10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Raw From 2001

5. RVD Deserved An Even Bigger Push

Vince McMahon 2001 Losing It
WWE

RVD's first singles match on Raw in 2001 was a four-minute Hardcore Title triumph over Matt Hardy on the 23 July episode. That followed his amazing match with Jeff Hardy at Invasion, and it showed why there was so much buzz about Van Dam's post-ECW exploits.

He should've been more, and fast.

Van Dam was hot news immediately. Fans were thrilled to see him, and he felt totally fresh compared to most at the top of the WWF tree at the time. Yes, Rob did get to work a three-way with Steve Austin and Kurt Angle at No Mercy, but it's clear re-watching his work on Raw that he was being held back more often than not.

Backstage politics would be the most likely reason why. Some young, talented, handsome and confident newcomer swaggering in from the 'C' company to the 'A' company would've caught attention, and not all of it favourable. Maybe that's why RVD's push stalled.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.