason he is over with fans, despite being buried for so long. Let him keep his offence and add to it, but absolutely do not take anything away.

 

That's the problem with his matches when somebody works on his knee. His entire offense revolves around flying about, so more often than not he either forgets to sell his knee or simply doesn't bother.

 

Then whoever he wrestles needs to work around that, and not work a match that causes Van Dam to have to change what is getting him over. Don't work on his knees, work on his back. Don't work a match where the selling would require Van Dam to not work to his strengths. It's basic wrestling common sense to work to strengths and hide weaknesses, and you do that with Van Dam by not having a match where he has to cut out what makes him special. Work on his back, do moves that allow Van Dam to take his 'folding' bumps, and stay away from his knees as much as you can, so he doesn't have to sell them.

 

I know there will be people who will complain that it isn't realistic to not work on Van Dam's knees, but if you want realism, go watch UFC or a shoot-style group. Yes, a wrestling match should be realistic to a degree, but not when it takes away from the entertainment value of the match, and wrestling is about giving an entertaining match not necessarily a realistic one.

[Guest MikeSC]

Thing is, if you want a match to "look real" --- which should, ultimately, be the goal of a wrestling match --- you have to work on RVD's legs. He needs to develop some resemblance of a moveset that doesn't involve flying around.

-=Mike

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Thing is, if you want a match to "look real" --- which should, ultimately, be the goal of a wrestling match --- you have to work on RVD's legs. He needs to develop some resemblance of a moveset that doesn't involve flying around.

-=Mike

The goal of a traditional wrestling match is to entertain. If you want your wrestling to look real, watch UWF-I or U-Style.

[Guest MikeSC]

Thing is, if you want a match to "look real" --- which should, ultimately, be the goal of a wrestling match --- you have to work on RVD's legs. He needs to develop some resemblance of a moveset that doesn't involve flying around.

            -=Mike

The goal of a traditional wrestling match is to entertain. If you want your wrestling to look real, watch UWF-I or U-Style.

But you want it to look somewhat real to allow the fans to suspend disbelief. If it looks absolutely ridiculous, fans won't be able to buy into it.

-=Mike

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Thing is, if you want a match to "look real" --- which should, ultimately, be the goal of a wrestling match --- you have to work on RVD's legs. He needs to develop some resemblance of a moveset that doesn't involve flying around.

            

The goal of a traditional wrestling match is to entertain. If you want your wrestling to look real, watch UWF-I or U-Style.

But you want it to look somewhat real to allow the fans to suspend disbelief. If it looks absolutely ridiculous, fans won't be able to buy into it.

Working over Van Dam's back and Van Dam selling it looks realistic. It also means Van Dam can still do the fancy kicks and such that get him over, without having to worry too much about having to sell his knees.

[razazteca 0]

QUOTE

He needs a moveset overhaul actually.

 

 

That is the worst thing to do to Van Dam. His unique offence is part of the reason he is so over. Change his moves, and you take away part of the reason he is over with fans, despite being buried for so long. Let him keep his offence and add to it, but absolutely do not take anything away.

Please take away the monkey flip from matches where he is working solo.

[Guest Deadbolt]

Problem is he isn't that over with the fans anymore. I've been to numerous shows since that when RVD has his match, people up and leave for their bathroom break, merchandise buying, beer, etc. They choose his match for their break. Fans still enjoy the guy but he's not as over anymore.

[King Cucaracha 0]

Thing is, if you want a match to "look real" --- which should, ultimately, be the goal of a wrestling match --- you have to work on RVD's legs. He needs to develop some resemblance of a moveset that doesn't involve flying around.

            -=Mike

The goal of a traditional wrestling match is to entertain. If you want your wrestling to look real, watch UWF-I or U-Style.

There has to be a line though. I don't demand that every wrestler's offense looks as authentic as say Samoa Joe's, or that everyone works strong style. But at the same time, I don't want to be watching a WWE Title match and have somebody sitting next to me saying 'He's not even touching him...' every time RVD throws a forearm or a punch.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Problem is he isn't that over with the fans anymore. I've been to numerous shows since that when RVD has his match, people up and leave for their bathroom break, merchandise buying, beer, etc. They choose his match for their break. Fans still enjoy the guy but he's not as over anymore.

Can you blame them? They are conditioned to believe that whatever RVD is doing isn't that important since he won't advance anywhere.

[Guest Coffey]

I guess, to me, it depends on what you consider a viable main eventer. Would Chris Benoit or Chris Jericho be considered viable main eventers? They've both held the title. What about Bradshaw?

 

Looking back, history has shown that it doesn't take wrestling talent to be a wrestling champion. Hogan had tons of charisma but was only decent, at best, in the ring. Diesel and Sid didn't even really have that going for them. Hell, in Sid's case, he didn't have wrestling talent or talking ability.

 

So, in that regards, RVD could easily win the main strap.

 

Of course, having the title and being a franchise player are two different things. I don't think that RVD could be WWE's flagship.

 

He's definitely spotty and sloppy in the ring. He really can't talk, although sometimes he does show some signs of being humourous. He can bump well, but he can't sell for shit. He usually needs a good opponent, I.E. Jerry Lynn, to have matches that anyone bothers to remember. Either that, or gimmick matches with big bumps in them.

 

I don't see WWE really wanting that.

[humongous2002 0]

Whoever says that RVD is not a viable main eventer just check his dvd to see how over he could get if he is being push properly.

[NYU 0]

Problem is he isn't that over with the fans anymore. I've been to numerous shows since that when RVD has his match, people up and leave for their bathroom break, merchandise buying, beer, etc. They choose his match for their break. Fans still enjoy the guy but he's not as over anymore.

For some reason, that sounds like a fact you just made up.

 

On a roster filled with some of the guys Smackdown has, I doubt people are leaving for a piss break during Van Dam's stuff.

[humongous2002 0]

Problem is he isn't that over with the fans anymore. I've been to numerous shows since that when RVD has his match, people up and leave for their bathroom break, merchandise buying, beer, etc. They choose his match for their break. Fans still enjoy the guy but he's not as over anymore.

For some reason, that sounds like a fact you just made up.

 

On a roster filled with some of the guys Smackdown has, I doubt people are leaving for a piss break during Van Dam's stuff.

I thought about the same thing, not for nothing but I see more people taking a piss break on a JBL match or a Jindrak match than a RVD match.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Not that he's far from it already, but it'd be super-easy to get RVD to viable Main Eventer level status ...

 

... book him against people that'll let him use more of his ECW-style moveset (e.g. the flip into the crowd from the top rope, Van Daminators, etc)

 

... make him the smug, arrogant guy that he was in ECW

 

... have him come back with Fonzie. The whistle, the never-ending supply of chairs, the whole 9-yards.

 

Yes, I'm basically saying recreate his ECW persona.

[Guest Brian]

I don't think those are the characteristics that make a viable main eventer. It's a really selective and dangerous way of doing thing, making sure other guys are put at risk so he can get over. Yeah, it'll get him over, but for what good? It's a mighty big sacrifice, and it's a pretty one-dimensional cut of a wrestler. It's almost Hogan to an exteme; a dangerous extreme.