Search - WWE - Rob Van Dam - One of a Kind on DVD

Great Athlete at his Finest.

Bama Boy | Jasper, Alabama | 02/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those of you that only know Rob Van Dam from 2001 to the present, this is the DVD for you. With this DVD you will finally see why a large quantity of wrestling fans think it is a travesty at how RVD has been underused in the last two years. This DVD has 16 complete matches, 11 matches are from his days in ECW and that is what you need to focus on. The extras are so so, there is a couple of eastereggs with funny RVD interviews from ECW. The matches is worth the price alone. Here is a rundown of some of the greatest matches you will ever see and they are on this DVD.

Robby V vs. Pat Rose: Ok, th is isn't one of the greatest matches and the next match I review won't be either but it shows RVD 12 yrs ago when he was trying to make a name for himself.

Robby V vs. Scotty Flamingo: Like I said before, not a great match but you get to see both RVD and Raven before they got there big breaks in ECW.

Rob Van Dam vs. Axl Rotten: And the legend begins. This is his first match in ECW and he is still trying to find the character he wants to be but he gains the ECW fan's respect in his debut match.

RVD vs. Sabu(2 matches): These guys trained together under The Original Sheik and these are just two of there classic encounters. Both matches are around 20 mins in length and the action never slows down.

RVD and Sabu vs. The Eliminators: For new fans, this may be you only chance to see one of the best and most underrated tag teams of all time, seeing that The Eliminators have been broken up for almost eight years and neither one is in the WWE. The Eliminators were Perry Saturn and John Kronus and they were in my opinion, the best tag team at the time. Before The Dudleys got there huge push in ECW. This is a great hardcore tag team match that includes, Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, among the usual RVD moves.

Rob Van Dam vs. Lance Storm: Decent match, lets you see the story of how RVD became Mr. Monday Night.

Rob Van Dam vs. Jeff Hardy: Total squash. Only reason for this is to continue the storyline of the Mr. Monday Night angle.

Rob Van Dam vs. Tommy Dreamer: This was a flag match in which the winner would get to raise his flag. Tommy Dreamer carried the flag for ECW and RVD carried the flag for WWF, which is now WWE. Some hard hitting action. Only minus in this match is the screwjob ending. Should have been a clean decision. Not giving away the outcome, but a non ref makes the official three count.

Rob Van Dam vs. Bam Bam Bigelow: This is the match in which RVD became the individual that could do no wrong. No matter what he did after this match, he was a fan favorite. The aerial moves he pulls off in this match will astonish you.

Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn(two matches): Two of the greatest wrestling clinics ever displayed. Not much more I can say. The best match they had is not even one of these two. Thats my opinion of course and that match I am speaking of is on the Rise and Fall of ECW dvd. These two matches on this collection are classics as well and would complement the other match for anybody that has the Rise and Fall DVD. The latest ECW match on this dvd is RVD and Jerry Lynn from ECW's last ppv. It shows RVD use the Van Terminator, which is the best in ring move he has ever done.

Rob Van Dam vs. Balls Mahoney: Very similar to the Bam Bam Bigelow match. RVD doesn't do quite as many daredevil moves as he did in the Bigelow match but he still does a couple that are just amazing.

Rob Van Dam vs. Jeff Hardy: In my opinion, this is his finest match since coming into the WWE. There was so much difference in the four years since his other match with Jeff Hardy, that I couldn't group them in a review like I did the Lynn and Sabu matches. Jeff Hardy had come along way since 1997 and this was 2001. This was for the hardcore championship and in the introduction that RVD gives before this match, he states that he wish WWE would bring back the hardcore title and he thinks the reason they did away with that title is because no one could keep up with his own hardcore style. I can't argue.

Rob Van Dam vs. Chris Jericho: Great scientific display by these men and it took place in 2002, which was the year it appeared WWE was going to give RVD the proper push he deserved.

