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{{short description|American professional wrestler (born 1970)}}
{{Redirect|RVD}}
{{Redirect|RVD}}
{{Redirect|The Whole F'n Show|the episode of ''Impact!'' that aired in 2010|Hardcore Justice (2010)#The Whole F'n Show}}

{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox wrestler
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
|name = Rob Van Dam
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|names = Robbie V<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/><br />'''Rob Van Dam'''<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/><br />Rob Szatkowski<ref name=Cage/>
|image = Rob Van Dam at WonderCon 2005.jpg
| name = Rob Van Dam
| image = Rob Van Dam Photo Op GalaxyCon Raleigh 2021.jpg
|img_capt =
| caption = Van Dam in 2021
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name="TNA">{{cite web|url=http://www.tnawrestling.com/roster/superstar-roster/item/1816-rob-van-dam| title=TNA Wrestling profile|accessdate=2010-03-10|publisher=[[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]]}}</ref>
| birthname = Robert Alexander Szatkowski<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hornbaker |first1=Tim |title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers |date=2012 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc. |isbn=978-1-61321-075-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4yNrCgAAQBAJ&q=rob+van+dam+birth+name&pg=PA538 |access-date=November 22, 2019 |language=en|page=538}}</ref>
|weight = {{convert|237|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="TNA"/>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|12|18}}<ref name="SLAM"/><ref name="slaminterview">{{cite web|last=Baines|first=Tim|date=April 7, 2002|title=The Sheik kept Van Dam sharp|publisher=SLAM! Sports|url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive2001/apr7_baines-sun.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630134710/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive2001/apr7_baines-sun.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2015|access-date=August 19, 2012}}</ref>
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|12|18}}<ref name="OWOW"/>
|birth_place = [[Battle Creek, Michigan]]<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/>
| birth_place = [[Battle Creek, Michigan]], U.S.<ref name="SLAM"/><ref name=Cage/>
| spouse = {{plainlist|
|death_date =
* {{marriage|Sonia Delbeck|1998|2018|reason=divorced}}
|death_place =
* {{marriage|Katie Forbes|2021}}
|resides = [[Los Angeles, California]]<ref name="OWOW"/>
|billed = Los Angeles, California<ref name="TNA"/>
|trainer = [[Ed Farhat|The Sheik]]<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/>
|debut = 1990<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/>
}}
}}
| names = Robbie V<ref name=Cage>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=866&gimmick=Rob+Van+Dam|title=Rob Van Dam « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref><br />Matt Burn<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://wrestletalk.com/news/former-wwe-champion-reveals-he-worked-for-wwe-as-a-jobber/|title=Former WWE Champion Reveals He Worked For WWE As A Jobber|date=December 24, 2020|website=WrestleTalk|access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref><br />Rob Szatkowski<ref name=Cage/><br />'''Rob Van Dam'''<ref name="WWE">{{cite web |title=RVD - WWE Profile |url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/rob-van-dam |website=[[WWE]] |access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref>
'''Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski'''<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rob-van-dam.html| title=OWOW profile|accessdate=2008-04-28|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref name=Cage/> (born December 18, 1970),<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/> better known by his [[ring name]] '''Rob Van Dam''' ('''RVD'''), is an [[United States|American]] [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and [[actor]] who is currently signed to [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]]. Szatkowski has held twenty-eight championships in various promotions during his career, and is a four-time [[World Heavyweight Championship (professional wrestling)|world champion]]: a [[List of WWE Champions|two-times]] [[WWE Championship|WWE Champion]], [[List of ECW World Heavyweight Champions|one-time]] [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|ECW World Heavyweight Champion]], (RVD is also recognized as the first ECW World Heavyweight Champion under WWE's lineage), and [[List of TNA World Heavyweight Champions|one-time]] [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship|TNA World Heavyweight Champion]], and the only man to hold the ECW World Heavyweight Championship and WWE Championship simultaneously. Van Dam is the only man to hold the ECW, WWE, and TNA World Heavyweight titles in his career. He was also the winner of WWE's [[Money in the Bank ladder match]] in 2006.
| billed = '''Battle Creek, Michigan'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_1661.shtml|title=5 Yrs Ago: ECW Arena - Dreamer, Tazz, Storm, Snow, Lynn, Dudleys|first=Jason|last=Powell|date=November 24, 2002|access-date=December 21, 2010|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><br />Los Angeles, California<ref name="TNA">{{cite web|url=http://www.tnawrestling.com/roster/Wrestler-Roster/item/1816-rob-van-dam|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125075534/http://www.impactwrestling.com/roster/Wrestler-Roster/item/1816-rob-van-dam|title=TNA Wrestling profile|archive-date=January 25, 2013|access-date=March 10, 2010|publisher=[[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]]}}</ref>
| height = 6 ft 0 in<ref name="WWE"/>
| weight = 235 lb<ref name="WWE"/>
| trainer = [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]]<ref name="SLAM"/>
| debut = 1990<ref name="SLAM"/><ref name=Cage/>
| retired =
| website = {{URL|robvandam.com}}
|signature=Rob Van Dam Signature.png}}
'''Robert Alexander Szatkowski''' (born December 18, 1970) is an American [[professional wrestler]] better known by his [[ring name]] '''Rob Van Dam''' (frequently abbreviated to '''RVD'''). He is currently signed to [[WWE]] under a Legends contract. He is also known for his tenures in [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW) and [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA).


Van Dam gained mainstream popularity in ECW during the latter half of the 1990s. During his time in ECW, he was managed by [[Bill Alfonso]] and had feuds with [[Jerry Lynn]] and [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]], also forming a [[Rob Van Dam and Sabu|tag team with the latter]]. They won the [[ECW World Tag Team Championship]] twice. On April 4, 1998, Van Dam defeated [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] to win the [[ECW Television Championship]], a title he held for 700 days until he vacated the championship due to an injury on March 4, 2000.
==Early life==
Szatkowski made his first appearance on WWF television in 1987 in a skit with [[Ted DiBiase|"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase]]. At the time, DiBiase was selecting [[List of professional wrestling terms#P|plants]] from the audience and offering to pay them to perform degrading acts and offered the teenage Szatkowski [[United States dollar|$]]100 to enter the ring and kiss his foot, which he did.<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.1, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, NY, 2008, ISBN 978-1-4165-5890-3</ref> This early appearance was later included as a bonus feature on WWE's ''[[Before They Were Superstars]]'' DVD.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/12/30/300559.html|title=DiBiase's money bought a young RVD|first=Greg|last=Oliver| accessdate=2008-11-01|work=Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer|SLAM! Sports]]}}</ref>


When ECW closed in 2001, Van Dam signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and was involved in the [[The Invasion (professional wrestling)|Invasion storyline]], where several former [[World Championship Wrestling]] and ECW wrestlers joined forces against WWF wrestlers. After the Invasion ended, Van Dam wrestled the following years as singles and tag team wrestler, winning the [[WWE Hardcore Championship]], [[WWE Intercontinental Championship]], [[WWE European Championship]], [[WWE Raw Tag Team Championship|WWE Tag Team Championship]] and [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|World Tag Team Championships]]. At [[WrestleMania 22]], Rob Van Dam won the [[Money in the Bank ladder match]]. After this victory, he challenged [[WWE Champion]] [[John Cena]] to a title match at [[ECW One Night Stand (2006)|One Night Stand]], an ECW-themed PPV. At the event, Van Dam defeated Cena and won his first [[World heavyweight championship (professional wrestling)|world championship]]. Two days later, [[Paul Heyman]] awarded Van Dam with the reactivated [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] making him the only man to hold both titles at the same time.
==Professional wrestling career==
===Early years (1990–1995)===
Szatkowski debuted in 1990 after being trained by [[Ed Farhat|The Sheik]], wrestling his first match against Dango Nguyen in [[Toledo, Ohio]]. The name '''Rob Van Dam''' was given to Rob in 1991 by [[Ron Slinker]], a promoter in Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.wrestlingnewsdesk.com/WND/the_news/wrestling/rob_van_dam_speaks_out_200804141120.htm|title=Rob Van Dam Speaks Out| publisher=Wrestling News Desk|author=Matthew Cooper|date=2008-04-14|accessdate=2008-08-11}}</ref> He wrestled in many independent promotions across [[Michigan]], including the [[United States Wrestling Association]] (USWA) and South Atlantic Pro Wrestling (SAPW). In SAPW, he won his first wrestling [[Championship (professional wrestling)|title]], the SAPW Tag Team Championship, in July 1992 with Chaz Rocco.<ref name="biouswa">[http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#uswa RVD's Career At USWA/SAPW (1992)]</ref> He signed with [[World Championship Wrestling]] in late 1992 and was dubbed '''Robbie V''' by Ron Slinker upon his arrival since [[Bill Watts]] didn't like the name Rob Van Dam. His WCW run was uneventful and largely unnoticed.<ref name="biowcw">[http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#wcw RVD's Career At WCW (1992)]</ref> He also wrestled in several independent promotions across America, and in [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]], where he challenged for the [[AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship]] on several occasions.<ref name="rvdindies">[http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#indy RVD's Independent Career (1993-1995)]</ref>


After leaving WWE in 2007, Van Dam worked on the [[independent circuit]] until he signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) - in 2010. A few months after his debut, he defeated [[AJ Styles]] to win the [[TNA World Championship]]. He would also appear for [[Lucha Libre AAA World Wide]] and challenged [[Dr. Wagner Jr.]] for the newly created [[AAA Latin American Championship]] at [[Triplemania XIX]], albeit in a losing effort. He remained under contract with TNA until 2013, leaving the company after a run with the [[TNA X Division Championship]]. After departing TNA, he returned to WWE, where he worked for one year. Then, he would stay in the independent circuit, also wrestling from 2019 to 2020 with TNA (at the time known as Impact Wrestling). In [[WWE Hall of Fame (2021)|2021]], he was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]], and the following year he was inducted into the [[Hardcore Hall of Fame]]. Between ECW, WWE and TNA, Van Dam won 21 total championships, including three world championships, and is only one of two wrestlers in history (alongside [[Bobby Lashley]]) to have held the WWE, ECW, and TNA world championships.
===Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996–2001)===
====Debut (1996)====
In January 1996 Van Dam signed with promoter [[Paul Heyman]]'s Philadelphia-based promotion [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW), defeating [[Axl Rotten]] in his debut match at ''House Party''.<ref>[http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996a.html#010596 House Party 1996 results]</ref> Van Dam's mannerisms were those of a [[Drug subculture|stoner]], and he became a [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] due to his laid-back attitude and unorthodox style. On March 30, he faced [[2 Cold Scorpio]] in a match for the ECW Television Championship. The match ended in a draw with [[2 Cold Scorpio]] retaining the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996a.html#033096|title=ECW results - March 30, 1996|date= 1996-03-30|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="bioecw">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#ecw|title=Rob Van Dam's ECW Career (1996)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref>


In addition, he headlined many pay-per-view events throughout three decades between the 1990s and 2010s, including the [[November to Remember#1998|1998]] edition of [[November to Remember]] (ECW's flagship event) and the [[Triplemanía XIX|2011]] edition of [[Triplemanía|TripleMania]] (AAA's flagship event). In 2002, Van Dam was ranked the [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|number one pro wrestler]] in the world by ''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]''. He was voted "[[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Most Popular Wrestler of the Year|Most Popular Wrestler]]" by readers of the magazine in 2001 and again in 2002. WWE named him the greatest star in ECW history in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lists/top-30-ecw-stars/page-31|title=Top 30 ECW stars|access-date=November 12, 2014|publisher=WWE}}</ref>
Van Dam gained attention following a series of matches with long-time rival [[Terry Brunk|Sabu]], which began with a match at ''Hostile City Showdown'', won by Sabu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996b.html#042096| title=Hostile City Showdown 1996 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> After the match, Van Dam declined to show proper respect for his opponent, leading to a rematch at ''A Matter of Respect'', which was won by Van Dam.<ref name="bioecw"/> Per the pre-match stipulation, Sabu then offered Van Dam a handshake, but was again ignored. Instead, Van Dam left the ring and [[List of professional wrestling terms#T|turned]] [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] under the management of [[Bill Alfonso]].<ref name="bioecw"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996b.html#051196|title=A Matter of Respect results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[Hardcore Heaven#1996|Hardcore Heaven]], Van Dam faced his rival Sabu once again, in a match to prove who was the better man. Sabu won the match.<ref name="bioecw"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996b.html#062296|title=Hardcore Heaven 1996 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> The two faced each other yet again in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Container-based variations|stretcher match]] at ''The Doctor is In''. Van Dam lost the match after missing a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Plancha|Plancha]] to the outside, hitting the railing and falling onto the stretcher.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996c.html#080396|title=The Doctor is In results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> He was quickly rolled out.<ref name="bioecw"/>


Outside of professional wrestling, Van Dam has performed as an actor in a number of TV shows, including an episode of ''[[The X-Files]]''. He also starred in the 2010 movie ''[[Wrong Side of Town]]'' and the 2015 movie ''[[3-Headed Shark Attack]]''.
====Teaming with Sabu (1996–1998)====
{{Main|Sabu and Rob Van Dam}}
At ''Natural Born Killaz'', Van Dam defeated [[Doug Furnas]] in a match. Post-match, Van Dam offered Furnas a handshake, but Furnas instead hit Van Dam with a short-arm clothesline, starting a rivalry between the two.<ref name="bioecw"/> After his rivalry with Furnas expanded to also include [[Philip Lafond|Dan Kroffat]], Van Dam wanted a [[tag team]] partner of his own. After losing to long-time rival Sabu once again at ''Unluckily Lottery'', the two united and formed what was to become one of the most successful tag teams in ECW history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996c.html#091396|title=Unluckily Lottery results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> They feuded with Furnas and Kroffat defeating them at ''When Worlds Collide II'' and ''High Incident''.<ref name="bioecw"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996c.html#091496|title=When Worlds Collide II results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996d.html#102696|title=High Incident results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>


== Early life ==
Van Dam and Sabu next feuded with [[The Eliminators]], [[John Kronus]] and [[Perry Saturn]]. On November 1, the two teams fought to a draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996d.html#110196|title=ECW results - November 1, 1996|date=1996-11-01|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam then feuded with [[Tazz|Taz]], to whom he lost at ''Holiday Hell'' via knockout.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996d.html#120796|title=Holiday Hell results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Sabu and Van Dam continued to feud with The Eliminators for the ECW Tag Team Championship into 1997. At ''Crossing the Line Again'' and [[ECW CyberSlam#1997|Cyberslam]], the teams faced off for the ECW Tag Team Championship in a pair of matches, both of which were won by The Eliminators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997a.html#020197|title=Crossing the Line Again results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997a.html#022197|title=Cyberslam 1997 (February 21, 1997) results|date=1997-02-21|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="ECW97">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#97|title=RVD's ECW Career (1997)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> At CyberSlam, the two teams faced each other for the title in a [[Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match]], in which The Eliminators again retained their title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997a.html#022297|title=Cyberslam 1997 (February 22, 1997) results|date=1997-02-22|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
Szatkowski grew up in [[Battle Creek, Michigan]], and graduated from [[Pennfield Senior High School]]. Szatkowski made his first appearance on WWF television in 1987 in a skit with [[Ted DiBiase|"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase]]. At the time, DiBiase was selecting [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#P|plants]] from the audience and offering to pay them to perform degrading acts and offered the 16-year-old Szatkowski $100 to enter the ring and kiss his foot, which he did.<ref>Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.1, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, NY, 2008, {{ISBN|978-1-4165-5890-3}}</ref> This early appearance was later included as a bonus feature on WWE's ''Before They Were Superstars'' DVD and on WWE's ''Rob Van Dam: One of a Kind'' DVD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/12/30/300559.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629092150/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/12/30/300559.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 29, 2012|title=DiBiase's money bought a young RVD|first=Greg|last=Oliver|access-date=November 1, 2008|work=Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer|SLAM! Sports]]}}</ref> He was also in attendance at [[WrestleMania III]] as stated on The Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology DVD.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}


== Professional wrestling career ==
At ECW's first pay-per-view event [[ECW Barely Legal|Barely Legal]], Van Dam defeated [[Lance Storm]] as a last-minute replacement for the injured [[Chris Candido]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997b.html#041397|title=Barely Legal results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Immediately following the match, Van Dam expressed his distaste for being chosen as a back-up for "some guy who couldn't even lace his boots". Van Dam delivered a speech directed towards Paul Heyman, and not being originally booked on the show was a point of contention between Van Dam and Heyman for a time.<ref name="ECW97"/>


=== Early career (1990–1992) ===
In May 1997, ECW "invaded" the World Wrestling Federation's ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]'' television show, drawing the ire of color commentator [[Jerry Lawler]]. Lawler then promised he would show up at an ECW show in order to gain revenge, and when he did show up, he had ECW mainstays Van Dam (who turned heel) and Sabu with him. Van Dam cut [[List of professional wrestling terms#P|promos]] about how he was too good for ECW and deserved to be in one of the "Big Two" (WWF or WCW) on one of their Monday Night programs (''Monday Night Raw'' or ''[[WCW Monday Nitro|Monday Nitro]]''), while Jerry Lawler dubbed Van Dam "Mr. Monday Night" on an episode of ''Raw''. Despite his arrogance and "betrayal" of ECW, over time Van Dam became applauded by fans recognizing his athleticism and unique maneuvers.<ref name="rvdwwf">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#wwf|title=RVD: Mr. Monday Night|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref>
Szatkowski began training as a wrestler under [[The Sheik (wrestler)|The Sheik]] in 1989.<ref name="Dunn"/> He made his wrestling debut in 1990, defeating Dango Nguyen.<ref name="SLAM">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/vandam.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519202857/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/vandam.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 19, 2015| title=Rob Van Dam Bio|access-date=April 28, 2008|publisher=Slam! Sports}}</ref> He wrestled in many independent promotions across [[Michigan]], including the [[United States Wrestling Association]] (USWA) and [[South Atlantic Pro Wrestling]] (SAPW). In SAPW, he won his first wrestling [[Championship (professional wrestling)|championship]], the [[SAPW Tag Team Championship]], in July 1992 with Chaz Rocco.<ref name="biouswa">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#uswa|title=Rob Van Dam|website=www.accelerator3359.com}}</ref> He also wrestled in several independent promotions across America, and in [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]], where he challenged for the [[World Junior Heavyweight Championship (AJPW)|World Junior Heavyweight Championship]] on several occasions.<ref name="rvdindies">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#indy|title=Rob Van Dam|website=www.accelerator3359.com}}</ref> In the [[World Wrestling Federation]] in 1992 he wrestled as an enhancement talent against [[Jacques Rougeau|The Mountie]] under the ring name Matt Burn.<ref name="auto"/>


=== World Championship Wrestling (1992–1993) ===
Van Dam continued to team up with Sabu upon his return to ECW on June 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997b.html#061397|title=ECW results - June 13, 1997|date=1997-06-13|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Tazz's manager Bill Alfonso betrayed Tazz and joined Sabu and Van Dam. Van Dam started a new rivalry with [[Tommy Dreamer]], who wanted to gain revenge on Van Dam for his betrayal of ECW.<ref name="rvdwwf"/><ref name="ecwreturn">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#ecw2|title=RVD - Return to ECW (1997)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> On June 21, Van Dam and Sabu earned a victory over Dreamer and [[Jim Fullington|The Sandman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997b.html#062197|title=ECW results - June 21, 1997|date=1997-06-21|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam and Sabu emerged victorious against Dreamer and Sandman again at ''Orgy of Violence''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997b.html#062897|title=Orgy of Violence results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[ECW Heat Wave#1997|Heat Wave]], Van Dam, Sabu, and WWF's Jerry "The King" Lawler fought Dreamer, Sandman, and [[Rick Rude]] to a no contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997c.html#071997|title=Heat Wave 1997 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam and Dreamer faced each other in a hardcore match at ''Born to Be Wired'', won by Van Dam after he performed a [[leg drop]] on Dreamer with a trashcan.<ref name="ecwreturn"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997c.html#080997|title=Born to Be Wired results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At ''As Good as it Gets'', the team of Van Dam and Alfonso lost to Dreamer and [[Trisa Hayes|Beulah McGillicutty]] in a mixed tag team match.<ref name="ecwreturn"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997c.html#092097|title=As Good as it Gets results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam and Sabu became partners while Dreamer teamed up with Tazz.<ref name="ecwreturn"/> At ''Fright Fight'', Van Dam lost to Dreamer in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Flag match|flag match]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997d.html#103197|title=Fright Fight results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[Ultimate Jeopardy#1997|Ultimate Jeopardy]], Van Dam and Sabu faced Dreamer and Tazz, a match won by Tazz and Dreamer after Dreamer pinned Van Dam. At [[November to Remember#1997|November to Remember]], Van Dam faced Dreamer in another flag match, which went to a no contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997d.html#113097|title=November to Remember 1997 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At ''Better Than Ever'', Van Dam and Sabu faced Dreamer and Tazz in a rematch. This time, Van Dam pinned Dreamer to give the victory to his team and to settle their rivalry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997d.html#120697|title=Better Than Ever results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam's final encounter with Dreamer came on December 26, when Dreamer teamed up with Tazz, [[Al Snow]], and Sandman to take on Van Dam, Sabu, Doug Furnas, and Phil Lafon. Van Dam's team lost the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997d.html#122697|title=ECW results - December 26, 1997|date=1997-12-26|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
Szatkowski signed with [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) in 1992, and was dubbed "Robbie V" by [[booker (professional wrestling)|booker]] [[Ron Slinker]] upon his arrival since [[Bill Watts]] did not like the name Rob Van Dam.<ref name="biowcw">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#wcw|title=Rob Van Dam|website=www.accelerator3359.com}}</ref> Robbie V made his WCW debut on the January 23, 1993, episode of ''[[WCW Saturday Night]]'' as a [[Face (professional wrestling)|fan favorite]], defeating [[Job (professional wrestling)|enhancement talent]] [[Pat Rose]]. The following month, Robbie V entered a tournament for the vacant [[WCW World Television Championship]], defeating [[Henry O. Godwinn|Shanghai Pierce]] in the first round but losing to [[Vinnie Vegas]] in the second round, which aired on the March 20 episode of ''[[WCW WorldWide]]''. His last televised match was on the May 22 episode of ''Saturday Night'', a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types|tag team]] loss with [[Erik Watts]] against [[Shanghai Pierce and Tex Slazenger]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw93.htm|title=WCW Ring Results 1993|work=The History of WWE|access-date=March 2, 2017}}</ref> In February and March 1993, Szatkowski wrestled in Japan for [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]]; upon his return to WCW, [[Ole Anderson]] had replaced Bill Watts as booker. Szatkowski left WCW in May 1993, feeling he was "lost in the shuffle".<ref name="Fisher">{{cite web |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1455319/rvd-details-issues-working-under-bill-watts-wcw/ |title=RVD details issues working under Bill Watts and Ole Anderson in WCW |access-date=March 7, 2024 |first=Kieran |last=Fisher |website=WrestlingInc.com |date=November 27, 2023 }}</ref> and being "[[jobbed out]]".<ref name="Dunn">{{cite web |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/dark-pegasus-video-review-rob-van-dam-one-of-a-kind-2-disc/ |title=Dark Pegasus video review: Rob Van Dam: One of a Kind 2-disc |access-date=November 29, 2024 |first=J.D. |last=Dunn |website=411Mania.com |date=February 11, 2005 }}</ref>


=== All Japan Pro Wrestling (1993–1997) ===
In 1998, Van Dam turned face and started a feud with [[Triple Threat]] ([[Shane Douglas]], [[Bam Bam Bigelow]], and [[Chris Candido]]).<ref name="ecw98">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#98|title=RVD's ECW Career (1998)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> At ''House Party'', Van Dam defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998a.html#011098|title=House Party 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At ''Hostile City Showdown'', Van Dam and Sabu defeated Axl Rotten and [[Balls Mahoney]] by disqualification.<ref name="hostilecity98">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998a.html#013198|title=Hostile City Showdown 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> The two went on to win a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#Elimination tag team match|fatal four way elimination tag team match]] later that night.<ref name="hostilecity98"/> At [[ECW CyberSlam#1998|CyberSlam]], Van Dam and Sabu fell to Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998a.html#022198|title=Cyberslam 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
{{see also| Rob Van Dam and Sabu}}
[[File:Rob Van Dam in ECW.jpg|thumb|250px|Van Dam with Sabu behind him as ECW World Tag Team Champions.]]
Van Dam's popularity increased when he got his first taste of ECW gold, on April 4 when he defeated Bam Bam Bigelow to win the [[ECW World Television Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998b.html#040498|title=ECW results - April 4, 1998|date=1998-04-04|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="ecwtv">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtvtitlehistory/|title=History Of The ECW Television Championship|accessdate=2007-12-29|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Van Dam retained the belt in his first title defense on April 10 against Doug Furnas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998b.html#041098|title=ECW results - April 10, 1998|date=1998-04-10|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Sabu also expressed interest in Van Dam's championship, leading to a title match between the two at [[Wrestlepalooza#1998|Wrestlepalooza]]. Van Dam retained the title as the match ended in a time limit draw.<ref name="ecw98"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998b.html#050398|title=Wrestlepalooza 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>


From 1993 to 1997, Van Dam made 10 tours of Japan with [[All Japan Pro Wrestling]] (AJPW).<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW"/> While wrestling for AJPW, he was advised by promoter [[Giant Baba]] to make himself stand out, which inspired Van Dam to begin [[airbrushing]] his singlets.<ref name="Dunn"/> His first tour took place in February and March 1993 as part of the annual Excite Series, where his opponents included [[Dory Funk Jr.]] and [[Toshiaki Kawada]]'s Super Generation Army stable. Van Dam returned to AJPW in February and March 1994 as part of that year's Excite Series, facing opponents including [[Jun Akiyama]], [[Mighty Inoue]], and the Super Generation Army.<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW"/>
At ''A Matter of Respect'', Van Dam and Sabu were forced to face each other in a tag team match as they both teamed up with ECW Tag Team Champions. Van Dam teamed with the one half of the champions, Lance Storm, while Sabu teamed with the other half, Chris Candido. Van Dam and Sabu reconciled and instead took out Storm and Candido making it a no contest.<ref name="ecw98"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998b.html#051698|title=A Matter of Respect 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam and Sabu started a feud with Storm and Candido in the next month for the tag team title.<ref name="ecw98"/> On June 27, Van Dam and Sabu beat Storm and Candido to win the [[ECW Tag Team Championship]],<ref name="ecwtagteam">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtaghistory/|title=History Of The ECW Tag Team Championship|accessdate=2007-12-29|publisher=WWE}}</ref> which made Van Dam a double champion.<ref name="ecw98"/> On October 24, Sabu and Van Dam lost the title to the [[Dudley Boyz]] ([[Mark LoMonaco|Buh Buh Ray]] and [[Devon Hughes|D-Von]]) after interference from Triple Threat.<ref name="ecw98"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998d.html#102498|title=ECW results - October 24, 1998|date=1998-10-24|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam sought revenge and at [[ECW November to Remember#1998|November to Remember]], Van Dam and Sabu teamed with Taz to defeat Triple Threat.<ref name="ecw98"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998d.html#110198|title=November to Remember 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> On December 13, Van Dam and Sabu won the ECW Tag Team Championship for a second time by beating the Dudley Boyz in [[Japan]] at a [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling]] (FMW) show.<ref name="ecw98"/><ref name="ecwtagteam"/>


Van Dam made a third tour with AJPW in February and March 1995, again as part of the Excite Series, facing opponents including the [[Can-Am Express]], the [[Holy Demon Army]], and the Super Generation Army; during this tour, he teamed with Bobby Bradley as "Aerial Assault". Van Dam returned to AJPW in May and June 1995 as part of the Super Power Series, again facing the Can-Am Express and the Super Generation Army in a series of tag team matches. In his final match of the tour, he unsuccessfully challenged [[World Junior Heavyweight Championship (AJPW)|World Junior Heavyweight Champion]] Danny Kroffat in the [[Nippon Budokan]]. He wrestled his fourth tour with AJPW in October 1995 as part of the October Giant Series. Van Dam wrestled his fifth tour of the year with AJPW in November and December 1995 as part of the [[World's Strongest Tag Determination League#1995|World's Strongest Tag Determination League]], where he teamed with [[Johnny Smith (wrestler)|Johnny Smith]]. Van Dam and Smith finished last out of 10 teams, defeating [[Jun Akiyama]] and [[Takao Omori]] but losing their other eight matches.<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW"/>
====World Television Champion (1998–2001)====
Van Dam remained the Television champion for the rest of 1998, and he started 1999 by making successful title defenses against the likes of [[Matt Hyson|Spike Dudley]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999a.html#010299|title=ECW results - January 2, 1999|date=1999-01-02|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Lance Storm at [[Guilty as Charged#1999|Guilty as Charged]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999a.html#011099|title=Guilty as Charged 1999 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Balls Mahoney,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999a.html#011599|title=ECW results - January 15, 1999|date=1999-01-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> and 2 Cold Scorpio at [[ECW CyberSlam#1999|CyberSlam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999b.html#040399|title=CyberSlam 1999 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="ecw99">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#99|title=RVD's ECW Career (1999)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref>


Van Dam returned to AJPW for a sixth tour in February and March 1996 as part of the annual Excite series, again facing the Can-Am Express, Holy Demon Army, and Super Generation Army. He returned for a seventh tour in June and July 1996 as part of the Summer Action Series; during this tour, he teamed with [[Maunakea Mossman]] to unsuccessfully challenge Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori for the [[All Asia Tag Team Championship]]. In September and October 1996, he made an eighth tour as part of the October Giant Series; during this tour, he unsuccessfully challenged World Junior Heavyweight Champion [[Tsuyoshi Kikuchi]].<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW"/>
Van Dam and Sabu were scheduled to make a title defense on April 17, but Sabu was suspended by ECW before the match occurred.<ref name="ecw99"/> Instead, Van Dam faced D-Von Dudley in a singles match and as a result of losing the match, Van Dam also lost the Tag Team Title to the Dudleyz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999b.html#041799|title=ECW results - April 17, 1999|date=1999-04-17|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> After losing the Tag Team titles, Van Dam focused on defending the Television title.<ref name="ecw99"/> He entered into a rivalry with [[Jerry Lynn]] against whom he defended the Television title at [[Hardcore Heaven#1999|Hardcore Heaven]] in a "no time limit" match.<ref name="hardcoreheaven">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999b.html#051699|title=Hardcore Heaven 1999 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam retained the title, and the match was deemed so good that [[Paul Heyman]] aired it on [[ECW on TNN|ECW]]'s debut on [[Spike (TV channel)|TNN]] in place of a [[Shoot (professional wrestling)|shoot promo]] about TNN that he was planning, but was not allowed to air.<ref name="hardcoreheaven"/> Van Dam continued to defend the ECW Television Championship for the remainder of the year.


Van Dam returned to AJPW for a ninth tour in January 1997 as part of the New Year Giant Series, during which he mainly teamed with Sabu; towards the end of the tour, Van Dam and Sabu unsuccessfully challenged Akiyama and Omori for the All Asia Tag Team Championship in [[Korakuen Hall]]. In May and June 1997, Van Dam returned to AJPW for a tenth tour as part of the Super Power Series, during which he unsuccessfully challenged World Junior Heavyweight Champion [[Yoshinari Ogawa]].<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW"/>
Van Dam began a feud with [[Terry Gerin|Rhino]] in the beginning of 2000. RVD successfully defended the ECW Television Championship against Rhino on January 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000a.html#010700|title=ECW results - January 7, 2000|date=2000-01-07|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> RVD got a big victory during a title defense against Sabu at [[Guilty as Charged#2000|Guilty as Charged]].<ref name="ecw2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#00|title=RVD's ECW Career (2000)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000a.html#010900|title=Guilty as Charged 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam was scheduled to perform in a "champion vs. champion" pay-per-view main event against [[ECW Championship|ECW Champion]] [[Mike Awesome]]. This match potentially could have been the most lucrative pay-per-view main event in company history, and Heyman was depending on this mega-match to bring an influx of badly-needed cash, but the match never occurred because Van Dam suffered a broken ankle during a successful title defense against Rhino on January 29.<ref name="ecw2000"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000a.html#012900|title=ECW results - January 29, 2000|date=2000-01-29|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> The injury also forced Van Dam to vacate the ECW Television Championship.


=== Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996-2001) ===
He returned to ECW at [[Hardcore Heaven#2000|Hardcore Heaven]] and faced long-time rival Jerry Lynn. Van Dam was supported by his [[Legit (professional wrestling)|real-life]] friend [[Scott Antol|Scotty Anton]] who eventually [[List of professional wrestling terms#T|turned]] on him when Van Dam was going to perform a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Frog splash|Five-Star Frog Splash]] on Lynn. Anton pushed him from the top rope, which helped Lynn win the match.<ref name="ecw2000"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000b.html#051400|title=Hardcore Heaven 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam feuded with Anton and took his revenge at [[ECW Heat Wave#2000|Heat Wave]] by defeating Anton after a [[Dropkick#Corner-to-corner missile dropkick|Van Terminator]].<ref name="ecw2000"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000c.html#071600|title=Heat Wave 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam then attempted to exact revenge on Rhino for forcing him into injury. He got many opportunities to win the ECW Television Championship back from Rhino, but Rhino's allies usually attacked Van Dam, causing disqualifications and allowing Rhino to retain the title.<ref name="ecw2000"/> At [[Anarchy Rulz#2000|Anarchy Rulz]], Van Dam faced Rhino for the ECW Television Championship but was [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|screwed]] when a heel referee made a fast count during a pinfall attempt made by Rhino.<ref name="ecw2000"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000d.html#100100|title=Anarchy Rulz 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>


==== Rivalry and alliance with Sabu (1996–1998) ====
Van Dam was not advertised and did not show for a large number of ECW events due to the large sum of money owed to him.<ref name="ecw2000"/> He appeared at ECW's final pay-per-view event [[Guilty as Charged#2001|Guilty as Charged]], where he defeated Jerry Lynn.<ref name="ecw2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#01|title=RVD's ECW Career (2001)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2001.html#010701|title=Guilty as Charged 2001 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> This was Van Dam's last appearance in ECW, as ECW only held two more shows after the pay-per-view.
{{Main|Rob Van Dam and Sabu}}
[[File:Rob Van Dam in ECW.jpg|thumb|upright=1.13|Van Dam as both [[ECW World Tag Team Championship|ECW World Tag Team Champion]] with [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]] behind him, and [[ECW World Television Championship|ECW World Television Champion]], 1998]]


In early 1996, Van Dam signed with promoter [[Paul Heyman]]'s [[Philadelphia]]-based promotion [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW), defeating [[Axl Rotten]] in his debut match at [[House Party (1996)|House Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996a.html#010596|title=Extreme Championship Wrestling January - March 1996|website=www.prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> Van Dam's mannerisms were those of a [[Drug subculture|stoner]], and he became a [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] due to his laid-back attitude and unorthodox style. On March 30, he faced [[2 Cold Scorpio]] in a match for the [[ECW World Television Championship|World Television Championship]]. The match ended in a draw with 2 Cold Scorpio retaining the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996a.html#033096|title=ECW results - March 30, 1996|date= March 30, 1996|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="bioecw">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#ecw|title=Rob Van Dam's ECW Career (1996)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref>
===World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (2001–2007)===
====The Invasion (2001)====
Several months after the closure of ECW, Van Dam was signed to a short term contract by the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF). Along with fellow ECW alumnus Tommy Dreamer, Van Dam returned to WWF television on the July 9, 2001 episode of ''Raw'' in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] as a heel, and attacking WWF wrestlers [[Glenn Jacobs|Kane]] and [[Chris Jericho]].<ref name="alliance">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#alliance|title=Rob Van Dam's Character In Alliance Storyline|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref name="Raw - July 9, 2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/010709.html|title=Raw results - July 9, 2001|date=2001-07-09|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> Later that night, five wrestlers from WWF and five wrestlers from WCW took on ten ECW wrestlers, including Van Dam. The match never took place as instead the WCW wrestlers aligned themselves with the ECW wrestlers.<ref name="alliance"/><ref name="Raw - July 9, 2001"/>


Despite being a heel, Van Dam was popular with the WWF fans, who were aware of his reputation in ECW. After defeating [[Jeff Hardy]] for the [[WWE Hardcore Championship|WWF Hardcore Championship]] at [[WWF Invasion|Invasion]],<ref name="alliance"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/miscppvs2000s.html|title=WWF Invasion results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="hardcore">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/hard/|title=History Of The WWE Hardcore Championship|accessdate=2007-12-31|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Van Dam became one of the most [[List of professional wrestling terms#O|over]] members of [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|the Alliance]] and even challenged Alliance leader [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] for the WWF Championship including a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|triple threat match]] at [[WWE No Mercy#2001|No Mercy]].<ref name="alliance"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2001/mainevent/|title=No Mercy 2001 main event|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Van Dam lost the Hardcore title to Hardy on the August 13 edition of ''Raw'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/010813.html|title=Raw results - August 13, 2001|date=2001-08-13|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> but regained the title from Hardy at [[SummerSlam (2001)|SummerSlam]].<ref name="hardcore"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2001/results/|title=SummerSlam 2001 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> At [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]] on November 18, Van Dam and four other Alliance members faced five WWF wrestlers in a ''Winner Take All'' match. Team WWF won, and the members of the Alliance were fired; however, as he held the [[Hardcore Championship]], Van Dam was able to retain his job. After that Van Dam turned face<ref name="alliance"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2001/results/|title=Survivor Series 2001 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref>
Van Dam gained attention following a series of matches with long-time rival [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]], which began with a match at [[Hostile City Showdown#1996|Hostile City Showdown]], won by Sabu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996b.html#042096|title=Hostile City Showdown 1996 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> After the match, Van Dam declined to show proper respect for his opponent, leading to a rematch at [[ECW A Matter of Respect#1996|A Matter of Respect]], which was won by Van Dam.<ref name="bioecw"/> Per the pre-match stipulation, Sabu then offered Van Dam a handshake, but was again ignored. Instead, Van Dam left the ring and [[List of professional wrestling terms#Turn|turned]] [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] under the management of [[Bill Alfonso]].<ref name="bioecw"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996b.html#051196|title=A Matter of Respect results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[Hardcore Heaven#1996|Hardcore Heaven]], Van Dam faced his rival Sabu once again, in a match to prove who was the better man, but Sabu won the match.<ref name="bioecw"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996b.html#062296|title=Hardcore Heaven 1996 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> The two faced each other yet again in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Container-based variations|stretcher match]] at [[ECW The Doctor Is In|The Doctor Is In]]. Van Dam lost the match after missing a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Plancha|Plancha]] to the outside, hitting the railing and falling onto the stretcher.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996c.html#080396|title=The Doctor is In results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> He was quickly rolled out.<ref name="bioecw"/>


At [[ECW Natural Born Killaz|Natural Born Killaz]], Van Dam defeated [[Doug Furnas]] in a match. Post-match, Van Dam offered Furnas a handshake, but Furnas instead hit Van Dam with a short-arm [[clothesline]], starting a rivalry between the two.<ref name="bioecw"/> After his rivalry with Furnas expanded to also include [[Philip Lafond|Dan Kroffat]], Van Dam wanted a [[tag team]] partner of his own. After losing to long-time rival Sabu once again at [[Unlucky Lottery]], the two united and formed what was to become one of the most successful tag teams in ECW history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996c.html#091396|title=Unlucky Lottery results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> They feuded with Furnas and Kroffat defeating them at [[When Worlds Collide II]] and [[High Incident]].<ref name="bioecw"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996c.html#091496|title=When Worlds Collide II results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996d.html#102696|title=High Incident results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
====Unifying championships (2001–2002)====
Van Dam, who was now officially a face, lost the Hardcore Championship to [[The Undertaker]] (who had turned heel immediately after The Invasion) at [[Vengeance (2001)|Vengeance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2001/results/|title=Vengeance 2001 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#wwf2|title=RVD's WWF Career (2001)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> Van Dam then entered into a rivalry with [[Darren Matthews|William Regal]] over Regal's Intercontinental title.<ref name="wwf2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#02|title=RVD's WWF Career (2002)|publisher=Acclerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> On the February 25 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam defeated Lance Storm and [[Paul Wight|Big Show]] in a triple threat match to become the #1 contender to the Intercontinental title.<ref name="wwf2002"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020225.html|title=Raw results - February 25, 2002|date=2002-02-25|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> At [[WrestleMania X8]], RVD faced Regal for the Intercontinental title and won the match after he hit Regal with a Five-Star Frog Splash.<ref name="wwf2002"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm18/|title=WrestleMania X-8 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322704|title=History Of The Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam(1)|accessdate=2008-01-01|publisher=WWE}}</ref>


Van Dam and Sabu next feuded with [[The Eliminators]], [[John Kronus]] and [[Perry Saturn]]. On November 1, the two teams fought to a draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996d.html#110196|title=ECW results - November 1, 1996|date=November 1, 1996|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam then feuded with [[Taz (wrestler)|Taz]], to whom he lost at [[Holiday Hell#1995|Holiday Hell]] via knockout.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996d.html#120796|title=Holiday Hell results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Sabu and Van Dam continued to feud with The Eliminators for the [[ECW World Tag Team Championship|World Tag Team Championship]] into 1997. At [[Crossing the Line Again]] and [[ECW CyberSlam#1997|Cyberslam]], the teams faced off for the ECW World Tag Team Championship in a pair of matches, both of which were won by The Eliminators.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997a.html#020197|title=Crossing the Line Again results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997a.html#022197|title=Cyberslam 1997 (February 21, 1997) results|date=February 21, 1997|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="ECW97">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#97|title=RVD's ECW Career (1997)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> At CyberSlam, the two teams faced each other for the title in a [[Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match]], in which The Eliminators again retained their title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997a.html#022297|title=Cyberslam 1997 (February 22, 1997) results|date=February 22, 1997|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
[[Image:Rvdwmx8@Commons.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Van Dam after winning the Intercontinental Championship at [[WrestleMania X8]].]]
When the WWF was divided into two "[[WWE Brand Extension|brands]]", [[WWE Raw|Raw]] and [[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]] in 2002, Van Dam was [[WWE Brand Extension#Superstar selections|drafted]] to the Raw brand as the fourth pick.<ref name="rvdraw02">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#raw1|title=RVD's Raw Career (2002)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref name="2002 Draft">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020325.html|title=Raw results - March 25, 2002|date=2002-03-25|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> After he defended his title successfully against Booker T, [[Eddie Guerrero]] returned to the WWF and attacked Van Dam.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020401.html|title=Raw results - April 1, 2002|date=2002-04-01|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> He started a feud with Eddie Guerrero over the Intercontinental title. At [[Backlash (2002)|Backlash]], Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Title to Guerrero.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2002/results/|title=Backlash 2002 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> At [[WWE Insurrextion#2002|Insurrextion]], Van Dam and Guerrero had a rematch for the Intercontinental Title. Guerrero was disqualified after hitting the referee with the Intercontinental title; as a result, Van Dam won the match but not the title because a title cannot change hands by disqualification.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/ins.html#2002|title=Insurrextion 2002 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[WWE Judgment Day#2002|Judgment Day]], Van Dam failed to win the Intercontinental Title in another rematch.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2002/results/|title=Judgment Day 2002 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Another short feud was with the Undertaker in 2002. One night after Judgment Day RVD defeated Undertaker in a surprising upset on Monday Night Raw for the [[WWE Championship|Undisputed Title]]. Unfortunately, Ric Flair who was running raw at the time deemed that the Undertaker's foot was on the ropes which the ref didn't see when he counted three. Flair then went on to restart the match in which the Undertaker pinned RVD to recapture the WWE undisputed title and RVD's win was washed from all records.
<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020520.html|title=Raw results - May 20, 2002|date=2002-05-20|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the May 27 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam defeated Eddie Guerrero in a [[ladder match]] for the Intercontinental Title.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020527.html|title=Raw results - May 27, 2002|date=2002-05-27|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322712|title=History Of the Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam (2)|accessdate=2008-01-01|publisher=WWE}}</ref>


At ECW's first pay-per-view event [[ECW Barely Legal|Barely Legal]], Van Dam defeated [[Lance Storm]] as a last-minute replacement for the injured [[Chris Candido]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997b.html#041397|title=Barely Legal results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Immediately following the match, Van Dam expressed his distaste for being chosen as a back-up for "some guy who couldn't even lace his boots." Van Dam delivered a speech directed towards Paul Heyman, and not being originally booked on the show was a point of contention between Van Dam and Heyman for a time.<ref name="ECW97"/>
After facing each other in the final round of the [[King of the Ring#2002|King of the Ring tournament]], Van Dam and [[Brock Lesnar]] began feuding with each other. Van Dam defended his Intercontinental Title against Lesnar twice and retained his title both times by disqualification.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020624.html|title=Raw results - June 24, 2002|date=2002-06-24|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2002/results/|title=Vengeance 2002 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> On July 21, 2002, Van Dam [[Championship unification|unified]] the [[WWE European Championship]] into the WWE Intercontinental Championship after he defeated European Champion Jeff Hardy in a title unification ladder match. As a result, the European title was abandoned. On the July 29 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost the Intercontinental title to [[Chris Benoit]].<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020729.html|title=Raw results - July 29, 2002|date=2002-07-29|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>
[[File:RVDCampeonIC.JPG|thumb|RVD as Intercontinental Champion]]
At [[SummerSlam (2002)|SummerSlam]], Van Dam won his third WWE Intercontinental Championship by defeating Benoit in a rematch for the title.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2002/results/|title=SummerSlam 2002 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322720|title=History Of The Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam(3)|accessdate=2008-01-01|publisher=WWE}}</ref> As Benoit brought the title to ''SmackDown'' when he switched brands shortly after winning it, RVD brought the Intercontinental Title back to ''Raw''.<ref name="rvdraw02"/> On the August 26 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam also unified the WWE Hardcore Championship into the WWE Intercontinental Championship by defeating Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer in a hardcore title unification match. As a result, the WWE Hardcore Championship was abandoned.<ref name="hardcore"/><ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020826.html|title=Raw results - August 26, 2002|date=2002-08-26|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the September 9 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam became the number one contender to the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] by defeating Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, and Big Show in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|fatal four-way elimination match]].<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020909.html|title=Raw results - September 9, 2002|date=2002-09-09|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>


In May 1997, ECW "invaded" the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]]'s (WWF) ''[[Monday Night Raw]]'' television show, drawing the ire of color commentator [[Jerry Lawler]]. Lawler then promised he would show up at an ECW show in order to gain revenge, and when he did show up, he had ECW mainstays Van Dam (who turned heel) and Sabu with him. Van Dam made [[List of professional wrestling terms#P|speeches]] about how he was too good for ECW and deserved to be in one of the "Big Two" (WWF or [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]]) on one of their Monday night programs (''Monday Night Raw'' or ''[[WCW Monday Nitro|Monday Nitro]]''). Lawler began to call Van Dam "Mr. Monday Night" on an episode of ''Monday Night Raw'' which became a moniker that would stay with Van Dam, changing to suit the day of the week of whichever program was being broadcast. Despite his arrogance and "betrayal" of ECW, over time Van Dam became applauded by fans recognizing his athleticism and unique maneuvers.<ref name="rvdwwf">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#wwf|title=RVD: Mr. Monday Night|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> On the May 12 episode of ''Monday Night Raw'', Van Dam defeated [[Jeff Hardy]]. On June 6, Van Dam defeated [[Flash Funk]] on ''Monday Night Raw'' and teamed with Lawler to defeat [[the Headbangers]] on ''[[Shotgun Saturday Night]]''. On the June 16 episode of ''Monday Night Raw'' , Van Dam and Lawler lost to the Headbangers in a tournament for the vacant [[WWF World Tag Team Championship]].
Van Dam started feuding with the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Triple H]]. On the September 16 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost the Intercontinental title to [[Chris Jericho]] after interference by Triple H.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020916.html|title=Raw results - September 16, 2002|date=2002-09-16|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> At [[Unforgiven (2002)|Unforgiven]], Van Dam faced Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. Due to [[Ric Flair]]'s interference, Van Dam lost the match.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>[http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/2002/rawmainevent/ Unforgiven 2002 main event]</ref> At [[No Mercy (2002)|No Mercy]], Van Dam got his revenge on Flair by defeating him.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2002/results/|title=No Mercy 2002 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> At [[Survivor Series (2002)|Survivor Series]], Van Dam participated in the first-ever [[Elimination Chamber]] match for Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship, but it was won by [[Shawn Michaels]].<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2002/mainevent/|title=Survivor Series 2002 main event|publisher=WWE}}</ref>


Van Dam continued to team up with Sabu upon his return to ECW on June 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997b.html#061397|title=ECW results - June 13, 1997|date=June 13, 1997|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> [[Taz (wrestler)|Taz]]'s manager Bill Alfonso betrayed Taz and joined Sabu and Van Dam. Van Dam started a new rivalry with [[Tommy Dreamer]], who wanted to gain revenge on Van Dam for his betrayal of ECW.<ref name="rvdwwf"/><ref name="ecwreturn">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#ecw2|title=RVD - Return to ECW (1997)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> On June 21, Van Dam and Sabu earned a victory over Dreamer and [[The Sandman (wrestler)|The Sandman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997b.html#062197|title=ECW results - June 21, 1997|date=June 21, 1997|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam and Sabu emerged victorious against Dreamer and Sandman again at [[Orgy of Violence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997b.html#062897|title=Orgy of Violence results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[ECW Heat Wave#1997|Heat Wave]], Van Dam, Sabu, and WWF's Jerry "The King" Lawler fought Dreamer, Sandman, and [[Rick Rude]] to a no contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997c.html#071997|title=Heat Wave 1997 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam and Dreamer faced each other in a hardcore match at [[Born to Be Wired]], won by Van Dam after he performed a [[leg drop]] on Dreamer with a trashcan.<ref name="ecwreturn"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997c.html#080997|title=Born to Be Wired results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam and Sabu became partners while Dreamer teamed up with Taz.<ref name="ecwreturn"/> At Fright Fight, Van Dam lost to Dreamer in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Flag match|flag match]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997d.html#103197|title=Fright Fight results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[Ultimate Jeopardy#1997|Ultimate Jeopardy]], Van Dam and Sabu faced Dreamer and Taz, a match won by Taz and Dreamer after Dreamer pinned Van Dam. At [[November to Remember (1997)|November to Remember]], Van Dam faced Dreamer in another flag match which went to a no contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997d.html#113097|title=November to Remember 1997 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[ECW Better Than Ever|Better Than Ever]], Van Dam and Sabu faced Dreamer and Taz in a rematch. This time, Van Dam pinned Dreamer to give the victory to his team and to settle their rivalry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997d.html#120697|title=Better Than Ever results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam's final encounter with Dreamer came on January 5, when Dreamer teamed up with Taz, [[Al Snow]], and Sandman to take on Van Dam, Sabu, Doug Furnas, and Phil Lafon. Van Dam's team lost the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997d.html#122697|title=ECW results - January 5, 1998|date=December 26, 1997|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
====Teaming and feuding with Kane (2002–2003)====
Van Dam appeared on the World Heavyweight Championship scene and also formed a tag team with Kane in October 2002.<ref name="rvdraw02"/> Van Dam defeated Jericho and Booker T in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Triple Threat match]] to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/021118.html|title=Raw results - November 18, 2002|date=2002-11-18|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the November 25 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam faced Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship. Michaels was disqualified after Triple H hit RVD with a [[Facebuster#Double underhook facebuster|Pedigree]].<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/021125.html|title=Raw results - November 25, 2002|date=2002-11-25|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the December 2 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost to Triple H in a #1 contender's match with World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels acting as the [[Professional wrestling match types#Special referee|special guest referee]].<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/021202.html|title=Raw results - December 2, 2002|date=2002-12-02|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>


In 2003, Rob Van Dam continued to team up with Kane. RVD participated in the [[Royal Rumble (2003)|Royal Rumble]], and was one of the final five participants before being tossed out by his tag team partner Kane. The two faced Lance Storm and William Regal at [[No Way Out (2003)|No Way Out]] for the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|World Tag Team Championship]] but failed to win the title when Kane mistakenly chokeslammed RVD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2003/results/|title=No Way Out 2003 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> On the March 31 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam and Kane defeated World Tag Team Champions Lance Storm and [[Sean Morley|Chief Morley]] and The Dudley Boyz in a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#Elimination tag team match|3-way elimination tag team match]] to win the World Tag Team Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030331.html|title=Raw results - March 31, 2003|date=2003-03-31|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132112211|title=History Of The World Tag Team Championship - Kane and Rob Van Dam(1)|accessdate=2008-01-02|publisher=WWE}}</ref> At [[Backlash (2003)|Backlash]], Van Dam and Kane retained the titles against The Dudley Boyz with Morley as the special guest referee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2003/results/|title=Backlash 2003 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> At [[WWE Insurrextion#2003|Insurrextion]], Van Dam and Kane defended the World Tag Team title successfully against La Résistance,<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/ins.html#03|title=Insurrextion 2003 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> before losing the title to La Résistance at [[Bad Blood (2003)|Bad Blood]].<ref name="rvdraw03">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#03|title=RVD's Raw Career (2003)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/badd.html#2003|title=Badd Blood 2003 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
In 1998, Van Dam turned [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] and started a feud with [[The Triple Threat]] ([[Shane Douglas]], [[Bam Bam Bigelow]], and [[Chris Candido]]).<ref name="ecw98">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#98|title=RVD's ECW Career (1998)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> At [[House Party (1998)|House Party]], Van Dam defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998a.html#011098|title=House Party 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[Hostile City Showdown (1998)|Hostile City Showdown]], Van Dam and Sabu defeated Axl Rotten and [[Balls Mahoney]] by disqualification.<ref name="hostilecity98">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998a.html#013198|title=Hostile City Showdown 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> The two went on to win a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#Elimination tag team matches|fatal four-way elimination tag team match]] later that night.<ref name="hostilecity98"/> At [[ECW CyberSlam#1998|CyberSlam]], Van Dam and Sabu lost to [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|World Heavyweight Champion]] Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998a.html#022198|title=Cyberslam 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>


Van Dam's popularity increased when he got his first taste of ECW gold, on April 4 when he defeated Bam Bam Bigelow to win the World Television Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998b.html#040498|title=ECW results - April 4, 1998|date=April 4, 1998|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="ecwtv">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/ecwtvtitlehistory/|title=History Of The ECW Television Championship|access-date=December 29, 2007|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Van Dam retained the belt in his first title defense on April 10 against Doug Furnas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998b.html#041098|title=ECW results - April 10, 1998|date=April 10, 1998|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Sabu also expressed interest in Van Dam's championship, leading to a title match between the two at [[Wrestlepalooza#1998|Wrestlepalooza]]. Van Dam retained the title as the match ended in a time limit draw.<ref name="ecw98"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998b.html#050398|title=Wrestlepalooza 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
After Kane was forced to take his mask off when he lost to Triple H, he [[List of professional wrestling terms#T|turned]] heel, and the team with RVD dissolved. The two then started feuding with each other.<ref name="rvdraw03"/> On the August 18 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam faced the Intercontinental Champion [[Jason Reso|Christian]] for the title, but Kane interfered in the match and knocked Van Dam out after hitting him with a chair. Kane then took Van Dam to the backstage where he was restrained and was about to be set on fire. Kane changed his mind at the last minute, however, and said that he wasn't going to do what "they" want.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030818.html|title=Raw results - August 18, 2003|date=2003-08-18|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> Their rivalry led to a [[Professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match|No Holds Barred match]] at [[SummerSlam (2003)|SummerSlam]], which Kane won.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2003/results/|title=SummerSlam 2003 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> On the September 8 edition of ''Raw'', the rivalry ended when Rob Van Dam defeated Kane, when Kane threw RVD through the Steel by mistake in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|steel cage match]]. [[Eric Bischoff]] came out and restarted the match, saying RVD didn't escape through the door or climb out Bischoff ordered the referees to put Rob Van Dam's body back inside the cage Kane eventually hit a chokeslam from the side of the cage to pick up the victory.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030908.html|title=Raw results - September 8, 2003|date=2003-09-08|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>


In September 2003, Van Dam started feuding with both Christian and Chris Jericho over Christian's Intercontinental Title. On the September 15 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam faced Jericho in a number one contender's match for the title. The match ended in a double disqualification when Intercontinental Champion Christian interfered and hit both men with the title belt.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030915.html|title=Raw results - September 15, 2003|date=2003-09-15|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> At [[Unforgiven (2003)|Unforgiven]] in a triple threat match between Jericho, Christian, and Van Dam, Christian retained his title.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref name="rvdoww">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rob-van-dam.html|title=Rob Van Dam's OWW Profile|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/2003/results/|title=Unforgiven 2003 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Van Dam, however, defeated Christian in a ladder match on the September 29 edition of ''Raw'' to win the Intercontinental Championship for a fourth time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322748|title=History Of The Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam(4)|accessdate=2008-01-02|publisher=WWE}}</ref>
At [[A Matter of Respect]], Van Dam and Sabu were forced to face each other in a tag team match as they both teamed up with World Tag Team Champions. Van Dam teamed with the one half of the champions, Lance Storm, while Sabu teamed with the other half, Chris Candido. Van Dam and Sabu reconciled and instead took out Storm and Candido making it a no contest.<ref name="ecw98"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998b.html#051698|title=A Matter of Respect 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam and Sabu started a feud with Storm and Candido in the next month for the tag team title.<ref name="ecw98"/> On June 29, Van Dam and Sabu beat Storm and Candido to win the World Tag Team Championship,<ref name="ecwtagteam">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtaghistory/|title=History Of The ECW Tag Team Championship|access-date=December 29, 2007|publisher=WWE}}</ref> which made Van Dam a double champion.<ref name="ecw98"/> On October 24, Sabu and Van Dam lost the title to the [[Dudley Boyz]] ([[Bubba Ray Dudley|Buh Buh Ray]] and [[D-Von Dudley|D-Von]]) after interference from Triple Threat.<ref name="ecw98"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998d.html#102498|title=ECW results - October 24, 1998|date=October 24, 1998|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam sought revenge and at [[November to Remember (1998)|November to Remember]], Van Dam and Sabu teamed with Taz to defeat Triple Threat.<ref name="ecw98"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1998d.html#110198|title=November to Remember 1998 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> On December 13, Van Dam and Sabu won the World Tag Team Championship for a second time by beating the Dudley Boyz in [[Japan]] at a [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling]] [[ECW/FMW Supershow#II|ECW/FMW Supershow]].<ref name="ecw98"/><ref name="ecwtagteam"/>


==== Longest-reigning World Television Champion (1998–2000) ====
====Various feuds (2003–2004)====
Van Dam remained the World Television Champion for the rest of 1998, and he started 1999 by making successful title defenses against the likes of [[Spike Dudley]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999a.html#010299|title=ECW results - January 2, 1999|date=January 2, 1999|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Lance Storm at [[Guilty as Charged (1999)|Guilty as Charged]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999a.html#011099|title=Guilty as Charged 1999 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> [[Jerry Lynn]] at [[Crossing the Line '99]], Balls Mahoney at [[Anarchy Rulz (1999)|Anarchy Rulz]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999a.html#011599|title=ECW results - January 15, 1999|date=January 15, 1999|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> and 2 Cold Scorpio at [[ECW CyberSlam#1999|CyberSlam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999b.html#040399|title=CyberSlam 1999 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="ecw99">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#99|title=RVD's ECW Career (1999)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref>
Van Dam entered into a rivalry with Chris Jericho in October 2003, and the two faced each other in several tag team matches.<ref name="rvdoww"/> On the October 27 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost the Intercontinental title to Jericho. Van Dam reached the ropes when the challenger had him in the [[Boston crab#Elevated Boston crab|Walls of Jericho]], but Eric Bischoff distracted the referee while Jericho dragged the champion back into the middle of the ring. Van Dam submitted and Jericho became the new champion.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref name="rvdoww"/><ref name="Raw - RVD vs Jericho">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031027.html|title=Raw results - October 27, 2003|date=2003-10-27|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> Austin came out and immediately ordered Jericho to face Van Dam in a rematch inside the Steel Cage for the title. Van Dam won the rematch and his fifth Intercontinental Championship.<ref name="rvdoww"/><ref name="Raw - RVD vs Jericho"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322756|title=History Of the Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam (5)|publisher=WWE}}</ref>


Van Dam and Sabu were scheduled to make a title defense on April 17, but Sabu was suspended by ECW before the match occurred.<ref name="ecw99"/> Instead, Van Dam faced D-Von Dudley in a singles match and as a result of losing the match, Van Dam also lost the ECW World Tag Team Championship to the Dudleyz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999b.html#041799|title=ECW results - April 17, 1999|date=April 17, 1999|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> After losing the tag team titles, Van Dam focused on defending the Television title.<ref name="ecw99"/> He entered into a rivalry with Jerry Lynn against whom he defended the Television title at [[Hardcore Heaven (1999)|Hardcore Heaven]] in a "no time limit" match.<ref name="hardcoreheaven">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999b.html#051699|title=Hardcore Heaven 1999 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam retained the title, and the match was deemed so good that [[Paul Heyman]] aired it on [[ECW on TNN|ECW]]'s debut on [[Spike (TV channel)|TNN]] in place of a [[Shoot (professional wrestling)|shoot promo]] about TNN that he was planning, but was not allowed to air.<ref name="hardcoreheaven"/> Van Dam continued to defend the ECW World Television Championship for the remainder of the year.
[[Image:RobVanDam.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Rob Van Dam at a [[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]] live event.]]
At [[Survivor Series (2003)|Survivor Series]], Van Dam was pinned by [[Randy Orton]] during his traditional elimination match.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2003/results/|title=Survivor Series 2003 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> As a result, Orton and Van Dam started feuding with each other over Van Dam's Intercontinental title.<ref name="rvdraw03"/> Van Dam lost the Intercontinental title to Orton at [[Armageddon (2003)|Armageddon]] after interference from Ric Flair.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref name="rvdoww"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2003/results/|title=Armageddon 2003 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Van Dam went on to feud with both Orton and Evolution. On the January 12, 2004 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam faced Orton in a rematch for the Intercontinental title but lost the match.<ref name="rvdraw04">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#04|title=RVD's Raw Career (2004)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040112.html|title=Raw results - January 12, 2004|date=2004-01-12|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>


Van Dam formed a tag team with [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]]. The two teamed for the first time on the January 19 edition of ''Raw'' when they defeated Christian and Matt Hardy to qualify for a battle royal where the winner of the battle royal would get the #30 spot in the [[Royal Rumble (2004)|2004 Royal Rumble]] match.<ref name="rvdraw04"/><ref name="2004 Royal Rumble #30">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040112.html|title=Raw results - January 19, 2004|date=2004-01-19|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the February 16 edition of ''Raw'', Booker T and Van Dam defeated [[Evolution (professional wrestling)|Evolution]] members Ric Flair and [[Dave Batista|Batista]] to win the World Tag Team Championship.<ref name="rvdraw04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321331|title=History Of The World Tag Team Championship - Rob Van Dam and Booker T(1)|accessdate=2008-02-17|publisher=WWE}}</ref> At [[WrestleMania XX]], Booker and Van Dam defended the World Tag Team Championship in a fatal four-way elimination tag team match against the Dudley Boyz, La Résistance, and the team of [[Mark Jindrak]] and [[Lance Cade|Garrison Cade]].<ref name="rvdraw04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm20/results/|title=WrestleMania XX official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> On the March 22 edition of ''Raw'', Booker T and Van Dam lost the World Tag Team Championship back to Evolution.<ref name="rvdraw04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040322.html|title=Raw results - March 22, 2004|date=2004-03-22|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>
Van Dam began a feud with [[Rhyno|Rhino]] in the beginning of 2000. Van Dam successfully defended the ECW World Television Championship against Rhino on January 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000a.html#010700|title=ECW results - January 7, 2000|date=January 7, 2000|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam got a victory during a title defense against Sabu at [[Guilty as Charged (2000)|Guilty as Charged]] which was Sabu's last match in the promotion.<ref name="ecw2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#00|title=RVD's ECW Career (2000)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000a.html#010900|title=Guilty as Charged 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam was scheduled to perform in a "champion vs. champion" pay-per-view main event against the ECW World Heavyweight Champion [[Mike Awesome]]. This match potentially could have been ECW's most lucrative pay-per-view main event, and Heyman was depending on it to bring an influx of badly needed finances, but the match never occurred because Van Dam suffered a broken ankle during a successful title defense against Rhino on January 29.<ref name="ecw2000"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000a.html#012900|title=ECW results - January 29, 2000|date=January 29, 2000|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> The injury also forced Van Dam to vacate the ECW World Television Championship.


==== Final appearances (2000–2001) ====
On March 22, Van Dam was [[2004 WWE Draft Lottery|drafted]] from ''Raw'' to ''SmackDown!''.<ref name="rvdsd04">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#sd|title=RVD's SmackDown! Career (2004)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> He made his ''SmackDown!'' debut on March 25 defeating [[Charlie Haas]]. Van Dam and [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.|Rey Mysterio]] began a feud with the Dudley Boyz, defeating them at [[Judgment Day (2004)|Judgment Day]].<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2004/results/|title=Judgment Day 2004 official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> In June, Van Dam left the tag team division and began a pursuit for the [[WWE United States Championship|United States Championship]]. At [[The Great American Bash (2004)|The Great American Bash]], [[John Cena]] defended the title against RVD, Booker T, and [[René Goguen|René Duprée]] in a fatal four-way match and retained his championship.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/history/2004/results/|title=The Great American Bash 2004 official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-02-18 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071211021856/http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/history/2004/results/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-12-11}}</ref> On the July 1 edition of ''SmackDown!'', Van Dam and Duprée lost to Booker in a number one contender's triple threat match.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040701.html|title=SmackDown! results - July 1, 2004|date=2004-07-01|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> Four weeks later, Van Dam participated in an [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|8-way elimination match]] for the vacant US Championship, and was the last man to be eliminated by eventual winner Booker.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040729.html|title=SmackDown! results - July 29, 2004|date=2004-07-29|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref>
Van Dam returned to ECW at [[Hardcore Heaven (2000)|Hardcore Heaven]] and faced long-time rival Jerry Lynn. Van Dam was supported by his [[Legit (professional wrestling)|real-life]] friend [[Scotty Riggs|Scotty Anton]] who eventually [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#T|turned]] on him when Van Dam was going to perform a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Frog splash|Five-Star Frog Splash]] on Lynn. Anton pushed him from the top rope, which helped Lynn win the match.<ref name="ecw2000"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000b.html#051400|title=Hardcore Heaven 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam feuded with Anton and took his revenge at [[Heat Wave (2000)|Heat Wave]] by defeating Anton after debuting his new finisher called the "[[Dropkick#Corner-to-corner missile dropkick|Van Terminator]]".<ref name="ecw2000"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000c.html#071600|title=Heat Wave 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam then attempted to exact revenge on Rhino for forcing his injury. He received many opportunities to win the ECW World Television Championship back from Rhino, but Rhino's allies usually attacked Van Dam, causing disqualifications and allowing Rhino to retain the title.<ref name="ecw2000"/> At [[Anarchy Rulz (2000)|Anarchy Rulz]], Van Dam faced Rhino for the ECW World Television Championship but was [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|screwed]] when a heel referee made a fast count during a pinfall attempt made by Rhino.<ref name="ecw2000"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000d.html#100100|title=Anarchy Rulz 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>


Van Dam was not advertised and did not show for a large number of ECW events due to the large sum of money owed to him.<ref name="ecw2000"/> He appeared at ECW's final pay-per-view event [[Guilty as Charged (2001)|Guilty as Charged]], where he defeated Jerry Lynn.<ref name="ecw2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#01|title=RVD's ECW Career (2001)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2001.html#010701|title=Guilty as Charged 2001 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> This was Van Dam's last appearance in ECW, as ECW only held two more shows after the pay-per-view.
Van Dam began teaming up with Mysterio again in the summer and feuded with René Duprée and [[Kenzo Suzuki]]. At [[No Mercy (2004)|No Mercy]], Van Dam and Mysterio failed to win the Tag Team Championship from Dupree and Suzuki.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2004/results/|title=No Mercy 2004 official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> On the December 9 edition of ''SmackDown!'', Van Dam and Mysterio defeated Duprée and Suzuki to win the [[WWE Tag Team Championship]],<ref name=wwetag>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/|title=WWE Tag Team Championship history}}</ref> and retained the title in a rematch at [[Armageddon (2004)|Armageddon]].<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2004/results/|title=Armageddon 2004 official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> In January 2005, Van Dam suffered a knee injury. To explain his absence, the [[Basham Brothers]] ([[Doug Basham|Doug]] and [[Daniel Hollie|Danny]]) defeated Mysterio and Van Dam for the Tag Team Championship, in a fatal four-way elimination tag team match on the January 13 edition of ''SmackDown!'', "injuring" Van Dam in the process.<ref name="rvdsd05">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#05|title=RVD's SmackDown! Career (2005)|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050113.html|title=SmackDown! results - January 13, 2005|date=2005-01-13|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> On January 27, Van Dam underwent reconstructive knee surgery under Dr. James Andrews to repair a torn [[anterior cruciate ligament]] and [[Meniscus (anatomy)|meniscus]].<ref name="rvdoww"/><ref name="rvdsd05"/>


====Reviving ECW and WWE Champion (2005–2006)====
=== All Japan Pro Wrestling (2001) ===
In February and March 2001, Van Dam returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling for an eleventh tour as part of its "Excite Series". During the tour, Van Dam primarily wrestled in tag team matches, teaming with partners including [[Danny Kroffat]] and [[Gran Naniwa]]. His opponents during the tour included Giant Kimala and Sabu.<ref name="KreikenbohmAJPW">{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=866&view=&page=4&gimmick=&year=&promotion=6&region=&location=&arena=&showtype=&constellationType=&worker=|title=Rob Van Dam - matches - All Japan Pro Wrestling|access-date=November 18, 2024|website=Cagematch.net|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm}}</ref>
[[File:Rob Van Dam RVD thumbs.jpg|thumb|right|Van Dam during his ring entrance]]
While recuperating, Van Dam made an appearance at the ECW reunion pay-per-view [[ECW One Night Stand (2005)|ECW One Night Stand]]. Accompanied by his former manager Bill Alfonso and sporting a knee brace, Van Dam delivered a [[Shoot (professional wrestling)#Worked shoots|worked shoot]] [[List of professional wrestling terms#P|promo]], standing up for ECW and criticizing the way he had been [[List of professional wrestling terms#B|booked]] in WWE, until he was attacked by [[Terry Gerin|Rhyno]]. He was saved by Sabu, who defeated Rhyno in an impromptu match. Despite his injury, Van Dam got physically involved in the match, hitting Rhyno with a chairshot and giving him a [[#In wrestling|Chair Surf]].<ref name="raw05">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#raw3|title=RVD's Raw Career (2005)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster|accessdate=2008-02-18}}</ref> Van Dam, while still healing, was drafted back to the Raw brand in the [[2005 WWE Draft Lottery|2005 Draft Lottery]]. He was introduced to ''Raw'' by [[Carly Colón|Carlito]], who insulted Van Dam before attacking him and assaulting his knee. Van Dam made his return to the ring over six months later at the [[Royal Rumble (2006)|Royal Rumble]]. He gained revenge on Carlito by eliminating him, but was in turn inadvertently eliminated by Rey Mysterio. On the February 6 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam defeated Carlito in the first round of the 2006 Road to WrestleMania Tournament. Later, Van Dam qualifying to [[Money in the Bank ladder match]]. Van Dam went on to win the match, thus earning himself a guaranteed shot at either the WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship at any time within the subsequent year.<ref name= MitB>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/2220322/results/|date=2006-02-04|title=RVD wins the "Money in the Bank" Ladder Match|publisher=WWE}}</ref>. At [[Backlash (2006)|Backlash]]. Van Dam defeated [[Shelton Benjamin]] to win Intercontinental title fot the sixth time, in a match where Van Dam's briefcase was also on the line. On the May 15 edition of ''Raw'' Van Dam dropping the Intercontinental title back to Benjamin.


