10 Things You Need To Know About The Original ECW Invasion

5. The Birth Of Mr. Monday Night

On the 5/12/97 episode of Raw, a new superstar made his WWE debut and his name was Rob Van Dam. Well, at least that€™s what Jerry Lawler tried to make us believe. RVD defeated Jeff Hardy, who was an unknown job guy at the time, in a high flying affair while Lawler sang his praises on commentary. Rob Van Dam had laid the groundwork a month earlier at ECW€™s inaugural pay-per-view, Barely Legal. After beating Lance Storm, he aired his grievances with the company, stating that he was insulted at being second string for the injured Chris Candido. He also bragged that his win made him more valuable for another promotion. For weeks, Jerry Lawler would spew his anti-ECW venom to anyone who would listen. Rob Van Dam going to WWE, while under contract to ECW was a slap in the face of the hardcore faithful while also validating Lawler€™s claims of the company being low rent and full of talentless wrestlers.