The latest edition of WWE Icons focussed on the legendary career of WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam(RVD). During the show, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon stated how RVD’s relationship with WWE first began in 1997.
Why Vince McMahon wanted to sign RVD on loan?
Vince revealed that he signed RVD to WWE “on loan” from Paul Heyman and ECW. WWE had been planning to make RVD join WWE by signing him anyhow and this allowed ECW and WWE to continue their working relationship. McMahon loaned Heyman and ECW money, as he confirmed in this documentary, and they would also be loaned talent.
He said:
“At that time no one knew that WWE was subsidizing ECW to a certain extent and even though it wasn’t a written agreement or anything, Paul [Heyman] would loan us or allow us to take some of his talent.”
“So, we had our eye on RVD. We wanted to bring him over anyhow from ECW. He was able to take some of the wild west ECW things and be able to incorporate that in more of a WWE logical form. So his style and his look [were] very different from anything we had and he was able to stand out because of that.”
However, it is noted that the initial relationship between the two parties did not last long. But, the former ECW Chanlion went on to become a WWE star during the “InVasion” angle back in 2001. Bray Wyatt & Sasha Banks Bombshell Leaks
He became one of the hottest talents in the company and drew fan attraction. He was one of the few stars who shone brilliantly coming from either ECW or WCW. He was recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
