10 Most Successful Outsiders In WWE History
10. Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam got the attention of ECWs head honcho Paul Heyman when he went out and cut a shoot promo on the promotion smack dab in the middle of the ring, stating that he was clearly worth more than a forgettable opening contest. Boy, was he right, and Paul could sense right away that he had a star in the making.
Looking like a handsome Jean-Claude Vam Damme, RVD skyrocketed to superstardom in the original ECW, becoming the Television Champion and making that title carry more prestige than even the ECW Heavyweight Championship. Its hard to not get excited about a title reign that lasts nearly two years.
Being shelved due to an injury meant that Rob Van Dam never technically lost his title, and the fans remembered it. ECW folded around the same time, leaving fans truly clamoring for more of the Whole Fn Show. The opportunity was set before him when he inked a deal with the WWE, but such success in a competitors playground left thick tension permeating in the backstage area of the WWE, both from a production standpoint and in the locker room. RVD himself is the first to admit in a Kayfabe Commentaries interview that he never bonded with Vince McMahon - a key step in being an outsider who found success in the company.
Mr. Monday Night grabbed the attention of fans of the big stage and forced the WWEs hand, regardless of how they felt politically about the marijuana enthusiast. Despite rubbing the Powers That Be the wrong way with his lackadaisical nature, he won over several influential members of the locker room over in due time, such as Booker T, and became one of the top guys in the company. Holding the WWE Championship once and the Intercontinental Champion six times, RVD was also the second-ever Money in the Bank winner, proving that the company could throw accolades his way to appease that loyal following hed carried with him for decades.