=== World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment (2001-2007)===
[[File:RobVD5.jpg|thumb|left|Van Dam facing Hardcore Holly in the [[Elimination Chamber#Variations|Extreme Elimination Chamber]] at [[December to Dismember (2006)|December to Dismember]].]]
On May 29, Van Dam was selected by Paul Heyman to be [[WWE Brand Extension#Superstar selections 2|drafted]] from ''Raw'' to WWE's new [[ECW (WWE)|ECW]] brand. At [[ECW One Night Stand (2006)|One Night Stand]], Van Dam cashed in his Money in the Bank Contract, and defeated John Cena to win the [[WWE Championship]], his first ever World Title. After two referees were knocked out, [[Adam Copeland|Edge]] appeared from the crowd to attack Cena, [[Professional wrestling attacks#Spear|spearing]] him through a table. Van Dam then hit a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Frog splash|Five Star Frog Splash]] and the pinfall was counted by Paul Heyman, who suddenly ran down the aisle. On the following episode of ''Raw'', [[Vince McMahon]] confirmed that the title change was official, due to the match being held under "extreme rules". For the past few weeks, Heyman had hinted that the WWE Championship would be "rechristened" the ECW World Heavyweight Championship when Van Dam won. On the debut of ''[[ECW on Sci Fi]]'', Van Dam was awarded the reinstated [[ECW Championship|ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] by Heyman. Van Dam, however, decided to defend the WWE Championship separately and simultaneously, joking that "this one spins". Thus, Van Dam became the first wrestler in history to hold both the WWE Championship and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, and the only one to hold them at the same time. Van Dam retained the WWE title when he faced Edge at [[Vengeance (2006)|Vengeance]]. On the July 3 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost the WWE Championship to Edge in a triple threat match that also featured John Cena. The next night, on the July 4 episode of ''ECW'', he lost the ECW World Heavyweight Championship to [[Paul Wight|The Big Show]] after Heyman [[List of professional wrestling terms#T|turned]] on him. Later on WWE.com, Heyman suspended Van Dam for 30 days without giving a reason; ([[Legit (professional wrestling)|in reality]], WWE suspended Van Dam for 30 days as a result of [[#2006 arrest|his recent drug possession arrest]]).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/rvdsuspended|title=WWE suspending Rob Van Dam for 30 days|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref>


==== The Invasion (2001) ====
He returned to television on August 8, attacking both Sabu and [[Kurt Angle]] during a match. His return to the ring came a week later, in a losing effort to Sabu in a [[ladder match]] for number one contendership to the ECW World Championship. Van Dam slowly worked his way back into the championship picture. In October, Van Dam defeated The Big Show in a non-title match to regain the number one contendership. Having the option to pick a date, Van Dam announced the title match would occur at [[December to Dismember (2006)|December to Dismember]]. Heyman, however, had the option of picking the match type and announced that the main event would be a six-man [[Elimination Chamber#Variations|Extreme Elimination Chamber]] match. At the event, Van Dam was the third participant eliminated. Later in December, Van Dam once again earned the number one contendership to the ECW World Championship, but this time by a fan poll. Van Dam got three matches against ECW World Champion [[Bobby Lashley]], coming up short each time.
{{Main|The Invasion (professional wrestling)|l1=The Invasion|The Alliance (professional wrestling)|l2=The Alliance}}


Several months after the closure of ECW, Van Dam was signed to a short-term contract by the [[World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF). Along with fellow ECW alumnus Tommy Dreamer, Van Dam returned to WWF television on the July 9, 2001, episode of ''Raw is War'' in [[Atlanta, Georgia]] as a [[Heel (wrestling)|heel]], and attacking WWF wrestlers [[Glenn Jacobs|Kane]] and [[Chris Jericho]].<ref name="alliance">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#alliance|title=Rob Van Dam's Character In Alliance Storyline|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref name="Raw - July 9, 2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/010709.html|title=Raw results - July 9, 2001|date=July 9, 2001|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> Later that night, five wrestlers from WWF and five wrestlers from WCW took on ten ECW wrestlers, including Van Dam. The match never took place as instead the WCW wrestlers aligned themselves with the ECW wrestlers.<ref name="alliance"/><ref name="Raw - July 9, 2001"/>
[[Image:ECW originals313.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Terry Brunk|Sabu]], [[Tommy Dreamer]], Van Dam and [[Jim Fullington|The Sandman]] ([[ECW Originals]]) performing their signature poses.]]
Rob Van Dam later joined the [[ECW Originals]] along with Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, and [[Jim Fullington|The Sandman]]. The ECW Originals began a feud with the [[New Breed (ECW)|New Breed]] ([[Elijah Burke]], [[Kevin Fertig|Kevin Thorn]], [[Monty Brown|Marcus Cor Von]], and [[Matthew Kaye|Matt Striker]]). The two teams faced off at [[WrestleMania 23]] in a match which the ECW Originals won. After Vince McMahon won the ECW World Championship at [[Backlash (2007)|Backlash]], RVD and the other ECW Originals made statements on WWE.com about McMahon killing ECW. The ECW Originals all competed in a four way dance to decide who would take on McMahon the next week on ECW in a title match, which Van Dam won. However Van Dam didn't win the title.


Despite being presented as a heel, Van Dam was popular with the WWF fans, who were aware of his reputation in ECW. After defeating [[Jeff Hardy]] for the [[WWF Hardcore Championship]] at [[WWF Invasion]] on July 22,<ref name="alliance"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/miscppvs2000s.html|title=WWF Invasion results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="hardcore">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/hard/|title=History Of The WWE Hardcore Championship|access-date=December 31, 2007|publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2001/mainevent/|title=No Mercy 2001 main event|publisher=WWE|access-date=February 9, 2009|archive-date=February 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202083213/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2001/mainevent/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Van Dam lost the Hardcore Championship to Hardy on the August 13 episode of ''Raw is War'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/010813.html|title=Raw results - August 13, 2001|date=August 13, 2001|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> but regained it at [[SummerSlam (2001)|SummerSlam]] on August 19 in a ladder match. During this time Van Dam had defeated wrestlers such as Kane, [[The Undertaker]], [[Kurt Angle]], Chris Jericho, [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] and even Alliance leader [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] in singles and tag team matches.<ref name="hardcore"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2001/results/|title=SummerSlam 2001 official results|publisher=WWE|access-date=February 9, 2009|archive-date=March 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305202318/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2001/results/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Van Dam became one of the most popular members of [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|the Alliance]] who faced The Rock for the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship|WCW Championship]] on multiple occasions, and even challenged Alliance leader Stone Cold Steve Austin for the [[WWE World Championship|WWF Championship]] including a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|triple threat match]] at [[No Mercy (2001)|No Mercy]] on October 21 also involving [[Kurt Angle]], but did not win. At [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]] on November 18, Van Dam and four other Alliance members faced five WWF wrestlers in a ''Winner Take All'' match. Team WWF won, and the members of the Alliance were fired; however, as he held the [[WWE Hardcore Championship|Hardcore Championship]], Van Dam was able to retain his job.<ref name="alliance"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2001/results/ |title=Survivor Series 2001 official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103130418/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2001/results/ |archive-date=November 3, 2007 }}</ref>
Van Dam received a concussion during a match with [[Randy Orton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/articles/3960574/rvdupdate|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070531083102/http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/articles/3960574/rvdupdate|archivedate=2007-05-31|title=RVD gets concussed}}</ref> Orton further attacked Van Dam after the match due to the comments Van Dam made on WWE.com about the lack of respect Orton displayed towards [[Shawn Michaels]], who also suffered a concussion at the hands of Orton. Van Dam once again faced Orton at [[One Night Stand (2007)|One Night Stand]], this time in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Container-based variations|Stretcher match]]. Although it looked as if Orton was going to win again, Van Dam gave him a [[roundhouse kick]] to the head and was able to push the stretcher across the line for the win. Despite winning the match, Orton continued to attack Van Dam, ending with an [[DDT (professional wrestling)#Elevated DDT|elevated DDT]] off the barricade and onto the concrete floor. After the match, he left WWE due to a family issue as his wife had recently been diagnosed with cancer.


==== Intercontinental Champion and Championship Unifications (2001–2002) ====
===Independent circuit (2007–2010)===
Van Dam became a face, but lost the Hardcore Championship to The Undertaker at [[Vengeance (2001)|Vengeance]] on December 9.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2001/results/|title=Vengeance 2001 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#wwf2|title=RVD's WWF Career (2001)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> He then entered into a rivalry with [[William Regal]] over Regal's [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]].<ref name="wwf2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#02|title=RVD's WWF Career (2002)|publisher=Acclerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref> On the February 25, 2002 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam defeated Lance Storm and [[Big Show]] in a triple threat match to become the #1 contender to the Intercontinental Championship.<ref name="wwf2002"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020225.html|title=Raw results - February 25, 2002|date=February 25, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> At [[WrestleMania X8]] on March 17, Van Dam faced Regal for the Intercontinental Championship and won the match after he hit Regal with a Five-Star Frog Splash.<ref name="wwf2002"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm18/ |title=WrestleMania X-8 official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319101052/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm18/ |archive-date=March 19, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322704|title=History Of The Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam(1)|access-date=January 1, 2008|publisher=WWE|archive-date=December 15, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215085628/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322704|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The day after Van Dam's WWE contract expired, he was in the United Kingdom on a promotional tour and to record scenes for the wrestling documentary, ''[[Bloodstained Memoirs]]''. He also took part in interviews for the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestling.com/article/news/8474|title=prowrestling.com|author=pw}}</ref>


[[File:Rvdwmx8@Commons.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.9|Van Dam after winning the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] at [[WrestleMania X8]]]]
On December 10, 2007, Van Dam made a special appearance on the ''Raw'' [[WWE Raw#Special episodes|15th Anniversary]], to accept a challenge made by [[Santino Marella]] and defeated him in a [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|squash]] match lasting less than a minute with a Five–Star Frog Splash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12102007/|title=Van Damn!|date=2007-12-10|last=Clayton|first=Corey|accessdate=2008-01-09|publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref name="sunboth">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/2727319/Rob-Van-Dam-says-he-is-speaking-to-WWE-and-TNA-in-the-second-part-of-his-exclusive-UK-Sun-interview.html|title=RVD: I'm speaking to both sides|last=Rothstein|first=Simon|date=14 November 2009|work=[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]|accessdate=1 December 2009}}</ref>
[[Image:Rob-van-dam.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Van Dam performing in Europe during 2008.]]
In an interview with the ''Baltimore Sun'', Van Dam stated that while WWE would be the first choice and that he would definitely talk to them, he would definitely consider [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) if he returned full time to pro wrestling. He also spoke his thoughts regarding his choice between both companies.


When the WWF was divided into two "[[WWE brand extension|brands]]", [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]] and [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown!]] in 2002, Van Dam was [[WWE brand extension#Superstar selections|drafted]] to the Raw brand as the fourth pick, thus bringing the Intercontinental Championship to ''Raw''.<ref name="rvdraw02">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#raw1|title=RVD's Raw Career (2002)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref name="2002 Draft">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020325.html|title=Raw results - March 25, 2002|date=March 25, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the April 1 episode of ''Raw'', after Van Dam defended his title successfully against [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]], [[Eddie Guerrero]] returned to the WWF and attacked Van Dam.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020401.html|title=Raw results - April 1, 2002|date=April 1, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> He started a feud with Guerrero over the Intercontinental Championship. At [[Backlash (2002)|Backlash]] on April 21, Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to Guerrero.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2002/results/|title=Backlash 2002 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> At [[Insurrextion (2002)|Insurrextion]] on May 4, Van Dam and Guerrero had a rematch for the Intercontinental Championship. Guerrero was disqualified after hitting the referee with the Intercontinental Championship; as a result, Van Dam won the match but not the title because a title cannot change hands by disqualification.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/ins.html#2002|title=Insurrextion 2002 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> At [[Judgment Day (2002)|Judgment Day]] on May 19, Van Dam failed to win the Intercontinental title from Guerrero in another rematch.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2002/results/ |title=Judgment Day 2002 official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215114025/http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2002/results/ |archive-date=February 15, 2008 }}</ref> The following night he defeated The Undertaker for the [[WWE Championship|WWE Undisputed Championship]] but Raw owner [[Ric Flair]] restarted the match (due to The Undertaker's foot being on the bottom rope), which Van Dam then lost negating the title win.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020520.html|title=Raw results - May 20, 2002|date=May 20, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the May 27 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam defeated Guerrero in a [[ladder match]] for his second Intercontinental Championship.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020527.html|title=Raw results - May 27, 2002|date=May 27, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322712 |title=History Of the Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam (2) |access-date=January 1, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421232701/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322712 |archive-date=April 21, 2007 }}</ref>
{{cquote|I definitely would consider them. I would weight out everything and decide what really is the best thing to do. When I knew that I was not going to re-sign with WWE, which was around [[WrestleMania]] time when I knew for sure that I was going to stick to that plan, my first thoughts were, “OK, well there’s this TNA.” I think that’s pretty funny even imagining Vince giving in to something like that for that reason. One thing that’s for sure is that WWE and I do have a good-faith understanding that if and when I’m ready to return that I’ll be talking to them. They look forward and hope that we’ll be doing business again. They hope it’s real soon. Honestly, I’m free as can be. I would also consider the lighter schedule from another company. But, honestly, giving up the prestige of the WWE would be something that I would look at as a downward move. I don’t fit with the formula – I never have. I’ve never tried to be like anybody else. I’m a [[non-conformist]] in every way, and when it comes to wrestling, that’s certainly true, too. If I won on my way out and you’re not supposed to do that, that’s just another example of how I’m one of a kind.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnawrestlingnews.com/headlines/203136810.shtml|title=TNA News: RVD On TNA: 'I Definitely Would Consider Them', More|publisher=TNAWrestlingNews|date=2008-01-23}}</ref>}}


After facing each other in the final round of the [[King of the Ring (2002)|2002]] [[King of the Ring tournament]] (which he lost), Van Dam and [[Brock Lesnar]] began feuding with each other. Van Dam defended his Intercontinental Championship against Lesnar twice and retained his title both times by disqualification on the June 24 episode of ''Raw'' and at [[Vengeance (2002)|Vengeance]] on July 21.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020624.html|title=Raw results - June 24, 2002|date=June 24, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/history/vengeance2002/results/|title=Vengeance 2002 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> On the July 22 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam won the [[WWE European Championship]] for the first and only time{{refn|group=note|name=first}} after he defeated then-European Champion Jeff Hardy in a [[championship unification]] [[ladder match]]. As a result, the European Championship was deactivated upon being unified with the Intercontinental Championship. On the July 29 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to [[Chris Benoit]].<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020729.html|title=Raw results - July 29, 2002|date=July 29, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>
Van Dam wrestled for the first time on the [[independent circuit]] since his departure from WWE by competing for Associação Portuguesa de Wrestling (APW) in February 2008. He then also appeared for [[Nu-Wrestling Evolution]] (NWE) throughout countries such as Spain. During his stint in NWE, Van Dam also trained with [[Warrior (wrestler)|The Ultimate Warrior]] for his wrestling return.{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}} On August 14, 2008 he won a triple threat match at the [[Inoki Genome Federation]] in Japan after defeating [[Kendo Kashin]] and [[Necro Butcher]].<ref name="OWOW"/>


[[File:RVDCampeonIC.JPG|thumb|Van Dam as Intercontinental Champion]]
At the [[Royal Rumble (2009)|2009 Royal Rumble]], Van Dam made a surprise appearance as the 25th entrant in the Royal Rumble match before he was eventually eliminated by [[Chris Jericho]].<ref name="sunboth"/><ref>{{cite web|title=2009 Royal Rumble Statistics and Eliminations|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/participants09/|date=2009-01-25|accessdate=2009-01-26|publisher=WWE}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
At [[SummerSlam (2002)|SummerSlam]] on August 25, Van Dam won his third Intercontinental Championship by defeating Benoit in a rematch for the title.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2002/results/|title=SummerSlam 2002 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322720 |title=History Of The Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam(3) |access-date=January 1, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422143034/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322720 |archive-date=April 22, 2007 }}</ref> As Benoit brought the title to ''SmackDown!'' when he switched brands shortly after winning it, Van Dam brought the title back to ''Raw''.<ref name="rvdraw02"/> On the August 26 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam won the Hardcore Championship for the fourth and final time after he defeated then-Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer in a championship unification [[hardcore match]]. As a result, the Hardcore Championship was deactivated upon being unified with the Intercontinental Championship.<ref name="hardcore"/><ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020826.html|title=Raw results - August 26, 2002|date=August 26, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the September 9 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam became the number one contender to the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] by defeating Chris Jericho, [[Jeff Hardy]], and [[Big Show]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|fatal four-way elimination match]].<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020909.html|title=Raw results - September 9, 2002|date=September 9, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>


Van Dam started feuding with the World Heavyweight Champion [[Triple H]]. On the September 16 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to Chris Jericho after interference by Triple H.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/020916.html|title=Raw results - September 16, 2002|date=September 16, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> At [[Unforgiven (2002)|Unforgiven]] on September 22, Van Dam faced Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. Due to [[Ric Flair]]'s interference, Van Dam lost the match.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>[http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/2002/rawmainevent/ Unforgiven 2002 main event] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100921081355/http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/2002/rawmainevent/ |date=September 21, 2010 }}</ref> At [[No Mercy (2002)|No Mercy]] on October 20, Van Dam got his revenge on Flair by defeating him.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2002/results/ |title=No Mercy 2002 official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126081749/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2002/results/ |archive-date=November 26, 2007 }}</ref> At [[Survivor Series (2002)|Survivor Series]] on November 17, Van Dam participated in the first-ever [[WWE Elimination Chamber|Elimination Chamber]] match for Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship, but it was won by [[Shawn Michaels]]. During the match, Van Dam performed a Five-Star Frog Splash off of one of the pods/chambers onto Triple H, and accidentally landed his knee onto Triple H's throat.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2002/mainevent/ |title=Survivor Series 2002 main event |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221171201/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2002/mainevent/ |archive-date=February 21, 2008 }}</ref>
On March 9, 2009, it was announced that RVD would be competing in American Wrestling Rampage (AWR) on their European Tour, during which he won the promotion's No Limits Wrestling (NLW) World Heavyweight Championship in a three way bout versus Sabu and former champion Shawn Maxer.<ref name="wrestlezone.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/article/rob-van-dam-wins-a-world-title-in-paris-france-60083|title=Rob Van Dam Wins A World Title In Paris, France|date=March 20, 2009|author=Wz Bill Behrens}}</ref> He lost the title to [[René Goguen|René Duprée]] after three successful defences. In November he regained the title, renamed the AWR World Heavyweight Championship at this point, from Duprée on November 29 winning two decisions in a Two Out Of Three Falls match.


==== Teaming and feuding with Kane (2002–2003) ====
On September 11, 2009 in the World Stars of Wrestling (WSW) European Championship events in [[Portimão]], [[Portugal]], RVD won the WSW World Championship, by defeating [[Joe Hitchen|Joe E. Legend]]. On the following night he defended his newly won title against [[Lance Cade]].
Van Dam appeared on the World Heavyweight Championship scene and also formed a tag team with Kane in October.<ref name="rvdraw02"/> Van Dam defeated Jericho and Booker T in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Triple Threat match]] to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/021118.html|title=Raw results - November 18, 2002|date=November 18, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the November 25 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam faced Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship. Michaels was disqualified after Triple H hit Van Dam with a [[Facebuster#Double underhook facebuster|Pedigree]].<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/021125.html|title=Raw results - November 25, 2002|date=November 25, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the December 2 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost to Triple H in a #1 contender's match with World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels acting as the [[Professional wrestling match types#Special referee|special guest referee]].<ref name="rvdraw02"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/021202.html|title=Raw results - December 2, 2002|date=December 2, 2002|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>


Van Dam continued to team up with Kane. Van Dam participated in the [[Royal Rumble (2003)|Royal Rumble]] on January 19, 2003, and was one of the final five participants before being tricked and eliminated by Kane. The two faced Lance Storm and William Regal at [[No Way Out (2003)|No Way Out]] on February 23 for the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|World Tag Team Championship]] but failed to win the titles when Kane mistakenly [[chokeslam]]med Van Dam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/history/2003/results/|title=No Way Out 2003 official results|publisher=WWE}}</ref> On the March 31 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam and Kane defeated World Tag Team Champions Lance Storm and [[Sean Morley|Chief Morley]] and The Dudley Boyz in a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#Elimination tag team matches|3-way elimination tag team match]] to win the World Tag Team Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030331.html|title=Raw results - March 31, 2003|date=March 31, 2003|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132112211 |title=History Of The World Tag Team Championship - Kane and Rob Van Dam(1) |access-date=January 2, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123033305/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/304454132112211 |archive-date=November 23, 2005 }}</ref> At [[Backlash (2003)|Backlash]] on April 27, Van Dam and Kane retained the titles against The Dudley Boyz with Morley as the special guest referee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2003/results/ |title=Backlash 2003 official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224033139/http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/backlash2003/results/ |archive-date=February 24, 2008 }}</ref> At [[Insurrextion (2003)|Insurrextion]] on June 7, Van Dam and Kane defended the World Tag Team Championship successfully against La Résistance,<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/ins.html#03|title=Insurrextion 2003 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> before losing the titles to La Résistance at [[Bad Blood (2003)|Bad Blood]] on June 15.<ref name="rvdraw03">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#03|title=RVD's Raw Career (2003)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/badd.html#2003|title=Badd Blood 2003 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref>
On January 30, 2010, RVD made his debut for [[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]] as part of [[WrestleReunion#WrestleReunion 4|WrestleReunion 4]], defeating [[Chris Hero]] and [[Roderick Strong]] in a "Sky High" three-way match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwinsider.com/article/44720/pro-wrestling-guerrilla-kurt-russellmania-in-los-angeles-ca-live-report.html?p=1|title=PWG Kurt Russellmania in Los Angeles Live Report: RVD, London, Kendrick, Hero, Liger, Muta, Strong and much more|date=2010-01-30|last=Johnson|first=Mike|accessdate=2010-01-31|publisher=PWInsider}}</ref>


After Kane was forced to take his mask off when he lost a World Heavyweight Championship match to Triple H on the June 23 episode of ''Raw'', he [[List of professional wrestling terms#T|turned]] heel by chokeslamming Van Dam, and the team dissolved. The two then started feuding with each other.<ref name="rvdraw03"/> On the August 18 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam faced [[Christian Cage|Christian]] for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, but Kane interfered in the match and knocked Van Dam out after hitting him with a chair. Kane then took Van Dam to the backstage area and was about to set him on fire. Kane changed his mind at the last minute, however, and said that he was not going to do what "they" wanted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030818.html|title=Raw results - August 18, 2003|date=August 18, 2003|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> Their rivalry led to a [[Professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match/No Holds Barred match|No Holds Barred match]] at [[SummerSlam (2003)|SummerSlam]] on August 24, which Kane won.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2003/results/ |title=SummerSlam 2003 official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070619060949/http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2003/results/ |archive-date=June 19, 2007 }}</ref> On the September 8 episode of ''Raw'', the rivalry ended when Kane defeated Van Dam in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|steel cage match]]. Kane threw Van Dam through the steel cage by mistake (causing Van Dam to win), but [[Eric Bischoff]] came out and restarted the match, saying Van Dam did not escape through the door or climb out of the cage and ordered the referees to put Van Dam back inside the cage where Kane eventually hit a chokeslam from the side of the cage to pick up the victory.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030908.html|title=Raw results - September 8, 2003|date=September 8, 2003|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>
===Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2010–present)===
====Debut and various rivalries (2010)====
[[File:RVDTNAChamp1.JPG|thumb|Van Dam just after winning the [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship]] in 2010.]]
On March 8, 2010, Van Dam made his debut for [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) at the promotion's Monday night edition of ''[[TNA Impact!|Impact!]]'', defeating [[Steve Borden|Sting]]. Then just seconds after his debut victory Sting attacked him with his signature baseball bat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_39660.shtml|title=TNA Impact Results 3/8: Keller's live ongoing report covering the historic beginning of Monday Night War II|last=Keller|first=Wade|authorlink=Wade Keller|date=2010-03-08|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=2010-03-09}}</ref> RVD got his revenge on Sting the following week by attacking him during his entrance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_39854.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact Report 3/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV show - A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Hardy|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=2010-03-15|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=2010-03-24}}</ref> On the March 22 edition of ''Impact!'' RVD teamed with [[Jeff Hardy]] in a tag team match, where they defeated [[Beer Money, Inc.]] ([[Robert Roode]] and [[James Storm]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_40040.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact Report 3/22: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|date=2009-10-22|accessdate=2009-10-24|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The following week the two of them teamed with [[Eric Young (wrestler)|Eric Young]] and defeated [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|The Band]] of [[Kevin Nash]], [[Scott Hall]] and [[Sean Waltman|Syxx-Pac]] in a six man tag team steel cage match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1269919705|title=Impact Results - 3/29/10|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2010-03-29|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2010-03-30}}</ref> On the April 5 edition of ''Impact!'' both Van Dam and Hardy were introduced as members of Team Hogan for the annual [[Professional wrestling match types#Lethal Lockdown|Lethal Lockdown match]], where they would face Team Flair.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_40437.shtml|title=TNA Impact Results 4/5: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Hulk Hogan, Beautiful People, Lockdown hype|last=Keller|first=Wade|date=2010-04-05|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=2010-04-14}}</ref> At [[Lockdown (2010)|Lockdown]] Team Hogan (Van Dam, [[Abyss (wrestler)|Abyss]], [[Jeff Jarrett]] and Jeff Hardy) defeated Team Flair (Sting, [[Nigel McGuinness|Desmond Wolfe]], Robert Roode and James Storm).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_40725.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Lockdown Results 4/18: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of PPV - Styles vs. The Pope, Team Hogan vs. Team Flair, Angle vs. Anderson|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=2010-04-18|accessdate=2010-04-18|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>


====TNA World Heavyweight Champion (2010)====
==== Championship reigns (2003–2005) ====
In September, Van Dam started feuding with both Christian and Chris Jericho over Christian's Intercontinental Championship. On the September 15 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam faced Jericho in a number one contender's match for the title. The match ended in a double disqualification when Intercontinental Champion Christian interfered and hit both men with the title belt.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/030915.html|title=Raw results - September 15, 2003|date=September 15, 2003|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> At [[Unforgiven (2003)|Unforgiven]] on September 21 in a triple threat match between Jericho, Christian, and Van Dam, Christian retained his title.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref name="rvdoww">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rob-van-dam.html|title=Rob Van Dam's OWW Profile|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/2003/results/ |title=Unforgiven 2003 official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331203746/http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/2003/results/ |archive-date=March 31, 2008 }}</ref> Van Dam, however, defeated Christian in a ladder match on the September 29 episode of ''Raw'' to win the Intercontinental Championship for a fourth time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322748 |title=History Of The Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam(4) |access-date=January 2, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410194446/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322748 |archive-date=April 10, 2007 }}</ref> Van Dam entered into a rivalry with Chris Jericho in October, and the two faced each other in several tag team matches.<ref name="rvdoww"/> On the October 27 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jericho. Van Dam reached the ropes when the challenger had him in the [[Boston crab#Elevated Boston crab|Walls of Jericho]], but Raw Co-General Manager Eric Bischoff distracted the referee while Jericho dragged Van Dam back into the middle of the ring. Van Dam submitted and Jericho became the new champion.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref name="rvdoww"/><ref name="Raw - RVD vs Jericho">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/031027.html|title=Raw results - October 27, 2003|date=October 27, 2003|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> Raw Co-General Manager Stone Cold Steve Austin came out and immediately ordered Jericho to face Van Dam in a rematch inside the Steel Cage for the title. Van Dam won the rematch and his fifth Intercontinental Championship.<ref name="rvdoww"/><ref name="Raw - RVD vs Jericho"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322756 |title=History Of the Intercontinental Championship - Rob Van Dam (5) |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422142210/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322756 |archive-date=April 22, 2007 }}</ref>
The night after Lockdown on the April 19 edition of ''Impact!'' he first defeated Jeff Hardy in a number one contender's match and then, in the main event of the evening, [[A.J. Styles]] to become the new [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship|TNA World Heavyweight Champion]] .<ref name=Impact04192010>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_40756.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact Report 4/19: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast--Whole F'n New Champion|first=Daniel|last=Wilkenfeld|date=2010-04-19|accessdate=2010-04-20|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> After succeeding in his first televised title defense against Desmond Wolfe, Styles attacked Van Dam, announcing the invocation of the rematch clause for [[Sacrifice (2010)|Sacrifice]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_41070.shtml|title=TNA Impact Results 5/3: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show from Orlando|first=Wade|last=Keller|authorlink=Wade Keller|date=2010-05-03|accessdate=2010-05-08|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At Sacrifice Van Dam defeated Styles in a rematch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_41360.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Sacrifice results 5/16: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of PPV - RVD vs. Styles, Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson|date=2010-05-16|accessdate=2010-05-16|last=Caldwell|first=James|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The following month at [[Slammiversary VIII]] Van Dam retained his title against Sting in a rematch of his TNA debut.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_41923.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Slammiversary results 6/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - RVD vs. Sting, Hardy & Anderson, "nice surprise"|date=2010-06-13|accessdate=2010-06-13|last=Caldwell|first=James|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At [[Victory Road (2010)|Victory Road]] Van Dam defeated Abyss, Jeff Hardy and [[Mr. Kennedy|Mr. Anderson]] in a four–way match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_42443.shtml|title=TNA Victory Road results 7/11: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" coveage of live PPV event|date=2010-07-11|accessdate=2010-07-11|last=Keller|first=Wade|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the following edition of ''Impact!'' Van Dam aligned himself with fellow ECW alumni Tommy Dreamer, [[Raven (wrestler)|Raven]], [[Mick Foley]], Rhino, etc, who saved him from a beating at the hands of Abyss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_42456.shtml|title=TNA News: TNA Impact TV taping "virtual-time coverage" for Thursday's episode|date=2010-07-12|accessdate=2010-07-13|last=Caldwell|first=James|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1279001038|title=Spoilers: TNA Impact for this Thursday|date=2010-07-13|accessdate=2010-07-13|last=Martin|first=Adam|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1279252015|title=Impact Results - 7/15/10|date=2010-07-15|last=Martin|first=Adam|work=WrestleView|accessdate=2010-07-16}}</ref> The following week, TNA president [[Dixie Carter-Salinas|Dixie Carter]] agreed to give the ECW alumni their own reunion pay–per–view event, [[Hardcore Justice (2010)|Hardcore Justice]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_42665.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 7/22: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|date=2010-07-22|accessdate=2010-08-05|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At the event Van Dam defeated former tag team partner and rival Sabu in a non-title Hardcore Rules match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_42979.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Hardcore Justice PPV results 8/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of ECW-themed PPV headlined by RVD vs. Sabu|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=2010-08-08|accessdate=2010-08-08|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>After successfully defending the championship against Abyss in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Weapon-based variations|Stairway to Janice match]] on the following edition of ''Impact!'', Van Dam and the other former ECW wrestlers were assaulted by Abyss and [[Fourtune]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_43008.shtml|title=TNA News: Spoilers - detailed Impact TV taping report for "Whole F'n Show" featuring new angle, MOTY candidate?, three title matches|first=Kevin|last=Tomich|date=2010-08-09|accessdate=2010-08-10|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/08/12/15010951.html|title=TNA's 'The Whole F'n Show': Beer Money, Machine Guns put on match of year candidate; Fortune makes statement|first=Matt|last=Bishop|date=2010-08-12|accessdate=2010-08-13|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> In the attack Van Dam suffered multiple serious [[Kayfabe|storyline]] injuries at the hands of Abyss including the need for stitches, spinal trauma and possible acute brain damage, which would force him to vacate the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on August 19 edition of ''Impact!''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/17074/|title=TNA title vacated - spoiler|date=2010-08-10|accessdate=2010-08-10|work=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_43030.shtml|title=TNA News: Spoilers - big news & notes from today's Impact TV taping for Aug. 19 episode, management's reaction to EV2.0 angle|date=2010-08-10|last=Caldwell|first=James|accessdate=2010-08-11|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_43238.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 8/19: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|first=Daniel|last=Wilkenfeld|date=2010-08-19|accessdate=2010-08-19|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> In reality, Van Dam took some time off.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1282779729|title=Update on RVD's contractual status with TNA|last=Gerweck|first=Steve|date=2010-08-25|accessdate=2010-08-26|work=WrestleView}}</ref>


