Rebooking The 2002 WWE Brand Extension Draft

12. Smackdown Pick 5: Rob Van Dam

Ric Flair Vince McMahon 2002 Draft
WWE.com

Actual Pick: Billy and Chuck

Vince McMahon selects his first champion, drafting Rob Van Dam with his fifth pick, and making the Intercontinental Championship exclusive to Smackdown. RVD is coming off a breakout rookie year in the WWE, becoming one of the biggest babyfaces in the company in 2001 despite being a member of the rival WCW/ECW Alliance.

Van Dam would go on to win five more Intercontinental Championships, and after winning the second Money in the Bank ladder match, would cash in to win the WWE Championship, which he would then unify with the ECW Championship when WWE relaunched the brand in 2006.

RVD would continue to be one of the more popular wrestlers in the company for years to come.

Contributor
Contributor

Justin has been writing about professional wrestling for more than 15 years. A lifelong WWE fan, he also is a big fan of Ring of Honor.