10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Raw From 2006

2. The Bright Side To RVD’s Misfortune?!

Vince McMahon D-Generation X DX WWE 2006
WWE.com

Most wrestling fans watching at the time would generally agree that it sucked to see Rob Van Dam's main event push come to an end due to suspension. RVD had just become WWE Champion by beating John Cena at One Night Stand in June when he was busted alongside Sabu and forced to sit on the sidelines.

WWE took the belt from Rob following that suspension - they had Edge win it on the 3 July episode of Raw. Rather incredibly, there was an upside: John Cena’s feud with Edge started cooking and dominated much of the remainder of 2006 on Raw. That simply wouldn't have happened (at least not to the extent it did) had Van Dam stuck around as champ.

Cena and Edge's steel cage match on the 2 October episode is honestly must see for multiple reasons. Firstly, it came hot on the heels of their inspired TLC bout at Unforgiven. Second, it led to the formation of Rated-RKO. Edge asked Randy Orton to help him get rid of DX when they interfered in the cage bout with Cena on the night.

To summarise, it definitely blows that RVD didn't get to enjoy a lengthier WWE Title reign. He really, really deserved that, but fate intervened to give fans plenty of Edge vs. Cena action instead. The 'Rated-R Superstar' turned out to be one of John's greatest rivals. They made magic together.

So, yeah, sucked to be Rob, but those Cena and Edge matches were good eating for fans in '06.

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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.