Rob Van Dam is not holding backand hes got words for both AEWs style and the fans who came for him after he dared to speak his mind.
After Jon Moxleys violent AEW World Title defense against Adam Copeland on the March 19th episode of Dynamitea street fight that included a spike bat covered in nailsWWE Hall of Famer RVD had some thoughts. While speaking on his podcast, RVD said the match leaned too far into hardcore spectacle and wasnt wrestling to him. That alone was enough to get fans riled up online.
Now, in a response video posted to RVDTV.com, Van Dam doubled downand didnt hold back. Now, I didnt bash AEW. I wouldnt bash AEW, RVD started. And it seems to me, by far, the worst part about AEWand I hope this quote gets picked upis the fans on IWC. The fans are so ignorant.
He made it crystal clear that it wasnt about Moxley specifically, but about the direction he sees AEW heading. The more AEW does things like that, like the Jon Moxley spike bat thing, and I think that theyre heading in that direction more I think WWE is heading into more like old-school WWE storytelling in the ring and less of lets stick a knife through someones cheek, burn their house down, go for shock value. The more they seem to be two separate styleswhich Im fine withthe more I personally would rather have RVD, the wrestler, associated with WWE.
RVD said fans completely missed the point. He wasnt bashing AEWhe was stating his preference for technical wrestling over blood-and-guts style chaos.
Those matches, especially the ones that have like thumb tacks, glass, fire, fish hooks when they have the competitors in there that dont do a single wrestling move to me, thats not wrestling.
And for those fans calling him a hypocrite for his past ECW work? The matches that Sabu taught me were garbage matches theyve always been the bottom of the list of my favorite matches. Thats my opinion. If you dont think I have a right to say that because I was in ECW you need to check yourself. Youre way too defensive because Im not [bashing AEW].
He wrapped the rant with a sharp jab at those misunderstanding the word hypocrite altogether. The fans are so challenged that they hit me with things like, Well, if you did that stuff and youre saying you dont like it, youre a hypocrite. Thats not what a hypocrite is. You know what? I dont like to be in mixed tag matches, but I did them. Does that make me a hypocrite?
RVDs been through it allfrom ECW bloodbaths to WWE classicsbut one thing is clear: hes got no patience for internet fans misquoting his words and twisting the narrative.
What do you think of the hardcore AEW fanbase? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
