My Kingdom of Honor co-host and I are doing a new series exclusively for our Patreon subscribers called Wrecked with Rasslers. We are going to be choosing one wrestler and picking four matches or moments that we would want with us if we were stranded on a desert island. This series will focus on wrestling and wrestling only as the real-life stuff you can find else where. To listen to the series please check out our Patreon site here.
Rob Van Dam has been one of the most popular wrestlers in the industry over the last 20 years. His laid back demeanor and flashy move set has drawn a legion of fans his way. The whole F'n Show, Mr Monday Night, Mr Pay Per View, whatever you call him he was always the franchise no matter where he went. Whether he was a face or a heel he was always cheered. The man had charisma that oozed from him. When he first broke on to the wrestling scene, he was so much like Sabu and so much unlike Sabu that he built his own aura. And whether you liked him or not when he put the thumbs to his shoulders you chanted right along with R-V-D. Lets take a look at the four matches I would want with me on a deserted island.
With Sabu vs the Eliminators, Cyberslam 1997. Perry Saturn and John Kronus were arguably the best tag team in the world in 1997. They were the ECW Tag team champions and in this match put the titles up for grabs in a tables and chairs match. Handshakes to begin the match were a rare thing in 1997 but these two teams showed each other a tremendous amount of respect. The best of the handshake spot was the story it continued from Rob's first feud in ECW against Sabu. Surprisingly in a match that featured Sabu this one started out as a very good technical bout. We got about eight minutes in before weapons were introduced and that was when all hell broke loose. Saturn tries to bring the ladder in and RVD stops him. The ladder is draped over the turnbuckle with Saturn and RVD fighting over it. A double dropkick by Sabu and Kronus sends both men to the floor. Sabu goes for a suicide dive and catches the steel guard rail when Saturn bats him away. Kronus goes up and over and lands on RVD. A Rolling Thunder with Sabu delivering a slingshot leg drop onto a ladder gets a two count on Saturn. RVD is slingshot into a ladder that is set up in the corner. Kronus does a cart wheel followed by a back flip and hits a back elbow onto RVD. Saturn gets a running start and uses a ladder on the mat to jump to the top rope and deliver a dive to Saturn who is on the other side of the guardrail. Saturn and Kronus hit Total Elimination twice and pin RVD for the win. 4.5 Stars This was a tale of two matches. A very good technical bout started the night and turned into a slug fest once the weapons got involved. Joey Styles is soooo great at what he does. He lets the action speak for itself and chimes in every now and then with some play by play. Also interesting to note that RVD refused to shake hands after the match.
vs Jerry Lynn, Hardcore Heaven 1999. This could very well go down as one of the greatest feuds in history. Flair vs Dusty, Flair vs Sting, Ciampa vs Gargano, Hogan v Savage, Omega vs Okada, and Jerry Lynn vs RVD. I have always hated Bill Alfonso and that damn whistle. A fast paced match with a lot of fun spots including Alfonso getting involved and helping set up a Vandaminator that Jerry Lynn ducked out of. RVD crotches Lynn on the top rope and delivers a spinning heel kick off the middle rope that knocks Lynn to the floor. Jerry's face hits the concrete between the mats and RVD needs to muscle Lynn back to his feet. Lynn has been busted open and gets a sling shot over the guardrail and into the first row. RVD gets a running start and dives over the guardrail to deliver a flying clothes line on Lynn. Back in the ring and Van Dam goes for a Rolling Thunder but Lynn sits up and gets a spinning heel kick to the face. RVD hits a Vandaminator of the guardrail into Lynn who's out in the crowd. RVD hits a corkscrew guillotine leg drop on Lynn who is draped over the guardrail. A sunset flip over the top rope on RVD through a table on the outside Puts Jerry Lynn in charge. A botched spot on the top rope where Lynn slipped and fell. RVD awkwardly fell onto the top rope and rolled in the ring to cover a sprawled out un-moving Jerry Lynn. Lynn hits his own Vandaminator. A second Five Star Frog Splash keeps Lynn down for the three and RVD retains the television title. 5 Stars Great spot near the end where the move was botched but the two guys played it off like it was nothing and RVD took the two count on an unconscious Jerry Lynn. Great story telling and great athleticism highlighted one of the best matches I have ever seen.
Vs Bobby Roode Sacrifice 2012, RVD and The It Factor in a ladder match for the TNA heavyweight title. A spinning leg drop on Roode as he is draped over the guard rail. So far the count for Tazz using the word nasty is at four. RVD sets up a ladder in between the second and third ropes. RVD ends up underneath the ladder and Roode delivers a catapult into the ladder. Roode sets up the ladder on the top rope to suplex RVD on. Rob counters and suplexes Roode on the ladder instead then hits a second rope moonsault. RVD sets up another ladder in the corner on the face of Roode. He dropkicks a chair into the ladder into Roode. Bobby hits the Double R Spine Buster onto a ladder and Tazz's "nasty' count is up to seven. RVD hits the Rolling Thunder onto the ladder and Tazz breaks out another "nasty" RVD misses a Five Star Frog Splash onto a ladder. The It Factor is climbing the ladder and RVD tries to stop him. Roode kicks him off the ladder and he hits the back of his head on another ladder that was lying on the mat. Roode takes down the title and retains his belt. 3.5 Stars RVD was still very talented and athletic 17 years into his career. Some great spots. A lot of the usage of the word "nasty" by Tazz (I counted 11) and the It Factor at the top of his run in TNA. This was a very fun match and one that entertained me quite a bit.
Vs Jeff Hardy, Invasion 2001. The Hardcore Championship is on the line as RVD makes his way to the ring with some of the best entrance music I've ever heard. Definitely Rob's best in his career. Another very technical match considering this is a for the hardcore title. Van Dam hits a spinning heel kick off the apron onto Hardy who is draped over the barricade for a two count on the floor. Hardy climbs to the top of a 20 foot ladder and RVD pushes the ladder over causing Jeff to crash to the floor. RVD grabs a chair and stalks Jeff who is laying on the floor. When RVD gets close Hardy from a prone position picks up the top of the ladder and hits RVD with it. Hardy grabs the chair and stalks RVD to the top of the stage. RVD hits the VanDaminator and knocks Hardy off the stage to the floor. Hardy misses the Swanton and RVD places the Hardcore title on Hardy's chest. A Five Star Frog Splash for the three count and we have a new Hardcore Champion. 4 Stars I loved this match between the WWE's version of the ECW legend going one on one. The best part is that the hardcore was kept to a minimum and the crowd benefited by it. great showing by the two of them.
Make sure you check out our show, Kingdom of Honor, for the latest in wrestling talk every Monday night on Lords of Pain Radio and find our archived shows with a lot of never before heard content on our Patreon page here. Also please leave a comment with your thoughts below or send your feedback to us directly at Kingdomofhonor123@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment