The Kurt Angle Show - Rob Van Dam [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Not far from us is April 20th - RVD’s favorite day of the year - and let’s discuss The Whole FN Show…

Rob actually wrestled on the one ECW show you attended in Philly that you walked out on after they ran the crucifixion angle. Did you meet him at that show or have anything that stood out from that show regarding Rob?

Rob would gain fame later on as a top star in ECW before the Invasion - did you hear of Rob while you were working for the WWF in the late 90s?

Any memories of the first time you saw Rob wrestle, either live or on tape?

Rob has always had this reputation of having a laid back attitude and it was much different from the rest of the WWF locker room at that time. How did you see Rob fitting in after he debuted during the Invasion angle?

Was he someone you would hang out with, talk to on a regular basis or just the normal hey hello how are you type of stuff?

Rob has had the reputation also of being stiff and laying things in - and you’ve brought this up in the past that you’re ok with that type of work and that you were similar - any memories of him and someone going at it because of Rob being stiff?

Your first match together is in Chicago on Raw is War on August 13th, 2001 and it’s a hardcore title match. Because this is the era of the 24/7 rule…Jeff Hardy ends up winning the title but what were your first impressions of working with Rob?

Two weeks later in the main event on Raw, you would team with Chris Jericho to defeat Rob & Tazz during the height of the Invasion. You & Jericho working with two former ECW guys in a main event of Raw - this is a big deal for Rob & Tazz - what were they like to work with?

Were you starting to get more comfortable being in the ring with Rob?

Was he different putting a match together than other guys?

Would you had liked to work a long-term program and do you think he was getting a good enough crowd reaction that it would’ve been successful?

Kurt won the Hardcore title from RVD on the September 10, 2001 episode of Raw in San Antonio - and lost it back to RVD about a minute later when Austin threw you off the stage:

Kurt - walk me through that bump. That’s gotta be a scary one to take where you put all your trust in your ability to land correctly right?

A week later on Raw in Nashville:

From the Torch

“Main event saw Jericho & Angle over Austin & Van Dam in 8:21. Good action and real good heat.

They did one spot where Van Dam kicked Austin for the long-term tease. Ref bump. Everyone seemed to get their finishers on with no ref. Ankle lock on Austin, Van Dam saved. Jericho with walls on Van Dam, Austin saved. Austin hit Jericho with the ring bell. Went to hit Angle but Earl Hebner grabbed the bell from him. Angle got near falls with a schoolboy and a german suplex on Austin before finally hitting the Angle slam after a blocked stunner for the pin.”

Are you really starting to find a chemistry with Rob here?

RVD vs Kurt on the October 4, 2001 Smackdown in Mobile, AL:

Kurt is the WWF Champion here and RVD pinned him in a non-title match following interference from Shane McMahon.

RVD is a little stiff with one of his kicks early in the match and Kurt is bleeding badly from the mouth for most of the match as a result.

Did you give Rob any shit about this or did you know that’s just what happens?

You’re a babyface here but the crowd is reacting to Rob in the same way…is that frustrating?

2 weeks later on Smackdown in Montreal and it’s Kurt vs RVD again, this is the go-home show for No Mercy 2001 where it’s a triple threat match for the WWF Title (now held again by Austin).

RVD again busts Kurt open hard way in this match, now from the nose, and the match ended in a no contest when Austin interfered, but the show ended with RVD hitting the frog splash on his Alliance leader Austin to add some last bit of intrigue to the PPV match.

Do you ever go to Rob and be like - hey el stiffo take care of me a little more?

Was Rob recepetive to feedback and critiscm?

Putting a match together with Rob & Steve for a pay-per-view world title match - was that complicated?

No Mercy 2001 from St. Louis:

8. Steve Austin retained the WWF title in a three-way over Kurt Angle and Rob Van Dam, by pinning Van Dam in 15:15.

Angle, who was supposed to be odd man out, ended up being the star of the match. He opened throwing four suplexes in a row, two on each guy. They did a few spots where they'd throw Angle out of the ring and tease Austin vs. Van Dam. Lots of spots where they'd do their finishers and the third guy would break it up.

Austin tried a piledriver on the table on Angle, who flipped out of it and Austin landed hard on the table, which didn't break. Vince came out. Van Dam did a spin kick on Austin. Angle did a belly-to-belly superplex on Van dam. Austin did a stunner to Angle, who rolled out of the ring, avoiding the pin. McMahon hit Austin hard in the back of the head with a chair, busting him open. Van Dam hit the frog splash, but Angle recovered and made the save. Angle then hit five german suplexes and an Olympic slam on Austin but Shane made the save knocking Angle out of the ring. Vince attacked Shane and they rolled over the announcers table, while in the ring Austin hit Van Dam with the stunner for the pin. Finish was actually flat after an awesome match because the attention was with the McMahons at the finish and not on the finish itself. After the PPV ended, McMahon got in the ring and raised Angle's hand to a big pop, and then went to raise Van Dam's hand, but Van Dam blew him off.

