Rob Van Dam Taking Another Break From WWE

When Rob Van Dam returned to WWE at Money in the Bank 2013 he was back working a full time schedule for about four months and then he took off for several months in October. He returned to WWE on the Raw after WrestleMania on April 7 and now it appears that he's going on another break. According to a report from PWInsider, RVD is set to leave WWE after SummerSlam. He's not currently advertised for a match at SummerSlam although he could be one of the lumberjacks in the Rollins/Ambrose Lumberjack Match. He lives in the Los Angeles area where SummerSlam is taking place, so it's not like it would be a trip that's out of the way for him. Since RVD is 43 years old and has worked nationally in American wrestling for the past twenty years, he's likely done well financially and he doesn't have to work every week all year long anymore. His initial run in WWE lasted from 2001 to 2007 with RVD positioned as an upper midcard babyface. He main evented some PPVs along the way too although his laid back lifestyle made WWE hesitant to push him to the top. He also got busted for marijuana possession when he was the WWE Champion in 2006, so WWE's concerns were justified. The current version of RVD is a guy that is used to put over younger wrestlers. He's a veteran that the fans still like because they're so used to all of his signature spots. We know the Rolling Thunder, the jumping side kick off the ropes, the split legged moonsault and the Five Star Frog Splash if he ever gets to win a match. The familiarity helps him, but it's not like he's going to wow us on the microphone or really do something that different from what he's done for years. Van Dam's absence may not even be noticed by some fans. He's become such a role player that when he's gone it's not considered a big deal anymore. Assuming he is taking off for another four months, perhaps he'll return for the Royal Rumble or maybe it will be after WrestleMania. A return hasn't been confirmed although it's likely.