Upon arrival in the World Wrestling Federation in June 2001, the “Whole F’ing Show” and
“Mr. Monday Night” has astonished fans and gained a huge following.  Rob Van Dam is one
of the sport’s most respected high flyers.  His technical abilities rate up there with the top
athletes in the game and has drawn comparisons to some of the sport’s most historic names.

In truth, Van Dam’s skills have not been honed while defending the World Cruiserweight Title
or the World Light Heavyweight Title in either the WWF or WCW, but during his time in
Extreme Championship Wrestling or overseas.  Van Dam held the ECW World Television
Title for nearly two years, forcing many to believe that the TV Title of that organization was
the most respected not only locally, but the most respected in all of North America.  Others
were consciously believing that Van Dam deserved more than a TV Title reign.

Although Bill Alfonso is not at his side today, Van Dam is on a path leading directly towards
nothing other than WWF Gold.  Nearly every one of his early WWF matches were praised
and on Tuesday, September 4, 2001 in Toronto, Van Dam pinned the WWF World
Heavyweight Champion “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.  The bout was a non-title match, but
elevated him to another level of stardom.

Rob Van Dam first entered the sport in 1990.  With a tremendous amateur background in
kickboxing, he learned much about professional wrestling from the legendary Sheik.  Van
Dam wrestled initially under his real name, Rob Szatkowski.  During a tour of South Atlantic
Pro Wrestling, a young “Mr. Monday Night” received several shots at Rikki Nelson’s SAPW
Junior Heavyweight Title.  On August 8, 1991 in Sanford, North Carolina, he wrestled the
champion to a time-limit draw.

Rob also toured through Florida in 1992 and the USWA in 1993.  While in the latter territory,
he was given a new wrestling title, “Rob Van Dam.” The man who had given him such a
recognizable name was Ron Slinker, a former wrestling standout and promoter.  “R.V.D.” was
born.

For the next several years, Van Dam worked for many independent promotions around the
world.  Under the name “Robbie V,” Van Dam wrestled for World Championship Wrestling.

Van Dam made his ECW debut on January 5, 1996 in Philadelphia, defeating Axl Rotten.  
Later in the month, he was pit against another Sheik product, Sabu.  Sabu was earning his
bones as the most “homicidal, suicidal, genocidal” wrestler in the entire world.  It seemed that
it wasn’t something he really had to work at.  Van Dam and Sabu wrestled a wild match
ending in Rob’s disqualification.  On March 30th, Van Dam wrestled 2 Cold Scorpio, ECW
World TV Champion, to a 30-minute draw in Philly.

Many predicted him to be the next TV Champion.  He won a huge match over Sabu in 18:47
on May 11th at the ECW Arena.  He continued his winning streak on June 1st in Philadelphia
when Van Dam stopped Mikey Whipwreck, another former ECW Champion.  Sabu beat Van
Dam on August 3rd in Philly, revenge for the earlier loss.  The two wrestled a special
stretcher bout.  Rather than continue to fight his seemingly arch enemy in ECW, Van Dam
began to team with Sabu.  On September 14th in Philadelphia, the two wrestled Dan Kroffat
and Doug Furnas.  The classic match went 30-minutes to a time-limit draw.  It seemed that
the two had found something as a partnership.  Bill Alfonso was there holding them together.  
The rematch was held on October 26th in Philadelphia between the two tag teams and there
was not going to be a draw this time.  Sabu pinned Furnas to score the important victory.

On November 16th in Philadelphia, Van Dam teamed with Sabu on the November to
Remember Card.  They met The Eliminators for the rights to meet the ECW World Tag
Champions later in the night.  After more than 26-minutes, the match was declared a draw.  
Officials decided that both teams would receive a shot at the Gangstas in a three-way
dance.  Sabu was pinned by John Kronus of the Eliminators in the title affair, but the
Gangstas eventually retained their belts.  “R.V.D.” teamed with Sabu on May 10, 1997 in
Philly against Chris Candido and Taz.  Candido pinned Van Dam for the victory.

Two nights later, he appeared during the WWF’s Monday Raw is War.  The nickname, “Mr.
Monday Night” was spawned.  Van Dam beat Jeff Hardy in his first match.  After a high profile
against Flash Funk, Van Dam opted to return to Philly.  Van Dam and Sabu beat Tommy
Dreamer and The Sandman on June 28th at the Arena.  He secured a pin over Tommy
Dreamer on August 9th in Philadelphia.  On September 20th in Philadelphia, Van Dam
teamed with his manager in a match against Beulah McGillicutty and Tommy Dreamer.  
Beulah pinned Alfonso to win the mixed tag match.  Van Dam made a challenge for the TV
Title on October 18th in Philadelphia.  Taz was the champ and their match went to a no
contest.  He lost to Al Snow by pinfall on March 21, 1998 at the ECW Arena.

Despite the loss, things were about to change for Van Dam.  He traveled to Buffalo for a card
there and received a shot at the ECW World Television Title and the organization’s
champion, Bam Bam Bigelow.  Van Dam locked up with Bigelow on April 4th and won the
belt.  On the 18th of April, Van Dam beat Bigelow in a return match at Philadelphia at the
ECW Arena.  In Philadelphia on June 6th, Van Dam and Sabu beat Chris Candido and Shane
Douglas.  He became a double-champion on June 27th in Philadelphia with a tag team victory
over the ECW World Tag Team Champions.  Van Dam and Sabu beat Lance Storm and
Candido to win the belts.  On July 18th, the tag champions beat Storm and Candido in a
return match in Philadelphia.