At [[Survivor Series (2003)|Survivor Series]] on November 16, Van Dam was pinned by [[Randy Orton]] during the traditional elimination match between Team Austin and Team Bischoff that Van Dam's team would lose.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2003/results/ |title=Survivor Series 2003 official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102150217/http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2003/results/ |archive-date=January 2, 2008 }}</ref> As a result, Orton and Van Dam started feuding with each other over Van Dam's Intercontinental title.<ref name="rvdraw03"/> Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to Orton at [[Armageddon (2003)|Armageddon]] on December 14 after interference from Ric Flair.<ref name="rvdraw03"/><ref name="rvdoww"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2003/results/ |title=Armageddon 2003 official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130160822/http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2003/results/ |archive-date=November 30, 2007 }}</ref> Van Dam went on to feud with both Orton and Evolution. On the January 12, 2004, episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam faced Orton in a rematch for the Intercontinental Championship but lost the match.<ref name="rvdraw04">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#04|title=RVD's Raw Career (2004)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040112.html|title=Raw results - January 12, 2004|date=January 12, 2004|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>
====Feud with Immortal (2010–present)====
Van Dam returned via telephone interview on the September 16 edition of ''Impact!'' and announced that he would return to the Impact! Zone the following week, against his doctor's orders.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_43829.shtml|title=Keller's TNA Impact report 9/16: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV show with Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle|last=Keller|first=Wade|date=2010-09-16|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=2010-09-17}}</ref> Van Dam returned the following week, confronting Abyss and demanding a match against him at [[Bound for Glory (2010)|Bound for Glory]], which Eric Bischoff agreed to give him.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_44002.shtml|title=Keller's TNA Impact report 9/23: Ongoing coverage of Spike TV cablecast including Bound for Glory hype|last=Keller|first=Wade|date=2010-09-23|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=2010-09-24}}</ref> At [[Bound for Glory (2010)|Bound for Glory]] Van Dam defeated Abyss in a [[Monster's Ball match]]. At the end of the event it was revealed that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff had sent Abyss after Van Dam in order to get the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on their own stable now known as [[Immortal (professional wrestling)|Immortal]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_44417.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV results 10-10-10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Angle vs. Anderson vs. Hardy, "they" reveal|date=2010-10-10|accessdate=2010-10-10|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the October 21 edition of ''Impact!'' Bischoff claimed that someone from EV 2.0 had been calling him, trying to get to be a part of Immortal, which led to Van Dam getting paranoid about his stablemates, first accusing Raven of being the traitor. Later, he and Sabu were defeated in a tag team match by Beer Money, Inc., after Sabu accidentally hit him with a chair. After the match Van Dam and Sabu began shoving each other and had to be separated from each other by the rest of EV 2.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_44696.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 10/21: Complete "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV's live broadcast|date=2010-10-21|accessdate=2010-10-22|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> After two more weeks of dissension between Van Dam and the rest of EV 2.0, Tommy Dreamer challenged him to a match at [[Turning Point (2010)|Turning Point]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_44882.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 10/28: Complete "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV's live broadcast|date=2010-10-28|accessdate=2010-11-04|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_45047.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 11/4: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|date=2010-11-04|accessdate=2010-11-04|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At the pay–per–view Van Dam defeated Dreamer and afterwards made peace with him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_45110.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Turning Point PPV results 11/7: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Hardy vs. Morgan, EV2 vs. Fortune, Team 3D "retirement" match|date=2010-11-07|accessdate=2010-11-07|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the following edition of ''Impact!'' Rhino was revealed as the traitor within EV 2.0 as he attacked Van Dam, and then Tommy Dreamer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_45232.shtml|title=Keller's TNA Impact results 11/11: Styles vs. Stevie, Turning Point fallout, New TNA belt introduced by Hogan|date=2010-11-11|accessdate=2010-11-12|last=Keller|first=Wade|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At [[Final Resolution (2010)|Final Resolution]] Van Dam defeated Rhino in a [[Professional wrestling match types#First Blood match|First Blood match]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_45809.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Final Resolution PPV results 12/5: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Hardy vs. Morgan II, several title and stipulation matches|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=2010-12-05|accessdate=2010-12-05|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>


Van Dam formed a tag team with [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]]. The two teamed for the first time on the January 19 episode of ''Raw'' when they defeated Christian and [[Matt Hardy]] to qualify for a battle royal where the winner of the Battle Royal would get the #30 spot in the [[Royal Rumble (2004)|2004 Royal Rumble]] match on January 25.<ref name="rvdraw04"/><ref name="2004 Royal Rumble #30">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040112.html|title=Raw results - January 19, 2004|date=January 19, 2004|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> On the February 16 episode of ''Raw'', Booker T and Van Dam defeated [[Evolution (professional wrestling)|Evolution]] members Ric Flair and [[Dave Bautista|Batista]] to win the World Tag Team Championship.<ref name="rvdraw04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321331 |title=History Of The World Tag Team Championship - Rob Van Dam and Booker T(1) |access-date=February 17, 2008 |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050706011939/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/3044541321331 |archive-date=July 6, 2005 }}</ref> At [[WrestleMania XX]] on March 14, Booker T and Van Dam defended the World Tag Team Championship in a fatal four-way elimination tag team match against the Dudley Boyz, La Résistance, and the team of [[Mark Jindrak]] and [[Lance Cade|Garrison Cade]].<ref name="rvdraw04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm20/results/ |title=WrestleMania XX official results |publisher=WWE |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319101057/http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm20/results/ |archive-date=March 19, 2008 }}</ref> On the March 22 episode of ''Raw'', Booker T and Van Dam lost the World Tag Team Championship back to [[Evolution (professional wrestling)|Evolution]].<ref name="rvdraw04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040322.html|title=Raw results - March 22, 2004|date=March 22, 2004|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>
==Other media==
Van Dam has appeared on numerous television shows and in films. In 1995, he was in ''Superfights'' as "The Mercenary", and in 1997 he appeared in ''Bloodmoon'' as "Dutch Scholtz". On October 23, 1999, he appeared in ''City Guys'', in the episode "El-Trainmania IV" as himself. In 2000 he appeared in ''18 Wheels of Justice'', on August 2 as "Robert Laramie", and in ''[[The X-Files]]'' on May 7 as "Burt's opponent" in the episode "Fight Club". He also appeared on ''[[V.I.P. (TV series)|V.I.P.]]'' in the episode "Survi-Val" as "Major Ving Talbot" that year. On July 26, 2001, he appeared as himself on ''Spy TV'', and again later that year he appeared as himself in ''Ultimate Revenge'' on December 2. In 2002, he starred in two films, ''[[Black Mask 2: City of Masks]]'' as "Claw", and made a cameo appearance in ''[[The Backyard (film)|The Backyard]]'' as himself. In 2005, the ''Rob Van Dam: One Of A Kind'' DVD was released. He also appeared on ''[[Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling]]'' in 2008 teaching finishing moves to the celebrities.


On March 22, Van Dam was [[2004 WWE Draft Lottery|drafted]] to the SmackDown! brand.<ref name="rvdsd04">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#sd|title=RVD's SmackDown! Career (2004)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster|access-date=February 18, 2008}}</ref> He made his ''SmackDown!'' debut on March 25 defeating [[Charlie Haas]]. Van Dam and [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.|Rey Mysterio]] began a feud with the Dudley Boyz, defeating them at [[Judgment Day (2004)|Judgment Day]] on May 16.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2004/results/ |title=Judgment Day 2004 official results |publisher=WWE |access-date=February 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323114358/http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/judgmentday2004/results/ |archive-date=March 23, 2008 }}</ref> In June, Van Dam left the tag team division and began a pursuit for the [[WWE United States Championship|United States Championship]]. At [[The Great American Bash (2004)|The Great American Bash]] on June 27, [[John Cena]] defended the title against Van Dam, Booker T, and [[René Goguen|René Duprée]] in a Fatal Four-Way match and retained his championship.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/history/2004/results/ |title=The Great American Bash 2004 official results |publisher=WWE |access-date=February 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211021856/http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/history/2004/results/ |archive-date=December 11, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On the July 1 episode of ''SmackDown!'', Van Dam and Duprée lost to Booker T in a number one contender's Triple Threat match.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040701.html|title=SmackDown! results - July 1, 2004|date=July 1, 2004|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling|access-date=February 18, 2008}}</ref> Four weeks later, Van Dam participated in an [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|8-way elimination match]] for the vacant United States Championship, and was the last man to be eliminated by eventual winner Booker T.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040729.html|title=SmackDown! results - July 29, 2004|date=July 29, 2004|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling|access-date=February 18, 2008}}</ref>
He recently finished working alongside fellow professional wrestler [[Dave Batista]] in an upcoming movie titled ''[[Wrong Side of Town]]''.<ref name="sunboth"/>


Van Dam began teaming up with Mysterio again in the summer and feuded with René Duprée and [[Kenzo Suzuki]]. At [[No Mercy (2004)|No Mercy]] on October 3, Van Dam and Mysterio failed to win the [[WWE Raw Tag Team Championship|WWE Tag Team Championship]] from Dupree and Suzuki.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2004/results/ |title=No Mercy 2004 official results |publisher=WWE |access-date=February 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219171744/http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2004/results/ |archive-date=February 19, 2008 }}</ref> On the December 9 episode of ''SmackDown!'', Van Dam and Mysterio defeated Duprée and Suzuki to win the WWE Tag Team Championship,<ref name=wwetag>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/raw-tag-team-championship|title=Raw Tag Team Championship|website=WWE}}</ref> and retained the title in a rematch at [[Armageddon (2004)|Armageddon]] on December 12.<ref name="rvdsd04"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2004/results/ |title=Armageddon 2004 official results |publisher=WWE |access-date=February 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323114147/http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2004/results/ |archive-date=March 23, 2008 }}</ref> In January 2005, Van Dam suffered a knee injury. To explain his absence, the [[Basham Brothers]] ([[Doug Basham|Doug]] and [[Daniel Hollie|Danny]]) defeated Mysterio and Van Dam for the WWE Tag Team Championship, in a Fatal Four-Way elimination tag team match on the January 13 episode of ''SmackDown!'', "injuring" Van Dam in the process.<ref name="rvdsd05">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#05|title=RVD's SmackDown! Career (2005)|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=February 18, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050113.html|title=SmackDown! results - January 13, 2005|date=January 13, 2005|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster|access-date=February 18, 2008}}</ref> On January 27, Van Dam underwent reconstructive knee surgery under Dr. James Andrews to repair a torn [[anterior cruciate ligament]] and [[Meniscus (anatomy)|meniscus]].<ref name="rvdoww"/><ref name="rvdsd05"/>
In November 2010 he was a contestant on an all TNA week of ''[[Family Feud]]'', teaming with [[Jay Lethal]], [[Matt Morgan (wrestler)|Matt Morgan]], Mick Foley and Mr. Anderson against [[Angelina Love]], [[Christy Hemme]], [[Lacey Von Erich]], [[Lisa Marie Varon|Tara]] and [[Velvet Sky]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1283806473|title=Air dates for TNA Wrestling stars on "Family Feud"|date=2010-09-06|last=Martin|first=Adam|accessdate=2010-11-03|work=WrestleView}}</ref>


==== WWE Champion and ECW Champion (2005–2006) ====
===Filmography===
[[File:Rob Van Dam RVD thumbs.jpg|thumb|Van Dam during his ring entrance at [[WrestleMania 23]]]]
*2010: ''[[Family Feud]]'' - as Himself (5 episodes)
*2010: ''[[Wrong Side of Town]]'' - as Bobby Kalinowsky
*2009: ''[[Bloodstained Memoirs]]'' - as Himself
*2009: ''Sketch Of Life'' - as Himself
*2008: ''[[Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling]]'' - as Himself (1 episode, Train with Pro's)
*2005: ''One Of A Kind'' - as Himself
*2002: ''The Backyard'' - as Himself (cameo)
*2002: ''[[Black Mask 2|Black Mask 2: City Of Masks]]'' - as The Claw
*2001: ''[[Ultimate Revenge]]'' - as Himself (2 episodes)
*2001: ''[[Spy TV]]'' - as Various (1 episode)
*2000: ''[[V.I.P. (TV series)|V.I.P]]'' - as Mjr Talbot (1 episode, Survival)
*2000: ''[[The X-Files]]'' - as Burts opponent (1 episode, Fight Club)
*2000: ''18 Wheels Of Justice'' - as Robert Laramie (1 episode, Outside Chance)
*1999: ''[[City Guys]]'' - as Himself (1 episode, El Trainmania IV)
*1997: ''Blood Moon'' - as Dutch
*1995: ''Superfights'' - as a Mercenary


While recuperating, Van Dam made an appearance at the ECW reunion pay-per-view [[ECW One Night Stand (2005)|ECW One Night Stand]] on June 12. Accompanied by his former manager Bill Alfonso and sporting a knee brace, Van Dam delivered a [[Shoot (professional wrestling)#Worked shoots|worked shoot]] [[List of professional wrestling terms#P|promo]], standing up for ECW and criticizing the way he had been [[List of professional wrestling terms#B|booked]] in WWE, until he was attacked by [[Terry Gerin|Rhyno]]. He was saved by Sabu, who defeated Rhyno in an impromptu match. Despite his injury, Van Dam got physically involved in the match, hitting Rhyno with a chairshot and giving him a [[#In wrestling|Chair Surf]].<ref name="raw05">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#raw3|title=RVD's Raw Career (2005)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster|access-date=February 18, 2008}}</ref> On the June 27 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam, while still healing, was drafted to the Raw brand in the [[2005 WWE draft lottery|2005 draft lottery]]. He was introduced to ''Raw'' by [[Carly Colón|Carlito]], who insulted Van Dam before attacking him and assaulting his knee. Van Dam made his return to the ring over seven months later at the [[Royal Rumble (2006)|Royal Rumble]] on January 29, 2006. He gained revenge on Carlito by eliminating him, but was in turn inadvertently eliminated by Rey Mysterio in the final moments. On the February 6 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam defeated Carlito in the first round of the Road to WrestleMania Tournament to determine the number one contender to the WWE Championship, but lost in the final round to Triple H, in a triple threat match, which also featured Big Show. Later, Van Dam defeated [[Trevor Murdoch]] to qualify for the [[Money in the Bank ladder match]] at [[WrestleMania 22]] on April 2. Van Dam went on to win the match, thus earning himself a guaranteed shot at either the WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship at any time within the subsequent year.<ref name= MitB>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wrestlemania22/matches/2220322/results/|date=February 4, 2006|title=RVD wins the "Money in the Bank" Ladder Match|publisher=WWE}}</ref>
===RVD–TV===
Van Dam officially announced on his website's blog that he is in the process of creating an online show entitled ''RVD-TV''. On this show, he will give his fans a glimpse at what his life is like outside of the wrestling business. A preview for this upcoming series can now be found on the homepage of his website. Some of Van Dam's friends will appear on the show, such as [[Samoa Joe]], [[Chris Mordetzky]] and [[Terry Brunk|Sabu]]. The show will be filmed at his home in California where he has been spending most of his time since temporarily retiring. Van Dam is expected to announce some of his other future projects through the show, such as his upcoming DVD.


Following the ladder match, [[Shelton Benjamin]] challenged Van Dam to put his Money in the Bank opportunity on the line in a match. Van Dam countered by requesting a match for Benjamin's Intercontinental Championship. One week later, both Van Dam and Benjamin picked mystery opponents for one another, with the loser placing their respective prize on the line in a bout at [[Backlash (2006)|Backlash]] on April 30. Benjamin lost to the returning [[Charlie Haas]], while Van Dam was defeated by all five members of the [[Spirit Squad]]. As a result, both the Intercontinental Championship and the Money in the Bank title shot were contested at Backlash. Van Dam went on to win the former, before dropping the Intercontinental Championship back to Benjamin on the May 15 episode of ''Raw''.
===RVD Radio===
Van Dam started up RVD Radio on October 8, 2008 with the help of Brett Cohen, a producer for [[BlogTalkRadio]]. The first episode was an hour long but now it's a two hour weekly radio show at www.blogtalkradio.com/rvdradio. Guests include Sonya Van Dam, [[Terry Brunk|Sabu]], Dr.[[Shawn Stasiak]], [[Bret Hart]], Chris Masters, BTR Producer Nikki Starr, [[Bill Alfonso]], Officer X, [[Kid Kash]], Bruce Jingles, [[Justin McCully]], [[Paul London]] and [[Hulk Hogan]].


[[File:RobVD5.jpg|thumb|left|Van Dam facing Hardcore Holly in the [[Elimination Chamber#Variations|Extreme Elimination Chamber]] at [[December to Dismember (2006)|December to Dismember]]]]
==Personal life==
On May 29, Van Dam was selected by Paul Heyman to be [[2006 WWE brand extension draft|drafted]] to WWE's new [[ECW (WWE brand)|ECW]] brand. At [[ECW One Night Stand (2006)|ECW One Night Stand]] on June 11, Van Dam cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated John Cena to win the WWE Championship. After two referees were knocked out, [[Adam Copeland|Edge]] appeared from underneath the ring to attack Cena, [[Professional wrestling attacks#Spear|spearing]] him through a table. Van Dam then hit a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Frog splash|Five Star Frog Splash]] and the pinfall was counted by Paul Heyman, who suddenly ran down the aisle. On the following episode of ''Raw'', [[Vince McMahon]] confirmed that the title change was official due to the match being held under "extreme rules". For the past few weeks, Heyman had hinted that the WWE Championship would be "rechristened" the ECW World Heavyweight Championship when Van Dam won. On the debut of ''[[WWE ECW|ECW]]'', Van Dam was awarded the reinstated [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] by Heyman and decided to defend the WWE Championship separately and simultaneously, joking that "this one spins", becoming the first wrestler in history to hold both the WWE Championship and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship as well as the only one to hold them at the same time, making him a double world champion. He would become the 15th WWE [[Triple Crown (professional wrestling)#WWE|Triple Crown Champion]] as a result of his WWE Championship win.
Szatkowski is married to Sonya,<ref name=SLAM/> who is an aspiring make-up artist. During his wrestling career, Sonya often traveled on the road with Rob and appeared at ringside during events in which Rob took part. On April 23, 2008, Szatkowski revealed that his wife is suffering from [[Colorectal cancer|colon cancer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingnewsworld.com/wwe-news/rob-van-dam-announces-his-wife-has-cancer.php|title=Rob Van Dam Announces His Wife Has Cancer|date=2008-04-23|last=Gray|first=Richard|accessdate=2008-04-23|publisher=WrestlingNewsWorld}}</ref>


At [[Vengeance (2006)|Vengeance]] on June 25, Van Dam defeated Edge to retain the WWE Championship. Two nights later on ''ECW'', Van Dam defeated Kurt Angle to retain the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ecw-wwe/060627.html|title=Online World of Wrestling|website=www.onlineworldofwrestling.com}}</ref> On the July 3 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam lost the WWE Championship to Edge in a triple threat match that also featured John Cena. The next night on the July 4 episode of ''ECW'', he lost the ECW World Heavyweight Championship to Big Show after Heyman [[List of professional wrestling terms#T|turned]] on him. Later on WWE.com, Heyman suspended Van Dam for 30 days without giving a reason ([[Legit (professional wrestling)|in reality]], WWE suspended Van Dam for 30 days as a result of [[#2006 arrest|his recent drug possession arrest]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/news/rvdsuspended|title=RVD Suspended|publisher=WWE|access-date=July 4, 2006}}</ref>
===Training===
Szatkowski is a trained [[Kickboxing|kickboxer]] and [[Martial arts|martial artist]]. In 1990, he placed second in the Kalamazoo Heavyweight Toughman Contest. Szatkowski is also an outspoken advocate of [[vitamin]]s and [[bodybuilding supplement]]s and attributes this to his mother's influence.<ref name=endorser>{{cite web|title=Rob Van Dam big on his bodybuilding supplements|publisher=Muscle And Sports Science| url=http://www.musclemass.com}}</ref> Szatkowski participated in [[Scholastic wrestling|amateur wrestling]] while in high school. He is the inventor of the ''Van Dam Lift'', a [[Powerlifting|weightlifting]] technique that involves performing a split (which he took up in his early teens) between two benches and lifting a [[dumbbell]] from the floor to the waist. The lift was approved by the International All-Around Weightlifting Association in 1998, and Szatkowski holds the current record, 166.5&nbsp;lb (76&nbsp;kg). Growing up in [[Battle Creek, Michigan]], Szatkowski studied martial arts at two local dojos. He received instruction in [[Karate]], [[Tae Kwon Do]], [[Aikido]], [[Kendo]], and [[Kickboxing]].


He returned to television on the August 8 episode of ''ECW'', attacking both Sabu and [[Kurt Angle]] during a match. His return to the ring came a week later, in a losing effort to Sabu in a [[ladder match]] for number one contendership to the now renamed ECW World Championship. Van Dam slowly worked his way back into the championship picture. In October, Van Dam defeated Big Show in a non-title match to regain the number one contendership. Having the option to pick a date for the title, Van Dam announced the title match would occur at [[December to Dismember (2006)|December to Dismember]] on December 3. However, Heyman had the option of picking the match type and announced that the main event would be a six-man [[Elimination Chamber#Variations|Extreme Elimination Chamber]] match. At December to Dismember, Van Dam was the third participant eliminated. Later in December, Van Dam once again earned the number one contendership to the ECW World Championship, but this time by a fan poll. Van Dam got three matches against ECW World Champion [[Bobby Lashley]], coming up short each time.
Szatkowski was featured in an article in the March 1999 issue of ''[[High Times]]''. His signature symbol is the [[Yin and yang|Taijitu]] which is commonly associated with [[Taoism]] ; in an interview for WWE's "Invasion" DVD, he said he uses this symbol because it represents "the use of good or evil."


==== The ECW Originals (2006–2007) ====
===2006 arrest===
{{Main|ECW Originals}}
On July 3, 2006, ''The Ironton Tribune'' reported that Szatkowski and [[Terry Brunk]] (one of his colleagues known as Sabu) had been arrested on the previous evening on [[U.S. Route 52]] in [[Hanging Rock, Ohio]]. Szatkowski had been stopped for speeding by an [[Ohio State Highway Patrol]] trooper, who discovered that he was in possession of 18&nbsp;grams of [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]] and five [[Vicodin]] pills, while Brunk was in possession of [[drug paraphernalia]] and nine tablets of [[Testolactone]].<ref name="Almanac">{{cite news|first=Hicks|last=Brady|title=2006: The year in wrestling|work=PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts|publisher=Kappa Publications|id=2007 Edition|page=23|accessdate=2007-07-11}}</ref> Both Szatkowski and Brunk were released after posting [[bail]], and were scheduled to appear in [[Ironton, Ohio|Ironton]] Municipal Court on July 6, 2006.<ref name=arrest>{{cite web|title=Wrestling stars busted in Hanging Rock|publisher=The Ironton Tribune|url=http://www.irontontribune.com/news/2006/jul/03/wrestling-stars-busted-in-hanging-rock/|accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> On July 6, 2006, ''The Ironton Tribune'' reported that the court date for Szatkowski and Brunk was in limbo, as their attorneys had asked for and were granted continuances.<ref name=arrest2>{{cite web|url=http://www.irontontribune.com/news/2006/jul/14/wrestlers8217-court-date-canceled/|title=Wrestlers’ court date canceled|publisher=The Ironton Tribune|accessdate=2006-07-06}}</ref>
[[File:ECW originals313.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|[[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]], [[Tommy Dreamer]], Van Dam and [[The Sandman (wrestler)|The Sandman]] ([[ECW Originals]]) performing their signature poses]]


Rob Van Dam later joined the [[ECW Originals]] along with Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, and [[The Sandman (wrestler)|The Sandman]]. The ECW Originals began a feud with the [[New Breed (ECW)|New Breed]] ([[Elijah Burke]], [[Kevin Thorn]], [[Monty Brown|Marcus Cor Von]], and [[Matthew Kaye|Matt Striker]]). The two teams faced off at [[WrestleMania 23]] on April 1, 2007 in a match which the ECW Originals won. After Vince McMahon won the ECW World Championship at [[Backlash (2007)|Backlash]] on April 29, Van Dam and the other ECW Originals made statements on WWE.com about McMahon killing ECW. On the May 1 episode of ''ECW'', the ECW Originals all competed in a fatal four-way match to decide who would take on McMahon the next week in a title match, which Van Dam won after a five-star frog splash on Sandman. Van Dam, however, had to face McMahon, [[Shane McMahon]], and [[Eddie Fatu|Umaga]] in a 3-on-1 handicap match, which Van Dam was unable to win.
According to the [[World Wrestling Entertainment#Wellness Program|WWE's wellness policy]], a drug-related arrest can lead to that talent's immediate dismissal from the company. WWE Vice President of Talent Relations [[John Laurinaitis]] released a statement on WWE.com reporting that Szatkowski and Brunk were still eligible to compete on the ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' and ''[[ECW on Sci Fi|ECW]]'' tapings in the following days while an investigation conducted by WWE was being undertaken. This resulted in Szatkowski dropping the WWE Championship at the live ''Raw'' one night and the ECW Championship the next night at the ''ECW'' taping. Van Dam was subsequently suspended without pay for 30 days, and an on-air segment on ''ECW'' was scripted to relay this suspension to the fans.<ref name="Almanac"/><ref name=rvdsabucharges>{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/rvdsabucharges|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061127051453/http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/rvdsabucharges|archivedate=2006-11-27|title=WWE investigating Rob Van Dam and Sabu charges|publisher=WWE|accessdate= 2006-07-03}}</ref> On August 31, 2006, Szatkowski and Brunk appeared in court. Szatkowski pled guilty to possessing marijuana and was fined [[United States dollar|$]]140, while Brunk was fined $1,000.<ref name=rvdcourt>{{cite web|url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2006_/articles/1157080377.php|title=WWE Superstar's Rob Van Dam & Sabu In Court|publisher=Lordsofpain.net|accessdate= 2006-09-01 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070221111602/http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2006_/articles/1157080377.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-02-21}}</ref>


Van Dam received a concussion during a match with [[Randy Orton]] on the May 28 episode of ''Raw''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/articles/3960574/rvdupdate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070531083102/http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/articles/3960574/rvdupdate|archive-date=May 31, 2007|title=RVD injury update}}</ref> Orton further attacked Van Dam after the match due to the comments Van Dam made on WWE.com about the lack of respect Orton displayed towards [[Shawn Michaels]], who also suffered a concussion at the hands of Orton. Van Dam once again faced Orton at [[One Night Stand (2007)|One Night Stand]] on June 3, this time in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Container-based variations|Stretcher match]]. Although it looked as if Orton was going to win again, Van Dam gave him a [[roundhouse kick]] to the head and was able to push the stretcher across the line for the win. Despite winning the match, Orton continued to attack Van Dam, ending with an [[DDT (professional wrestling)#Elevated DDT|elevated DDT]] off the barricade and onto the concrete floor, in which Van Dam was carried out on a stretcher. After the match, Van Dam left WWE due to being burnt out and needing time away.
==In wrestling==
{{Image stack
|align=right
|image_size=225
|image1=Rob Van Damn with a 5-Star Frog Splash.jpg
|image1_cap=Van Dam performing the ''Five-Star Frog Splash'' in 1999
|image2=RollingThunder.jpg
|image2_cap=Rob Van Dam performing his signature ''[[Professional wrestling attacks#Rolling Thunder|Rolling Thunder]]'' on [[Monty Brown|Marcus Cor Von]].
}}
*'''Finishing moves'''
<!--Do NOT change the order of the moves, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style-->
**''Five-Star Frog Splash'' ([[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Frog splash|High-angle frog splash]], sometimes while turning in mid-air)<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=866&gimmick=Rob+Van+Dam|title=Cagematch profile}}</ref>
**''Van Daminator''<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/> ([[Professional wrestling attacks#Spinning heel kick|Spinning wheel kick]] to a steel chair held in front of the opponent's face)
**''Van Terminator''<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/> ([[Dropkick#Corner-to-corner missile dropkick|Corner-to-corner missile dropkick]], usually with a chair positioned on the opponent's face)


=== Return to the independent circuit (2007–2010) ===
*'''Signature moves'''
The day after Van Dam's WWE contract expired, he was in the United Kingdom on a promotional tour and to record scenes for the wrestling documentary, ''[[Bloodstained Memoirs]]''. He also took part in interviews for the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestling.com/article/news/8474 |title=prowrestling.com |author=pw |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327214246/http://www.prowrestling.com/article/news/8474 |archive-date=March 27, 2009 }}</ref>
<!--Do NOT change the order of the moves, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style-->
**[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#450° splash|450° splash]] – [[All Japan Pro Wrestling|AJPW]]
**[[Suplex#Northern Lights suplex|Bridging northern lights suplex]]
**[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Splash|Diving splash]]
**[[Professional wrestling throws#Monkey flip|Monkey flip]] to a standing or cornered opponent<ref name="OWOW"/>
**Multiple [[Professional wrestling attacks#Kick|kick]] variations
***''Chair Surf'' / ''Skateboard'' ([[Dropkick|Running dropkick]], driving a steel chair into the face of a seated opponent in the corner of the ring)
***[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Flying thrust kick|Diving super]]<ref name="OWOW"/>
***[[Roundhouse kick|Roundhouse]]
***[[Professional wrestling attacks#Spin kick|Spinning crescent]]<ref name="OWOW"/>
***[[Professional wrestling attacks#Spinning heel kick|Step-over spinning wheel]], as a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Kick|kick]] counter<ref name="OWOW"/>
**Multiple [[leg drop]] variations
***[[Leg drop#Discus leg drop|Corkscrew]]<ref name="OWOW"/>
***[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving leg drop|Diving]]
***[[Leg drop#Slingshot leg drop|Slingshot]]
**[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Plancha|Plancha]]<ref name="OWOW"/>
**[[Professional wrestling attacks#Rolling Thunder|Rolling Thunder]] transitioned into either a [[Professional wrestling throws#Monkey flip|monkey flip]], a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Rolling Thunder|somersault senton]] or a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Big splash|vertical splash]]<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/>
**[[Moonsault#Standing moonsault|Standing moonsault]],<ref name="OWOW"/> sometimes preceded by a [[Cartwheel (gymnastics)|cartwheel]]<ref name="OWOW"/>
**[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Springboard|Springboard]] into a either a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Flying clothesline|clothesline]], a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Leg lariat|leg lariat]] or a [[Moonsault#Springboard moonsault|moonsault]]
**[[Professional wrestling attacks#Turnbuckle thrust|Two turnbuckle thrusts]] followed by a back handspring and finished either with a [[Professional wrestling throws#Monkey flip|monkey flip]] or a final running [[Professional wrestling attacks#Turnbuckle thrust|turnbuckle thrust]]


Van Dam defeated [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]] at Pro Wrestling Alliance Christmas Chaos on December 28, 2007, in Pasadena, Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=866&page=4&year=2007&promotion=304|title=Rob Van Dam - Matches |website=CageMatch}}</ref>
*'''[[Manager (professional wrestling)|Managers]]'''
**[[Bill Alfonso]]
**[[Paul Heyman]]
**[[Jerry Lawler]]
**[[Stephanie McMahon|Stephanie McMahon–Helmsley]]


[[File:Rob Van Dam AWR 2009.JPG|upright|thumb|right|Van Dam as No Limits Wrestling (NLW) Champion at ''American Wrestling Rampage'']]
*'''[[Nickname]]s'''
In an interview with the ''Baltimore Sun'', Van Dam stated that while WWE would be the first choice and that he would definitely talk to them, he would definitely consider [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) if he returned full-time to pro wrestling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnawrestlingnews.com/headlines/203136810.shtml |title=TNA News: RVD On TNA: 'I Definitely Would Consider Them', More|publisher=TNAWrestlingNews|date=January 23, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127100933/http://www.tnawrestlingnews.com/headlines/203136810.shtml|archive-date=January 27, 2008}}</ref> While not under contract, Van Dam made an unannounced return on WWE's ''[[WWE Raw#Special episodes|15th Anniversary Raw]]'' in December 2007, [[List of professional wrestling terms#squash|squashing]] [[Santino Marella]] with a Five-Star Frog Splash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12102007/|title=Rhodes and Holly golden on Raw's 15th Anniversary|date=December 10, 2007|last=Clayton|first=Corey|access-date=January 9, 2008|publisher=WWE}}</ref> He made a similarly unannounced appearance as a participant in the [[Royal Rumble (2009)|2009 Royal Rumble]], which he failed to win as he was eliminated by [[Chris Jericho]].<ref>{{cite web|title=2009 Royal Rumble Statistics and Eliminations|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/2009/participants09/|date=January 25, 2009|access-date=January 19, 2011|publisher=WWE}}</ref>
**"Mr. Monday Night" (In [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]], on [[WWE Raw|WWE Monday Night Raw]], and on [[TNA Impact!]] on Monday nights)<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Slam20100513>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/05/13/13930376.html|accessdate=2010-05-17|title=World champ RVD's goal is to help TNA|date=2010-05-13|last=Bishop|first=Matt|publisher=Slam! Sports}}</ref>
**"'''Mr. TNA'''" (In [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9
/article_41298.shtml|accessdate=2010-05-17|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 5/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast (updated with commentary)|date=2010-05-13|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
**"Mr. Tuesday Night" (In [[ECW (WWE)|ECW]])
**'''"Mr. Thursday Night"''' (In [[WWE SmackDown|WWE Thursday Night Smackdown]], and on [[TNA Impact!]] on Thursday nights)<ref name=Slam20100513/>
**"Mr. Pay-Per-View" (In [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]])<ref name="OWOW"/>
**"Mr. [[Money in the Bank ladder match|Money in the Bank]]"<ref name="OWOW"/>
**"The Battle Creek Barbarian"<ref name="OWOW"/>
**'''"RVD'''"<ref name="OWOW"/>
**"The Whole Dam Show"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/messages1/2148.shtml|accessdate=2010-05-17|title=WWE wrestlers react to Bischoff debut + RVD interview|date=2002-07-16|last=Williams|first=Scott|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref>
**'''"The Whole Fuckin'/F'n Show"'''<ref name="OWOW"/><ref name=Cage/><ref name="ecw98"/><ref name=Slam20100513/>


He returned to the [[independent circuit]] by competing for Associação Portuguesa de Wrestling (APW) in February 2008. He then also appeared for Nu-Wrestling Evolution (NWE) throughout countries such as [[Spain]]. On August 14, 2008, he won a triple threat match at the [[Inoki Genome Federation]] (IGF) in [[Japan]] after defeating [[Kendo Kashin]] and [[Necro Butcher]].<ref name="OWOW">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rob-van-dam.html| title=OWOW profile|access-date=April 28, 2008|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref>
*'''[[Music in professional wrestling|Entrance themes]]'''
<!--Do NOT change or delete his list of themes, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style-->
**"Poundcake" by [[Van Halen]] (ECW; 1996–1997)
**"Wail" by [[John Spencer Blues Explosion]] (ECW; 1997)
**"ECW Main Theme" by [[Harry Slash and The Slashtones]] (WWF; 1997)
**"[[Walk (song)|Walk]]" by [[Pantera]] (ECW; 1997–2001)<ref name=Music>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/information/music/enter/|accessdate=2009-12-28|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|title=Wrestler Entrance Music}}</ref>
**"[[Walk (song)|Walk]]" by [[Kilgore (Smudge)|Kilgore]] (ECW; 1998–2001)
**"Van Daminator" by [[Jim Johnston (composer)|Jim Johnston]] (WWF; 2001)
**"[[Coming of Age (Breaking Point album)#Track listing|One of a Kind]]" by [[Breaking Point (band)|Breaking Point]] (WWF/E; 2001–2007; 2009)<ref name=Music/>
**"'''The Whole F****n' Show!'''" by Kushinator (IGF, AWR, WSW, TNA; 2008–present)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://itunes.apple.com/fi/album/the-whole-f-n-show/id362944085?i=362944108&ign-mpt=uo%3D4|accessdate=2010-04-30|title=Kushinator on iTunes|publisher=iTunes}}</ref>


