General Features

You are in: Birmingham > Features > General Features > Rob Van Dam

Rob Van Dam

By Brett Birks

Listen to our exclusive interview with former WWE Champion Rob Van Dam on the death of Chris Benoit, leaving wrestling and his plans for the future.

Audio and Video links on this page require Realplayer

Listen: Interview with Cody Rhodes and Maria >

Rob in Birmingham

Rob was in town as part of the Memorabilia show at the NEC, a weekend showcase of rare collectibles, sci-fi merchandise and television celebrities.

"I love coming to Birmingham," Rob told us. "It's one of my favourite cities to visit. Meeting the fans is better than actual wrestling and while I'm here I can browse some of the stands and pick up a few figures for my own collection."

Van Dam, one of the most popular wrestlers in the world, left the American WWE in June 2007, just weeks before news of the death of fellow star Chris Benoit made international headlines.

Benoit, Van Dam's long-time friend and colleague, took his own life after killing his wife Nancy and seven-year-old son Daniel at their home in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. Monday Night

"I for one still can't believe that Chris was capable of doing this," said Rob. "OJ didn't do it but Chris Benoit did? Look at what was stacked against OJ and they found nothing to convict him.

"But Chris Benoit was a guy that everybody spoke so highly of. Everbody's jumping all over the lifestyle (as an explanation). Of course, it's incredibly demanding but it doesn't make us kill our families.

"You're talking about a man who bound his wife's limbs and strangled her, allegedly choked his son out and then hung himself. We don't have things like this going on. It's not something that's associated with people taking steroids."

To listen to our exclusive four-part interview, click the links above

In part 1 , Rob talks about the Memorabilia Show, meeting fans and his love of comic books.

In part 2, Rob reflects on the death of Chris Benoit, life on the road as a wrestler and WWE's drug testing policy.

In part 3, Rob explains why he left WWE and gives his thoughts on the ECW brand.

In part 4, Rob talks about the possibility of joining TNA and has comments on a variety of his co-workers, from John Cena and Triple H to Stephanie McMahon and Paul Heyman.

Read: Interview with Mick Foley >

last updated: 17/10/07

Have Your Say

james singh master musle
sorry about the death chris hope you rip chris pround to the one riprob van dam safe dude man you come back wwe

usman mahmood
hi rob come bak if u do say hi to jeff hardy from me please come back ecw needs u

TNAdam
Who Will Treat RVD Better TNA or WWE?Obviously TNA.People That prefer WWE to TNA cant seriously be wrestling fans, maybe soap fans. WWE hasnt been very good since rock and stone cold steve austin left.

wiiliam
mr. monday nite rocks

George Asquith
He didnt deserve to die and niether did his family it was the steroids thinking not him.

NATHAN
COME BACK

zaid
rob you are the graitest man in the wrisling world

tommy w
i think if you come back 2 the wwe or ecw the rateings would go up a bit moreand your a awsome wwe star

BRAD
go to TNA VAN DAM wear you have respect

James McGregor
the person below this message clearly isn't john cena beacuse he can't spell cena e.g he spells it cean it is cena not cean

John Cean
Rob we need your come back to the wwe. they miss you so much the undertaker is gone because edge won a TLC match. WE Chris J. is back and he hurt hbk and turrned on the fans. come back on the draft on june23,o8.

james
you should come back to the wwe and bring respect back to ecw

WELCOME
ARE YOU COMING BACK TO WWE ROB I CANT WAIT TO SEE,YOU ARE MY ROLEMODEL.PLEASE COME BACK.

WELCOME
ARE YOU COMING BACK TO WWE ROB

sean fegan
rvd should come back its getting boring with only 1 high flyer jeff hardy please rvd come back

Jo
RVD just rocks and sending lots of love and hope to him and his wife at this difficult time

adam dytham
hi rvd Mr. Monday Nightbig fan of you you defeat john cena fou the titlesee u say hi to ray

shoib
what has happen to rud where is he why is he not coming to the wwe

shaquille muhammad
you sould go back to the wwe

The Game
RVD should come back to WWE..coz now that he's gone ECW and even RAW sucks!..i havent watched WWE for like 5 months or so coz it so boring..i keep seeing the same guys with same old stuff..and it sucks BIG TIME!RVD PLS SAVE WWE!

