Rob Van Dam

Robert Szatkowski
File:Rvdportrait.jpg
Born	December 18, 1970 Battle Creek, Michigan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Rob Szatkowski, Rob Van Dam, Robbie V.
Billed height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Billed weight	237 lb (108 kg)
Billed from	Battle Creek, Michigan
Trained by	The Sheik
Debut	1990

Robert Szatkowski (born December 18, 1970 in Battle Creek, Michigan), is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Rob Van Dam. He is currently wrestling on the RAW brand of World Wrestling Entertainment.

Career

Rob made his first appearance in a wrestling ring as a teenager, when he was called up to the ring by Ted DiBiase to kiss his feet for $100. Van Dam debuted in 1990 after being trained by The Sheik, wrestling his first match against Dango Nguyen in Toledo, Ohio. He went on to wrestle in many independent promotions across Michigan. He signed with World Championship Wrestling in 1992 and was dubbed "Robbie V" upon his arrival. His WCW run was uneventful and largely unnoticed; he left in 1994.

He wrestled in several independent promotions across America, and in All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Extreme Championship Wrestling

In 1996, Van Dam signed with promoter Paul Heyman's recently re-invented, Philadelphia-based promotion -- Extreme Championship Wrestling, defeating Axl Rotten in his debut match. ECW openly targeted testosterone-charged males in their teens and twenties with ultra-violent (but also unusually athletic) matches, plus sexually aggressive female-sidekick characters. His mannerisms were that of a stoner, and became an unlikely hero, because of his laid back attitude, and unorthodox style.

He became nationally (and internationally) known in ECW. RVD was an instant hit after a series of hardcore, high-flying matches (beginning April 20, 1996 at Hostile City Showdown) with long-time rival Sabu where Van Dam failed to show proper respect for his opponent. Eventually, RVD united with Sabu under the management of Bill Alfonso and formed one of the most successful duos in ECW history. They later teamed with Jerry Lawler to "invade" Monday Night Raw in May of 1997. Despite his arrogance and "betrayals" of ECW, "Mr. Monday Night" was thoroughly applauded by fans recognizing his athleticism and unique maneuvers. People soon recognized him as "The Whole Fuckin' Show".

Van Dam's popularity culminated in a record 23-month reign as ECW World Television Champion. One title defense was against Jerry Lynn, and that was so incredibly athletic, that Paul Heyman aired it one week on TNN. He suffered a broken leg just weeks before he was scheduled to perform in a "TV champion vs. World champion" pay-per-view broadcast's main event. Many ECW fans have cited this unfortunate event as the beginning of the end for the trendsetting, yet financially shaky, promotion. This match would have been the most (potentially) lucrative PPV main event in company history; Heyman was depending on this mega-match to bring an influx of badly-needed cash. Business problems aside, "RVD" was arguably the most popular wrestler to ever grace an ECW ring.

He stayed with ECW until its 2001 demise.

World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment

Several months after the closure of ECW, Van Dam was signed to a short term contract by the World Wrestling Federation in order to take part in The Invasion, a storyline that saw former WCW and ECW wrestlers form an alliance in a bid to take over the WWF. Allong with fellow ECW alumnus Tommy Dreamer, Van Dam returned to the WWF on the July 9, 2001 episode of RAW in Atlanta, Georgia, attacking WWF wrestlers Kane and Chris Jericho.

Despite nominally being a heel, Van Dam was popular with WWF fans. After defeating Jeff Hardy for the WWF Hardcore Championship at WWF Invasion, Van Dam became one of the most over members of the Alliance and a tweener, even (unsuccessfully) challenging Alliance leader "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. At the 2001 Survivor Series on November 18, 2001, Van Dam and four other Alliance members faced five WWF wrestlers in a match to determine the ownership of the WWF. The WWF team won, and the members of the Alliance were "fired". However, as he held the WWF Hardcore Championship, Van Dam retained his job. He went on to turn face in late 2001, unsuccessfully challenging The Undertaker for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. His short term contract was extended into a multi-year contract that was renewed in 2005.