On March 9, 2009, it was announced that Van Dam would be competing in American Wrestling Rampage (AWR) on their European Tour, during which he won the promotion's No Limits Wrestling (NLW) Championship in a three way bout versus Sabu and former champion Shawn Maxer.<ref name="wrestlezone.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/article/rob-van-dam-wins-a-world-title-in-paris-france-60083|title=Rob Van Dam Wins A World Title In Paris, France|date=March 20, 2009|author=Wz Bill Behrens|access-date=March 20, 2009|archive-date=March 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322023032/http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/article/rob-van-dam-wins-a-world-title-in-paris-france-60083|url-status=dead}}</ref> He lost the title to [[René Goguen|René Duprée]] after three successful defenses. In November he regained the title, renamed the AWR World Heavyweight Championship at this point, from Duprée on November 29 winning two decisions in a Two Out of Three Falls match. On September 11, 2009, in the World Stars of Wrestling (WSW) European Championship events in [[Portimão|Portimão, Portugal]], Van Dam won the WSW World Championship, by defeating [[Joe Hitchen|Joe E. Legend]]. On the following night he defended his newly won title against [[Lance Cade]].
==Championships and accomplishments==
{{Image stack
|align=right
|image_size=180
|image1=Rob Van Dam AWR 2009.JPG
|image1_cap=Van Dam as No Limits Wrestling (NLW) Champion at ''American Wrestling Rampage''.
|image2=RobVanDam WWE-ECWChamp@commons.png
|image2_cap=Van Dam as both [[WWE Championship|WWE Champion]] and [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|ECW World Heavyweight Champion]].
}}
*'''All Star Wrestling'''
**ASW North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name=SLAM>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/vandam.html|accessdate=2008-06-24|title=Rob Van Dam Bio|publisher=SLAM! Sports}}</ref>


On January 30, 2010, Van Dam made his debut for [[Pro Wrestling Guerrilla]] (PWG) as part of [[WrestleReunion#WrestleReunion 4|WrestleReunion 4]], defeating [[Chris Hero]] and [[Roderick Strong]] in a "Sky High" three-way match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwinsider.com/article/44720/pro-wrestling-guerrilla-kurt-russellmania-in-los-angeles-ca-live-report.html?p=1|title=PWG Kurt Russellmania in Los Angeles Live Report: RVD, London, Kendrick, Hero, Liger, Muta, Strong and much more|date=January 30, 2010|last=Johnson|first=Mike|access-date=January 31, 2010|publisher=PWInsider}}</ref>
*'''American Wrestling Rampage'''
**AWR Heavyweight Championship (2 times)<ref name="wrestlezone.com"/><ref name="awrbelt">{{cite web|url=http://www.awrwrestling.com/interviews_articles.htm|title=Random Rampage Thoughts # 5 : The Story Behind the New AWR Championship Belt!|last=Coleman|first=Jamie|publisher=American Wrestling Rampage|accessdate=2009-09-03}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


=== Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2010-2013)===
*'''[[Extreme Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[ECW World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of ECW World Tag Team Champions|2 times]]) – with [[Terry Brunk|Sabu]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtaghistory/|title=ECW World Tag Team Championship history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[ECW World Television Championship]] ([[List of ECW World Television Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtvtitlehistory/|title=ECW World Television Championship history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>


==== TNA World Heavyweight Champion and EV 2.0 (2010–2011) ====
*'''International Wrestling Federation'''
**IWF Television Championship (1 time)<ref name=SLAM/>


On March 8, 2010, Van Dam made his debut for [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) at the promotion's [[TNA Impact!'s move to Monday nights|Monday night episode]] of ''[[Impact! (TV series)|Impact!]]'', defeating [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]]. Then just seconds after his debut victory Sting attacked him and later [[Hulk Hogan]] with his signature baseball bat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_39660.shtml|title=TNA Impact Results 3/8: Keller's live ongoing report covering the historic beginning of Monday Night War II|last=Keller|first=Wade|author-link=Wade Keller|date=March 8, 2010|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=March 9, 2010}}</ref> Van Dam got his revenge on Sting the following week by attacking him during his entrance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_39854.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact Report 3/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV show - A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Hardy|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=March 15, 2010|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=March 24, 2010}}</ref> Van Dam teamed with [[Jeff Hardy]] in a tag team match, where they defeated [[Beer Money, Inc.]] ([[Bobby Roode|Robert Roode]] and [[James Storm]]) on the March 22 episode of ''Impact!''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_40040.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact Report 3/22: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|date=October 22, 2009|access-date=October 24, 2009|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The following week the two of them teamed with [[Eric Young (wrestler)|Eric Young]] and defeated [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|The Band]] ([[Kevin Nash]], [[Scott Hall (wrestler)|Scott Hall]] and [[Sean Waltman|Syxx-Pac]]) in a six-man tag team steel cage match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1269919705|title=Impact Results - 3/29/10|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=March 29, 2010|publisher=WrestleView|access-date=March 30, 2010}}</ref> At [[Lockdown (2010)|Lockdown]] on April 18, both Van Dam and Hardy became members of Team Hogan (joining [[Abyss (wrestler)|Abyss]] and [[Jeff Jarrett]]) for the annual [[Lethal Lockdown match]], where they defeated Team Flair (Sting, [[Nigel McGuinness|Desmond Wolfe]], Robert Roode and James Storm).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/PPV_Reports_5/article_40725.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Lockdown Results 4/18: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of PPV - Styles vs. The Pope, Team Hogan vs. Team Flair, Angle vs. Anderson|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=April 18, 2010|access-date=April 18, 2010|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>
*'''National Wrestling Council'''
**NWC Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bobby Bradley<ref name=SLAM/>


The night after Lockdown he first defeated Jeff Hardy in a number one contender's match and then, in the main event of the evening, [[A.J. Styles]] to become the new [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship|TNA World Heavyweight Champion]].<ref name=Impact04192010>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_40756.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact Report 4/19: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast--Whole F'n New Champion|first=Daniel|last=Wilkenfeld|date=April 19, 2010|access-date=April 20, 2010|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> After succeeding in his first televised title defense against Desmond Wolfe, Styles attacked Van Dam, announcing the invocation of the rematch clause for [[Sacrifice (2010)|Sacrifice]] on May 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_41070.shtml|title=TNA Impact Results 5/3: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show from Orlando|first=Wade|last=Keller|author-link=Wade Keller|date=May 3, 2010|access-date=May 8, 2010|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At Sacrifice Van Dam defeated Styles in a rematch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_41360.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Sacrifice results 5/16: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of PPV - RVD vs. Styles, Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson|date=May 16, 2010|access-date=May 16, 2010|last=Caldwell|first=James|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The following month at [[Slammiversary VIII]] on June 13 Van Dam retained his title against Sting in a rematch of his TNA debut.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_41923.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Slammiversary results 6/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - RVD vs. Sting, Hardy & Anderson, "nice surprise"|date=June 13, 2010|access-date=June 13, 2010|last=Caldwell|first=James|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Van Dam defeated Abyss, Jeff Hardy and [[Mr. Kennedy|Mr. Anderson]] in a four-way match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at [[Victory Road (2010)|Victory Road]] on July 11.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_42443.shtml|title=TNA Victory Road results 7/11: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" coveage of live PPV event|date=July 11, 2010|access-date=July 11, 2010|last=Keller|first=Wade|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the following episode of ''Impact!'' Van Dam aligned himself with fellow ECW alumni Tommy Dreamer, [[Raven (wrestler)|Raven]], [[Stevie Richards]], [[Terry Gerin|Rhino]], [[Devon Hughes|Brother Devon]], [[Pat Kenney]], [[Al Snow]] and [[Mick Foley]], who saved him from a beating at the hands of Abyss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_42456.shtml|title=TNA News: TNA Impact TV taping "virtual-time coverage" for Thursday's episode|date=July 12, 2010|access-date=July 13, 2010|last=Caldwell|first=James|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1279001038 |title=Spoilers: TNA Impact for this Thursday |date=July 13, 2010 |access-date=July 13, 2010 |last=Martin |first=Adam |publisher=WrestleView |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428050636/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1279001038 |archive-date=April 28, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1279252015 |title=Impact Results - 7/15/10 |date=July 15, 2010 |last=Martin |first=Adam |work=WrestleView |access-date=July 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719090613/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1279252015 |archive-date=July 19, 2010 }}</ref>
*'''Peach State Wrestling'''
**PSW Cordele City Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name=SLAM/>


The following week, TNA president [[Dixie Carter (wrestling)|Dixie Carter]] agreed to give the ECW alumni their own reunion pay–per–view event, [[Hardcore Justice (2010)|Hardcore Justice]] on August 8.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_42665.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 7/22: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|date=July 22, 2010|access-date=August 5, 2010|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At Hardcore Justice, Van Dam defeated former tag team partner and rival Sabu in a non-title Hardcore Rules match, after his originally planned match with Jerry Lynn was scrapped due to Lynn suffering a back injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_42979.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Hardcore Justice PPV results 8/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of ECW-themed PPV headlined by RVD vs. Sabu|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=August 8, 2010|access-date=August 8, 2010|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> After successfully defending the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Abyss in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Weapon-based variations|Stairway to Janice match]] on the following special edition of ''Impact!'', named ''[[The Whole F'n Show]]'', Van Dam and the other former ECW wrestlers were assaulted by Abyss and {{Not a typo|[[Fortune (professional wrestling)|Fourtune]]}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_43008.shtml|title=TNA News: Spoilers - detailed Impact TV taping report for "Whole F'n Show" featuring new angle, MOTY candidate?, three title matches|first=Kevin|last=Tomich|date=August 9, 2010|access-date=August 10, 2010|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/08/12/15010951.html|title=TNA's 'The Whole F'n Show': Beer Money, Machine Guns put on match of year candidate; Fortune makes statement|first=Matt|last=Bishop|date=August 12, 2010|access-date=August 13, 2010|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|archive-date=June 29, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629172343/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/08/12/15010951.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In the attack Van Dam suffered multiple serious [[Kayfabe|storyline]] injuries at the hands of Abyss including the need for stitches, spinal trauma and possible acute brain damage, which would force him to vacate the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on August 10 at the taping of the August 19 episode of ''Impact!''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/17074/|title=TNA title vacated - spoiler|date=August 10, 2010|access-date=August 10, 2010|work=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_43030.shtml|title=TNA News: Spoilers - big news & notes from today's Impact TV taping for Aug. 19 episode, management's reaction to EV2.0 angle|date=August 10, 2010|last=Caldwell|first=James|access-date=August 11, 2010|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_43238.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 8/19: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|first=Daniel|last=Wilkenfeld|date=August 19, 2010|access-date=August 19, 2010|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> In reality, Van Dam was running out of dates per year on his contract and was therefore taken off television.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1282779729|title=Update on RVD's contractual status with TNA|last=Gerweck|first=Steve|date=August 25, 2010|access-date=August 26, 2010|work=WrestleView|archive-date=August 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805171859/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1282779729|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*'''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''
**[[PWI Comeback of the Year]] (2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwicome.htm|accessdate=2008-06-24|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Comeback of the Year|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref>
**[[PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year]] (2001, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimpoty.htm|accessdate=2008-06-24|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Most Popular Wrestler of the Year|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref>
**PWI ranked him '''#1''' of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|PWI 500]] in 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50002.htm|accessdate=2008-09-11|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2002|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref>


[[File:Matt Hardy v RVD.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.13|Van Dam (left) taking on [[Matt Hardy]] in 2011]]
*'''Pro Wrestling Report'''
Van Dam returned via telephone interview on the September 16 episode of ''Impact!'' and announced that he would return to the Impact! Zone the following week, against his doctor's orders.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_43829.shtml|title=Keller's TNA Impact report 9/16: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV show with Jeff Hardy vs. Kurt Angle|last=Keller|first=Wade|date=September 16, 2010|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=September 17, 2010}}</ref> Van Dam returned the following week, confronting Abyss and demanding a match against him at [[Bound for Glory (2010)|Bound for Glory]] on October 10, which Eric Bischoff agreed to give him.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_44002.shtml|title=Keller's TNA Impact report 9/23: Ongoing coverage of Spike TV cablecast including Bound for Glory hype|last=Keller|first=Wade|date=September 23, 2010|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=September 24, 2010}}</ref> At Bound for Glory Van Dam defeated Abyss in a [[Monster's Ball match]]. At the end of Bound for Glory it was revealed that [[Hulk Hogan]] and Eric Bischoff had sent Abyss after Van Dam in order to get the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on their own representative, Jeff Hardy. Van Dam confronted the group, later named [[Immortal (professional wrestling)|Immortal]], after Hardy had won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, only to get hit with the title belt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_44417.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV results 10-10-10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Angle vs. Anderson vs. Hardy, "they" reveal|date=October 10, 2010|access-date=October 10, 2010|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the October 21 episode of ''Impact!'' Bischoff claimed that someone from EV 2.0 had been calling him, trying to get to be a part of Immortal, which led to Van Dam getting paranoid about his stablemates, first accusing Raven of being the traitor. Later, he and Sabu were defeated in a tag team match by Beer Money, Inc., after Sabu accidentally hit him with a chair. After the match Van Dam and Sabu began shoving each other and had to be separated from each other by the rest of EV 2.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_44696.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 10/21: Complete "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV's live broadcast|date=October 21, 2010|access-date=October 22, 2010|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> After two more weeks of dissension between Van Dam and the rest of EV 2.0, Tommy Dreamer challenged him to a match at [[Turning Point (2010 wrestling)|Turning Point]] on November 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_44882.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 10/28: Complete "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV's live broadcast|date=October 28, 2010|access-date=November 4, 2010|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_45047.shtml|title=Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 11/4: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast|date=November 4, 2010|access-date=November 4, 2010|last=Wilkenfeld|first=Daniel|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At Turning Point Van Dam defeated Dreamer and afterwards made peace with him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_45110.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Turning Point PPV results 11/7: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Hardy vs. Morgan, EV2 vs. Fortune, Team 3D "retirement" match|date=November 7, 2010|access-date=November 7, 2010|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the following episode of ''Impact!'' Rhino turned heel by attacking Van Dam and Dreamer, revealing himself as the traitor Van Dam had been looking for.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_45232.shtml|title=Keller's TNA Impact results 11/11: Styles vs. Stevie, Turning Point fallout, New TNA belt introduced by Hogan|date=November 11, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2010|last=Keller|first=Wade|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At [[Final Resolution (2010)|Final Resolution]] on December 5 Van Dam defeated Rhino in a [[Professional wrestling match types#First Blood match|First Blood match]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_45809.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Final Resolution PPV results 12/5: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Hardy vs. Morgan II, several title and stipulation matches|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=December 5, 2010|access-date=December 5, 2010|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>
**Match of the Year (2006) <small>vs. [[John Cena]] at [[ECW One Night Stand (2006)|ECW One Night Stand II]]</small>


==== Championship pursuits (2011–2012) ====
*'''South Atlantic Pro Wrestling'''
On January 4, 2011, Van Dam traveled to Japan with other TNA wrestlers to take part [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'s (NJPW) fifth annual ''[[January 4 Dome Show#Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome|Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome]]'', where he defeated [[Toru Yano]] in a hardcore match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=132|script-title=ja:レッスルキングダムV in 東京ドーム|work=[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]|access-date=January 4, 2011|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_46511.shtml|title=TNA News: Tokyo Dome Show results - Jeff Hardy defends TNA World Title, Beer Money challenges for IWGP Tag Titles, RVD vs. Yano|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=January 4, 2011|access-date=January 4, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At [[Genesis (2011)|Genesis]] on January 9, Van Dam was defeated by Immortal's surprise opponent, the debuting Matt Hardy, when referee [[Garett Bischoff|Jackson James]] missed Van Dam's foot under the ropes, thus failing to earn a shot at his brother Jeff's TNA World Heavyweight Championship. During the main event Van Dam prevented Matt from interfering in Jeff's match with Mr. Anderson, which led to Jeff losing the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_46645.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Genesis PPV results 1/9: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Morgan vs. Anderson #1 contender, four title matches, RVD mystery opponent|date=January 9, 2011|access-date=January 9, 2011|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The following month at [[Against All Odds (2011)|Against All Odds]] on February 13, Van Dam defeated Matt Hardy in a rematch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_47702.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Against All Odds PPV results 2/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Anderson vs. Hardy, Genesis re-matches, fluid X Division situation|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=February 13, 2011|access-date=February 13, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the following episode of ''Impact!'', Van Dam finally received his shot at Jeff Hardy and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, but was unable to regain the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_47818.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact report 2/17: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of Impact on Spike TV - Against All Odds fall-out, Flair's TV return, TNA World Title match|date=February 17, 2011|access-date=February 18, 2011|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On March 13 at [[Victory Road (2011)|Victory Road]], Van Dam wrestled Mr. Anderson to a double countout in a TNA World Heavyweight Championship number one contender's match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_48441.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Victory Road PPV results 3/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Sting vs. Hardy TNA Title match|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=March 13, 2011|access-date=March 13, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On April 17 at [[Lockdown (2011)|Lockdown]], Van Dam failed in his attempt to regain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Sting in a three–way steel cage match, which also included Anderson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_49368.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Lockdown PPV results 4/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live all-cage match PPV - Sting vs. Anderson vs. RVD, Angle vs. Jarrett|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=April 17, 2011|access-date=April 17, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The following month at [[Sacrifice (2011)|Sacrifice]] on May 15, Van Dam again failed to regain the title, this time in a singles match with Sting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_50080.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Sacrifice PPV results 5/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Sting vs. RVD, four title matches, Chyna PPV return|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=May 15, 2011|access-date=May 15, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>
**SAPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chaz Rocco<ref name=SLAM/>


Van Dam represented TNA at Mexican promotion [[Lucha Libre AAA World Wide|AAA]]'s [[Triplemanía XIX]] pay-per-view on June 18, 2011. In the main event of the show, Van Dam was defeated by [[Dr. Wagner, Jr.]] in a match to determine the first ever [[AAA Latin American Championship|AAA Latin American Champion]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/3-news/21056-full-aaa-triplemania-results-from-last-night-courtesy-kris-zellner | title= Full AAA TripleMania results from last night courtesy Kris Zellner | author=Zellner, Kris | date=June 19, 2011 | access-date= June 19, 2011 | work=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> At [[Destination X (2011)|Destination X]] on July 10, Van Dam defeated longtime rival Jerry Lynn in a singles match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_51335.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Destination X PPV results 7/10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Styles vs. Daniels, Ultimate X, RVD vs. Lynn|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=July 10, 2011|access-date=July 11, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On August 7 at [[Hardcore Justice (2011)|Hardcore Justice]], Van Dam, at the time ranked number two in the [[Bound for Glory Series#2011|Bound for Glory Series]], faced [[Tommy Mercer|Crimson]], ranked number one, in a tournament match. Van Dam lost the match via disqualification, when Jerry Lynn entered the ring, costing him not only the match, but also several places in the tournament's standings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_51958.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Hardcore Justice PPV results 8/7: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Sting vs. Angle, five title matches, BFG Series matches|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=August 7, 2011|access-date=August 7, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Lynn cost Van Dam another Bound for Glory Series match against A.J. Styles in similar fashion on the August 18 ''Impact Wrestling''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/08/18/18573331.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629070454/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/08/18/18573331.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 29, 2012|title=Impact: Flair finally returns to show|date=August 18, 2011|access-date=August 19, 2011|last=Bishop|first=Matt|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> Lynn turned on Van Dam on the September 1 ''Impact Wrestling'', costing him his match with [[Gunner (wrestler)|Gunner]] and, in the process, eliminating him from the finals of the Bound for Glory Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_52654.shtml|title=TNA News: Impact Wrestling spoilers 9/1 - Bax's in-person results for next Thursday's episode|date=August 27, 2011|access-date=September 2, 2011|last=Baxendell|first=Matt|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> The following week Lynn explained his turn by claiming that he was tired of being in Van Dam's shadow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_53099.shtml|title=Keller's TNA Impact report 9/8: Jeff Hardy returns, Anderson gets his title rematch against Angle, No Surrender final hype|last=Keller|first=Wade|author-link=Wade Keller|date=September 9, 2011|access-date=September 9, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Van Dam defeated Lynn in a [[Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match#Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|Full Metal Mayhem match]] at [[Bound for Glory (2011)|Bound for Glory]] on October 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_54312.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV results 10/16: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Angle-Roode, Hogan-Sting |date=October 16, 2011|access-date=October 16, 2011|last=Caldwell|first=James|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>
*'''[[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]]'''
**[[TNA World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of TNA World Heavyweight Champions|1 time]])<ref name=Impact04192010/>


On the October 27 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Van Dam defeated [[Christopher Daniels]] by disqualification after Daniels hit him with a toolbox.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/artman/publish/TNATVreports/article10021526.shtml|title=10/27 Kester's TNA Impact Wrestling Live Coverage Review: James Storms' first night as TNA Champion, number one contender's match for the TNA title, Jeff Hardy vs. Bully Ray, Christopher Daniels vs. Rob Van Dam, and more|website=prowrestling.net}}</ref> Two weeks later, Van Dam prevented Daniels from using a screwdriver to illegally defeat A.J. Styles in a singles match which would cost Daniels the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_55052.shtml|title=Keller's TNA Impact Wrestling report 11/10: Sting grants Storm a rematch against gloating heel Roode, plus Ronnie from Jersey Shore wrestles|last=Keller|first=Wade|author-link=Wade Keller|date=November 10, 2011|access-date=December 14, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At [[Turning Point (2011 wrestling)|Turning Point]] on November 13, Van Dam defeated Daniels in a No Disqualification match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_55119.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Turning Point PPV results 11/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Roode-Styles, five title matches|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=November 13, 2011|access-date=December 14, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> In retaliation, Daniels cost him his match for the [[TNA Television Championship]] against [[Rob Strauss|Robbie E]] on the December 1 episode of ''Impact Wrestling''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_55657.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact Wrestling report 12/1: Roode vs. Hardy vs. Styles main event, TV Title match, Consequences|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=December 1, 2011|access-date=December 14, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Van Dam defeated Daniels at [[Final Resolution (2011)|Final Resolution]] on December 11 again to end their feud.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_55904.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Final Resolution PPV results 12/11: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Roode-Styles, five title matches|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=December 11, 2011|access-date=December 11, 2011|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>
*'''World Stars of Wrestling'''
**WSW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time ,Current)


After wrestling to a double countout on the January 5, 2012, edition of ''Impact Wrestling'', Gunner made a failed attempt to piledrive Van Dam into the concrete floor after Van Dam back body dropped him onto it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_56657.shtml|title=McQuade's TNA Impact Wrestling report 1/5: Review of final Genesis PPV hype, six-man tag main event, tournament finals|last=McQuade|first=Jay|date=January 5, 2012|access-date=January 8, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On January 8 at [[Genesis (2012)|Genesis]], Van Dam was defeated by Gunner and was afterwards stretchered backstage, after taking a DDT onto the concrete floor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_56739.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Genesis PPV results 1/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Roode-Hardy, Angle-Storm|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=January 8, 2012|access-date=January 8, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> After a near three-month absence Van Dam resumed working live events in late March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/quicknews/article_59324.shtml|title=RVD returning to TNA on weekend tour|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=March 20, 2012|access-date=March 27, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_59433.shtml|title=TNA News: Weekend Tour preview - RVD returns, Storm & G. Bischoff main event, two title matches, Reports Wanted|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=March 23, 2012|access-date=March 27, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Van Dam returned to ''Impact Wrestling'' on April 12, being revealed as the fifth member of [[Garett Bischoff]]'s team at [[Lockdown (2012)|Lockdown]] on April 15.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_60330.shtml|title=Turner's TNA Impact Wrestling results 4/12: Storm-Roode confrontation, ODB & Eric Young married in steel cage, final Lockdown hype|last=Turner|first=Scott|date=April 13, 2012|access-date=April 15, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At Lockdown, Team Garett defeated a team led by Eric Bischoff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_60411.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Lockdown PPV results 4/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Roode-Storm main event, Angle-Hardy, Lethal Lockdown opener|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=April 15, 2012|access-date=April 15, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the following episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson in a three-way match to become the number one contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_60315.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact Wrestling results 4/19: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of Lockdown fall-out, Hogan's "big announcement"|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=April 19, 2012|access-date=April 20, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Van Dam received his title opportunity in a ladder match on May 13 at [[Sacrifice (2012)|Sacrifice]], but was defeated by the defending champion, Bobby Roode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_61356.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Sacrifice PPV results 5/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Roode-RVD main event, Angle-Styles, Hardy-Anderson |last=Caldwell|first=James|date=May 13, 2012|access-date=May 13, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At [[Slammiversary (2012)|Slammiversary]] on June 10, Van Dam was defeated by Mr. Anderson in a three-way number one contender's match, also involving Jeff Hardy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_62289.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Slammiversary PPV results 6/10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Roode vs. Sting headlines 10th Anniv. PPV|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=June 10, 2012|access-date=June 10, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Later that week on ''Impact Wrestling'', Van Dam entered the [[Bound for Glory Series#2012|2012 Bound for Glory Series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_62447.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact Wrestling results 6/14: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live Impact - TNA World Title match, Ultimate X starts the show|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=June 14, 2012|access-date=June 14, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> At [[Hardcore Justice (2012)|Hardcore Justice]] on August 12, Van Dam defeated [[Magnus (wrestler)|Magnus]] and [[Ken Anderson (wrestler)|Mr. Anderson]] in a Falls Count Anywhere match. He wrestled his final match in the tournament on the September 6 ''Impact Wrestling'', losing to [[Mark LoMonaco|Bully Ray]], thus finishing fifth and narrowly missing the semifinals of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_64933.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact results 9/6: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live Impact - BFG Series finale, "Championship Thursday" launch|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=September 6, 2012|access-date=September 6, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the October 4 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Van Dam unsuccessfully challenged [[Samoa Joe]] for the TNA Television Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_65719.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact results 10/4: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live Impact - King Mo's TV debut, Aries-Hardy latest PPV hype|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=October 4, 2012|access-date=October 4, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref>
*'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment]]'''
**[[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of ECW World Heavyweight Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwchampionship/|title=ECW Championship history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE)|2 times]]) – with [[Glenn Jacobs|Kane]] (1) and [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]] (1)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/|title=World Tag Team Championship history}}</ref>
**[[WWE Championship]] ([[List of WWE Champions|2 times]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/|title=WWE Championship history}}</ref>
**[[WWE Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of WWE Tag Team Champions|1 time]]) – with [[Rey Mysterio, Jr.|Rey Mysterio]]<ref name=wwetag/>
**[[WWE Hardcore Championship|WWF/E Hardcore Championship]] ([[List of WWE Hardcore Champions|4 times]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/hard/|title=WWE Hardcore Championship history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[WWE European Championship]] ([[List of WWE European Champions|1 time]])<sup>1</sup><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/rvd/bio/|archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20071213180549/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/rvd/bio/|archivedate= 2007-12-13|title=Rob Van Dam profile|accessdate=2010-09-02|work=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>
**[[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF/E Intercontinental Championship]] ([[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|6 times]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/|title=WWE Intercontinental Championship history}}</ref>
**[[Money in the Bank ladder match|Mr. Money in the Bank]] ([[Money in the Bank ladder match#2006|2006]])<ref name=MitB/>
**[[Triple Crown Championship#List of WWE Triple Crown Champions|Fifteenth Triple Crown Champion]]
**[[Grand Slam Championship#World Wrestling Entertainment|Seventh Grand Slam Champion]]
<small><sup>1</sup>Rob Van Dam's WWE European Championship win is not listed on WWE's European Championship history page, however it was acknowledged on his alumni page and is listed in WWE's official encyclopaedia.</small>
{{-}}


==== X Division Champion (2012–2013) ====
{{clear}}


The following week, Van Dam was allowed to pick his opponent for [[Bound for Glory (2012)|Bound for Glory]] on October 14 and opted to challenge [[Zema Ion]] for the [[TNA X Division Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_65888.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact results 10/11/12: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Impact - final PPV hype, triple main event|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=October 11, 2012|access-date=October 11, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Van Dam defeated Ion to win the X Division Championship for the first time at Bound for Glory.<ref name=BFG2012>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_65938.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV results 10/14: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Aries vs. Hardy, Storm vs. Roode|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=October 14, 2012|access-date=October 14, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the October 25 ''Impact Wrestling'', Van Dam made his first successful title defense, defeating Ion in a rematch. Following the win, he would be attacked by [[Matt Morgan (wrestler)|Matt Morgan]] and [[Joey Ryan (wrestler)|Joey Ryan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1351217787 |title=Impact Results - 10/25/2012 |last=Boutwell |first=Josh |date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=October 25, 2012 |work=WrestleView |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028214716/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1351217787 |archive-date=October 28, 2012 }}</ref> The following week, Van Dam was defeated by Ryan in a non-title match after an interference from Matt Morgan. Afterwards, he would again be attacked by Morgan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_66341.shtml|title=Caldwell's TNA Impact results 11/1: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live Impact - Open Fight Night|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=November 1, 2012|access-date=November 1, 2012|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On November 11 at [[Turning Point (2012 wrestling)|Turning Point]], Van Dam defeated Ryan to retain the X Division Championship, after which, he would be attacked by Matt Morgan for the third consecutive time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_66565.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S TNA TURNING POINT PPV RESULTS 11/11: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of Hardy-Aries, top titles at-stake|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> Four days later on ''Impact Wrestling'', he successfully defended the title against [[Kid Kash]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_66663.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 11/15: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of post-PPV episode - Storm vs. Roode|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> Van Dam retained the X Division Championship against [[Austin Aries]] on November 29 after losing to him via disqualification, following interference from Bully Ray.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_66909.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 11/29: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of Championship Thursday - X Title in main event, Hogan Knows Best?|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref>
==Notes==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==References==
*[http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/5-31-2001-3475.asp An interview with Rob Van Dam, conducted by Ken Tuccio (1)]
*[http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/6-1-2001-3478.asp An interview with Rob Van Dam, conducted by Ken Tuccio (2)]
*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_3_2/ai_65858908 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_3_2/ai_65858908]
*[http://www.wrestling-radio.com/index.php?view=recap&cap=569 Rob Van Dam Radio Interview]
*[http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldtalklive/2007/12/07/World-Talk-LIVE-Special-Guests-Rob-Van-Dam/ Rob Van Dam Interview on World Talk LIVE!]
*[http://www.brutaltruthradio.com/shows/SHOW%20RVD.mp3 Rob Van Dam interview on The Brutal Truth]


Van Dam made another successful title defense on December 9 at [[Final Resolution (2012)|Final Resolution]], defeating [[Kenny King (wrestler)|Kenny King]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_67111.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S TNA FINAL RESOLUTION PPV RESULTS 12/9: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of Hardy vs. Roode in the main event, Aries vs. Bully|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> On the following episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Van Dam lost a non-title match to King, when King pinned him with his feet on the ropes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_67224.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 12/13: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of PPV fall-out episode|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> On January 13, 2013, at [[Genesis (2013)|Genesis]], Van Dam defeated [[Christian York]] to retain the X Division Championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnappvs/article_67844.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S TNA GENESIS PPV RESULTS 1/13: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live PPV - Hardy defends TNA Title against two foes, two title matches, #1 contender matches|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> On the February 7 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Van Dam successfully defended the X Division Championship against Kenny King and Zema Ion in a three-way match.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_68494.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 2/7: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of Impact in the U.K. - Tag Title change, Sting & Bully main event, Aces & Eights lose again, Nash weighs in|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> Two weeks later, Van Dam defeated King again to retain his title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_68834.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 2/21: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of Impact in the U.K. - new KO champ, Hogan's "decision" early contender for worst angle of the year (updated w/Box Score)|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> Van Dam lost the X Division Championship to King on the February 28 ''Impact Wrestling'', ending Van Dam's reign at 137 days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_68961.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 2/28: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Impact - TNA & Jeff Hardy return to Orlando; Angle unmasks A&E member, but cameraman misses the shot|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> In March 2013, Van Dam's TNA contract expired and he did an interview about his future with TNA, stating that he would return to television in WWE or TNA, saying that he was negotiating with both companies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_69393.shtml|title=TNA NEWS: Update on RVD's TNA standing, talks TNA vs. WWE|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> According to Van Dam, he lost his passion for professional wrestling during his work in TNA due to the attitude of his coworkers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rob Van Dam: 'He perdido la pasión y la ambición que tenía por el wrestling' |url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/56167-rob-van-dam-he-perdido-la-pasion-y-la-ambicion-que-tenia-por-el-wrestling |access-date=September 29, 2020 |work=Solowrestling |date=October 26, 2016 |language=es}}</ref>
==External links==

{{Portal|Professional wrestling}}
=== Return to WWE (2013−2014) ===
{{Wikiquote}}
On June 16, 2013, at [[Payback (2013)|Payback]], it was announced that Van Dam would be returning at [[Money in the Bank (2013)|Money in the Bank]] as one of the participants in the [[Money in the Bank ladder match|WWE Championship Money in the Bank ladder match]] along with Christian, [[CM Punk]], [[Bryan Danielson|Daniel Bryan]], Randy Orton, and [[Sheamus]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_71316.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S WWE PAYBACK PPV RESULTS 6/16 (Hour 1): Axel captures IC Title in opening match, A.J. captures Divas Title, RVD returning to WWE|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_71502.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S WWE RAW RESULTS 6/24 (Hour 3): Punk in singles action, MITB match participants announced, Bryan vs. Orton main event represents major career moment for Bryan|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> however, the match was ultimately won by Orton on July 14.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_71944.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S WWE MITB PPV RESULTS 7/14 (Hour 3): Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of live PPV - Cena vs. Henry, MITB All-Stars|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref> In his first singles match for the company since 2007, Van Dam defeated [[Chris Jericho]] the following night on ''Raw''. He would then go on a short winning streak defeating the likes of [[Darren Young]], [[Fandango (wrestler)|Fandango]] and [[Wade Barrett]] which would lead to a United States Championship opportunity against [[Dean Ambrose]] at [[SummerSlam (2013)|SummerSlam]] which Van Dam would win via disqualification which meant Ambrose retained the title. Van Dam was then put in a feud with the then-[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Alberto Del Rio]], including Del Rio's personal announcer Ricardo Rodriguez becoming Van Dam's announcer, facing Del Rio at [[Night of Champions (2013)|Night of Champions]] (winning via disqualification) and [[Battleground (2013)|Battleground]], but he could not win the title.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_73320.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - CALDWELL'S WWE NOC PPV RESULTS 9/15 (Hour 1): Del Rio vs. RVD World Title match, plus IC & Divas Title matches, Hunter-Heyman opens the PPV|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_73741.shtml|title=PWTorch.com - BATTLEGROUND PPV RESULTS 10/6 (Hour 1): World Title match opens the PPV, plus IC Title & Divas Title matches|website=www.pwtorch.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/node/26153180/is-rob-van-dam-going-to-take-time-off-from-wwe-26154024|title=Raw: October 7, 2013|website=WWE}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> After this match, Van Dam took a sabbatical from television.
{{Commons category}}

