RVD: ECW is still Standing

By THE LILSBOYS

THE WWE may be on a high after a very strong WrestleMania but there is only one brand of wrestling that hardcore fans are talking about right now - ECW.

Paul Heyman's extreme federation return for their second One Night Stand PPV in June and it's now being reported that they're coming back full time.

We're still waiting for an official announcement, but it's expected ECW will have their own regular TV or Internet show alongside Raw and Smackdown by the summer.

So what better time to catch up with our favourite extreme superstar of them all - Rob Van Dam.

And while Rob doesn't have details of these new plans, he told us that he can't wait to be The Whole FN Show once again at One Night Stand.

He boasted: "RVD in ECW is definitely RVD at his best. Any fans of mine who've been with me for a long time, or have seen my DVD, will tell you that.

"I was free there. I could do whatever I felt was appropriate to entertain the fans.

"There were no rules - which opened up my mind and meant I was always coming up with new moves and ideas.

"On last year's One Night Stand, I found my real voice. That was me talking - those were my real thoughts and opinions.

"This year people are going to see what I can really do in the ring."

On the show Rob will almost certainly be wrestling for the WWE world title, cashing in the Money In The Bank title shot he won in a cracking ladder match at WrestleMania.

And unlike most wrestlers, who'll tell you it doesn't matter who they face, Rob knows exactly who he wants to take to the Hammerstein Ballroom with him.

"It would mean more beating Triple H at an ECW PPV for the WWE title, than it would mean beating anybody else," RVD revealed.

"That is as big a dream scenario as I could imagine for me in wrestling.

"Triple H represents the WWE in the same way I stand for ECW, so it would be very special for my fans.

"Also people who read my interviews are intrigued about some of my cryptic comments!"

Rob added: "Even if Triple H isn't champion, I know I could tear the house down with John Cena or Edge - because that's what RVD in ECW was all about.

"On any given night I was out to prove that I was the best - it didn't matter what was going on before me, what was going on after me or even who I was wrestling against.

"I might have been wrestling Little Guido, Spike Dudley, One Man Gang, Bam Bam Bigelow, Tommy Dreamer, Sandman, Roadkill, Kamala, Sabu or Jerry Lynn - I wanted every fan to go home that night thinking that the best match on the show was Rob Van Dam's.

"When I said I was the Whole FN Show, I meant it.

"Even though I'm wrestling a WWE guy on an ECW show, I'll be in control all the way!"

The major worry for most involved in One Night Stand is that fans will turn on the main event if it features Rob against someone who never set foot in ECW.

Chris Benoit, who we'll printing a full interview with next week, admitted there's no way of knowing how the match will go.

Benoit told us: "ECW fans are a breed of their own.

"Rob Van Dam doing anything is going to mean a lot to them, as he is so well respected.

"But in terms of it being a match for the WWE title against a WWE wrestler, I'm not sure how the crowd are going to respond.

"And, if they don't like something, people these days will definitely let you know how they feel!"

RVD, though, is very confident that after they've thought it over the fans will support the idea of him taking on a WWE star.

"Last year when JBL and the Smackdown guys were on the show, the crowd hated it and I hated it.

"But that was because it made us feel like the office didn't think that ECW alone stood for enough alone to be a great sell on PPV.

"This time the fans won't be disappointed if I am challenging the WWE world champion to come and wrestle me in ECW.

"It's not an invasion, it's me calling the shots.

"Many fans would like to see an all-ECW show, but I think this makes it even better."

Except for Rob's match nothing on this year's One Night Stand is set in stone, however both RVD and Benoit dropped some hints.

Chris told us: "I've heard rumours of a match between me and Dean Malenko and I'd be truly honoured to do that.

"It's been years since I've been in the ring with Dean and it really would be something special. Dean is still in shape and could definitely do the match.

And Rob added: "I believe Tajiri is also coming in all the way from Japan and I think Terry Funk might be on this one as well.

"I would like to see Sabu on the show, as well as a lot of the old ECW stars who are now in TNA, but I don't know if that's happening or not.

"Mike Awesome and Masato Tanaka blew me away last year, their match lived up to what we missed about seeing them wrestle five years ago.

"Mike hasn't been wrestling recently but if he can get in condition for this PPV, I hope he'll be there. Paul was talking about doing something with both of them several months ago."

RVD also revealed that, just like year, Heyman will be in total control.

Rob said: "Vince McMahon told me that the show has to be true to ECW and respect the ECW fans.

"To do that, it has to be Paul calling the shots.

"And all us Paul-followers will back him completely."

After One Night Stand and the resurrection of ECW expect that number of followers to increase.

Especially if Rob Van Dam is finally allowed to be himself.