Rob Van Dam reflects on the title that was most closely associated with him during his run in ECW, the ECW Television Championship.
Long before Rob Van Dam became WWE Champion or TNA World Heavyweight Champion, he was the longest-reigning ECW Champion with a title run that lasted 700 days. He won that Championship in 1998 with a victory over former WrestleMania headliner, Bam Bam Bigelow.
Speaking on his WWE Network Icons special, Rob Van Dam opened up about realizing later on in life that victory launched him into superstardom and feeling that he created something very special with the Television Championship in ECW.
“Bam Bam Bigelow was the Television Champion. I wrestled him in Buffalo, New York. At the time, that was probably our best building with the biggest crowd,” said RVD. “I don't think I realized how pivotal that was going to be for my career. What I probably didn't realize was that all of the sudden, I was a Superstar.”
Paul Heyman, The mastermind of ECW, noted that Rob Van Dam was determined to make the television Championship the most important title in the brand during the 700 days in which he held the gold. Heyman would also say that the title rivaled the ECW World Championship.
“From the moment that title on Rob Van Dam, Rob Van Dam was determined to defend that title and make it the [top] championship in ECW,” said Paul, who would later quip that Van Dam would still be the champion today if the company was still in business.
Heyman added, “The difference between Rob Van Dam and other high-flyers was that Rob Van Dam's high-flying was not pretty. It was violent. Rob Van Dam was an artist.”
Elsewhere in the same documentary, Rob Van Dam and Vince McMahon discuss their relationship and Rob gives Vince a very special gift on the day of his Hall of Fame induction. Learn more here.
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