*{{Official|http://www.robvandam.com}}
[[File:Rob van dam 2014.jpg|thumb|upright|Van Dam in April 2014]]
*[http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rvdradio RVD Radio]
Van Dam returned to WWE on the April 7, 2014, episode of ''Raw'', defeating [[Damien Sandow]] and would later defeat him once more in a rematch on the following ''SmackDown''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_77571.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715105830/https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_77571.shtml|title=CALDWELL'S WWE RAW RESULTS 4/7: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live Raw - WM30 fall-out, WWE Title match teaser, Bryan's first night as champ, Warrior, more|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=April 7, 2014|archive-date=July 15, 2014|access-date=February 7, 2019}}</ref> Shortly after, he entered into an [[List of WWE tournaments#WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWE Intercontinental Championship tournament]], defeating [[Alberto Del Rio]] in the first round and [[Antonio Cesaro|Cesaro]] in the semifinals but lost in the final round to [[Wade Barrett|Bad News Barrett]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tucker|first1=Ben|title=Instant Reaction - Raw: 4/21: Daniel Bryan returns under tough circumstances, and more|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_77916.shtml|website=PWTorch.com|access-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref> Following this he entered into a feud with Cesaro and Jack Swagger, having gained pinfall victories over both men in the lead up to [[Extreme Rules (2014)|Extreme Rules]], Van Dam would go on to lose to Cesaro and [[Jack Swagger]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Non-elimination matches with three competitors|Triple Threat Elimination match]], which was won by Cesaro after pinning Van Dam last, who had pinned Swagger first. Following Extreme Rules, Van Dam would once more go on to defeat Cesaro and Jack Swagger on separate occasions in rematches on both ''Raw'' and ''SmackDown''. On the May 19 edition of ''Raw'', Van Dam won a [[Professional wrestling match types#Beat the Clock challenge|Beat the Clock challenge match]] by defeating Alberto Del Rio in the fastest time, to become the top contender for the Intercontinental Championship at [[Payback (2014)|Payback]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_78499.shtml#.VTOPWSGeDGc |title=CALDWELL'S WWE RAW RESULTS 5/19: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of London Raw - fate of WWE World Title announced, Batista vs. Rollins, Beat the Clock, Wyatts-Cena, more |publisher=PWTorch.com |date=May 19, 2014 |access-date=April 24, 2015}}</ref> although he lost to Barrett at Payback. On the June 16 episode of ''Raw'', Van Dam competed in a Battle Royal with the winner gaining a WWE World Heavyweight Championship opportunity, the match was won by [[Roman Reigns]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_78756.shtml| title = CALDWELL'S WWE PAYBACK PPV RESULTS 6/1: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of live PPV - Bryan's Decision, Shield vs. Evolution "Final Battle," Cena vs. Wyatt| last = Caldwell| first = James| date = June 1, 2014| website = Pro Wrestling Torch| access-date = December 23, 2015}}</ref> At [[Money in the Bank (2014)|Money in the Bank]], Van Dam took part in the Money in the Bank Ladder match for the briefcase, but was won by Seth Rollins.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Linder|first1=Zach|title=Seth Rollins won the Money in the Bank Contract Ladder Match|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/moneyinthebank/2014/money-in-the-bank-contract-ladder-match|publisher=WWE|access-date=June 11, 2017}}</ref> At [[SummerSlam (2014)|SummerSlam]], Van Dam defeated Cesaro during the pre-show.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Clapp|first1=John|title=Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro (Kickoff Match)|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2014/rob-van-dam-cesaro-kickoff-26571861|publisher=WWE|access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref> Following SummerSlam, Van Dam would go on to team with Roman Reigns and Sheamus in a six-man tag team match in a winning effort against [[Randy Orton]], [[Ryback]] and [[Curtis Axel]] on the August 18 episode of ''Raw''. After defeating Seth Rollins by countout on the August 26 edition of ''Main Event'', Van Dam's final match with WWE was on the August 29 episode of ''SmackDown'', where he faced Rollins in a losing effort.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-smackdown-results/50476-wwe-smackdown-results-8-29-14-six-man-tag-match/|title=WWE Smackdown Results – 8/29/14 (Six Man Tag Match)|publisher=WrestleView|first=Paul|last=Nemer|date=August 30, 2014|access-date=February 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/87861/rob-van-damwwe-update.html?p=1|title=ROB VAN DAM-WWE UPDATE {{pipe}} PWInsider.com|website=www.pwinsider.com}}</ref> He made an appearance at the [[Slammy Award#2014 Slammy Awards|2014 Slammy Awards]] to present the Slammy Award for Extreme Moment of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2015/12/21/wwe-raw-flashback-the-2014-slammy-awards-charlotte-debuts/|title=WWE Raw Flashback: The 2014 Slammy Awards, Charlotte debuts|date=December 21, 2015|access-date=April 28, 2018|website=ProWrestling.net|publisher=Last Row Media LLC.}}</ref>
*{{imdb name|id=0885942}}

*[http://www.tnawrestling.com/roster/superstar-roster/item/1816-rob-van-dam TNA Wrestling profile]
=== Second return to the independent circuit (2015–2019) ===
*[http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rob-van-dam.html Online World of Wrestling profile]
In 2015, Van Dam appeared at many circuit shows including one night appearances at [[House of Hardcore]]. On June 7, 2015, Van Dam performed at [[Citi Field]] for the Legends of Wrestling and defeated [[Scott Steiner]] by pinfall. During a post match attacked by Steiner and [[Doc Gallows]], [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]] would come to his aid and spear Steiner.<ref name=Wrestlezone>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/585763-gallery-goldberg-hits-the-ring-at-legends-of-wrestling-photos-of-ric-flair-rvd-dreamer-steiner-bret-hart-more-from-this-weekends-event|title=Goldberg hits the ring at Lengends of Wrestling|date=June 7, 2015|access-date=June 7, 2015}}</ref> Van Dam faced [[John Morrison (wrestler)|John Morrison]] at Pro Wrestling Syndicate in Rahway, New Jersey, on October 24, 2015, in a losing effort. After the match, Morrison shook hands with Van Dam and led the crowd in an "RVD" chant.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Ryan|title=Rob Van Dam vs. John 'Morrison' Hennigan Booked For PWS Event|url=http://www.prowrestling.com/rob-van-dam-vs-john-morrison-hennigan-booked-for-pws-event/|website=ProWrestling.com|access-date=December 7, 2015|date=September 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Paglino|first1=Nick|title=Who Won the First Ever RVD vs John Morrison Match?, 16 Ugly Landings (Video), WWE Breaking Ground Premiering Today|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/634123-rvd-vs-john-morrison-match-result|website=Wrestlezone|access-date=December 7, 2015|date=October 25, 2015}}</ref> Van Dam would compete for [[Pro Wrestling Pride]] (PWP) in June 2016, defeating then [[PWP Catch Division Championship|PWP Catch Division Champion]] Scotty Essex in [[Taunton]], [[England]]. Van Dam faced [[Pentagón Jr.]] for PCW Heavyweight Championship at [[PCW Ultra]] in Torrance, California, on November 11, 2016, in a winning effort, it was his first championship after he left WWE in 2014. Van Dam was scheduled to compete in a 128-man tournament starting from June 10, 2017, hosted by [[5 Star Wrestling]], which was later postponed to February 2018. On July 30, Van Dam was announced to compete at [[Insane Championship Wrestling]] (ICW) Fear & Loathing X against [[Lionheart (UK wrestler)|Lionheart]].

=== Return to Impact Wrestling (2019–2020) ===
[[File:Rob van dam 2019.jpg|thumb|In 2019, Van Dam made his return to Impact Wrestling.]]
On February 8, 2019, it was revealed that Van Dam would return to TNA, now named [[Impact Wrestling]] at their [[WrestleMania 35]]-weekend show, [[United We Stand (2019)|United We Stand]]. At United We Stand on April 4, 2019, he teamed with Sabu and faced [[Lucha Brothers|Lucha Bros]] (Pentagón Jr. and [[Fénix (wrestler)|Fénix]]) in a hardcore match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://impactwrestling.com/rvd-and-sabu-return-to-impact-at-united-we-stand/|title=RVD and Sabu Return to IMPACT at United We Stand|date=February 9, 2019|access-date=February 9, 2019|work=Impact Wrestling|archive-date=September 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906075538/https://impactwrestling.com/rvd-and-sabu-return-to-impact-at-united-we-stand/|url-status=dead}}</ref> After indicating in interviews that he would be working with the company more, on April 3, Van Dam announced that he had signed a short-term deal with Impact and would be appearing on their programming following United We Stand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/rob-van-dam-signs-deal-impact-wrestling|title=Rob Van Dam Signs Deal With IMPACT Wrestling {{pipe}} Fightful Wrestling|website=www.fightful.com}}</ref> His contract initially ran through [[Bound for Glory (2019)|Bound for Glory]] in October.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/rob-van-dam-makes-cameo-wwe-raw-reunion-contract-impact-runs-through-bound-glory|title=Rob Van Dam Makes Cameo At WWE Raw Reunion; Contract With IMPACT Runs Through Bound For Glory {{pipe}} Fightful Wrestling|website=www.fightful.com}}</ref> His return to Impact television occurred in late-April, where he defeated [[Ethan Page]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/results/spoilers-impact-wrestling-tv-taping-toronto-429-rob-van-dam-returns-lucha-bros-more|title=SPOILERS: IMPACT Wrestling TV Taping From Toronto (4/29): Rob Van Dam Returns, Lucha Bros, More {{pipe}} Fightful Wrestling|website=www.fightful.com}}</ref> Van Dam then formed an alliance with ECW alumni [[Tommy Dreamer]] and [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]] to feud with Page, [[Josh Alexander (wrestler)|Josh Alexander]] and [[Moose (wrestler)|Moose]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/rob-van-dam-tommy-dreamer-sabu-battle-moose-north-531-impact-wrestling|title=Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, & Sabu Battle Moose & The North On 5/31 IMPACT Wrestling {{pipe}} Fightful Wrestling|website=www.fightful.com}}</ref> The trio would defeat Moose, Page and Alexander in a six-man tag.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/tna-news/impact-wrestling-tv-taping-spoilers-rvd-teams-sabu-dreamer-283106|title=Impact Wrestling TV taping spoilers: RVD teams with Sabu & Dreamer|date=May 5, 2019|website=WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results}}</ref> At [[Bash at the Brewery]] in July, Van Dam defeated [[Sami Callihan]] in an Extreme Rules match.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/tna-results/impact-bash-brewery-results-rvd-vs-sami-callihan-287366|title=Impact Bash at the Brewery results: RVD vs. Sami Callihan|date=July 6, 2019|website=WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results}}</ref> A few days later, the storyline between Moose and Van Dam came to a close, as Moose defeated Van Dam at [[Slammiversary XVII]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://impactwrestling.com/impact-wrestling-results-aftermath-of-slammiversary/|title = IMPACT Wrestling Results - Aftermath of Slammiversary|date = July 13, 2019|access-date = July 24, 2019|archive-date = July 21, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190721043133/https://impactwrestling.com/impact-wrestling-results-aftermath-of-slammiversary/|url-status = dead}}</ref>
On October 20, 2019, on [[Bound for Glory (2019)|Bound for Glory]], Van Dam teamed with [[Rhyno (wrestler)|Rhino]] where they challenged for the [[Impact World Tag Team Championship]]. At the climax of the match, Van Dam turned heel for the first time in his Impact Wrestling career, as well as his first heel turn since being a member of the Alliance during his WWF/E career, by attacking Rhino, [[Willie Mack]], and [[Rich Swann]], losing the match in the process.<ref name="BFG2019">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=10/20 Powell's Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory live review: Brian Cage vs. Sami Callihan for the Impact World Championship, Ken Shamrock vs. Moose, Taya Valkyrie vs. Tenille Dashwood for the Knockouts Championship, The North vs. RVD and Rhino vs. Rich Swann and Willie Mack for the Impact Tag Titles|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2019/10/20/10-20-powells-impact-wrestling-bound-for-glory-live-review-brian-cage-vs-sami-callihan-for-the-impact-world-championship-ken-shamrock-vs-moose-taya-valkyrie-vs-tenille-dashwood-for-the-knockou/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=October 20, 2019|access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> During early 2020, Van Dam was part of a censorious heel stable called "Cancel Culture" along with [[Joey Ryan (wrestler)|Joey Ryan]] and [[Jake Crist]]. However, this story abruptly ended when Ryan's contract was terminated amid over a dozen allegations of sexual assault. His last storyline with Impact Wrestling was with Sami Callihan, whom Van Dam defeated in his final match for the promotion which aired on September 22, 2020, edition of ''Impact!''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/impact-results/168012-impact-results-september-22-2020/|title = IMPACT Results - 9/22/20 (Tenille Dashwood vs. Jordynne Grace, Victory Road announced) -|date = September 23, 2020}}</ref> before leaving the promotion in September 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Mike |title=Stars Depart Impact Wrestling |url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=139936 |access-date=December 28, 2020 |work=www.pwinsider.com |date=September 28, 2020}}</ref>

=== Second return to WWE and sporadic appearances (2019–2023, 2024) ===
Despite his association with Impact Wrestling, Van Dam made a one-night return to WWE for the special [[List of WWE Raw special episodes|Raw Reunion]] episode of ''Raw'' on July 22, 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sescoops.com/rvd-makes-appearance-alongside-legends-on-wwe-raw-reunion/|title=RVD Makes Appearance Alongside Legends On WWE RAW Reunion|newspaper=Se Scoops &#124; Wrestling News, Results & Interviews |date=July 23, 2019}}</ref>

Following heavy speculation, it was announced by WWE and [[Fox Sports (United States)|Fox Sports]] on March 29 that Van Dam would be an inductee into the [[WWE Hall of Fame (2021)|2021]] [[WWE Hall of Fame]] class.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-hall-of-fame/wwe-hall-of-fame-2021/article/rob-van-dam-wwe-hall-of-fame-class-2021|title = Rob van Dam to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame}}</ref> He later made an appearance at the 2022 Hall of Fame ceremony.

On April 28, 2023, Van Dam appeared on Friday Night SmackDown to announce second round WWE draft picks for RAW. He would appear the next week on RAW, May 1, to announce the fourth round draft picks for Friday Night SmackDown.

On September 13, 2024, Van Dam was shown in attendance for SmackDown's return to the [[USA Network]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nash |first=Anthony |date=September 14, 2024 |title=Vickie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam, William Regal, More Attend WWE SmackDown |url=https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1504654-vickie-guerrero-rob-van-dam-william-regal-more-attend-wwe-smackdown |access-date=September 14, 2024 |website=Wrestlezone |language=en-US}}</ref>

Van Dam appeared on the October 29, 2024 episode of ''[[WWE NXT|NXT]]'' to say that he would be appearing at [[NXT 2300|''NXT'' 2300]].<ref name="f921">{{cite web | last=DeFelice | first=Robert | title=Rob Van Dam Tells Ava He Wants To Participate In NXT Show At The ECW Arena | website=Fightful News | date=October 29, 2024 | url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/rob-van-dam-tells-ava-he-wants-participate-nxt-show-ecw-arena | access-date=October 29, 2024}}</ref>

=== Pro Wrestling Noah (2022) ===
On April 30, 2022, it was announced that Van Dam would make his in-ring debut in [[CyberFight]]'s [[Pro Wrestling Noah]] on June 12, at the [[CyberFight Festival 2022]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Mike |date=April 30, 2022 |title=ROB VAN DAM HEADING TO PRO WRESTLING NOAH |url=https://pwinsider.com/article/158421/rob-van-dam-heading-to-pro-wrestling-noah.html?p=1 |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=[[PWInsider]]}}</ref> He was scheduled to team with the [[Stinger (professional wrestling)|Stinger]] duo of [[Hayata (wrestler)|Hayata]] and [[Yoshinari Ogawa]] to face [[Kaito Kiyomiya]], [[Daisuke Harada]] and [[Yo-Hey]].

===All Elite Wrestling (2023–2024)===
On August 2, 2023, Van Dam made his debut in [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW), appearing on ''[[AEW Dynamite]]'' to challenge [[FTW Champion]] [["Jungle Boy" Jack Perry|Jack Perry]] on behalf of longtime rival [[Jerry Lynn]]. On the following week's ''Dynamite'', Van Dam unsuccessfully challenged Perry for his championship title in an [[Professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match|FTW Rules match]]. Van Dam then made several further appearances teaming with [[Hook (wrestler)|Hook]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rose |first1=Bryan|date=September 23, 2023 |title=RVD & Hook vs. Angelo Parker & Matt Menard added to AEW Collision |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/rvd-hook-vs-angelo-parker-matt-menard-added-to-aew-collision |work=WON/F4W |access-date=December 8, 2023}}</ref>

On the January 31, 2024, episode of ''Dynamite'', Van Dam returned to AEW in a losing effort against [[Swerve Strickland]] in a [[hardcore match]]. Van Dam would later slate fans who had questioned whether or not he could "still go" at his age against Strickland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skudder |first=Jake |date=February 1, 2024 |title=AEW News: Rob Van Dam Addresses Haters After Dynamite |url=https://fightfans.co.uk/aew/aew-news/rob-van-dam-dynamite-haters-still-go-aew-news/ |access-date=February 1, 2024 |website=FightFans |language=en-GB}}</ref> On the February 21 episode of ''Dynamite'', Van Dam teamed with Hook and [["Hangman" Adam Page]] in a losing effort against [[AEW World Championship|AEW World Champion]] [[Samoa Joe]] and [[Mogul Embassy]] (Strickland and [[Brian Cage]]). On the April 20 episode of ''[[AEW Rampage]]'', Van Dam picked up his first singles victory in AEW, defeating [[Isiah Kassidy]], [[Komander]], and [[Lee Johnson (wrestler)|Lee Johnson]] in a "High Flying [[4/20 (cannabis culture)|4/20]]" [[Four-Way Elimination match|four-way elimination match]].

==Professional wrestling style, persona and reception==
The name "Rob Van Dam" was given to him in 1992 by [[Ron Slinker]], a promoter in [[Florida]], possibly because of his [[martial arts]] experience and his resemblance to actor [[Jean-Claude Van Damme]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlingnewsdesk.com/WND/the_news/wrestling/rob_van_dam_speaks_out_200804141120.htm|title=Rob Van Dam Speaks Out|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419073527/http://www.wrestlingnewsdesk.com/WND/the_news/wrestling/rob_van_dam_speaks_out_200804141120.htm|publisher=Wrestling News Desk|author=Matthew Cooper|archive-date=April 19, 2008|date=April 14, 2008|access-date=August 11, 2008}}</ref> During the early years of his career, he used a [[Moonsault#Split-legged moonsault|"Moonsault Split"]] as finisher, until he adopted the [[Frog Splash]] (named Five Star Frog Splash) as finisher.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rob Van Dam explica como nació su movida final "Frogsplash Five Star" |url=https://superluchas.com/rod-van-dam-explica-como-nacio-su-movida-final-frogsplash-five-star/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |work=Superluchas |date=January 5, 2013 |language=es-es}}</ref> During [[WWE Hall of Fame]] ceremony in 2021, WWE's chairman Vince McMahon and Triple H said that he changed the style of wrestling.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Guzzo |first1=Gisberto |title=Rob Van Dam Shares What Vince McMahon And Triple H Said To Him At The WWE Hall Of Fame Ceremony |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/rob-van-dam-shares-what-vince-mcmahon-and-triple-h-said-him-wwe-hall-fame-ceremony |access-date=April 19, 2021 |work=Fightful |date=April 18, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== Other media ==
Van Dam has appeared on numerous television shows and in films. In 1995, he was in ''Superfights'' as "The Mercenary", and in 1997 he appeared in ''Bloodmoon'' as "Dutch Scholtz". On October 23, 1999, he appeared in ''City Guys'', in the episode "El-Trainmania IV" as himself. In 2000 he appeared in ''18 Wheels of Justice'', on August 2 as "Robert Laramie", and in ''[[The X-Files]]'' on May 7 as "Burt's opponent" in the episode "Fight Club". He also appeared on ''[[V.I.P. (American TV series)|V.I.P.]]'' in the episode "Survi-Val" as "Major Ving Talbot" that year. On July 26, 2001, he appeared as himself on ''Spy TV'', and again later that year he appeared as himself in ''Ultimate Revenge'' on December 2. In 2002, he was featured in the music video for [[Breaking Point (band)|Breaking Point]]'s "[[Coming of Age (Breaking Point album)#Track listing|One of a Kind]]" along with starring in two films, ''[[Black Mask 2: City of Masks]]'' as "Claw", and a cameo appearance in ''[[The Backyard (2002 film)|The Backyard]]'' as himself. In 2005, the ''Rob Van Dam: One of a Kind'' DVD was released. He also appeared on ''[[Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling]]'' in 2008 teaching finishing moves to the celebrities. In 2011 he worked alongside WWE wrestlers [[Dave Bautista]] and [[Nelson Frazier Jr.]] in a movie titled ''[[Wrong Side of Town]]'' which was released the following year.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Van Dam started up RVD Radio on October 8, 2008, with the help of Brett Cohen, a producer for [[BlogTalkRadio]]. The episodes have changed between an hour and two-hour-long, initially held weekly but now sporadically held at www.blogtalkradio.com/rvdradio.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

In November 2010 he was a contestant on an all TNA week of ''[[Family Feud]]'', teaming with [[Jay Lethal]], [[Matt Morgan (wrestler)|Matt Morgan]], [[Mick Foley]] and [[Ken Anderson (wrestler)|Mr. Anderson]] in a winning effort against [[Angelina Love]], [[Christy Hemme]], [[Lacey Von Erich]], [[Lisa Marie Varon|Tara]] and [[Velvet Sky]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1283806473 |title=Air dates for TNA Wrestling stars on "Family Feud" |date=September 6, 2010 |last=Martin |first=Adam |access-date=November 3, 2010 |work=WrestleView |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927014602/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1283806473 |archive-date=September 27, 2012}}</ref>

He also provides the voice for the character "Bobby", who served as a commentator for the Professor Genki side-quests, in the video games ''[[Saints Row: The Third]]'' and ''[[Saints Row IV]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

Van Dam has appeared in multiple video games, including ''[[ECW Hardcore Revolution]]'' in 2000, with his most recent being in ''[[WWE 2K24]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

=== Filmography ===
* 1995 ''Superfights'' as Mercenary
* 1997 ''[[Bloodmoon (1997 film)|Bloodmoon]]'' as "Dutch"
* 1999 ''[[City Guys]]'' as Himself (1 episode, "El Trainmania IV")
* 2000 ''[[18 Wheels of Justice]]'' as Robert Laramie (1 episode, "Outside Chance")
* 2000 ''[[The X-Files]]'' as Burt's Opponent (1 episode, "[[Fight Club (The X-Files)|Fight Club]]")
* 2000 ''[[V.I.P. (American TV series)|V.I.P.]]'' as Major Talbot (1 episode, "Survi-Val")
* 2001 ''[[Spy TV]]'' as Various (1 episode)
* 2001 ''[[Ultimate Revenge]]'' as Himself (2 episodes)
* 2002 ''[[Black Mask 2|Black Mask 2: City of Masks]]'' as "Claw"
* 2002 ''[[The Backyard (2002 film)|The Backyard]]'' as Himself (cameo)
* 2005 ''One of a Kind'' as Himself
* 2008 ''[[Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling]]'' as Himself (1 episode, "Train with the Pros")
* 2009 ''Sketch of Life'' as Himself
* 2009 ''[[Bloodstained Memoirs]]'' as Himself
* 2010 ''[[Wrong Side of Town]]'' as Bobby Kalinowsky
* 2010 ''[[Family Feud]]'' as Himself (5 episodes)
* 2012 ''Olympic Trials with Kurt Angle'' as Himself (Funny or Die short)
* 2015 ''[[3-Headed Shark Attack]]''
* 2016 ''[[Nine Legends]]''
* 2016 ''[[Sniper: Special Ops]]'' as Vasquez
* 2016 ''[[Traveling the Stars: Action Bronson and Friends Watch Ancient Aliens]]'' as Himself (1 episode, "Alien Devastation")
* 2019 ''Headstrong'' as Himself
* 2019 ''2nd Chance for Christmas'' as Bobby
* 2020 ''Tea Time'' as Action Figure
* 2021 ''Assault on VA-33'' as Zero

=== Voice acting ===
* 2011 ''[[Saints Row: The Third]]'' as Bobby
* 2013 ''[[Saints Row IV]]'' as Bobby

== Personal life ==
[[File:RVDRollingPapers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.13|A booklet of Rob Van Dam [[rolling papers]], sold by RVDCBD]]
Szatkowski is of [[Belgian Americans|Belgian]] and [[Polish Americans|Polish]] ancestry. Szatkowski married Sonia Delbeck on September 6, 1998, the couple separated in December 2015. In July 2016, Delbeck filed for divorce from Szatkowski.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2016/05/27/rob-van-dam-divorce-sonya/|title=Ex-WWE Star Rob Van Dam -- Wife Files for Divorce ... But We Don't Hate Each Other|date=May 27, 2016 |publisher=TMZ}}</ref> The divorce was finalized in May 2018.<ref name="bodyslam">{{cite web|url=http://www.bodyslam.net/2018/05/17/rob-van-dam-finalizes-divorce-ending-17-year-marriage-forced-to-give-up-his-dogs-ashes-in-settlement/|title=Rob Van Dam Finalizes Divorce Ending 17 Year Marriage – Forced To Give Up His Dogs' Ashes In Settlement|publisher=Bodyslam.net|date=May 17, 2018}}</ref> In 2016, Szatkowski began dating fellow professional wrestler Katie Forbes. In 2021, Forbes and Szatkowski had gotten married.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CM7hy7BFnm-/ | title=Instagram }}</ref><ref name="bodyslam"/>

=== Cannabis ===
Szatkowski is an advocate for the [[Legalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States|legalization of cannabis]].<ref name="NORML">{{cite news|last1=Belville|first1=Russ|title=Profiles in Cannabis: Rob Van Dam|url=http://blog.norml.org/2009/09/05/profiles-in-cannabis-rob-van-dam/|access-date=March 9, 2018|work=NORML|date=September 5, 2009}}</ref> He has discussed the topic in various media, including on [[MSNBC]] where he debated former U.S. "drug czar" [[Barry McCaffrey]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Woodward|first1=Buck|title=Recap of Rob Van Dam on MSNBC|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=39909&p=1|access-date=March 9, 2018|work=pwinsider.com|date=July 9, 2009}}</ref> Szatkowski is also a consumer of cannabis, believing it to be an athletic enhancer.<ref name="cc">{{cite news|last1=Van Dam|first1=Rob|title=Weed, Wrestling, and Athletic Enhancement|url=https://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2008/09/06/weed-wrestling-and-athletic-enhancement|access-date=March 9, 2018|work=Cannabis Culture|date=September 6, 2008}}</ref> His personal affinity for cannabis has been reflected in his wrestling persona,<ref name="cc" /> including his use of the phrase "RVD [[420 (cannabis culture)|420]] means I just smoked your ass."<ref>{{cite news|last1=McManus|first1=Joseph|title=15 Shocking Things You Didn't Know About ECW Originals|url=https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/15-shocking-things-you-didnt-know-about-ecw-originals/|access-date=March 9, 2018|work=TheSportster|date=November 8, 2016|archive-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310135638/https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/15-shocking-things-you-didnt-know-about-ecw-originals/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2020, Szatkowski established and licensed his name to RVDCBD, a [[cannabinoid]]s company specializing in [[Cannabidiol|CBD]] and cannabis paraphernalia.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DeAngelo |first1=Dominic |title=Rob Van Dam Enjoying The Positive Response To RVDCBD And 'Headstrong', Comments On Current Wrestling Status |url=https://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/1214099-rob-van-dam-status-rvdcbd |work=WrestleZone |date=December 15, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hasse |first1=Javier |title=WWE, ECW Legend Rob Van Dam CBD Products Now Available Online |url=https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/21/04/20646162/wwe-ecw-legend-rob-van-dam-cbd-products-now-available-online |work=Benzinga |date=April 15, 2021}}</ref> In 2021, he was named chairman of United American Petroleum Corp (UAPC), a shell company that acquired RVDCBD and seeks to acquire other cannabis properties.<ref>{{Cite press release|last=INC|first=UAPC|date=January 19, 2021|title=UAPC INC. announces new Chairman of the Board, Rob Van Dam (RVD), and acquisition of RVD Wellness, LLC.|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/01/19/2160916/14581/en/UAPC-INC-announces-new-Chairman-of-the-Board-Rob-Van-Dam-RVD-and-acquisition-of-RVD-Wellness-LLC.html|access-date=April 14, 2021|website=GlobeNewswire News Room|language=en}}</ref>

==== 2006 arrest ====
On July 3, 2006, ''The Ironton Tribune'' reported that Szatkowski and [[Terry Brunk]] (known as Sabu) had been arrested on the previous evening on [[U.S. Route 52]] in [[Hanging Rock, Ohio]]. Szatkowski had been stopped for speeding by an [[Ohio State Highway Patrol]] trooper, who discovered that he was in possession of 18&nbsp;grams of marijuana and five [[Vicodin]] pills, while Brunk was in possession of [[drug paraphernalia]] and nine tablets of [[testolactone]].<ref name="Almanac">{{cite news|first=Hicks|last=Brady|title=2006: The year in wrestling|work=PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts|publisher=Kappa Publications|id=2007 Edition|page=23}}</ref> Both Szatkowski and Brunk were released after posting [[bail]], and were scheduled to appear in [[Ironton, Ohio|Ironton]] Municipal Court on July 6.<ref name=arrest>{{cite web|title=Wrestling stars busted in Hanging Rock|date=July 3, 2006|publisher=The Ironton Tribune|url=http://www.irontontribune.com/news/2006/jul/03/wrestling-stars-busted-in-hanging-rock/|access-date=July 3, 2006}}</ref> On July 6, ''The Ironton Tribune'' reported that the court date for Szatkowski and Brunk were in limbo, as their attorneys had asked for and were granted continuances.<ref name=arrest2>{{cite web|url=http://www.irontontribune.com/news/2006/jul/14/wrestlers8217-court-date-canceled/|title=Wrestlers' court date canceled|work=The Ironton Tribune|access-date=July 6, 2006}}</ref> On August 31, Szatkowski pleaded guilty to speeding and possession of marijuana but the charge of Vicodin possession was dropped when he produced a prescription. He was fined $140 and additional court costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2006/1157153736.shtml|title= Rob Van Dam & Sabu plead guilty in court; neither to serve time & more|publisher=WrestleView|date=September 1, 2006|access-date=April 21, 2016}}</ref>

According to the [[WWE#Drug testing and wellness program|WWE's wellness policy]], a drug-related arrest can lead to that talent's immediate dismissal from the company. Then-WWE Vice President of Talent Relations [[John Laurinaitis]] released a statement on WWE.com reporting that Szatkowski and Brunk were still eligible to compete on the ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' and ''[[ECW on Sci Fi|ECW]]'' tapings in the following days while an investigation conducted by WWE was being undertaken. This resulted in Szatkowski dropping the WWE Championship at the live ''Raw'' one night and the ECW Championship the next night at the ''ECW'' taping. Van Dam was subsequently suspended without pay for 30 days, and an on-air segment on ''ECW'' was scripted to relay this suspension to the fans. The arrest footage itself and a recounting from Szatkowski is seen in the film ''[[Nine Legends]]''.<ref name="Almanac"/><ref name=rvdsabucharges>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/rvdsabucharges|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061127051453/http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/rvdsabucharges|archive-date=November 27, 2006|title=WWE investigating Rob Van Dam and Sabu charges|publisher=WWE|access-date=July 3, 2006}}</ref>

=== Training ===
Szatkowski is a trained [[Kickboxing|kickboxer]] and [[Martial arts|martial artist]]. Growing up in [[Battle Creek, Michigan]], Szatkowski studied martial arts at two local dojos. He received instruction in [[Karate]], [[Taekwondo]], [[Aikido]], [[Kickboxing]] and [[Kajukenbo]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Rob Van Dam |url=https://kungfukingdom.com/interview-with-rob-van-dam/ |website=Kung-fu Kingdom |access-date=February 21, 2021 |date=November 16, 2017}}</ref> In 1990, he placed second in the Kalamazoo Heavyweight Toughman Contest. Szatkowski is also an outspoken advocate of [[vitamin]]s and [[bodybuilding supplement]]s and attributes this to his mother's influence.<ref name=endorser>{{cite web|title=Rob Van Dam big on his bodybuilding supplements|publisher=Muscle And Sports Science| url=http://www.musclemass.com}}</ref>

He is the inventor of the ''Van Dam Lift'', a [[Powerlifting|weightlifting]] technique that involves performing a split (which he took up in his early teens) between two benches and lifting a [[dumbbell]] from the floor to the waist.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} The lift was approved by IAWA, the International All-Around Weightlifting Association, in 1998. It was also entered in the rulebooks of USAWA, the United States All-Round Weightlifting Association.<ref>[http://usawa.com/is-the-van-dam-lift-impossible/ Is the Van Dam Lift impossible?] June 30, 2009.<br />[http://usawa.com/the-10-worst-lifts-in-the-usawa/ The 10 Worst Lifts in the USAWA] October 26, 2010</ref>

