5. Association With Paul Heyman
Before Ryback, before CM Punk and before Brock Lesnar, Rob Van Dam was one of the original Paul Heyman Guys in the days of ECW. Why not evoke those memories into an angle? Have Rob bump into Heyman backstage on Raw (presumably after his client Brock Lesnar fails to beat The Streak the night before) and have the two converse about Paul's lack of luck with his clients lately. Have Rob consoling his old employer and friend, have them reminisce about old times in Philadelphia, then Rob says "well, catch you around" and departs, while the camera stays fixated on Heyman as he begins to get that sly look on his face.... There is literally any number of ways you can play this angle from that initial meeting alone. Rob can become a Paul Heyman guy again, with the heel Heyman leading the fan favourite down the wrong path to success, leading to Rob either turning on Heyman when he releases what's going on or turning heel and just going with it. Alternatively, Rob can refuse, causing a jealous Heyman to set Brock Lesnar on him, or even Ryback and Curtis Axel. What if, dream of dreams, Rob becomes a Paul Heyman guy and takes on a returning CM Punk, with Heyman acting as the metaphorical scorned lover with a new boyfriend?? Creepy imagery in that last suggestion aside, this idea opens up so many possibilities, it's a shame if it goes unused.