In the summer and fall of 2001, there was no Superstar more popular than the Alliance's Rob Van Dam. That is a loaded statement but all one has to do is go back, re-watch the tape and see for themselves just how over he was with an audience that was practically begging Vince McMahon for a fresh, new main event star. Van Dam's unique moveset coupled with his laid back attitude and charisma made him completely different from anyone else on the roster. Whereas so many of the top stars were overly aggressive or tense, Van Dam was cool and relaxed. His matches with Jeff Hardy in July and August of that year helped convert any doubters. By October, he was being positioned as a man allied only with himself rather than either the Alliance or WWE. At No Mercy, he took on Steve Austin and Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat match that proved to be his first big pay-per-view main event. Unfortunately, claims that he was too stiff or reckless in the ring led to some heat on the high flier. He was bumped down to the midcard as 2002 was underway. But fans refused to lighten their support of RVD. Whether he was fighting William Regal or Kurt Angle, competing in the first match of the night or the last, Van Dam remained one of the most over competitors on the roster. By the time the company decided to split its vast roster in two via Brand Extension, Van Dam was chosen to be the centerpiece of the Raw brand. Already the Intercontinental Champion, he captured both the Hardcore and European titles, absorbing them into one championship that would serve as the top prize on the Monday night program. Then Triple H returned to Raw and plans changed. The World Heavyweight title was reintroduced to the brand and handed over to Triple H. His first challenger would be RVD. It was Van Dam's first real title feud since entering the company in which he was the star. He got over on The Game leading into the Unforgiven pay-per-view in September, which should have been an indication that things would not go his way come show time. And they did not. Van Dam was beaten following interference from Ric Flair and almost immediately fell back down the card. He still appeared in the occasional main event but he was, by and large, stuck in midcard purgatory for the better part of the four years that followed. In 2006, he became WWE and ECW champion following the re-emergence of the extreme brand but that would be short-lived thanks to legal issues. Whether it was his lack of promo ability, his size or the aforementioned legal problem, which was incredibly stupid on Van Dam's behalf, WWE never really got behind Van Dam as one of their top stars, despite incredibly popularity that is still on show each and every week on Raw and SmackDown. A rare and special performer, Van Dam could have helped bridge the gap between the Attitude Era and the eventual rise of John Cena and Batista. Instead, he was a very good hand for a company full of them in the mid-2000s.
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.
