VIEW FROM THE RISING SUN
by Masanori Horie

Flashback RVD

RVD
Rob Van Dam (February 18, 2001---Tokyo)

Rob Szatkowski was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on December 18, 1970. Rob, 16 years old, with his family, attended Wrestlemania III at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, MI on March 29, 1987 and decided to be a professional wrestler. He was trained by The Sheik (Ed Farhat) and Sabu in Lansing, Michigan and debuted as a pro wrestler in 1991. He wrestled in many indies, including Jerry Jarrett's USWA and Eddie Mansfield's IWF in Orlando, Florida. He was # 262 as Rob "Zakowski" in 1991 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500.

Rob Van Dam had his first Japan tour for Giant Baba's All Japan Pro Wrestling with Stan Hansen, Terry Gordy & Steve Williams, Danny Spivey, Can-Am Express (Danny Kroffat & Doug Furnas), Patriot (Del Wilkes) & Eagle (Jackie Fulton/George Hines), Black Harts (Apocalypse [Tom Nash] & Devastation [Dave Johnson]), and Dory Funk Jr. from February 19 to March 4, 1993 (10 shows).

After the All Japan tour, Dory Funk Jr. sent Rob, as "Robbie V," and Black Harts to WCW, but it was a very short stint. He had 11 tours for All Japan and one tour for FMW before becoming "Mr. PPV" or "The Whole F'n Show" in ECW in 1996. Rob is one of the most athletically gifted wrestlers who can wrestle and fly with big heart. His signature moves are the Van Daminator (Leaping Spin Kick into a chair held by his opponent), Five Star Frog Splash, and Hollywood Star Press (Split-Legged Moonsault). He has appeared in several action films, "Blood Moon," "Superfight," and "Black Mask 2."

Rob is a guy who doesn't worry himself about trifles. He has always kept his own pace in his life. He will face Sabu in a singles match at Yokohama Bunka Gym in Kanagawa on March 3, 2001. This year will be one of the biggest turning points in his career.


1993

February 19, 1993---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Toshiaki Kawada & Kenta Kobashi beat Stan Hansen & Rob Van Dam
(14:00 Kawada beat RVD with Power Bomb)---Rob's first match in Japan

RVD 1993
Rob Van Dam (February 19, 1993---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo)

February 20, 1993---Yamato Shatai-kogyo Gym, Kanagawa
Dory Funk Jr. beat Rob Van Dam (11:06 Rolling Crotch Hold)

February 21, 1993---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Dory Funk Jr. & Jun Akiyama beat Danny Spivey & Rob Van Dam
(15:38 Akiyama beat RVD with German Suplex Hold)

RVD 1993
Dory Funk Jr. & Jun Akiyama vs. Danny Spivey & Rob Van Dam (February 21, 1993---Tokyo)

1994

RVD 1994
Rob Van Dam (February 18, 1994---Tokyo)

1995

June 9, 1995---Nippon Budokan, Tokyo
World Junior Heavyweight title match
Danny Kroffat (Phil Lafon) beat Rob Van Dam
(17:10 Reverse DDT)---Kroffat kept the title

October 7, 1995---Nagaoka Welfare Hall, Niigata
World Junior Heavyweight title match
Yoshinari Ogawa beat Rob Van Dam
(16:23 Backdrop Hold)---Ogawa kept the title

Wilkes, Duncum, & Van Dam 1995
(L-R) Patriot (Del Wilkes), Bobby Duncum Jr. and Rob Van Dam (June 10, 1995)


November 18 - December 9, 1995
Real World Tag Team League Tournament
(1) Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi
(2) Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue
(3) Stan Hansen & Gary Albright
(4) Johnny Ace & Patriot
(5) Giant Baba & Tamon Honda
(6) Danny Kroffat & Doug Furnas
(7) Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith, Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori, Dory Funk Jr. & Masanobu Fuchi, and Abdullah the Butcher & Giant Kimala

November 18, 1995---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Mitsuharu Misawa & Kenta Kobashi beat Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith
(14:58 Misawa beat RVD with Tiger Driver)

November 21, 1995---Sapporo Nakajima Sports Center, Hokkaido
Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith beat Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori
(16:19 RVD beat Omori with Hollywood Star Press)

November 22, 1995---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Can-Am Express (Danny Kroffat & Doug Furnas) beat Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith
(15:56 Furnas beat RVD with German Suplex)

November 24, 1995---Hamamatsu City Gym, Shizuoka
Stan Hansen & Gary Albright beat Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith
(7:03 Hansen beat Smith with Lariat)

November 26, 1995---Yonago Industrial Hall, Tottori
Dory Funk Jr. & Masanobu Fuchi beat Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith
(19:52 Dory beat RVD with Spinning Toe Hold)