== Championships and accomplishments ==
[[File:RobVanDam WWE-ECWChamp@commons.png|upright=0.79|thumb|Van Dam is a three-time World Champion, having simultaneously held both the [[WWE Championship]] and [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] in [[WWE]]...]]
[[File:RVDTNAChamp1.JPG|thumb|upright=0.79|...and the [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship]] in [[TNA Wrestling]].]]
[[File:RVD TNA X Title.png|thumb|upright=0.79|Van Dam is also a former [[TNA X Division Champion]].]]
* '''All Action Wrestling'''
** Perth Classic Tournament (2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=1&nr=182568|title=AAW Classic 2017 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>
* '''[[All Star Wrestling]]'''
** ASW North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="SLAM"/>
* '''American Wrestling Rampage'''
** AWR Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="wrestlezone.com"/><ref name="awrbelt">{{cite web|url=http://www.awrwrestling.com/interviews_articles.htm|title=Random Rampage Thoughts # 5 : The Story Behind the New AWR Championship Belt!|last=Coleman|first=Jamie|publisher=American Wrestling Rampage|access-date=September 3, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310172526/http://www.awrwrestling.com/interviews_articles.htm|archive-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref>
** AWR No Limits Championship (1 time)<ref name=awrtitles>{{cite web|title=American Wrestling Rampage Title Histories|url=http://www.awrwrestling.com/title-histories/|work=American Wrestling Rampage|access-date=August 26, 2011|archive-date=April 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427092951/http://www.awrwrestling.com/title-histories/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''' Battle Championship Wrestling'''
** BCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=5&nr=3370|title=BCW Heavyweight Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>
* '''[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]'''
** Lou Thesz/Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award (2020)<ref>{{cite web|title=We are proud to announce the Lou Thesz Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and he is Rob Van Dam! RVD is a former WWE, TNA, and ECW Heavyweight champion, not to mention his training in multiple martial arts disciplines. We look forward to RVD joining us in April and hope you will be too! Congrats RVD!|url=https://www.facebook.com/caulifloweralleyclub.org/photos/we-are-proud-to-announce-the-lou-thesz-lifetime-achievement-award-winner-and-he-/10157957818949376/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/359956274375/10157957818949376 |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |url-access=limited|work=[[Cauliflower Alley Club]] on [[Facebook]]|date=February 7, 2020|access-date=September 26, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* '''[[Extreme Championship Wrestling]]'''
** [[ECW World Television Championship]] ([[List of ECW World Television Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtvtitlehistory/|title=ECW World Television Championship history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
** [[ECW World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of ECW World Tag Team Champions|2 times]]) – with [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwtaghistory/|title=ECW World Tag Team Championship history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
*'''[[Hardcore Hall of Fame]]'''
**Class of 2022<ref>[https://www.pwinsider.com/article/166004/rob-van-dam-to-be-inducted-into-2300-arena-hardcore-hall-of-fame-this-saturday.html?p=1 ROB VAN DAM TO BE INDUCTED INTO 2300 ARENA HARDCORE HALL OF FAME THIS SATURDAY - PWInsider.com]</ref>
* '''[[International Wrestling Federation]]'''
** IWF Television Championship (1 time)<ref name="SLAM"/>
* '''[[National Wrestling Council]]'''
** [[NWC Tag Team Championship]] (1 time) – with Bobby Bradley<ref name="SLAM"/>
* '''No Limits Wrestling'''
** NLW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* ''' [[Over the Top Wrestling]] '''
** OTT No Limits Championship (1 time)
* '''Pacific Coast Wrestling'''
** PCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=159838|title=PCW Clear The Way « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}}</ref>
* '''Peach State Wrestling'''
** PSW Cordele City Heavyweight Championship (2 times)<ref name="SLAM"/><ref name="Titles">{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|edition=4th|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
* '''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
** [[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Comeback of the Year|Comeback of the Year]] (2001, 2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwicome.htm |access-date=June 24, 2008 |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Comeback of the Year |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616064832/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwicome.htm |archive-date=June 16, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://prowrestlingillustrated.blogspot.com/2011/01/pwi-achievement-awards-comeback.html|title=PWI Achievement Awards: Comeback|date=January 6, 2011|access-date=January 7, 2011|work=[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]}}</ref>
** [[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Most Popular Wrestler of the Year|Most Popular Wrestler of the Year]] (2001, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimpoty.htm |access-date=June 24, 2008 |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Most Popular Wrestler of the Year |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616062720/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimpoty.htm |archive-date=June 16, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** Ranked No. 1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|PWI 500]] in 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50002.htm |access-date=September 11, 2008 |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2002 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707054429/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50002.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2011 }}</ref>
** Ranked No. 152 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI Years in 2003
* '''[[South Atlantic Pro Wrestling]]'''
** [[SAPW Tag Team Championship]] (1 time) – with Chaz Rocco<ref name="SLAM"/>
* '''[[Impact Wrestling|Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]]'''
** [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of TNA World Heavyweight Champions|1 time]])<ref name=Impact04192010/>
** [[TNA X Division Championship]] ([[List of TNA X Division Champions|1 time]])<ref name=BFG2012/>
* '''World Stars of Wrestling'''
** WSW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=3349|title=WSW World Heavyweight Championship History}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/189483-rob-van-dam-wins-world-title-overseas-more|access-date=June 24, 2008|title=Rob Van Dam Wins WSW Championship|publisher=Wrestlezone}}</ref>
* '''[[WWE|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment/WWE]]'''
** [[WWE Championship]] ([[List of WWE Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/wwe-championship|title=WWE Championship|website=WWE}}</ref>
** [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of ECW World Heavyweight Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ecwchampionship/|title=ECW Championship history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
** [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF/E Intercontinental Championship]] ([[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|6 times]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/intercontinental-championship|title=Intercontinental Championship|website=WWE}}</ref>
** [[WWE European Championship]] ([[List of WWE European Champions|1 time]]){{refn|group=note|name=first|Van Dam is not recognized by WWE's official list of European Champions on their website,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/euro|title=European Championship|publisher=WWE|access-date=November 2, 2018}}</ref> but is in their encyclopedia.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|date=2009|title=WWE Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to World Wrestling Entertainment|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/94 94]|isbn=978-0756641900|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/94}}</ref> Retrospective WWE.com articles have added the European Championship to his resume;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/inside/top-25-superstars-of-the-new-millennium|title=The top 25 Superstars of the new millennium|last=Laboon|first=Jeff|date=June 24, 2015|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=November 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The new Grand Slam winners: The six Superstars who have won every active championship|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/new-grand-slam-winners|publisher=[[WWE]]|date=August 10, 2015|archive-date=August 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812230506/http://www.wwe.com/inside/new-grand-slam-winners|url-status=dead}}</ref> it was not mentioned in his WWE.com profile<ref>{{cite web|title=Rob Van Dam: Profile (January 27, 2006)|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/robvandam/profile/|publisher=[[WWE]]|archive-date=January 27, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060127000820/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/robvandam/profile/|url-status=dead}}</ref> until early 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rob Van Dam: Profile (February 3, 2006)|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/robvandam/profile/|publisher=[[WWE]]|archive-date=February 3, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060203043224/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/robvandam/profile/|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
** [[WWE Hardcore Championship|WWF/E Hardcore Championship]] ([[List of WWE Hardcore Champions|4 times]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/hard/|title=WWE Hardcore Championship history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
** [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWE Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE)|1 time]]) – with [[Rey Mysterio]]<ref name=wwetag/>
** [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)|2 times]]) – with [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] (1) and [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]] (1)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/world-tag-team-championship|title=World Tag Team Championship|website=WWE}}</ref>
** [[Money in the Bank ladder match|Money in the Bank]] ([[Money in the Bank ladder match#2006|2006]])<ref name=MitB/>
** [[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[WWE Hall of Fame (2021)|Class of 2021]])
** [[Grand Slam (professional wrestling)#List of WWE Grand Slam winners|Seventh Grand Slam Champion]]
** [[Triple Crown (professional wrestling)#List of WWE Men's Triple Crown winners|15th Triple Crown Champion]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|commons=Category:Rob Van Dam|b=no|n=no|q=Rob Van Dam|s=no|v=no|species=no|d=Q44628|display=Rob Van Dam}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
* {{wwe superstar}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
| title = Mr. [[Money in the Bank ladder match|Money in the Bank]]
| years = 2006
| with =
| before = [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]]
| after = [[Mr. Kennedy]]
}}
{{S-end}}


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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Van Dam, Rob
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Szatkowski, Robert; Robbie V
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American film actor and professional wrestler
| DATE OF BIRTH = December 18, 1970
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Battle Creek, Michigan]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Dam, Rob}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Dam, Rob}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:American film actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American television actors]]
[[Category:American agnostics]]
[[Category:American sportspeople of Polish descent]]
[[Category:American cannabis activists]]
[[Category:American weightlifters]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male weightlifters]]
[[Category:American people convicted of drug offenses]]
[[Category:American people of Belgian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:ECW Heavyweight Champions/ECW World Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:ECW World Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:ECW World Television Champions]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:People from Battle Creek, Michigan]]
[[Category:People from Battle Creek, Michigan]]
[[Category:Actors from Los Angeles, California]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Michigan]]
[[Category:Actors from Michigan]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Battle Creek, Michigan]]
[[Category:ECW Originals members]]

[[Category:TNA World Heavyweight/Impact World Champions]]
[[bar:Rob Van Dam]]
[[da:Rob Van Dam]]
[[Category:WWE Champions]]
[[Category:WWE Grand Slam champions]]
[[de:Rob Van Dam]]
[[Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[es:Robert Szatkowski]]
[[Category:WWF European Champions]]
[[fr:Rob Van Dam]]
[[Category:WWF/WWE Intercontinental Champions]]
[[it:Robert Szatkowski]]
[[Category:WWF/WWE Hardcore Champions]]
[[nl:Robert Szatkowski]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[ja:ロブ・ヴァン・ダム]]
[[Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers]]
[[no:Rob Szatkowski]]
[[Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[pl:Rob Van Dam]]
[[Category:21st-century American professional wrestlers]]
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[[Category:TNA/Impact X Division Champions]]
[[ro:Rob Van Dam]]
[[Category:Money in the Bank winners]]
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[[Category:World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)]]
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Latest revision as of 17:06, 4 December 2024

Rob Van Dam
Van Dam in 2021
Birth nameRobert Alexander Szatkowski[1]
Born (1970-12-18) December 18, 1970 (age 53)[2][3]
Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.[2][4]
Spouse(s)
Sonia Delbeck
(m. 1998; div. 2018)
Katie Forbes
(m. 2021)
Websiterobvandam.com
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Robbie V[4]
Matt Burn[5]
Rob Szatkowski[4]
Rob Van Dam[6]
Billed height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[6]
Billed weight235 lb (107 kg)[6]
Billed fromBattle Creek, Michigan[7]
Los Angeles, California[8]
Trained bySabu[2]
Debut1990[2][4]
Signature

Robert Alexander Szatkowski (born December 18, 1970) is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam (frequently abbreviated to RVD). He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract. He is also known for his tenures in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

Van Dam gained mainstream popularity in ECW during the latter half of the 1990s. During his time in ECW, he was managed by Bill Alfonso and had feuds with Jerry Lynn and Sabu, also forming a tag team with the latter. They won the ECW World Tag Team Championship twice. On April 4, 1998, Van Dam defeated Bam Bam Bigelow to win the ECW Television Championship, a title he held for 700 days until he vacated the championship due to an injury on March 4, 2000.

When ECW closed in 2001, Van Dam signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) and was involved in the Invasion storyline, where several former World Championship Wrestling and ECW wrestlers joined forces against WWF wrestlers. After the Invasion ended, Van Dam wrestled the following years as singles and tag team wrestler, winning the WWE Hardcore Championship, WWE Intercontinental Championship, WWE European Championship, WWE Tag Team Championship and World Tag Team Championships. At WrestleMania 22, Rob Van Dam won the Money in the Bank ladder match. After this victory, he challenged WWE Champion John Cena to a title match at One Night Stand, an ECW-themed PPV. At the event, Van Dam defeated Cena and won his first world championship. Two days later, Paul Heyman awarded Van Dam with the reactivated ECW World Heavyweight Championship making him the only man to hold both titles at the same time.

After leaving WWE in 2007, Van Dam worked on the independent circuit until he signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) - in 2010. A few months after his debut, he defeated AJ Styles to win the TNA World Championship. He would also appear for Lucha Libre AAA World Wide and challenged Dr. Wagner Jr. for the newly created AAA Latin American Championship at Triplemania XIX, albeit in a losing effort. He remained under contract with TNA until 2013, leaving the company after a run with the TNA X Division Championship. After departing TNA, he returned to WWE, where he worked for one year. Then, he would stay in the independent circuit, also wrestling from 2019 to 2020 with TNA (at the time known as Impact Wrestling). In 2021, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, and the following year he was inducted into the Hardcore Hall of Fame. Between ECW, WWE and TNA, Van Dam won 21 total championships, including three world championships, and is only one of two wrestlers in history (alongside Bobby Lashley) to have held the WWE, ECW, and TNA world championships.

In addition, he headlined many pay-per-view events throughout three decades between the 1990s and 2010s, including the 1998 edition of November to Remember (ECW's flagship event) and the 2011 edition of TripleMania (AAA's flagship event). In 2002, Van Dam was ranked the number one pro wrestler in the world by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. He was voted "Most Popular Wrestler" by readers of the magazine in 2001 and again in 2002. WWE named him the greatest star in ECW history in 2014.[9]

Outside of professional wrestling, Van Dam has performed as an actor in a number of TV shows, including an episode of The X-Files. He also starred in the 2010 movie Wrong Side of Town and the 2015 movie 3-Headed Shark Attack.

Early life

[edit]

Szatkowski grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan, and graduated from Pennfield Senior High School. Szatkowski made his first appearance on WWF television in 1987 in a skit with "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase. At the time, DiBiase was selecting plants from the audience and offering to pay them to perform degrading acts and offered the 16-year-old Szatkowski $100 to enter the ring and kiss his foot, which he did.[10] This early appearance was later included as a bonus feature on WWE's Before They Were Superstars DVD and on WWE's Rob Van Dam: One of a Kind DVD.[11] He was also in attendance at WrestleMania III as stated on The Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology DVD.[citation needed]

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Early career (1990–1992)

[edit]

Szatkowski began training as a wrestler under The Sheik in 1989.[12] He made his wrestling debut in 1990, defeating Dango Nguyen.[2] He wrestled in many independent promotions across Michigan, including the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) and South Atlantic Pro Wrestling (SAPW). In SAPW, he won his first wrestling championship, the SAPW Tag Team Championship, in July 1992 with Chaz Rocco.[13] He also wrestled in several independent promotions across America, and in All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he challenged for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship on several occasions.[14] In the World Wrestling Federation in 1992 he wrestled as an enhancement talent against The Mountie under the ring name Matt Burn.[5]

World Championship Wrestling (1992–1993)

[edit]

Szatkowski signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1992, and was dubbed "Robbie V" by booker Ron Slinker upon his arrival since Bill Watts did not like the name Rob Van Dam.[15] Robbie V made his WCW debut on the January 23, 1993, episode of WCW Saturday Night as a fan favorite, defeating enhancement talent Pat Rose. The following month, Robbie V entered a tournament for the vacant WCW World Television Championship, defeating Shanghai Pierce in the first round but losing to Vinnie Vegas in the second round, which aired on the March 20 episode of WCW WorldWide. His last televised match was on the May 22 episode of Saturday Night, a tag team loss with Erik Watts against Shanghai Pierce and Tex Slazenger.[16] In February and March 1993, Szatkowski wrestled in Japan for All Japan Pro Wrestling; upon his return to WCW, Ole Anderson had replaced Bill Watts as booker. Szatkowski left WCW in May 1993, feeling he was "lost in the shuffle".[17] and being "jobbed out".[12]

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1993–1997)

[edit]

From 1993 to 1997, Van Dam made 10 tours of Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW).[18] While wrestling for AJPW, he was advised by promoter Giant Baba to make himself stand out, which inspired Van Dam to begin airbrushing his singlets.[12] His first tour took place in February and March 1993 as part of the annual Excite Series, where his opponents included Dory Funk Jr. and Toshiaki Kawada's Super Generation Army stable. Van Dam returned to AJPW in February and March 1994 as part of that year's Excite Series, facing opponents including Jun Akiyama, Mighty Inoue, and the Super Generation Army.[18]

Van Dam made a third tour with AJPW in February and March 1995, again as part of the Excite Series, facing opponents including the Can-Am Express, the Holy Demon Army, and the Super Generation Army; during this tour, he teamed with Bobby Bradley as "Aerial Assault". Van Dam returned to AJPW in May and June 1995 as part of the Super Power Series, again facing the Can-Am Express and the Super Generation Army in a series of tag team matches. In his final match of the tour, he unsuccessfully challenged World Junior Heavyweight Champion Danny Kroffat in the Nippon Budokan. He wrestled his fourth tour with AJPW in October 1995 as part of the October Giant Series. Van Dam wrestled his fifth tour of the year with AJPW in November and December 1995 as part of the World's Strongest Tag Determination League, where he teamed with Johnny Smith. Van Dam and Smith finished last out of 10 teams, defeating Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori but losing their other eight matches.[18]

Van Dam returned to AJPW for a sixth tour in February and March 1996 as part of the annual Excite series, again facing the Can-Am Express, Holy Demon Army, and Super Generation Army. He returned for a seventh tour in June and July 1996 as part of the Summer Action Series; during this tour, he teamed with Maunakea Mossman to unsuccessfully challenge Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori for the All Asia Tag Team Championship. In September and October 1996, he made an eighth tour as part of the October Giant Series; during this tour, he unsuccessfully challenged World Junior Heavyweight Champion Tsuyoshi Kikuchi.[18]

Van Dam returned to AJPW for a ninth tour in January 1997 as part of the New Year Giant Series, during which he mainly teamed with Sabu; towards the end of the tour, Van Dam and Sabu unsuccessfully challenged Akiyama and Omori for the All Asia Tag Team Championship in Korakuen Hall. In May and June 1997, Van Dam returned to AJPW for a tenth tour as part of the Super Power Series, during which he unsuccessfully challenged World Junior Heavyweight Champion Yoshinari Ogawa.[18]

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996-2001)

[edit]

Rivalry and alliance with Sabu (1996–1998)

[edit]
Van Dam as both ECW World Tag Team Champion with Sabu behind him, and ECW World Television Champion, 1998

In early 1996, Van Dam signed with promoter Paul Heyman's Philadelphia-based promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), defeating Axl Rotten in his debut match at House Party.[19] Van Dam's mannerisms were those of a stoner, and he became a face due to his laid-back attitude and unorthodox style. On March 30, he faced 2 Cold Scorpio in a match for the World Television Championship. The match ended in a draw with 2 Cold Scorpio retaining the title.[20][21]

Van Dam gained attention following a series of matches with long-time rival Sabu, which began with a match at Hostile City Showdown, won by Sabu.[22] After the match, Van Dam declined to show proper respect for his opponent, leading to a rematch at A Matter of Respect, which was won by Van Dam.[21] Per the pre-match stipulation, Sabu then offered Van Dam a handshake, but was again ignored. Instead, Van Dam left the ring and turned heel under the management of Bill Alfonso.[21][23] At Hardcore Heaven, Van Dam faced his rival Sabu once again, in a match to prove who was the better man, but Sabu won the match.[21][24] The two faced each other yet again in a stretcher match at The Doctor Is In. Van Dam lost the match after missing a Plancha to the outside, hitting the railing and falling onto the stretcher.[25] He was quickly rolled out.[21]

At Natural Born Killaz, Van Dam defeated Doug Furnas in a match. Post-match, Van Dam offered Furnas a handshake, but Furnas instead hit Van Dam with a short-arm clothesline, starting a rivalry between the two.[21] After his rivalry with Furnas expanded to also include Dan Kroffat, Van Dam wanted a tag team partner of his own. After losing to long-time rival Sabu once again at Unlucky Lottery, the two united and formed what was to become one of the most successful tag teams in ECW history.[26] They feuded with Furnas and Kroffat defeating them at When Worlds Collide II and High Incident.[21][27][28]

Van Dam and Sabu next feuded with The Eliminators, John Kronus and Perry Saturn. On November 1, the two teams fought to a draw.[29] Van Dam then feuded with Taz, to whom he lost at Holiday Hell via knockout.[30] Sabu and Van Dam continued to feud with The Eliminators for the World Tag Team Championship into 1997. At Crossing the Line Again and Cyberslam, the teams faced off for the ECW World Tag Team Championship in a pair of matches, both of which were won by The Eliminators.[31][32][33] At CyberSlam, the two teams faced each other for the title in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, in which The Eliminators again retained their title.[34]

At ECW's first pay-per-view event Barely Legal, Van Dam defeated Lance Storm as a last-minute replacement for the injured Chris Candido.[35] Immediately following the match, Van Dam expressed his distaste for being chosen as a back-up for "some guy who couldn't even lace his boots." Van Dam delivered a speech directed towards Paul Heyman, and not being originally booked on the show was a point of contention between Van Dam and Heyman for a time.[33]

In May 1997, ECW "invaded" the World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) Monday Night Raw television show, drawing the ire of color commentator Jerry Lawler. Lawler then promised he would show up at an ECW show in order to gain revenge, and when he did show up, he had ECW mainstays Van Dam (who turned heel) and Sabu with him. Van Dam made speeches about how he was too good for ECW and deserved to be in one of the "Big Two" (WWF or WCW) on one of their Monday night programs (Monday Night Raw or Monday Nitro). Lawler began to call Van Dam "Mr. Monday Night" on an episode of Monday Night Raw which became a moniker that would stay with Van Dam, changing to suit the day of the week of whichever program was being broadcast. Despite his arrogance and "betrayal" of ECW, over time Van Dam became applauded by fans recognizing his athleticism and unique maneuvers.[36] On the May 12 episode of Monday Night Raw, Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy. On June 6, Van Dam defeated Flash Funk on Monday Night Raw and teamed with Lawler to defeat the Headbangers on Shotgun Saturday Night. On the June 16 episode of Monday Night Raw , Van Dam and Lawler lost to the Headbangers in a tournament for the vacant WWF World Tag Team Championship.

Van Dam continued to team up with Sabu upon his return to ECW on June 13.[37] Taz's manager Bill Alfonso betrayed Taz and joined Sabu and Van Dam. Van Dam started a new rivalry with Tommy Dreamer, who wanted to gain revenge on Van Dam for his betrayal of ECW.[36][38] On June 21, Van Dam and Sabu earned a victory over Dreamer and The Sandman.[39] Van Dam and Sabu emerged victorious against Dreamer and Sandman again at Orgy of Violence.[40] At Heat Wave, Van Dam, Sabu, and WWF's Jerry "The King" Lawler fought Dreamer, Sandman, and Rick Rude to a no contest.[41] Van Dam and Dreamer faced each other in a hardcore match at Born to Be Wired, won by Van Dam after he performed a leg drop on Dreamer with a trashcan.[38][42] Van Dam and Sabu became partners while Dreamer teamed up with Taz.[38] At Fright Fight, Van Dam lost to Dreamer in a flag match.[43] At Ultimate Jeopardy, Van Dam and Sabu faced Dreamer and Taz, a match won by Taz and Dreamer after Dreamer pinned Van Dam. At November to Remember, Van Dam faced Dreamer in another flag match which went to a no contest.[44] At Better Than Ever, Van Dam and Sabu faced Dreamer and Taz in a rematch. This time, Van Dam pinned Dreamer to give the victory to his team and to settle their rivalry.[45] Van Dam's final encounter with Dreamer came on January 5, when Dreamer teamed up with Taz, Al Snow, and Sandman to take on Van Dam, Sabu, Doug Furnas, and Phil Lafon. Van Dam's team lost the match.[46]

In 1998, Van Dam turned face and started a feud with The Triple Threat (Shane Douglas, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Chris Candido).[47] At House Party, Van Dam defeated Bam Bam Bigelow.[48] At Hostile City Showdown, Van Dam and Sabu defeated Axl Rotten and Balls Mahoney by disqualification.[49] The two went on to win a fatal four-way elimination tag team match later that night.[49] At CyberSlam, Van Dam and Sabu lost to World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow.[50]

Van Dam's popularity increased when he got his first taste of ECW gold, on April 4 when he defeated Bam Bam Bigelow to win the World Television Championship.[51][52] Van Dam retained the belt in his first title defense on April 10 against Doug Furnas.[53] Sabu also expressed interest in Van Dam's championship, leading to a title match between the two at Wrestlepalooza. Van Dam retained the title as the match ended in a time limit draw.[47][54]

At A Matter of Respect, Van Dam and Sabu were forced to face each other in a tag team match as they both teamed up with World Tag Team Champions. Van Dam teamed with the one half of the champions, Lance Storm, while Sabu teamed with the other half, Chris Candido. Van Dam and Sabu reconciled and instead took out Storm and Candido making it a no contest.[47][55] Van Dam and Sabu started a feud with Storm and Candido in the next month for the tag team title.[47] On June 29, Van Dam and Sabu beat Storm and Candido to win the World Tag Team Championship,[56] which made Van Dam a double champion.[47] On October 24, Sabu and Van Dam lost the title to the Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von) after interference from Triple Threat.[47][57] Van Dam sought revenge and at November to Remember, Van Dam and Sabu teamed with Taz to defeat Triple Threat.[47][58] On December 13, Van Dam and Sabu won the World Tag Team Championship for a second time by beating the Dudley Boyz in Japan at a Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling ECW/FMW Supershow.[47][56]

Longest-reigning World Television Champion (1998–2000)

[edit]

Van Dam remained the World Television Champion for the rest of 1998, and he started 1999 by making successful title defenses against the likes of Spike Dudley,[59] Lance Storm at Guilty as Charged,[60] Jerry Lynn at Crossing the Line '99, Balls Mahoney at Anarchy Rulz,[61] and 2 Cold Scorpio at CyberSlam.[62][63]

Van Dam and Sabu were scheduled to make a title defense on April 17, but Sabu was suspended by ECW before the match occurred.[63] Instead, Van Dam faced D-Von Dudley in a singles match and as a result of losing the match, Van Dam also lost the ECW World Tag Team Championship to the Dudleyz.[64] After losing the tag team titles, Van Dam focused on defending the Television title.[63] He entered into a rivalry with Jerry Lynn against whom he defended the Television title at Hardcore Heaven in a "no time limit" match.[65] Van Dam retained the title, and the match was deemed so good that Paul Heyman aired it on ECW's debut on TNN in place of a shoot promo about TNN that he was planning, but was not allowed to air.[65] Van Dam continued to defend the ECW World Television Championship for the remainder of the year.

Van Dam began a feud with Rhino in the beginning of 2000. Van Dam successfully defended the ECW World Television Championship against Rhino on January 7.[66] Van Dam got a victory during a title defense against Sabu at Guilty as Charged which was Sabu's last match in the promotion.[67][68] Van Dam was scheduled to perform in a "champion vs. champion" pay-per-view main event against the ECW World Heavyweight Champion Mike Awesome. This match potentially could have been ECW's most lucrative pay-per-view main event, and Heyman was depending on it to bring an influx of badly needed finances, but the match never occurred because Van Dam suffered a broken ankle during a successful title defense against Rhino on January 29.[67][69] The injury also forced Van Dam to vacate the ECW World Television Championship.

Final appearances (2000–2001)

[edit]

Van Dam returned to ECW at Hardcore Heaven and faced long-time rival Jerry Lynn. Van Dam was supported by his real-life friend Scotty Anton who eventually turned on him when Van Dam was going to perform a Five-Star Frog Splash on Lynn. Anton pushed him from the top rope, which helped Lynn win the match.[67][70] Van Dam feuded with Anton and took his revenge at Heat Wave by defeating Anton after debuting his new finisher called the "Van Terminator".[67][71] Van Dam then attempted to exact revenge on Rhino for forcing his injury. He received many opportunities to win the ECW World Television Championship back from Rhino, but Rhino's allies usually attacked Van Dam, causing disqualifications and allowing Rhino to retain the title.[67] At Anarchy Rulz, Van Dam faced Rhino for the ECW World Television Championship but was screwed when a heel referee made a fast count during a pinfall attempt made by Rhino.[67][72]

Van Dam was not advertised and did not show for a large number of ECW events due to the large sum of money owed to him.[67] He appeared at ECW's final pay-per-view event Guilty as Charged, where he defeated Jerry Lynn.[73][74] This was Van Dam's last appearance in ECW, as ECW only held two more shows after the pay-per-view.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2001)

[edit]

In February and March 2001, Van Dam returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling for an eleventh tour as part of its "Excite Series". During the tour, Van Dam primarily wrestled in tag team matches, teaming with partners including Danny Kroffat and Gran Naniwa. His opponents during the tour included Giant Kimala and Sabu.[18]

World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment (2001-2007)

[edit]

The Invasion (2001)

[edit]

Several months after the closure of ECW, Van Dam was signed to a short-term contract by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Along with fellow ECW alumnus Tommy Dreamer, Van Dam returned to WWF television on the July 9, 2001, episode of Raw is War in Atlanta, Georgia as a heel, and attacking WWF wrestlers Kane and Chris Jericho.[75][76] Later that night, five wrestlers from WWF and five wrestlers from WCW took on ten ECW wrestlers, including Van Dam. The match never took place as instead the WCW wrestlers aligned themselves with the ECW wrestlers.[75][76]

Despite being presented as a heel, Van Dam was popular with the WWF fans, who were aware of his reputation in ECW. After defeating Jeff Hardy for the WWF Hardcore Championship at WWF Invasion on July 22,[75][77][78][79] Van Dam lost the Hardcore Championship to Hardy on the August 13 episode of Raw is War,[80] but regained it at SummerSlam on August 19 in a ladder match. During this time Van Dam had defeated wrestlers such as Kane, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, The Rock and even Alliance leader Stone Cold Steve Austin in singles and tag team matches.[78][81] Van Dam became one of the most popular members of the Alliance who faced The Rock for the WCW Championship on multiple occasions, and even challenged Alliance leader Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship including a triple threat match at No Mercy on October 21 also involving Kurt Angle, but did not win. At Survivor Series on November 18, Van Dam and four other Alliance members faced five WWF wrestlers in a Winner Take All match. Team WWF won, and the members of the Alliance were fired; however, as he held the Hardcore Championship, Van Dam was able to retain his job.[75][82]

Intercontinental Champion and Championship Unifications (2001–2002)

[edit]

Van Dam became a face, but lost the Hardcore Championship to The Undertaker at Vengeance on December 9.[83][84] He then entered into a rivalry with William Regal over Regal's WWF Intercontinental Championship.[85] On the February 25, 2002 episode of Raw, Van Dam defeated Lance Storm and Big Show in a triple threat match to become the #1 contender to the Intercontinental Championship.[85][86] At WrestleMania X8 on March 17, Van Dam faced Regal for the Intercontinental Championship and won the match after he hit Regal with a Five-Star Frog Splash.[85][87][88]

Van Dam after winning the WWF Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania X8

When the WWF was divided into two "brands", Raw and SmackDown! in 2002, Van Dam was drafted to the Raw brand as the fourth pick, thus bringing the Intercontinental Championship to Raw.[89][90] On the April 1 episode of Raw, after Van Dam defended his title successfully against Booker T, Eddie Guerrero returned to the WWF and attacked Van Dam.[89][91] He started a feud with Guerrero over the Intercontinental Championship. At Backlash on April 21, Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to Guerrero.[89][92] At Insurrextion on May 4, Van Dam and Guerrero had a rematch for the Intercontinental Championship. Guerrero was disqualified after hitting the referee with the Intercontinental Championship; as a result, Van Dam won the match but not the title because a title cannot change hands by disqualification.[89][93] At Judgment Day on May 19, Van Dam failed to win the Intercontinental title from Guerrero in another rematch.[89][94] The following night he defeated The Undertaker for the WWE Undisputed Championship but Raw owner Ric Flair restarted the match (due to The Undertaker's foot being on the bottom rope), which Van Dam then lost negating the title win.[89][95] On the May 27 episode of Raw, Van Dam defeated Guerrero in a ladder match for his second Intercontinental Championship.[89][96][97]

After facing each other in the final round of the 2002 King of the Ring tournament (which he lost), Van Dam and Brock Lesnar began feuding with each other. Van Dam defended his Intercontinental Championship against Lesnar twice and retained his title both times by disqualification on the June 24 episode of Raw and at Vengeance on July 21.[89][98][99] On the July 22 episode of Raw, Van Dam won the WWE European Championship for the first and only time[note 1] after he defeated then-European Champion Jeff Hardy in a championship unification ladder match. As a result, the European Championship was deactivated upon being unified with the Intercontinental Championship. On the July 29 episode of Raw, Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to Chris Benoit.[89][100]

Van Dam as Intercontinental Champion

At SummerSlam on August 25, Van Dam won his third Intercontinental Championship by defeating Benoit in a rematch for the title.[89][101][102] As Benoit brought the title to SmackDown! when he switched brands shortly after winning it, Van Dam brought the title back to Raw.[89] On the August 26 episode of Raw, Van Dam won the Hardcore Championship for the fourth and final time after he defeated then-Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer in a championship unification hardcore match. As a result, the Hardcore Championship was deactivated upon being unified with the Intercontinental Championship.[78][89][103] On the September 9 episode of Raw, Van Dam became the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy, and Big Show in a fatal four-way elimination match.[89][104]

Van Dam started feuding with the World Heavyweight Champion Triple H. On the September 16 episode of Raw, Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to Chris Jericho after interference by Triple H.[89][105] At Unforgiven on September 22, Van Dam faced Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. Due to Ric Flair's interference, Van Dam lost the match.[89][106] At No Mercy on October 20, Van Dam got his revenge on Flair by defeating him.[89][107] At Survivor Series on November 17, Van Dam participated in the first-ever Elimination Chamber match for Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship, but it was won by Shawn Michaels. During the match, Van Dam performed a Five-Star Frog Splash off of one of the pods/chambers onto Triple H, and accidentally landed his knee onto Triple H's throat.[89][108]

Teaming and feuding with Kane (2002–2003)

[edit]

Van Dam appeared on the World Heavyweight Championship scene and also formed a tag team with Kane in October.[89] Van Dam defeated Jericho and Booker T in a Triple Threat match to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship.[89][109] On the November 25 episode of Raw, Van Dam faced Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship. Michaels was disqualified after Triple H hit Van Dam with a Pedigree.[89][110] On the December 2 episode of Raw, Van Dam lost to Triple H in a #1 contender's match with World Heavyweight Champion Shawn Michaels acting as the special guest referee.[89][111]

Van Dam continued to team up with Kane. Van Dam participated in the Royal Rumble on January 19, 2003, and was one of the final five participants before being tricked and eliminated by Kane. The two faced Lance Storm and William Regal at No Way Out on February 23 for the World Tag Team Championship but failed to win the titles when Kane mistakenly chokeslammed Van Dam.[112] On the March 31 episode of Raw, Van Dam and Kane defeated World Tag Team Champions Lance Storm and Chief Morley and The Dudley Boyz in a 3-way elimination tag team match to win the World Tag Team Championship.[113][114] At Backlash on April 27, Van Dam and Kane retained the titles against The Dudley Boyz with Morley as the special guest referee.[115] At Insurrextion on June 7, Van Dam and Kane defended the World Tag Team Championship successfully against La Résistance,[116][117] before losing the titles to La Résistance at Bad Blood on June 15.[116][118]

After Kane was forced to take his mask off when he lost a World Heavyweight Championship match to Triple H on the June 23 episode of Raw, he turned heel by chokeslamming Van Dam, and the team dissolved. The two then started feuding with each other.[116] On the August 18 episode of Raw, Van Dam faced Christian for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, but Kane interfered in the match and knocked Van Dam out after hitting him with a chair. Kane then took Van Dam to the backstage area and was about to set him on fire. Kane changed his mind at the last minute, however, and said that he was not going to do what "they" wanted.[119] Their rivalry led to a No Holds Barred match at SummerSlam on August 24, which Kane won.[116][120] On the September 8 episode of Raw, the rivalry ended when Kane defeated Van Dam in a steel cage match. Kane threw Van Dam through the steel cage by mistake (causing Van Dam to win), but Eric Bischoff came out and restarted the match, saying Van Dam did not escape through the door or climb out of the cage and ordered the referees to put Van Dam back inside the cage where Kane eventually hit a chokeslam from the side of the cage to pick up the victory.[116][121]

Championship reigns (2003–2005)

[edit]

In September, Van Dam started feuding with both Christian and Chris Jericho over Christian's Intercontinental Championship. On the September 15 episode of Raw, Van Dam faced Jericho in a number one contender's match for the title. The match ended in a double disqualification when Intercontinental Champion Christian interfered and hit both men with the title belt.[116][122] At Unforgiven on September 21 in a triple threat match between Jericho, Christian, and Van Dam, Christian retained his title.[116][123][124] Van Dam, however, defeated Christian in a ladder match on the September 29 episode of Raw to win the Intercontinental Championship for a fourth time.[125] Van Dam entered into a rivalry with Chris Jericho in October, and the two faced each other in several tag team matches.[123] On the October 27 episode of Raw, Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jericho. Van Dam reached the ropes when the challenger had him in the Walls of Jericho, but Raw Co-General Manager Eric Bischoff distracted the referee while Jericho dragged Van Dam back into the middle of the ring. Van Dam submitted and Jericho became the new champion.[116][123][126] Raw Co-General Manager Stone Cold Steve Austin came out and immediately ordered Jericho to face Van Dam in a rematch inside the Steel Cage for the title. Van Dam won the rematch and his fifth Intercontinental Championship.[123][126][127]

At Survivor Series on November 16, Van Dam was pinned by Randy Orton during the traditional elimination match between Team Austin and Team Bischoff that Van Dam's team would lose.[116][128] As a result, Orton and Van Dam started feuding with each other over Van Dam's Intercontinental title.[116] Van Dam lost the Intercontinental Championship to Orton at Armageddon on December 14 after interference from Ric Flair.[116][123][129] Van Dam went on to feud with both Orton and Evolution. On the January 12, 2004, episode of Raw, Van Dam faced Orton in a rematch for the Intercontinental Championship but lost the match.[130][131]

Van Dam formed a tag team with Booker T. The two teamed for the first time on the January 19 episode of Raw when they defeated Christian and Matt Hardy to qualify for a battle royal where the winner of the Battle Royal would get the #30 spot in the 2004 Royal Rumble match on January 25.[130][132] On the February 16 episode of Raw, Booker T and Van Dam defeated Evolution members Ric Flair and Batista to win the World Tag Team Championship.[130][133] At WrestleMania XX on March 14, Booker T and Van Dam defended the World Tag Team Championship in a fatal four-way elimination tag team match against the Dudley Boyz, La Résistance, and the team of Mark Jindrak and Garrison Cade.[130][134] On the March 22 episode of Raw, Booker T and Van Dam lost the World Tag Team Championship back to Evolution.[130][135]

On March 22, Van Dam was drafted to the SmackDown! brand.[136] He made his SmackDown! debut on March 25 defeating Charlie Haas. Van Dam and Rey Mysterio began a feud with the Dudley Boyz, defeating them at Judgment Day on May 16.[136][137] In June, Van Dam left the tag team division and began a pursuit for the United States Championship. At The Great American Bash on June 27, John Cena defended the title against Van Dam, Booker T, and René Duprée in a Fatal Four-Way match and retained his championship.[136][138] On the July 1 episode of SmackDown!, Van Dam and Duprée lost to Booker T in a number one contender's Triple Threat match.[136][139] Four weeks later, Van Dam participated in an 8-way elimination match for the vacant United States Championship, and was the last man to be eliminated by eventual winner Booker T.[136][140]

Van Dam began teaming up with Mysterio again in the summer and feuded with René Duprée and Kenzo Suzuki. At No Mercy on October 3, Van Dam and Mysterio failed to win the WWE Tag Team Championship from Dupree and Suzuki.[136][141] On the December 9 episode of SmackDown!, Van Dam and Mysterio defeated Duprée and Suzuki to win the WWE Tag Team Championship,[142] and retained the title in a rematch at Armageddon on December 12.[136][143] In January 2005, Van Dam suffered a knee injury. To explain his absence, the Basham Brothers (Doug and Danny) defeated Mysterio and Van Dam for the WWE Tag Team Championship, in a Fatal Four-Way elimination tag team match on the January 13 episode of SmackDown!, "injuring" Van Dam in the process.[144][145] On January 27, Van Dam underwent reconstructive knee surgery under Dr. James Andrews to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus.[123][144]

WWE Champion and ECW Champion (2005–2006)

[edit]
Van Dam during his ring entrance at WrestleMania 23

While recuperating, Van Dam made an appearance at the ECW reunion pay-per-view ECW One Night Stand on June 12. Accompanied by his former manager Bill Alfonso and sporting a knee brace, Van Dam delivered a worked shoot promo, standing up for ECW and criticizing the way he had been booked in WWE, until he was attacked by Rhyno. He was saved by Sabu, who defeated Rhyno in an impromptu match. Despite his injury, Van Dam got physically involved in the match, hitting Rhyno with a chairshot and giving him a Chair Surf.[146] On the June 27 episode of Raw, Van Dam, while still healing, was drafted to the Raw brand in the 2005 draft lottery. He was introduced to Raw by Carlito, who insulted Van Dam before attacking him and assaulting his knee. Van Dam made his return to the ring over seven months later at the Royal Rumble on January 29, 2006. He gained revenge on Carlito by eliminating him, but was in turn inadvertently eliminated by Rey Mysterio in the final moments. On the February 6 episode of Raw, Van Dam defeated Carlito in the first round of the Road to WrestleMania Tournament to determine the number one contender to the WWE Championship, but lost in the final round to Triple H, in a triple threat match, which also featured Big Show. Later, Van Dam defeated Trevor Murdoch to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 22 on April 2. Van Dam went on to win the match, thus earning himself a guaranteed shot at either the WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship at any time within the subsequent year.[147]

Following the ladder match, Shelton Benjamin challenged Van Dam to put his Money in the Bank opportunity on the line in a match. Van Dam countered by requesting a match for Benjamin's Intercontinental Championship. One week later, both Van Dam and Benjamin picked mystery opponents for one another, with the loser placing their respective prize on the line in a bout at Backlash on April 30. Benjamin lost to the returning Charlie Haas, while Van Dam was defeated by all five members of the Spirit Squad. As a result, both the Intercontinental Championship and the Money in the Bank title shot were contested at Backlash. Van Dam went on to win the former, before dropping the Intercontinental Championship back to Benjamin on the May 15 episode of Raw.