Ryan
RVD should team up with Rey Mysterio and defeat edge

jamie miller
go to tna its the best and it would be more benaficial for your career

brandon meckler
i like you and name is cool

Jonny
RVD come back to wwe and beat edge for the wrold heavy title. That would be soo kwl.

Aaron
hey rob it is your number 1# fan

alex molina
i think you are no good john cena will always be better than you

deano
rvd you rule i am joing to see raw and i want you to be there i have also been to your comic book store and i got your aughttograph

kamaldeep
I think that RVD is a great wrestler because i have met him in real life, and he has deserved for what he has done for ECW.

Peter
RVD was awsome in the old ECW If u have the dvds or have seen the matches of him on youtube you will agree and i hope he comes back

SOORAJ
RVD PLEASE COME BACK TO WWE.

rvd fan rich
hi rob please come back to raw or ecw win wwe title or ecw title or tag team with cena why bother going to tna it is not your kind rvd

rvd one of a kind fan
hi rob when are you returing to wwe and become wwe champion.where is sabu and tommey dreamer.and where is sandman.make a impact.rob van dam

R-V-D IS E-C-W!!
ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw!ecw! PLEASE GO BAK 2 ECW, WE NEED U THERE BECAUSE IT SUCKS SINCE YOU & SABU LEFT, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!

Your fane
how are you RVD Dec18 yours birth day,so,many more happy returns of the day please come back RAW

Dharmendra
please return RAW please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please in india

don williamson
rob,you should return to wwe,you were an extremely talented wrestler and should continue working for wwe for a few more years

chama mwamba
how do u do the five star frog splash

Steven B.
Hey guys, Rob Van Dam has already came back to WWE. And I Hope that RVD comes back to be in action. Got That? But at this time, RVD is apperently joining the WWE Alumni for this time.

mts
rvd deserves a title shot, he's been pushed down and wrestlers like john cena always get the title!

Daz
RVD your too good for wwe. WWE has hired too many people who are just plain boring RVD is one of the few wrestlers that are actually exciting to watch, but wwe doesnt let people like rvd show how good they are. They never gave you the push you deserved, good luck with what you decide to do.

andri
jo´rob van dam your best

Amin
rob your the best high fyler alive go to wwe or TNA

Tyler
my birthday is on the 18th of december same as yours Rob Van Dam (RVD) please come back to ecw please, you are awesome please come back to ecw please!

GLORIA GONZALEZ
YES ROD VAN DAM SHOULD COME BACK TO WRESTING AND WATCH HIM AGAIN.

Steve K.
RVD...The first match I ever saw in person had Ray Stevens & Kenji Shibuya headlining and I've seen alot since then but, you really are the whole dam Show. You've given me a lot of great memories and I hope there are more to come. If you decide not to re-enter the ring, so be it but, you are one of the all time class acts in ANY field. Have fun with life while you can.

tjey
RVD deserves a title shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stallone
your the best

Zia=RVD
RVD! please come back to ECW.WE NEED YOU THERE

Chad
RVD! Your the man buddy! Loved when you finally got given a clear chance at the WWE Title!! Take your time dude, make that decision when your ready all your fans respect you immensly.

nab
rvd is tha best

moses
i'm your biggest fan! i just luv everything; i mean everything about you. your accrobatics, your confindence, you've never been a disappointment to your fans. however all asking!! is to see your ultimate display regardless of where you fight i'll forever support you.

ROB
why dont u come back to wwe

tons of monk
you are sowe awsome RVD

One of a Kind Fan
RVD, you should come back to the wwe. You should come in Wrestle Mania or in an upcoming pay-per-view to beat Orton for the wwe title. Orton is a lousy wwe champion, and you should be the wwe champion istead of him.

extremervd
i don't agree with my namesake because rvd was one of the best in the old, but the best,ECW, and when he first came in the WWF(E). even though he hasn't been used to the best of his abilities, and it took him 5years to get the WWE Title, he is still one of the best in the world, and that makes him THE WHOLE F'N SHOW!!!!

One of a Kind Fan
RVD, I think you should come back and beat Orton for the WWE Championship. Orton should pay for trying to end the original spirit of ECW. You, RVD, will always make a great champion and excellent wrestler. I hope to see you back on the WWE.

