As I was making my rounds through the internet, I came across an interview from Rob Van Dam for the UK Sun newspaper and website. As it turned out, he still had a lot to say about the new ECW, his final months in the WWE, and how Vince really did his work at trying to destroy ECW. He recounts how he never expected ECW One Night Stand 2005 to be a continued tradition, but its success produced a return engagement one year later. He spoke about how it was going to be difficult to get the same feel for the next One Night Stand PPV, as wrestlers would decline due to death, commitment to other feds, or just distaste for the WWE. He also stated that his victory over John Cena at One Night Stand 2006 was the crowning achievement of his career. And, why shouldn't it be? He broke the glass ceiling in front of the fans that made his career and captured the WWE title, meriting his use and values as a wrestler. It also gave ECW value and gave Rob a chance to celebrate among his real fans (like his loving wife). However, his breaking the ceiling of glass didn't come without a price, as he makes mention to a few scathing stories of how it all came about, flaring up his old wounds. I can't make mention of them all as I don't fully remember them, but I do remember a few things that stand out.
Before I go on, here's a link to an excerpt to that interview: http://heymanhustle.craveonline.com/articles/news/22626-rob-van-dissed
If my facts are wrong, look this up and feel free to correct me.
RVD made mention of how the ECW originals in 2006 were made to look like bad guys when they were featured on the ECW vs. Raw: Head to Head television special as they battled perennial good guy, John Cena, as well as when they welcomed two current heels into the fold in the forms of Kurt Angle and the Big Show. It didn't help ECW's cause when they were grossly outnumbered on that event by Raw's faces and heels, and beaten in the final moments of the show in a brawl. RVD also mentioned how Vince McMahon would go out of his way to curtail RVD, Paul Heyman, and even Tommy Dreamer's attempts to legitimize ECW as a brand when it was created. Vince would tell Paul that he would have to appeal to the casual fan or new ECW follower by making many changes to the product, which included adding failing WWE stars, disqualifications, silly gimmicks, and setting up the ECW style as a stipulation instead of as an unwritten rule. Paul, Tommy, and Rob would agree, knowing that this was going to happen in all eventuality as it has in all wrestling organizations. They just weren't aware of the lengths Vince would go to in order for it to happen. Sure, Vince would not allow RVD to win the title after his arrest, but the pending moves after such were virtually incredible. RVD made mention as to how Vince told him that the people chant "ECW" because it was he who got them to for the past set of years. At that point, Rob knew that talking to Vince was a big waste of time and that any arguments they had would always end up with Vince winning out. You can only talk to a wall before you grow tired and try to lead a horse to water. Rob then made mention of the December to Dismember PPV, one of the worst PPVs in ECW history, WWE history, and even wrestling history. He mentioned that this would be the place where ECW was officially dead and for good reason. The whole PPV was littered with bad moments that could not be fully equated with the original ECW feel. However, Rob said it was the main event that sealed the deal of ECW's death. It was an elimination chamber match that was going to showcase the changeover of the old ECW to the new ECW. How was this done? Simply put, RVD was defeated in this Elimination Chamber match, and Lashley won the ECW title instead. It didn't help that RVD was one of the first eliminated from the match. But, it was at that moment that the originals of ECW admitted the death of any trace of the original ECW in this new entity. RVD went on further to mention how Vince rubbed it in their faces when he won the ECW title for himself in the following year. It was a destructive move, to say the least, not to mention a very disrespectful one. Then again, can we really be surprised when it comes to Vince and his ego? No, not really, but it still hurts and is still obscenely difficult to accept.
To be honest, the fact that Rob Van Dam can still talk about this and not seem bitter is surprising. He's actually pretty mellow about the situation, as he is about many other things in life. However, the fact that he is mentioning all this beyond the fact that it all happened about 2 to 3 years ago, coercing his departure in late 2007, still rings true and damagingly loud in our ears, hearts, and minds. Now, some people will say that RVD and any originals who still talk about this should really just get over it and accept the fact that it happened and they should move on. However, you'd be a fool to say that they should, especially if they spent the best years of their life trying to define ECW as its own entity. They shed blood, sweat, and tears to maintain a living while wrestling in ECW. It was their lives. It was what defined them in the world of wrestling. It was who they were. So, when they see their very lives paraded around like a lifeless marionette by a power-mad puppeteer to fit his own whims and ego, they can't help but mention how sick they get or how disappointed they get. It really hits home with them, and you can't blame them for being bitter. I mean, sure, the WCW guys who are now in the WWE might have their reservations about how WCW was a success in certain areas and a failure in most others, but still deserves a level of respect. Yet, when the company is trashed, they take it upon themselves to harp the negatives, and they should, for good reason, because the horrible mismanagement of a successful company that made up their livelihood should not be forgotten, or brushed aside. ECW, despite its mismanagements, was not gentrified to the point where even the stars didn't want to be there. While it was tough to be in ECW due to the lack of pay at times, the dangerous conditions in matches, and even the lack of stars due to competition, it paled in comparison to working in WCW, where although you were guaranteed more money, you weren't guaranteed a good piece of mind. If anything, it came down to the money, but if it came down to raw ability and just having fun showing it, ECW was the better fit.
