At this point in his career, Rob Van Dam is not a guy that one wants to entrust with a main event spot. His contract status is always a question but the fact that he is at the point in his career where he is past his prime and nowhere near the level of performer he once was. At the same time, he still has tremendous name recognition and is perpetually over with audiences across the globe. He very clearly has value to the company but, unfortunately, it has done a poor job of taking advantage of that value. During his first run back with the company in the fall of 2013, he won too often and had his weaknesses exposed in a feud with an Alberto Del Rio in his athletic prime. His latest run, however, saw Mr. Monday Night lose far too often to truly be effective in his role as the veteran star who helps prepare the young generation for the next step up the ladder. Losses to Bad News Barrett, Cesaro, Seth Rollins and the aforementioned Del Rio quickly eroded a sizable amount of the legitimacy he still had left. To really get the most out of him and use him most effectively, WWE Creative must walk a fine line, putting him over established stars so that wins by younger, hungrier performers mean more in the long run. They have failed to do so to this point. Hence Van Dam's placement on this list.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
