10 Memorable WWE Moments From Sunday Night Heat
2. RVD Vs. Jerry Lynn (Hardcore Championship)
In the history of Sunday Night Heat, no classic match is more neglected than the bout between Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn. Building on their rich and storied history from ECW, the two would meet just once in WWF and, remarkably, the stage for that encounter was Sunday Night Heat.
With their series of ECW matches held in such high regard by all those that witnessed them, the decision to renew their rivalry for a one-off match on Heat was both exciting and baffling. Exciting because the chemistry between the two was unrivalled; baffling because it deserved to be on PPV.
It was a bittersweet time for Jerry Lynn. While he had finally made it to WWF, he had been incomprehensibly overlooked during the entire Invasion angle, despite being one of the last men to hold the ECW Heavyweight Championship.
Meanwhile, RVD was the hottest commodity WWF had in 2001 and his appearance on Sunday Night Heat that summer was surprising. When his familiar opponent walked out after him, suddenly it all became clear and Heat was instantly set ablaze.
With the WWF Hardcore Title at stake, the rules gave the men the freedom to reconnect with their extreme roots and the table was set for something special - the one and only WWF chapter of the RVD/Jerry Lynn saga.