See, RVD has every right to be bitter at this point in life, as does Paul Heyman, and others. Paul Heyman, to his credit, did everything to kowtow to his bosses with the December to Dismember PPV, but no matter how well he did, he would have been looked at as a failure. Never mind the fact that the WWE did everything to make sure the PPV was atrocious in one way or another. It was Paul's fault because he was creatively in charge of it all. So, he took the fall for it, and was relieved of his duties creatively, until his contract expired. For the second time in his life, he saw his baby or his stepchild taken in by nasty foster parents against his will or his volition. The first time, he openly gave it up to save himself from debt. This time, he had joint custody of this child, and it was swiftly taken from him when he was labeled unfit to raise it by its other foster parents (Note: I really hope I'm not offending anyone with this choice of an analogy. If I do, I humbly apologize as it might hit home with whomever is reading). I mean, the former WCW wrestlers liked WCW, but when it was taken by the WWE and turned into a joke during the Invasion angle, they probably hurt over it, but not to the point where they could fully defend WCW, as it was hard to do it with what went down near its end. It's safe to say that virtually everyone involved with WCW was hurt by WCW's infrastructure one way or another. I say virtually because there were most likely some that didn't feel the effects at all as opposed to those who felt it to the fullest. However, you'd be remiss to think that there are or were any ECW originals that wouldn't defend ECW if it were being treated like trash. It was the place for stars to get their big break, the place for stars to wrestle without limits, and the place to help change the face of professional wrestling. Now, it's just a name in name only, as nothing, save for Tommy Dreamer represents ECW in any way, shape, or form in the current iteration.
If any of you get a chance, read that article and its follow-up. Take stock in the words from the only ECW star, virtually homegrown from ECW, that actually broke the glass ceiling and reached the top of professional wrestling, when others would have never been given the chance. Sure, you can mention Benoit, Jericho, and even Guerrero, but we all know they got their real training and notoriety from their respective countries. Maybe I'm tooting the wrong horn here saying what I said, so feel free to disagree. I just think that RVD is worth listening to, if not for the reason I mentioned, but for the reason that, to this day, he is still considered one of the most popular stars to come out of ECW, to the point where he is still cheered, revered, and even demanded in wrestling to this day. He got over being Rob Van Dam, despite what organization he was in, and that was mostly attributed to ECW.
Old habits do die hard and at times, old wounds still do tear easy. In RVD's case, the habit to talk about ECW, defend it, and discuss what it has become is still very fresh in his life and even unavoidable. ECW was RVD's life, and you'd be remiss to discredit any portion of your life that was considered a great era or time period. However, the wounds RVD received or already had upon being associated with the letters ECW at its re-edification in 2006 have never healed or may never heal because of his association with ECW. All he wanted was to relive the glory days, if not for one night, for a little while. Instead, he got a full-fledged return that was less than stellar as time went on. It was hard to deal with, but RVD knew or had to know what to expect out of Vince, based on his track record. That, however, didn't mean that he should be the least bit depressed, outraged, or bitter about the outcome. You wouldn't want pieces of your life left in the hands of a bad storyteller.
I will say this: Rob's interview does shed some light on two distinct truths that I have come to contemplate. I remember a promo RVD had at ECW Barely Legal 1997 about how he was worth more money in ECW and not worth more money elsewhere. In truth, ECW is the same way, but instead of money, it's worth more respect and honor on its own than it does under someone's watchful eye and control. Another truth comes from Vince and RVD's conversation about ECW fans chanting "ECW" and how it was Vince who taught them that. Well, Vince, you might not have taught them to chant "ECW", but, based on your actions, you sure as heck taught them not to.
Reader appreciation week is next week for the Thanksgiving week. If you're interested in blogging about anything concerning the new ECW (2006 to present), let me know and I'll post it for next week. Otherwise, I'm off next week.
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