10 Shocking Moments When Wrestlers Risked Losing Their Jobs
6. Mr. PPV
Rob Van Dam slated his own employers for only blessing his character with 'Cool' and 'Whatever' during, ironically, a spirited promo in the middle of the spectacular 2005 One Night Stand pay-per-view.
Van Dam seethed in his assessment of his WWE run, which at that point had lasted as long as his original spell in ECW. In front of a New York crowd salivating for the old 'Mr Monday Night', he first ripped into the 'invading' WWE superstars in attendance before the verbally castrating the company at large for failing to take advantage of his prodigious talents.
Dusting off his long-barred 'Whole F***ing Show' and 'RVD 4:20' catchphrases, he openly referred to it as the best time of his career, and discussed how he refused to miss the event despite carrying a serious injury.
He even went one further by suggesting that not wrestling on the show hurt more than missing WrestleMania, which represented one of the only times a performer has dared not to deify the 'Show of Shows'.
Van Dam wasn't punished for his brutal truths, but was brought back down to earth following his return to television after being drafted to Monday Night Raw. Beaten down by Carlito, he remained in convalescence until the 2006 Royal Rumble.