Cameron Howkins
HEllo Rob van dam

Andrew
ROD VAM DAMONE OF A KIND

becks
meeting you a year ago at hmv was pretty immense , thatnks for the opportunity

mirielle
plz come bask we miss u n go kick randys butt

kevin
Rob, glad you left wwe. They are embarassing ecw. really hope to see you in tna. that program has a better show than wwe by a longshot. What is your take on Cena who to me is 1 diemensional, can't really wrestle who has a fireman carry slam as a finisher?

jordan
why did you leave ecw please come back

david
czw czw czw czw thats the company to join

lil zay
rvd we miss you, you need to come back to kick randy orton's butie

Shrine
RVD you are my role model do me one thing go back for the wwe championship and beat the heck out off ortan plz.RVD PLEASE BEAT BATISTA AND I LIKE YOUR KICKS AND I WANT YOU TO TRAIN ME.

cory wise
i am your biggest fan i cn't wait to see you wrestle at ecw one night stand

wasim akhtar
hi rob plz team up with sabu and join tna

Liam
ROH is where it's at :)

chris
did you retire?

felipe esteban acosta munoz
i am feeling bad for the rob van dam concussion is a really shame that rob cannot fight but i wish the best luck for him and i hope someday he returns the ECW.

RVD should stay with wwe
Rvd why go to TNA. WWE is way better

linnieking
it wud b cool if rvd made an apperance @ an eaw event.it wud take eaw 2 the extreme levels!

RVD´S FIVE STAR FAN
IT´S TIME 4 RVD´S NEXT TITLE !TNA! TNA! TNA!

damon calleja
hiive been training a bit trying to make it big time when im older anyway rvd was the best there ever was with a load of other great talent and if he leaves thats his decision he has been there long enough and has a life of his own well in rvd

John Garabedian
Rob Van Dam please go to TNA thay will love you there.

collin
RVD come back at unforgiven at the wwe championship match beat up orton.

jake
i realy hope rvd goes to tna aventuly insted of goin back to wwe

Jordan C. Jones
Come to TNA RVD

RVD 4444
please comeback to wwe please please please please please please please please please please

JJ
if the new ecw is bad, go back 2 raw!! rvd is the greatest wrestler alive!! =]

Herby
please dont stop wrestling go to tna or back to wwe thats where u belong at wwe

david spooner
ecw ecw ecw ecw ecw ecw ecw ecw

ramon
rvd please come back you so could get revenge on randy orton wwe need you you wanna best ecw and wwe superstar joining tna not yet you must care randy orton myabe back no mercy and face randy orton only this hell in cell macth

will
hey rvd im a huge fan of yours hoping to bcome a wrestler 1 day all i have to say i really respec what u did and do inside and outside of the ring your an awsome dude and wether u go back 2 the wwe or tna it really doesnt matter ill still watch u it gives me a reason to watch tna more often lol if u do go 2 tna tho u should form a stable with aj styles and have them bring back the amazing red so he can join your stable along with sting and abyss that would be pretty sick u rock peace im out

fl3x
come back 2 wrestling plzzzz make sum tag team with sabu

micheal
no no please please dont join tna it sucks rilly rilly rilly rilly rilly badly

trent
when are you coming back

boy
wat?? joining TNA??? dude...dont! TNA sucks.. it will ruin u.. plssss go back 2 WWE!!! :(

kasey
RVD is the best

ecw
rvd i red on smash wrestling that u might go to tna ipmact so i wanted to tell u that yo come back to the wwe and randy orton but.u come even kick his head inside out.

Terri
RVD is a kind caring person and as fans we know it and if he says what Chris Benoit did was out of his nature and that he was a good person. I believe him. R.I.P. Chris. I am hoping RVD is resting well and will be in the ring soon where ever he chooses we will always enjoy watching!! He will be ROCKIN'and ROLLIN'THUNDER all over the opponents in the ring!!

	BBC Homepage England
Birmingham News Sport Weather Travel News Entertainment Places People Faith Nature History BBC Introducing In Pictures Your Community Beeching Flab to Fab Credit Crunch BBC Local Radio Site Contents

	Contact Us Like this page? Send it to a friend!

General Features

Rob Van Dam

To listen to our exclusive four-part interview, click the links above

Have Your Say

SEE ALSO

See Also

On this site

On the rest of the web

Gay Village