10 Amazing Rob Van Dam WWE Matches

10. Vs. Jeff Hardy (Invasion 2001)

This was Rob Van Dam's first test in the WWF and boy did he pass it with high-flying colours. RVD and Jeff Hardy had clashed in a WWF ring in the past, with the Charismatic Enigma playing the role of job boy during Van Dam's short-lived 'Mr. Monday Night' phase in 1997 but it was a whole different dynamic on display here.

Hardy was the established WWF superstar and Van Dam the outsider, a man with a decent-sized cult following but who was really unproven on the biggest stage. Hardy was a perfect opponent for him because their styles were so similar and they had the same mindset to put their body on the line and steal the show.

And steal the show they did with a rip-roaring twelve minute Hardcore Championship match that went all over the arena and even saw Jeff Van-Daminated into the gap between the stage! It really was a hell of a bump, one of many to be found in this one.

It was also in this match that we got the famous JR soundbites 'How do you learn to fall of a twenty foot ladder?' and 'How's he even able to stand is what I wanna know'. JR wasn't underselling here; the two men really did take some big risks for the entertainment of the fans.

A Five Star Frog Splash helped RVD secure his first piece of WWF gold. Van Dam was already a popular performer before this match but after it he was one of the most over guys on the roster, ECWCW or otherwise.