Van Dam facing Hardcore Holly in the Extreme Elimination Chamber at December to Dismember

On May 29, Van Dam was selected by Paul Heyman to be drafted to WWE's new ECW brand. At ECW One Night Stand on June 11, Van Dam cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated John Cena to win the WWE Championship. After two referees were knocked out, Edge appeared from underneath the ring to attack Cena, spearing him through a table. Van Dam then hit a Five Star Frog Splash and the pinfall was counted by Paul Heyman, who suddenly ran down the aisle. On the following episode of Raw, Vince McMahon confirmed that the title change was official due to the match being held under "extreme rules". For the past few weeks, Heyman had hinted that the WWE Championship would be "rechristened" the ECW World Heavyweight Championship when Van Dam won. On the debut of ECW, Van Dam was awarded the reinstated ECW World Heavyweight Championship by Heyman and decided to defend the WWE Championship separately and simultaneously, joking that "this one spins", becoming the first wrestler in history to hold both the WWE Championship and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship as well as the only one to hold them at the same time, making him a double world champion. He would become the 15th WWE Triple Crown Champion as a result of his WWE Championship win.

At Vengeance on June 25, Van Dam defeated Edge to retain the WWE Championship. Two nights later on ECW, Van Dam defeated Kurt Angle to retain the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.[148] On the July 3 episode of Raw, Van Dam lost the WWE Championship to Edge in a triple threat match that also featured John Cena. The next night on the July 4 episode of ECW, he lost the ECW World Heavyweight Championship to Big Show after Heyman turned on him. Later on WWE.com, Heyman suspended Van Dam for 30 days without giving a reason (in reality, WWE suspended Van Dam for 30 days as a result of his recent drug possession arrest).[149]

He returned to television on the August 8 episode of ECW, attacking both Sabu and Kurt Angle during a match. His return to the ring came a week later, in a losing effort to Sabu in a ladder match for number one contendership to the now renamed ECW World Championship. Van Dam slowly worked his way back into the championship picture. In October, Van Dam defeated Big Show in a non-title match to regain the number one contendership. Having the option to pick a date for the title, Van Dam announced the title match would occur at December to Dismember on December 3. However, Heyman had the option of picking the match type and announced that the main event would be a six-man Extreme Elimination Chamber match. At December to Dismember, Van Dam was the third participant eliminated. Later in December, Van Dam once again earned the number one contendership to the ECW World Championship, but this time by a fan poll. Van Dam got three matches against ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley, coming up short each time.

The ECW Originals (2006–2007)

[edit]
Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, Van Dam and The Sandman (ECW Originals) performing their signature poses

Rob Van Dam later joined the ECW Originals along with Sabu, Tommy Dreamer, and The Sandman. The ECW Originals began a feud with the New Breed (Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, Marcus Cor Von, and Matt Striker). The two teams faced off at WrestleMania 23 on April 1, 2007 in a match which the ECW Originals won. After Vince McMahon won the ECW World Championship at Backlash on April 29, Van Dam and the other ECW Originals made statements on WWE.com about McMahon killing ECW. On the May 1 episode of ECW, the ECW Originals all competed in a fatal four-way match to decide who would take on McMahon the next week in a title match, which Van Dam won after a five-star frog splash on Sandman. Van Dam, however, had to face McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Umaga in a 3-on-1 handicap match, which Van Dam was unable to win.

Van Dam received a concussion during a match with Randy Orton on the May 28 episode of Raw.[150] Orton further attacked Van Dam after the match due to the comments Van Dam made on WWE.com about the lack of respect Orton displayed towards Shawn Michaels, who also suffered a concussion at the hands of Orton. Van Dam once again faced Orton at One Night Stand on June 3, this time in a Stretcher match. Although it looked as if Orton was going to win again, Van Dam gave him a roundhouse kick to the head and was able to push the stretcher across the line for the win. Despite winning the match, Orton continued to attack Van Dam, ending with an elevated DDT off the barricade and onto the concrete floor, in which Van Dam was carried out on a stretcher. After the match, Van Dam left WWE due to being burnt out and needing time away.

Return to the independent circuit (2007–2010)

[edit]

The day after Van Dam's WWE contract expired, he was in the United Kingdom on a promotional tour and to record scenes for the wrestling documentary, Bloodstained Memoirs. He also took part in interviews for the BBC.[151]

Van Dam defeated Booker T at Pro Wrestling Alliance Christmas Chaos on December 28, 2007, in Pasadena, Texas.[152]

Van Dam as No Limits Wrestling (NLW) Champion at American Wrestling Rampage

In an interview with the Baltimore Sun, Van Dam stated that while WWE would be the first choice and that he would definitely talk to them, he would definitely consider Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) if he returned full-time to pro wrestling.[153] While not under contract, Van Dam made an unannounced return on WWE's 15th Anniversary Raw in December 2007, squashing Santino Marella with a Five-Star Frog Splash.[154] He made a similarly unannounced appearance as a participant in the 2009 Royal Rumble, which he failed to win as he was eliminated by Chris Jericho.[155]

He returned to the independent circuit by competing for Associação Portuguesa de Wrestling (APW) in February 2008. He then also appeared for Nu-Wrestling Evolution (NWE) throughout countries such as Spain. On August 14, 2008, he won a triple threat match at the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) in Japan after defeating Kendo Kashin and Necro Butcher.[156]

On March 9, 2009, it was announced that Van Dam would be competing in American Wrestling Rampage (AWR) on their European Tour, during which he won the promotion's No Limits Wrestling (NLW) Championship in a three way bout versus Sabu and former champion Shawn Maxer.[157] He lost the title to René Duprée after three successful defenses. In November he regained the title, renamed the AWR World Heavyweight Championship at this point, from Duprée on November 29 winning two decisions in a Two Out of Three Falls match. On September 11, 2009, in the World Stars of Wrestling (WSW) European Championship events in Portimão, Portugal, Van Dam won the WSW World Championship, by defeating Joe E. Legend. On the following night he defended his newly won title against Lance Cade.

On January 30, 2010, Van Dam made his debut for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) as part of WrestleReunion 4, defeating Chris Hero and Roderick Strong in a "Sky High" three-way match.[158]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2010-2013)

[edit]

TNA World Heavyweight Champion and EV 2.0 (2010–2011)

[edit]

On March 8, 2010, Van Dam made his debut for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) at the promotion's Monday night episode of Impact!, defeating Sting. Then just seconds after his debut victory Sting attacked him and later Hulk Hogan with his signature baseball bat.[159] Van Dam got his revenge on Sting the following week by attacking him during his entrance.[160] Van Dam teamed with Jeff Hardy in a tag team match, where they defeated Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm) on the March 22 episode of Impact!.[161] The following week the two of them teamed with Eric Young and defeated The Band (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Syxx-Pac) in a six-man tag team steel cage match.[162] At Lockdown on April 18, both Van Dam and Hardy became members of Team Hogan (joining Abyss and Jeff Jarrett) for the annual Lethal Lockdown match, where they defeated Team Flair (Sting, Desmond Wolfe, Robert Roode and James Storm).[163]

The night after Lockdown he first defeated Jeff Hardy in a number one contender's match and then, in the main event of the evening, A.J. Styles to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion.[164] After succeeding in his first televised title defense against Desmond Wolfe, Styles attacked Van Dam, announcing the invocation of the rematch clause for Sacrifice on May 16.[165] At Sacrifice Van Dam defeated Styles in a rematch.[166] The following month at Slammiversary VIII on June 13 Van Dam retained his title against Sting in a rematch of his TNA debut.[167] Van Dam defeated Abyss, Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson in a four-way match to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Victory Road on July 11.[168] On the following episode of Impact! Van Dam aligned himself with fellow ECW alumni Tommy Dreamer, Raven, Stevie Richards, Rhino, Brother Devon, Pat Kenney, Al Snow and Mick Foley, who saved him from a beating at the hands of Abyss.[169][170][171]

The following week, TNA president Dixie Carter agreed to give the ECW alumni their own reunion pay–per–view event, Hardcore Justice on August 8.[172] At Hardcore Justice, Van Dam defeated former tag team partner and rival Sabu in a non-title Hardcore Rules match, after his originally planned match with Jerry Lynn was scrapped due to Lynn suffering a back injury.[173] After successfully defending the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Abyss in a Stairway to Janice match on the following special edition of Impact!, named The Whole F'n Show, Van Dam and the other former ECW wrestlers were assaulted by Abyss and Fourtune.[174][175] In the attack Van Dam suffered multiple serious storyline injuries at the hands of Abyss including the need for stitches, spinal trauma and possible acute brain damage, which would force him to vacate the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on August 10 at the taping of the August 19 episode of Impact!.[176][177][178] In reality, Van Dam was running out of dates per year on his contract and was therefore taken off television.[179]

Van Dam (left) taking on Matt Hardy in 2011

Van Dam returned via telephone interview on the September 16 episode of Impact! and announced that he would return to the Impact! Zone the following week, against his doctor's orders.[180] Van Dam returned the following week, confronting Abyss and demanding a match against him at Bound for Glory on October 10, which Eric Bischoff agreed to give him.[181] At Bound for Glory Van Dam defeated Abyss in a Monster's Ball match. At the end of Bound for Glory it was revealed that Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff had sent Abyss after Van Dam in order to get the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on their own representative, Jeff Hardy. Van Dam confronted the group, later named Immortal, after Hardy had won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, only to get hit with the title belt.[182] On the October 21 episode of Impact! Bischoff claimed that someone from EV 2.0 had been calling him, trying to get to be a part of Immortal, which led to Van Dam getting paranoid about his stablemates, first accusing Raven of being the traitor. Later, he and Sabu were defeated in a tag team match by Beer Money, Inc., after Sabu accidentally hit him with a chair. After the match Van Dam and Sabu began shoving each other and had to be separated from each other by the rest of EV 2.0.[183] After two more weeks of dissension between Van Dam and the rest of EV 2.0, Tommy Dreamer challenged him to a match at Turning Point on November 7.[184][185] At Turning Point Van Dam defeated Dreamer and afterwards made peace with him.[186] On the following episode of Impact! Rhino turned heel by attacking Van Dam and Dreamer, revealing himself as the traitor Van Dam had been looking for.[187] At Final Resolution on December 5 Van Dam defeated Rhino in a First Blood match.[188]

Championship pursuits (2011–2012)

[edit]

On January 4, 2011, Van Dam traveled to Japan with other TNA wrestlers to take part New Japan Pro-Wrestling's (NJPW) fifth annual Wrestle Kingdom in Tokyo Dome, where he defeated Toru Yano in a hardcore match.[189][190] At Genesis on January 9, Van Dam was defeated by Immortal's surprise opponent, the debuting Matt Hardy, when referee Jackson James missed Van Dam's foot under the ropes, thus failing to earn a shot at his brother Jeff's TNA World Heavyweight Championship. During the main event Van Dam prevented Matt from interfering in Jeff's match with Mr. Anderson, which led to Jeff losing the title.[191] The following month at Against All Odds on February 13, Van Dam defeated Matt Hardy in a rematch.[192] On the following episode of Impact!, Van Dam finally received his shot at Jeff Hardy and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, but was unable to regain the title.[193] On March 13 at Victory Road, Van Dam wrestled Mr. Anderson to a double countout in a TNA World Heavyweight Championship number one contender's match.[194] On April 17 at Lockdown, Van Dam failed in his attempt to regain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Sting in a three–way steel cage match, which also included Anderson.[195] The following month at Sacrifice on May 15, Van Dam again failed to regain the title, this time in a singles match with Sting.[196]

Van Dam represented TNA at Mexican promotion AAA's Triplemanía XIX pay-per-view on June 18, 2011. In the main event of the show, Van Dam was defeated by Dr. Wagner, Jr. in a match to determine the first ever AAA Latin American Champion.[197] At Destination X on July 10, Van Dam defeated longtime rival Jerry Lynn in a singles match.[198] On August 7 at Hardcore Justice, Van Dam, at the time ranked number two in the Bound for Glory Series, faced Crimson, ranked number one, in a tournament match. Van Dam lost the match via disqualification, when Jerry Lynn entered the ring, costing him not only the match, but also several places in the tournament's standings.[199] Lynn cost Van Dam another Bound for Glory Series match against A.J. Styles in similar fashion on the August 18 Impact Wrestling.[200] Lynn turned on Van Dam on the September 1 Impact Wrestling, costing him his match with Gunner and, in the process, eliminating him from the finals of the Bound for Glory Series.[201] The following week Lynn explained his turn by claiming that he was tired of being in Van Dam's shadow.[202] Van Dam defeated Lynn in a Full Metal Mayhem match at Bound for Glory on October 16.[203]

On the October 27 episode of Impact Wrestling, Van Dam defeated Christopher Daniels by disqualification after Daniels hit him with a toolbox.[204] Two weeks later, Van Dam prevented Daniels from using a screwdriver to illegally defeat A.J. Styles in a singles match which would cost Daniels the match.[205] At Turning Point on November 13, Van Dam defeated Daniels in a No Disqualification match.[206] In retaliation, Daniels cost him his match for the TNA Television Championship against Robbie E on the December 1 episode of Impact Wrestling.[207] Van Dam defeated Daniels at Final Resolution on December 11 again to end their feud.[208]

After wrestling to a double countout on the January 5, 2012, edition of Impact Wrestling, Gunner made a failed attempt to piledrive Van Dam into the concrete floor after Van Dam back body dropped him onto it.[209] On January 8 at Genesis, Van Dam was defeated by Gunner and was afterwards stretchered backstage, after taking a DDT onto the concrete floor.[210] After a near three-month absence Van Dam resumed working live events in late March.[211][212] Van Dam returned to Impact Wrestling on April 12, being revealed as the fifth member of Garett Bischoff's team at Lockdown on April 15.[213] At Lockdown, Team Garett defeated a team led by Eric Bischoff.[214] On the following episode of Impact Wrestling, Van Dam defeated Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson in a three-way match to become the number one contender to the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.[215] Van Dam received his title opportunity in a ladder match on May 13 at Sacrifice, but was defeated by the defending champion, Bobby Roode.[216] At Slammiversary on June 10, Van Dam was defeated by Mr. Anderson in a three-way number one contender's match, also involving Jeff Hardy.[217] Later that week on Impact Wrestling, Van Dam entered the 2012 Bound for Glory Series.[218] At Hardcore Justice on August 12, Van Dam defeated Magnus and Mr. Anderson in a Falls Count Anywhere match. He wrestled his final match in the tournament on the September 6 Impact Wrestling, losing to Bully Ray, thus finishing fifth and narrowly missing the semifinals of the tournament.[219] On the October 4 episode of Impact Wrestling, Van Dam unsuccessfully challenged Samoa Joe for the TNA Television Championship.[220]

X Division Champion (2012–2013)

[edit]

The following week, Van Dam was allowed to pick his opponent for Bound for Glory on October 14 and opted to challenge Zema Ion for the TNA X Division Championship.[221] Van Dam defeated Ion to win the X Division Championship for the first time at Bound for Glory.[222] On the October 25 Impact Wrestling, Van Dam made his first successful title defense, defeating Ion in a rematch. Following the win, he would be attacked by Matt Morgan and Joey Ryan.[223] The following week, Van Dam was defeated by Ryan in a non-title match after an interference from Matt Morgan. Afterwards, he would again be attacked by Morgan.[224] On November 11 at Turning Point, Van Dam defeated Ryan to retain the X Division Championship, after which, he would be attacked by Matt Morgan for the third consecutive time.[225] Four days later on Impact Wrestling, he successfully defended the title against Kid Kash.[226] Van Dam retained the X Division Championship against Austin Aries on November 29 after losing to him via disqualification, following interference from Bully Ray.[227]

Van Dam made another successful title defense on December 9 at Final Resolution, defeating Kenny King.[228] On the following episode of Impact Wrestling, Van Dam lost a non-title match to King, when King pinned him with his feet on the ropes.[229] On January 13, 2013, at Genesis, Van Dam defeated Christian York to retain the X Division Championship.[230] On the February 7 episode of Impact Wrestling, Van Dam successfully defended the X Division Championship against Kenny King and Zema Ion in a three-way match.[231] Two weeks later, Van Dam defeated King again to retain his title.[232] Van Dam lost the X Division Championship to King on the February 28 Impact Wrestling, ending Van Dam's reign at 137 days.[233] In March 2013, Van Dam's TNA contract expired and he did an interview about his future with TNA, stating that he would return to television in WWE or TNA, saying that he was negotiating with both companies.[234] According to Van Dam, he lost his passion for professional wrestling during his work in TNA due to the attitude of his coworkers.[235]

Return to WWE (2013−2014)

[edit]

On June 16, 2013, at Payback, it was announced that Van Dam would be returning at Money in the Bank as one of the participants in the WWE Championship Money in the Bank ladder match along with Christian, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, and Sheamus,[236][237] however, the match was ultimately won by Orton on July 14.[238] In his first singles match for the company since 2007, Van Dam defeated Chris Jericho the following night on Raw. He would then go on a short winning streak defeating the likes of Darren Young, Fandango and Wade Barrett which would lead to a United States Championship opportunity against Dean Ambrose at SummerSlam which Van Dam would win via disqualification which meant Ambrose retained the title. Van Dam was then put in a feud with the then-World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio, including Del Rio's personal announcer Ricardo Rodriguez becoming Van Dam's announcer, facing Del Rio at Night of Champions (winning via disqualification) and Battleground, but he could not win the title.[239][240][241] After this match, Van Dam took a sabbatical from television.

Van Dam in April 2014

Van Dam returned to WWE on the April 7, 2014, episode of Raw, defeating Damien Sandow and would later defeat him once more in a rematch on the following SmackDown.[242] Shortly after, he entered into an WWE Intercontinental Championship tournament, defeating Alberto Del Rio in the first round and Cesaro in the semifinals but lost in the final round to Bad News Barrett.[243] Following this he entered into a feud with Cesaro and Jack Swagger, having gained pinfall victories over both men in the lead up to Extreme Rules, Van Dam would go on to lose to Cesaro and Jack Swagger in a Triple Threat Elimination match, which was won by Cesaro after pinning Van Dam last, who had pinned Swagger first. Following Extreme Rules, Van Dam would once more go on to defeat Cesaro and Jack Swagger on separate occasions in rematches on both Raw and SmackDown. On the May 19 edition of Raw, Van Dam won a Beat the Clock challenge match by defeating Alberto Del Rio in the fastest time, to become the top contender for the Intercontinental Championship at Payback,[244] although he lost to Barrett at Payback. On the June 16 episode of Raw, Van Dam competed in a Battle Royal with the winner gaining a WWE World Heavyweight Championship opportunity, the match was won by Roman Reigns.[245] At Money in the Bank, Van Dam took part in the Money in the Bank Ladder match for the briefcase, but was won by Seth Rollins.[246] At SummerSlam, Van Dam defeated Cesaro during the pre-show.[247] Following SummerSlam, Van Dam would go on to team with Roman Reigns and Sheamus in a six-man tag team match in a winning effort against Randy Orton, Ryback and Curtis Axel on the August 18 episode of Raw. After defeating Seth Rollins by countout on the August 26 edition of Main Event, Van Dam's final match with WWE was on the August 29 episode of SmackDown, where he faced Rollins in a losing effort.[248][249] He made an appearance at the 2014 Slammy Awards to present the Slammy Award for Extreme Moment of the Year.[250]

Second return to the independent circuit (2015–2019)

[edit]

In 2015, Van Dam appeared at many circuit shows including one night appearances at House of Hardcore. On June 7, 2015, Van Dam performed at Citi Field for the Legends of Wrestling and defeated Scott Steiner by pinfall. During a post match attacked by Steiner and Doc Gallows, Goldberg would come to his aid and spear Steiner.[251] Van Dam faced John Morrison at Pro Wrestling Syndicate in Rahway, New Jersey, on October 24, 2015, in a losing effort. After the match, Morrison shook hands with Van Dam and led the crowd in an "RVD" chant.[252][253] Van Dam would compete for Pro Wrestling Pride (PWP) in June 2016, defeating then PWP Catch Division Champion Scotty Essex in Taunton, England. Van Dam faced Pentagón Jr. for PCW Heavyweight Championship at PCW Ultra in Torrance, California, on November 11, 2016, in a winning effort, it was his first championship after he left WWE in 2014. Van Dam was scheduled to compete in a 128-man tournament starting from June 10, 2017, hosted by 5 Star Wrestling, which was later postponed to February 2018. On July 30, Van Dam was announced to compete at Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) Fear & Loathing X against Lionheart.

Return to Impact Wrestling (2019–2020)

[edit]
In 2019, Van Dam made his return to Impact Wrestling.

On February 8, 2019, it was revealed that Van Dam would return to TNA, now named Impact Wrestling at their WrestleMania 35-weekend show, United We Stand. At United We Stand on April 4, 2019, he teamed with Sabu and faced Lucha Bros (Pentagón Jr. and Fénix) in a hardcore match.[254] After indicating in interviews that he would be working with the company more, on April 3, Van Dam announced that he had signed a short-term deal with Impact and would be appearing on their programming following United We Stand.[255] His contract initially ran through Bound for Glory in October.[256] His return to Impact television occurred in late-April, where he defeated Ethan Page.[257] Van Dam then formed an alliance with ECW alumni Tommy Dreamer and Sabu to feud with Page, Josh Alexander and Moose.[258] The trio would defeat Moose, Page and Alexander in a six-man tag.[259] At Bash at the Brewery in July, Van Dam defeated Sami Callihan in an Extreme Rules match.[260] A few days later, the storyline between Moose and Van Dam came to a close, as Moose defeated Van Dam at Slammiversary XVII.[261] On October 20, 2019, on Bound for Glory, Van Dam teamed with Rhino where they challenged for the Impact World Tag Team Championship. At the climax of the match, Van Dam turned heel for the first time in his Impact Wrestling career, as well as his first heel turn since being a member of the Alliance during his WWF/E career, by attacking Rhino, Willie Mack, and Rich Swann, losing the match in the process.[262] During early 2020, Van Dam was part of a censorious heel stable called "Cancel Culture" along with Joey Ryan and Jake Crist. However, this story abruptly ended when Ryan's contract was terminated amid over a dozen allegations of sexual assault. His last storyline with Impact Wrestling was with Sami Callihan, whom Van Dam defeated in his final match for the promotion which aired on September 22, 2020, edition of Impact![263] before leaving the promotion in September 2020.[264]

Second return to WWE and sporadic appearances (2019–2023, 2024)

[edit]

Despite his association with Impact Wrestling, Van Dam made a one-night return to WWE for the special Raw Reunion episode of Raw on July 22, 2019.[265]

Following heavy speculation, it was announced by WWE and Fox Sports on March 29 that Van Dam would be an inductee into the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame class.[266] He later made an appearance at the 2022 Hall of Fame ceremony.

On April 28, 2023, Van Dam appeared on Friday Night SmackDown to announce second round WWE draft picks for RAW. He would appear the next week on RAW, May 1, to announce the fourth round draft picks for Friday Night SmackDown.

On September 13, 2024, Van Dam was shown in attendance for SmackDown's return to the USA Network.[267]

Van Dam appeared on the October 29, 2024 episode of NXT to say that he would be appearing at NXT 2300.[268]

Pro Wrestling Noah (2022)

[edit]

On April 30, 2022, it was announced that Van Dam would make his in-ring debut in CyberFight's Pro Wrestling Noah on June 12, at the CyberFight Festival 2022.[269] He was scheduled to team with the Stinger duo of Hayata and Yoshinari Ogawa to face Kaito Kiyomiya, Daisuke Harada and Yo-Hey.

All Elite Wrestling (2023–2024)

[edit]

On August 2, 2023, Van Dam made his debut in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), appearing on AEW Dynamite to challenge FTW Champion Jack Perry on behalf of longtime rival Jerry Lynn. On the following week's Dynamite, Van Dam unsuccessfully challenged Perry for his championship title in an FTW Rules match. Van Dam then made several further appearances teaming with Hook.[270]

On the January 31, 2024, episode of Dynamite, Van Dam returned to AEW in a losing effort against Swerve Strickland in a hardcore match. Van Dam would later slate fans who had questioned whether or not he could "still go" at his age against Strickland.[271] On the February 21 episode of Dynamite, Van Dam teamed with Hook and "Hangman" Adam Page in a losing effort against AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and Mogul Embassy (Strickland and Brian Cage). On the April 20 episode of AEW Rampage, Van Dam picked up his first singles victory in AEW, defeating Isiah Kassidy, Komander, and Lee Johnson in a "High Flying 4/20" four-way elimination match.

Professional wrestling style, persona and reception

[edit]

The name "Rob Van Dam" was given to him in 1992 by Ron Slinker, a promoter in Florida, possibly because of his martial arts experience and his resemblance to actor Jean-Claude Van Damme.[272] During the early years of his career, he used a "Moonsault Split" as finisher, until he adopted the Frog Splash (named Five Star Frog Splash) as finisher.[273] During WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2021, WWE's chairman Vince McMahon and Triple H said that he changed the style of wrestling.[274]

Other media

[edit]

Van Dam has appeared on numerous television shows and in films. In 1995, he was in Superfights as "The Mercenary", and in 1997 he appeared in Bloodmoon as "Dutch Scholtz". On October 23, 1999, he appeared in City Guys, in the episode "El-Trainmania IV" as himself. In 2000 he appeared in 18 Wheels of Justice, on August 2 as "Robert Laramie", and in The X-Files on May 7 as "Burt's opponent" in the episode "Fight Club". He also appeared on V.I.P. in the episode "Survi-Val" as "Major Ving Talbot" that year. On July 26, 2001, he appeared as himself on Spy TV, and again later that year he appeared as himself in Ultimate Revenge on December 2. In 2002, he was featured in the music video for Breaking Point's "One of a Kind" along with starring in two films, Black Mask 2: City of Masks as "Claw", and a cameo appearance in The Backyard as himself. In 2005, the Rob Van Dam: One of a Kind DVD was released. He also appeared on Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling in 2008 teaching finishing moves to the celebrities. In 2011 he worked alongside WWE wrestlers Dave Bautista and Nelson Frazier Jr. in a movie titled Wrong Side of Town which was released the following year.[citation needed]

Van Dam started up RVD Radio on October 8, 2008, with the help of Brett Cohen, a producer for BlogTalkRadio. The episodes have changed between an hour and two-hour-long, initially held weekly but now sporadically held at www.blogtalkradio.com/rvdradio.[citation needed]

In November 2010 he was a contestant on an all TNA week of Family Feud, teaming with Jay Lethal, Matt Morgan, Mick Foley and Mr. Anderson in a winning effort against Angelina Love, Christy Hemme, Lacey Von Erich, Tara and Velvet Sky.[275]

He also provides the voice for the character "Bobby", who served as a commentator for the Professor Genki side-quests, in the video games Saints Row: The Third and Saints Row IV.[citation needed]

Van Dam has appeared in multiple video games, including ECW Hardcore Revolution in 2000, with his most recent being in WWE 2K24.[citation needed]

Filmography

[edit]

Voice acting

[edit]

Personal life

[edit]
A booklet of Rob Van Dam rolling papers, sold by RVDCBD

Szatkowski is of Belgian and Polish ancestry. Szatkowski married Sonia Delbeck on September 6, 1998, the couple separated in December 2015. In July 2016, Delbeck filed for divorce from Szatkowski.[276] The divorce was finalized in May 2018.[277] In 2016, Szatkowski began dating fellow professional wrestler Katie Forbes. In 2021, Forbes and Szatkowski had gotten married.[278][277]

Cannabis

[edit]

Szatkowski is an advocate for the legalization of cannabis.[279] He has discussed the topic in various media, including on MSNBC where he debated former U.S. "drug czar" Barry McCaffrey.[280] Szatkowski is also a consumer of cannabis, believing it to be an athletic enhancer.[281] His personal affinity for cannabis has been reflected in his wrestling persona,[281] including his use of the phrase "RVD 420 means I just smoked your ass."[282]

In 2020, Szatkowski established and licensed his name to RVDCBD, a cannabinoids company specializing in CBD and cannabis paraphernalia.[283][284] In 2021, he was named chairman of United American Petroleum Corp (UAPC), a shell company that acquired RVDCBD and seeks to acquire other cannabis properties.[285]

2006 arrest

[edit]

On July 3, 2006, The Ironton Tribune reported that Szatkowski and Terry Brunk (known as Sabu) had been arrested on the previous evening on U.S. Route 52 in Hanging Rock, Ohio. Szatkowski had been stopped for speeding by an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, who discovered that he was in possession of 18 grams of marijuana and five Vicodin pills, while Brunk was in possession of drug paraphernalia and nine tablets of testolactone.[286] Both Szatkowski and Brunk were released after posting bail, and were scheduled to appear in Ironton Municipal Court on July 6.[287] On July 6, The Ironton Tribune reported that the court date for Szatkowski and Brunk were in limbo, as their attorneys had asked for and were granted continuances.[288] On August 31, Szatkowski pleaded guilty to speeding and possession of marijuana but the charge of Vicodin possession was dropped when he produced a prescription. He was fined $140 and additional court costs.[289]

According to the WWE's wellness policy, a drug-related arrest can lead to that talent's immediate dismissal from the company. Then-WWE Vice President of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis released a statement on WWE.com reporting that Szatkowski and Brunk were still eligible to compete on the Raw and ECW tapings in the following days while an investigation conducted by WWE was being undertaken. This resulted in Szatkowski dropping the WWE Championship at the live Raw one night and the ECW Championship the next night at the ECW taping. Van Dam was subsequently suspended without pay for 30 days, and an on-air segment on ECW was scripted to relay this suspension to the fans. The arrest footage itself and a recounting from Szatkowski is seen in the film Nine Legends.[286][290]

Training

[edit]

Szatkowski is a trained kickboxer and martial artist. Growing up in Battle Creek, Michigan, Szatkowski studied martial arts at two local dojos. He received instruction in Karate, Taekwondo, Aikido, Kickboxing and Kajukenbo.[291] In 1990, he placed second in the Kalamazoo Heavyweight Toughman Contest. Szatkowski is also an outspoken advocate of vitamins and bodybuilding supplements and attributes this to his mother's influence.[292]

He is the inventor of the Van Dam Lift, a weightlifting technique that involves performing a split (which he took up in his early teens) between two benches and lifting a dumbbell from the floor to the waist.[citation needed] The lift was approved by IAWA, the International All-Around Weightlifting Association, in 1998. It was also entered in the rulebooks of USAWA, the United States All-Round Weightlifting Association.[293]

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]
Van Dam is a three-time World Champion, having simultaneously held both the WWE Championship and ECW World Heavyweight Championship in WWE...
...and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in TNA Wrestling.
Van Dam is also a former TNA X Division Champion.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Van Dam is not recognized by WWE's official list of European Champions on their website,[313] but is in their encyclopedia.[314] Retrospective WWE.com articles have added the European Championship to his resume;[315][316] it was not mentioned in his WWE.com profile[317] until early 2006.[318]

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[edit]
Preceded by Mr. Money in the Bank
2006
Succeeded by