Are you happy with the match?

Was Rob and Steve?

Did you think the WWF was on the cusp of making Rob a big-time star and then it just stopped?

Why do you think that was?

You two would have a few more matches in early 2002 before the brand split but you two don’t run into each other again until ECW in 2006. Were you disappointed you didn’t get to work with Rob more during that timeframe?

You & Rob were to be the biggest stars on ECW - is there a moment in time where you two sit down and discuss where the brand should go and what you guys wanted to accomplish?

Did you feel like you two were sharing the star power on the brand?

Were you hoping to get to work a program with him at some point in ECW?

On the second TV show on June 20, 2006, Kurt and RVD defeated Edge and Randy Orton in Albany, NY:

“Rob Van Dam and Kurt Angle, representing ECW, teamed to beat Edge and Randy Orton, who represented Raw. RVD hit a Five Star Frog Splash on Edge for the pinfall after 15 minutes of back–and–forth action in a WWE heavyweight style match. Lita became involved throughout the match since it was an ECW Rulz match where outside interference is legal. However, Angle took her out of the picture with the Angle slam.”

How much had Rob style changed since working with him in 02 or did it not change at all?

The reactions Rob was getting as ECW and WWE champion - they were gigantic - were you surprised?

A week later in Roanoke, Kurt challenged RVD for the ECW Title:

“WWE and ECW champion Rob Van Dam beat Kurt Angle in the main event of ECW’s third show on

Sci-Fi.

The first half was slow, but the second half really picked up and it turned into a very good TV match by the end. RVD racked up an impressive string of matches after defeating Edge on PPV, keeping the belt against Cena on Raw, and beating Angle clean on ECW TV. WWE is pushing him like a superstar and he’s answering the challenge.

Despite wrestling a top opponent for the third consecutive night, RVD didn’t show signs of fatigue. Instead, he delivered yet another strong performance and both men finished the show on a high note with an impressive series of counters, reversals, and well–executed athleticism. With Edge and Lita sitting ringside for the match, Angle could have joined RVD, Edge, and John Cena in the WWE Title match at the July 15 Saturday Night’s Main Event show on NBC if he won the match. However, RVD was able to escape the Anklelock on several occasions before hitting the Five Star Frog splash for the clean win over Angle. Afterwards, RVD turned his back on Edge and Lita, who appeared to leave the ringside area. However, Edge ran into the ring from out of nowhere and speared RVD. He raised his arms in celebration and stood over RVD’s fallen body to close the show.”

What a match this ends up being - when you guys are done are you in the back telling Paul Heyman & Vince McMahon - look at what we can do if you give us a top program?

Did you think it was too soon for you two to wrestle on ECW’s third show?

You’re on a sabbatical when everything goes down with Rob Van Dam - when do you hear about it?

Were you surprised?

Do you think he got a fair shake with his issues?

If you hadn’t been taking time off - do you think the ECW title would’ve end up on you instead of maybe Big Show?

Were you in a position at that time to handle that do you think?

Did you talk to Rob during all this at all? Or did you guys not have that type of relationship?

You’re out of the company not much longer after - and you wouldn’t run into RVD again until TNA. How big a deal was it for Rob to come into the company?

Was this something you were pushing for?

In 2011 you work again with Rob in a three-way on Impact with Ken Anderson involved. Were you ready to work a program with him again?

Rob’s attitude - had it changed over time - he’s been talked about as only being there for the paycheck by some - did you get that feeling?

Do you think TNA ever gave him the right push or the ability to draw money for the company?

You finally get a one-on-one match on an Impact in May of 2011

Impact 5/26/11:

“Angle pinned RVD in a good match. RVD got a bloody lip, probably from an elbow. They did all their specialties. RVD got out of an Olympic slam and turned it into a DDT. He went to the top but Angle gave him the belly-to-belly superplex and followed with the ankle lock. RVD escaped the angle lock, hit a kick and went to the top. He missed the frog splash and Angle used an Olympic slam for the pin. It just felt so rushed after all the buildup for it through nearly two hours.”

This is a common theme in TNA isn’t it? Everything was just rushed…was this a pay-per-view main event that they were giving away on TV?

Did it feel nice to bust Rob open up for a change?

Rob came in a high profile spot but would find himself up and down the card during his time in TNA. Do you think he ever reached his full potential?

Did you enjoy working with Rob throughout his career?

He’s definately a hall of famer right?

There’s a hilarious Funny or Die Skit with RVD training Kurt for the 2012 Olympics:

How did this come to be?

Did you enjoy doing this?

Does Rob get the credit for his charisma as that’s been a knock on him a lot in his career…

What’s something about Rob that people have never met him would be shocked to know?