Post by CW .org .info .net on Dec 8, 2022 10:24:32 GMT -6
Rob Van Dam, headed to Windy City Pro Wrestling's Battle of the Belts show tonight in Hammond, Ind., talked about how he made the ECW TV championship an important event.
"When I had the TV belt, that was when everything turned in my favor," Van Dam said. "I bet Bam Bam Bigelow, and then I had a match against Mikey Whipwreck and it was the first time I had all the fans on my side. I fought hard to have the best match on every card. Fans would say, 'Hey Rob, when are you going to have a chance at the world title?' I said the TV title means more. And it did. I almost had it for two years and I was undefeated. At that point, the belt did mean a lot to me. I was the longest-reigning champion in recent history and I was undefeated until I had to give it up because I broke my ankle. I never lost the title. It did have a lot of honor and I made it mean a lot. It was going to be the best match on the card every night and it didn't matter who the world champ was or who was the tag champs as long as the fans were chanting, 'RVD, RVD.' "
Rob Van Dam on ECW's last days:
"I don't even know if I could draw a line, this is where they started to show they were heading to bankruptcy," Van Dam said. "I had been with them since January of 1996. When I came in, I came in making a fraction of pay I was making when I left.
"It was built up to where it there wasa Big 3. It looked like it was going to take off. We had the magazine, videogames, pay per view, national TV. But even during that time, there was a period when the boys' checks were bouncing and guys were stressing bad. We made it thorugh some rough times.
"There was a point where I knew I had passed the point of no return. I was highest-paid guy, and I was owed the most money. TNN never helped ECW take a step up. ECW was swept under carpet. ECW signed guys up to contracts, many for pretty big money.
Van Dam then left the company.
"I thought leaving would help ECW out," he said. "The hole of debt was getting deeper and deeper. But at the same time, having me at he shows would help the show out."
He said he was disappointed he didn't get to say goodbye at the pay-per-view event scheduled for January. The event eventually was canceled.
"I was very excited about going back in January for the pay per view," he said. "It was the last chance to wrestle in my favorite group, in my favorite ring in front of my favorite fans."