Rob Van Dam vs. Christian: One of the shorter ladder matches you will see but it was the most brutal in WWE history. This being a ladder match, I am not including the TLC classics. Good display by two men that in my opinion should be future world champions.

The intro into each match by RVD is insightful as well. Any fan of RVD or ECW should by this must have collection."

Watching This DVD Made Me Mad...

D.P. | California | 01/19/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...because this DVD will show you how misused, undervalued, and basically wasted (stick your arms out & point to yourself with your thumbs) Rob Van Dam is in WWE. This is one DVD that's great for ECW fans or for fans who never caught RVD outside of WWE & want to know what allt he hype about his was all about. I watch it often because a majority (not all) of the matches are some of the best of modern wrestling today. And unlike how Undertaker's recent DVD set was...comments from RVD about certain issues are included. His time in WCW under Bill Watts & Ole Anderson; injuries; relationship with Sabu & The Sheik; the whole story behind his "Mr. Monday Night" run in WWE; differences between ECW & WWE; the world record setting Van Dam Lift; his views on the ECW Television & WWE Hardcore titles; and different finishing moves are subjects he touches upon.

vs. Scotty Flamingo (WCW Worldwide 02/08/93) - This match is just showing Rob in his early days as it's really nothing special past the irony that a little over 3 years later...there two jobbers in WCW would become two of the biggest attractions in ECW. And for those who don't know...Flamingo would later become known as Raven.

vs. Axl Rotten (ECW Hardcore TV 01/05/96) - It's RVD's debut match eventhough it's nothing special except Rob's style of wrestle was nothing that ECW had seen at that time.

vs. Sabu (ECW Hardcore Heaven 06/22/96) - This match has alternative commentary by RVD & Paul Heyman where they talk about how the ring broke, Kimona's striptease & how nobody wanted a refund after wating hours to fix the ring. This is a personal favorite of mine because this was the first ECW match I saw & the one that got me hooked. Great match between the two (actually, when did they ever have a bad one?) and the ring ropes were broken during the match so to see them pull off the moves they did while the ring wasn't safe is just amazing.

Sabu & RVD vs. The Eliminators (ECW Crossing The Line 02/01/97) - The Eliminations style as a tag team was very similar to RVD & Sabu's as singles stars so it was a great clash.

vs. Lance Storm (ECW Barely Legal 04/13/97) - They would go on to have better matches as Storm was really "green" to the ECW enviroment (as you can see by his weak chairshots to RVD). This is really just on here to show the beginning of his "Mr. Monday Night" run.
Note: Also available on the "ECW Barely Legal" DVD

vs. Jeff Hardy (Raw 05/12/97) - A squash match against a young Jeff Hardy who was just a jobber at the time. Again, only on here to showcase his "Mr. Monday Night" run.

vs. Tommy Dreamer (ECW November 2 Remember 11/30/97) - This was an ECW vs. WWF flag match. This match is the only one on here that's clipped as part of the match is cut out and some of the crowd chants were edited along with some of Joey's commentary ("RVD sells out to the WWF"). RVD takes one of the biggest piledrivers I've see in wrestling (Austin/Owen was the other one)as his head bounces off the mat. Cameo's from Sabu, Doug Furnas & Phil Lafon, and Stevie Richards. Also Beulah was nice to look at during this match too.

vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (ECW Hardcore TV 04/04/98) - The start of RVD's 23 month Television title reign. This was the match that took RVD from solid high mid-carder to main event status. One of the best big man vs. little man matches I've seen as RVD does all his high spots against Bigelow's power moves.
Note: Also available on the "ECW Path Of Destruction" DVD

vs. Jerry Lynn (ECW Living Dangerously 03/21/99) - Years after Steamboat vs. Flair & before Angle vs. HBK...they had RVD vs. Lynn. The start of a modern day wrestling classic fued between these two and were RVD earns his nickname "Mr. PPV" They went the time limit & then went another couple of minutes. Again, words can't describe this match.
Side Note: Their rematch at Hardcore Heaven is on The Rise & Fall Of ECW DVD along with the ECW Extreme Revolution DVD.

vs. Jerry Lynn (ECW Guilty as Charged 01/07/01) - Not as good as their first two on PPV but better than their last one on PPV (Hardcore Heaven '00 that alot of people have forgotten about). RVD & Lynn switch roles here as Lynn has Cyrus to run interference for him while RVD doesn't have Bill Alfonzo. Nice match to watch as it was the last ECW match that alot of people got to see (since ECW only had two house shows after this PPV).
Note: Also available on the "ECW Guilty As Charged 2001" DVD

vs. Jeff Hardy (WWE Invasion 07/22/01) - It's ironic that RVD's first WWE match was against Jeff Hardy & his return match is against Hardy once again. Hardy & RVD have similar styles so this match stole the show at the Invasion PPV and was one of top matches of the year. Hardcore match except they were high flyin' & everything instead of bashing each other's heads in with weapons. Great match.

vs. Chris Jericho (WWE King of the Ring 06/23/02) - RVD & Jericho just weren't "clicking" together in this match & it showed. They were just off & had a slighty above average match. It would have been better to put their match from Unforgiven 2001 on here instead of this one since that match stole the show at that PPV as well (which RVD seemed to do alot of during his Invasion run).

vs. Christian (Raw 09/29/03) - This was a ladder match from RAW that was one of the best ladder matches in WWE history (if you don't include the TLC matches). I don't know how to describe this match past what I already said...one of the best ladder matches in WWE history.

DVD extras:

vs. Pat Rose (WCW Saturday Night 01/23/93) - Basically RVD's WCW debut. Nothing special.

vs. Sabu (ECW Hostile City Showdown 04/20/96) - This was their first match in ECW. Not as good as the ones they would have in the future but like I said earlier..there two never have bad matches. This is really memorable for how RVD walked out on a handshake from Sabu that started their "fued for respect."

vs. Balls Mahoney (ECW Anarchy Rulz 09/16/99) - This match has alternative commentary from RVD & Paul Heyman where they talked about RVD's title reign & how he elevated the TV title to the same level or (in some people's eyes) past the level of the World Title and how he did was Bret Hart did & defend the title against all challengers. This match was a great match as people sterotyped Balls Mahoney as someone who's just a hardcore brawler who can only street fight & use weapons but yet kept up & went toe to toe with RVD.
Note: Also available on the "ECW Anarchy Rulz '99" DVD

Other DVD extras include alot of features on RVD from Confidental like tourning Jakks Pacific (who makes the action figures & toys); behind the scenes of the music video for his theme song; the story behind his wrestling outfits; and the Outside The Ropes segment. Also extras from other DVD's like his WrestleMania memories (WM19 DVD) & a profile on him during his Invasion run (Invasion DVD). RVD promos & two hidden ECW interviews round out the extras.

I would give this DVD 5 stars but their decision to put some of the matches on here (Jericho & clipping the Dreamer match) lowers it by a star for me but I recommend this for anyone.
SOMEONE TELL WWE TO GET THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR BUTTS & PUSH RVD BECAUSE HE CAN DELIVER IN THE RING MORE THAN A MAJORITY OF THOSE YOUR PUSHING NOW!!!"

A one of a kind DVD set

Orton Believer | Iowa | 04/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an awesome DVD set with some really killer matches and extras. Matches are rated out of 5 stars.

Robbie V vs. Pat Rose - This one is ok, it's only on here to show RVD's WCW debut, however he does show us that he was always an amazing athlete by pulling some high-flying moves off **1/2

Robbie V vs. Scotty Flamingo - Once again ok, but only on the DVD to highlight RVD's time in WCW. Here he's taking on a guy who would later be called Raven (for those who didn't know) not much going on, though **

RVD vs. Axl Rotten - Finally, we get to the ECW chapter. A very entertaining match, even though they don't use any weapons. Cool over-the-top flip by RVD ***1/2

RVD vs. Sabu (Hostile City Showdown) - The best RVD/Sabu match, this one will keep you begging for more when it's finally over, lengthy, awesome and crazy *****

RVD vs. Sabu (Hardcore Heaven) - First one's better, but that's not saying this match is any more horrible, some sick bumps taken by Rob and Sabu, both men carried out on stretcher ****1/2

RVD/Sabu vs. The Eliminators - Saturn and Kronus were always a great tag team but so was Rob and Sabu. A great tag team match with some seriously insane double team moves ****

RVD vs. Lance Storm - a really cool match, even though some people don't like it. Weak chair shots by Storm and great chair work by Rob cool finish ***

RVD vs. Jeff Hardy (Raw) - Squash match, only reason it's on here is too capitalize on the "Mr. Monday Night" name. Pretty weak match *1/2

RVD vs. Tommy Dreamer (Flag vs. Flag match) - The match is great with some great wrestling by both men, super weak ending ***1/2

RVD vs. Bam Bam Bigelow - This match is one of the very best on the DVD Rvd takes some awesome leaps and the way it ends was very creative *****

RVD vs. Jerry Lynn (Living Dangerously) - Oh my god what can I say that hasn't been said yet, this match is freakin' awesome way better than their 2nd match. Jerry Lynn could've been champ *****

RVD vs. Balls Mahoney - This is to only capitalize on the defenses of the television title. This match is still pretty good ****

RVD vs. Jerry Lynn (Guilty as Charged) - A so-so encounter compared to their first match, only good thing is the bumps that both men took, cool finish ***1/2

RVD vs. Jeff Hardy (Invasion) - One of Rob's finer WWE matches but not his greatest, again there were some serious bumps taken by both men ****

RVD vs. Chris Jericho - This is Rob's first ever actual time as being accepted as a member of the WWE roster, Rob would later lose the KOTR tournament to an undeserving Brock ****

RVD vs. Christian (Ladder match for the IC title) - I absolutely love this match, even if it is a little short, some really cool ladder moves and one of RVD's best singlets, I think *****"

From Mr. PPV to Mr. DVD

John Quincy Adams | Chicago | 01/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 2-DVD set will be a gem for any true wrestling fan. Spanning his early WCW days through his current tenure in the WWE, this set features some of RVD's most memorable matches. The true highlight is getting his best ECW matches with digital quality.

The House Party '96 match vs. Axl Rotten, RVD's ECW debut, is interesting to see because he really hadn't found his character yet. The matches with Sabu (Hostile City Showdown '96 and Hardcore Heaven '96) are incredible and still hold up as such nine years later. A bonus from 1997 is getting to see him wrestle on RAW is WAR vs. Jeff Hardy.

Probably the best match on the DVD is his 4/4/98 match in Buffalo against Bam Bam Bigelow. That night, Van Dam won the ECW Television Title (with a little help from Sabu) and wowed the crowd with dives three rows into the stands. Just an amazing match. This match can also be found on the ECW Path of Destruction video, released a few years back.

The set also has some historical matches, too, such as RVD main-eventing the Anarchy Rulz '99 PPV in Chicago against Ballz Mahoney and his match with Jerry Lynn to wrap up ECW's final PPV, Guilty as Charged 2001.

The set also includes such matches as RVD vs. Tommy Dreamer in a flag match from November 2 Remember '97, RVD and Sabu vs. The Eliminators from February '97, RVD vs. Lynn from Living Dangerously '99 (nice touch to not re-release the Hardcore Heaven '99 match again), etc.

Then, adding to the ECW legacy, the set includes three of RVD's best WWF/WWE matches. First is his inaugural WWF PPV match, when he took on Jeff Hardy at Invasion (7/22/01). This was a great match that gained him more popularity with fans who hadn't watched ECW. Also included are a great match with Chris Jericho from King of the Ring 2002 and a ladder match vs. Christian from a September 2003 edition of RAW.

Buy this set as soon as possible!"