On the 8th of August, Van Dam and Sabu wrestled the Dudleys to a no-contest.  He also won
over Jerry Lynn in defense of his singles championship.  They beat the Dudley Boys on
August 29th in a tag title match.  Van Dam teamed with his normal partner on September
19th and took a third in Masato Tanaka in Philadelphia before 1,400 fans against Chris
Candido, Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow.  The match ended in a no-contest.  Van
Dam won a tough match against Lance Storm on October 10th in Philadelphia and beat Rod
Price on November 21st.  On October 24th in Cleveland, the Dudleys won the ECW World
Tag Title.

In Tokyo, Van Dam and Sabu teamed on December 13th to regain the ECW World Tag Title
from the Dudleys.  He won over Balls Mahoney on December 19th in Philadelphia.  Van Dam
remained both the TV and Tag Champ into 1999.  He dropped a singles match to D-Von
Dudley on April 17th in Buffalo, thus losing the tag title for him and his partner.  Van Dam won
by pinfall over Skull Von Crush on May 8, 1999 in Philadelphia.  He had double duties against
both Lance Storm and Jerry Lynn on the August 28th ECW Card at the Arena in
Philadelphia.  The initial bout versus Storm ended in a no-contest and Van Dam retained his
TV Title.  He was able to beat Lynn in the second match of the night.

Several nights later on the 31st, Van Dam teamed with the Dudleys in a losing match against
Jerry Lynn, Giant Kimala II and Justin Credible in Philadelphia.  In Philadelphia, Van Dam met
his former partner Sabu in a match for the TV Belt on October 23, 1999.  The two athletes
went 30-minutes to a draw.

In February 2000, he suffered a broken leg during a match.  On March 4th, ECW Officials
were forced to strip Van Dam of the TV Title after nearly two-years of holding the belt.  He
made his return at Living Dangerously on March 12th in Danbury.  Van Dam interfered in the
finals of the TV Title Tournament between Super Crazy and Rhino.  Also in the battle were
Alfonso, Yoshihiro Tajiri and Scotty Anton.

Van Dam appeared in the ring at Hardcore Heaven on May 14th against Jerry Lynn.  He lost
by pinfall after Anton turned on him.  In a grudge match at Heat Wave in Los Angeles, Van
Dam pinned Anton.  He wanted his TV Title back.  On October 1st in St. Paul, Van Dam
challenged Rhino for the ECW TV Belt, but was turned away.  He again disappeared from
action.  Many speculated just where he was going to turn up.  With a Monday Nitro shirt or a
Raw is War shirt on TNN.  At the January ECW pay-per-view, Van Dam made his triumphant
return.  He wrestled and beat Jerry Lynn in an impromptu match-up on January 7, 2001 in
New York City.  The PPV would be ECW’s last.

Van Dam signed with the WWF after the organization purchased World Championship
Wrestling in March 2001.  “R.V.D.” began appearing in July along with many of his former
ECW co-horts led by Paul Heyman.  Heyman and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley teamed to
relaunch Extreme Championship Wrestling and team with WCW in it’s war against the WWF.  
The “Alliance” was formed.  Van Dam teamed with Billy Kidman in a memorable tag match on
Smackdown before the Invasion pay-per-view.

On Sunday, July 22, 2001, he beat a bloodied Jeff Hardy in Cleveland during the Invasion
show and captured the WWF World Hardcore Title.  He was the second WCW or ECW
wrestler to win a WWF Title.  Mike Awesome had been the first when he won the same title in
June.  The win was a major victory for the Alliance and the night in whole was positive.  In the
main event, Steve Austin turned on the WWF.  Van Dam appeared on WWF’s “Byte This”
and gave a candid interview in late July.  His popularity rose by appearance.

Commentators were forced to mention the constant “R.V.D.” chants during WWF Telecasts.  
Van Dam was the most popular man in the Alliance.  Some compared him to Shawn
Michaels.  Hardy shocked many by appearing through the crowd during Van Dam’s match
with Kurt Angle on August 13th in Chicago.  Van Dam was pinned by the intruder and lost the
belt.  Six-days later in San Jose, a rematch between Van Dam and Hardy was held during
SummerSlam.  The bout was a special “Hardcore Ladder Match,” the first in WWF History.  It
was a historic event with many high spots.  Van Dam captured the gold and began his
second reign.

In the main event of the September 3rd edition of Raw from Toronto, Van Dam teamed with
Rhyno against Hardy and Chris Jericho.  The fan favorites were victorious.  The next night
during a live edition of Smackdown, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin announced that he was going
to beat the next person who entered the locker room.  Rob Van Dam was the man who
entered first and a match was set for the main event.  It could have been the biggest match of
his entire career.  The two wrestled for nearly ten minutes before an awed Toronto Crowd.  
Kurt Angle’s appearance after a stunner, allowed Van Dam to recover.  He rolled the WWF
World Champion up and scored a three-count.  Van Dam had pinned Steve Austin, the
leader of the Alliance.

[Updated through 2001]


TITLE HISTORY:

 -Co-holder of the NWC World Tag Team Title (1995-’96) w/ Bob Bradley
 -A two-time co-holder of the ECW World Tag Team Title
         w/ Sabu (1998) defeated Chris Candido and Lance Storm
         w/ Sabu (1998-’99) defeated The Dudley Boys
 -ECW World Television Title (1998-’00) defeated Bam Bam Bigelow
 -A three-time WWF World Hardcore Champion
         -Defeated Jeff Hardy (2001)
         -Defeated Jeff Hardy (2001)
         -Defeated Kurt Angle (2001)



Research by Tim Hornbaker
Rob Van Dam Wrestling History
Custom Search
PPV Ring Record        TV Ring Record        Career Record
Legends of Pro Wrestling