When the WWF (renamed WWE) was divided into two "brands", RAW and SmackDown!, in 2002, Van Dam was drafted to the RAW brand. Over the following two years he won the WWE Hardcore Championship, WWE Intercontinental Championship and the WWE World Tag Team Championship, in addition to feuding with Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit and Triple H. In October 2002 he formed a tag team with Kane that lasted until June 2003, when Kane turned on Van Dam after he unmasked. The feud ended when Shane McMahon came back and continued a feud of his own with Kane.

During 2002, Van Dam was Intercontinental Champion several times. During his second reign of this title, he won an Eric Bischoff-sponsored ladder match with European Champion Jeff Hardy, which unified the Intercontinental and European Championships under the Intercontinental Championship. Similarly, in his third Intercontinental Championship reign, he defeated Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer, in a Hardcore match, to unify the Intercontinental and Hardcore Championships under the Intercontinental Championship.

On March 21, 2004, Van Dam was drafted from RAW to SmackDown!. He made his SmackDown! debut on March 24, 2004, defeating Charlie Haas. On SmackDown!, Van Dam teamed with Rey Mysterio (with whom he won the WWE Tag Team Championship) until suffering a knee injury in January 2005. On January 27, 2005, Van Dam underwent reconstructive knee surgery under Dr. James Andrews to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus.

While recuperating, Van Dam made an appearance at the ECW reunion pay-per-view "ECW One Night Stand 2005" the New York City Hammerstein Ballroom on June 12, 2005 (the pay-per-view itself came about as a result of a suggestion Van Dam made to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon). Accompanied by his ECW manager, Fonzie, and sporting a knee brace, Van Dam delivered a scathing shoot interview, criticising 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 dropkicking him with a chair.

On the June 27, 2005 episode of RAW, Van Dam (still healing) was drafted back to RAW 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 six months later at the 2006 Royal Rumble on January 29, 2006. He gained revenge on Carlito by eliminating him, but was in turn inadvertantly eliminated by Rey Mysterio. On the February 6, 2006, episode of RAW, Van Dam defeated Carlito in the first round of the 2006 Road to WrestleMania Tournament. One week later, he defeated Chris Masters in the tournament semi-finals. On the February 20, 2006 episode of RAW, Van Dam and The Big Show were defeated by Triple H in a triple threat match to determine the winner of the tournament (and the number one contender to the WWE Championship). The following week, on the February 27, 2006 edition of RAW, Van Dam defeated Trevor Murdoch to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 22. 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.

Wrestling facts

Finishing and signature moves

File:Rvdfivestar.jpg

Van Dam delivers the Five-Star Frog Splash to Gene Snitsky.

• Five-Star Frog Splash (Frog splash)
• Van Daminator (Spinning heel-kick, driving a folding chair into the face of the victim)
• Van Terminator (Corner-to-corner missile dropkick, driving a folding chair into the face of the victim)
• 4:20 (Double leg drop) (with Rey Mysterio)
• Chair surf (Running dropkick, driving a folding chair into the face of a seated victim in the corner of the ring)
• Rolling Thunder (Forward roll into somersault senton)
• Skateboard (Baseball slide to a seated victim in the corner of the ring)
• Steam Roller (Rolling fireman's carry slam)
• Cartwheel moonsault
• Corkscrew leg drop
• Falling powerslam
• Flying thrust kick
• Lifting double underhook facebuster
• Split-legged moonsault
• Turnbuckle thrust series

Managers

• Ric Flair
• Fonzie
• Jerry Lawler

Nicknames

• "Mr. Monday Night" (Monday Night RAW)
• "Mr. Pay Per View" (ECW pay-per-view)
• "Mr. Thursday Night" (SmackDown!)
• "Mr. Friday Night" (ECW on TNN)
• "Mr. Money in the Bank"
• "Mr. NBC" (City Guys)
• "R.V.D."
• "The Whole Dam Show"
• "The Whole Fucking Show"
• "The Whole F'n Show"

Championships and accomplishments

• All Star Wrestling

• 1-time ASW North American Heavyweight Champion

• Extreme Championship Wrestling

• 1-time ECW World Television Champion
• 2-time ECW World Tag Team Champion (with Sabu)

• International Wrestling Federation

• 1-time IWF Television Champion

• National Wrestling Council

• 1-time NWC Tag Team Champion (with Bob Bradley)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him # 152 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003.
• PWI Comeback of the Year Award (2001)
• PWI Most Popular Wrestler Award (2001, 2002)
• PWI ranked him # 1 in the 2002 PWI 500.

• Peach State Wrestling

• 1-time PSW Cordele City Heavyweight Champion

• South Atlantic Pro Wrestling

• 1-time SAPW Tag Team Champion (with Chaz Rocco)

• World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment

• 1-time WWE European Champion
• 1-time WWE Tag Team Champion (with Rey Mysterio)
• 2-time WWE World Tag Team Champion (1-time with Kane, 1-time with Booker T)
• 4-time WWF/E Hardcore Champion
• 5-time WWF/E Intercontinental Champion

Filmography

• Superfights (1995) as "The Mercenary"
• Bloodmoon (1997) as "Dutch Scholtz"
• City Guys (October 23, 1999) in episode "El-Trainmania IV" as "Himself"
• 18 Wheels of Justice (August 2, 2000) as "Robert Laramie"
• The X-Files (May 7, 2000) in episode "Fight Club" as "Burt's opponent"
• V.I.P. (2000) in episode "Danger Island" as "Major Ving Talbot"
• Spy TV (July 26, 2001) as "Himself"
• Ultimate Revenge (December 2, 2001) as "Himself"
• Black Mask 2: City of Masks (2002) as "Claw"

Trivia

File:Van Dam lift.jpg

Van Dam performs the "Van Dam Lift".

• Van Dam is a trained kickboxer and martial artist. In 1990 he placed second in the Kalamazoo Heavyweight Toughman Contest.
• Vam Dam is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish fluently.
• Van Dam owns a comic book shop named "5 Star Comics" in Lomita, California. He is an avid comic book reader, with his favourite character being Ghost Rider.
• Van Dam is the inventor of the Van Dam Lift, a weightlifting technique that involves performing a split 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 Van Dam holds the current record, 166.5 lb (76 kg).
• Van Dam's entrance music in ECW was "Walk" by Pantera. The song was covered by Kilgore for the ECW Extreme Music CD; Van Dam then used this version as his entrance music.
• Van Dam's entrance music in WWE is "One of a Kind" by Breaking Point. He appears in the music video for the song, in which he loses his car to the band's lead singer, Brett Erickson, in a street race. At the end of the video, he spin kicks the keys to the car into his opponent's hands. The song appears on the WWF Forceable Entry CD.
• Van Dam held the ECW World Television Championship for a record one year, eleven months, eighteen days, two hours and forty-two seconds before having to relinquish the title due to injury (a broken leg).
• Van Dam's favorite band is The Kottonmouth Kings.
• Van Dam was featured in an article in the March 1999 issue of High Times. It is a popular misconception that he appeared on the magazine cover.
• Van Dam's signature symbol is the Taijitu. In an interview for WWE's "Invasion" DVD, he said he uses this symbol because it represents "the use of good or evil"

References

• An interview with Rob Van Dam, conducted by Ken Tuccio (1)
• An interview with Rob Van Dam, conducted by Ken Tuccio (2)
• Rob Van Dam at Bodyslamming.com
• Rob Van Dam at ObsessedWithWrestling.com
• Rob Van Dam at UPW.com

External links

• The official website of Rob Van Dam
• 5 Star Comics
• WWE profile
• Rob Van Dam at IMDb
• Rob Van Dam at TV.com
• WholeFnShow.com (fansite)