Rob Van Dam has discussed the ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view event in 2005 that RVD was forced to miss competing at due to injury.
The recent WWE Hall Of Famer did appear on the show to cut a promo that took a swipe at his position in WWE. Speaking to Ryan Satin on the Out Of Character podcast, Van Dam explained why what he said in the ring at Hammerstein Ballroom came from his true feelings at the time.
Rob Van Dam stated:
“That was a complete shoot about how I felt at the time. Now, looking back at the big picture, I look at it a little different. The more I’m alive and learn about life, I still appreciate that perspective I came from and that was integrity and what the fans enjoyed, but I can look at the overall business in the big picture now. When I’m in that mindset and so competitive, I’m thinking, ‘this position should be mine and I should be the guy. You shouldn’t bump me off events for the Coors Light girls.’ All that stuff came into my mind. ‘If they wanted to get their investment out of me and they aren’t doing this with me,’ a lot of those frustrations are part of the job.”
“Looking more at that now and knowing how everything turned out and how I wasted time on negative energy and thoughts and being stubborn in certain areas, when I look at it now, everything had its place and everybody, whether I looked up to them or thought they were stealing some of my TV time, I look at everything different now. It’s a big and wonderful business. I’m so glad to be a big part of it.”
Van Dam then noted just how much his WWE Hall Of Fame induction meant to him:
This crowning moment, the Hall of Fame, puts credibility onto my body of work. It’s someone no one can take from me. Looking back, even though I have a more mature perspective, I don’t know if I would have changed a thing because I’m so happy and life is so great. I hope everyone else enjoys life.”
Rob Van Dam more than made up for missing the 2005 event with his performance at 2006’s One Night Stand. RVD called his shot and cashed in his Money In The Bank briefcase for a shot at John Cena’s WWE Championship.
In front of a rabid Hammerstein Ballroom crowd, RVD defeated Cena for the title with Paul Heyman counting the pinfall. RVD then would go on to be crowned the inaugural ECW Champion in WWE as the brand was resurrected.
Van Dam recently discussed his conversation with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon that took place at the Hall Of Fame event in April. RVD was inducted into the Hall Of Fame alongside Molly Holly, Eric Bischoff, Kane, The Great Khali, and Ozzy Osbourne.