5 Forgotten WWE Debuts Of ECW Icons
1. RVD - 1997
Perhaps the most well-known ECW icon at the time of his WWF debut was Rob Van Dam, who entered the world of Titan Sports during the often-forgotten ECW invasion of 1997.
Unlike his peers on this list, RVD was in the role of superstar in this match in a total role-reversal from all other entries. What makes this match even more interesting is RVD’s opponent for the bout; none other than future WWE Champion, Jeff Hardy.
RVD would go on to appear on WWF TV three more times in ‘97, once with a victory over Flash Funk and twice with Jerry Lawler as a tag team in a continuation of their cross-promotional storyline that spilt over into ECW at the time.
RVD wouldn’t make his full-time in-ring debut for WWE until 2001 at the tri-branded Invasion PPV. His opponent that night would once again be Jeff Hardy, with "Mr PPV" defeating his familiar foe for the WWF Hardcore Championship in a karmic full-circle moment.