November 28, 1995---Okayama Budokan
Giant Baba & Tamon Honda beat Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith
(15:22 Honda beat Smith with Diving Head Butt)

December 2, 1995---Oita Prefecture Gym
Abdullah the Butcher & Giant Kimala beat Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith
(11:33 Butcher beat RVD with Elbow Drop)

December 4, 1995---Gifu Industrial Hall
Toshiaki Kawada & Akira Taue beat Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith
(12:06 Kawada beat Smith with Power Bomb)

December 6, 1995---Miyagi Prefecture Sports Center, Sendai
Johnny Ace & Patriot (Del Wilkes) beat Rob Van Dam & Johnny Smith
(13:18 Ace beat RVD with Power Bomb)


1996

January 5, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
House Party '96
Rob Van Dam beat Axl Rotten

January 27, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Sabu beat Rob Van Dam (disqualification)

RVD 1996
Rob Van Dam (February 17, 1996---Tokyo)

March 30, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
2 Cold Scorpio drew Rob Van Dam (30:00)

April 20, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Hostile City Showdown '96
Sabu beat Rob Van Dam

May 11, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
A Matter of Respect '96
Rob Van Dam beat Sabu (18:47)

June 1, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Fight the Power
Rob Van Dam beat Mikey Whipwreck

June 22, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Hardcore Heaven '96
Sabu beat Rob Van Dam
--Both RVD and Sabu were stretchered oout of the arena. Rob and Sabu had a great feud with a lot of amazing matches in 1996 including an "I Respect" match where the winner must shake the loser's hand.

July 7, 1996---Daigo GranDome, Kyoto
All Asian Tag Team title match
Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori beat Rob Van Dam & Maunakea Mossman (Taiyo Kea)
(20:22 Omori beat Mossman with Diving Elbow Drop)---Akiyama & Omori kept the title

RVD 1996
Rob Van Dam (July 20, 1996---Tokyo)

August 3, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
The Doctor is In/Stretcher match
Sabu beat Rob Van Dam

August 24, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Natural Born Killaz
Rob Van Dam beat Doug Furnas

September 14, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Rob Van Dam & Sabu drew Can-Am Express (Danny Kroffat & Doug Furnas)
(30:00)---RVD & Johnny Smith vs. Can-Am Express match was scheduled. But Smith no-showed and Sabu took his place.

October 12, 1996---Aichi Prefecture Gym, Nagoya
World Junior Heavyweight title match
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi beat Rob Van Dam
(16:20 Rolling Crotch Hold)---Kikuchi kept the title

October 26, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
High Incident
Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Can-Am Express
(Sabu beat Furnas)

November 16, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
November to Remember '96
Sabu & Rob Van Dam drew The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus) (26:55)

December 7, 1996---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Holiday Hell '96
Taz TKO Rob Van Dam

Y2J 1996
Chris Jericho (July 20, 1996---Tokyo)

1997

January 25, 1997---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
All Asian Tag Team title match
Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori beat Rob Van Dam & Sabu
(12:26 Omori beat RVD with Diving Knee Drop)---Akiyama & Omori kept the title

RVD & Sabu 1997
Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori vs. Rob Van Dam & Sabu (January 25, 1997---Korakuen Hall)

February 1, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Crossing the Line Again/ECW Tag Team title match
The Eliminators beat Rob Van Dam & Sabu

February 22, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Cyberslam '97/ECW Tag Team title match/Tables and Ladders match
The Eliminators beat Rob Van Dam & Sabu

March 15, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Hostile City Showdown '97
Taz beat Rob Van Dam

April 13, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Barely Legal (PPV)
Rob Van Dam beat Lance Storm (10:10)

May 10, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Chapter 2
Taz & Chris Candido beat Rob Van Dam & Sabu (Candido beat RVD)

RVD 1997
Rob Van Dam (May 18, 1997---Korakuen Hall)

May 21, 1997---Tokushima City Gym
World Junior Heavyweight title match
Yoshinari Kikuchi beat Rob Van Dam
(9:57 Backdrop Hold)---Ogawa kept the title

May 24, 1997---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Rob Van Dam drew Sabu (30:00)

June 28, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Orgy of Violence
Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Tommy Dreamer & Sandman

RVD appeared on Raw as "Mr. Monday Night" and beat Jeff Hardy and aligned with Jerry Lawler.

July 19, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Heat Wave '97
Rob Van Dam, Sabu, & Jerry Lawler No Contest Tommy Dreamer, Sandman, & Rick Rude

August 9, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Born to be Wired
Rob Van Dam beat Tommy Dreamer (9:49)

August 17, 1997---War Memorial Auditorium, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Hardcore Heaven '97 (PPV)
Rob Van Dam beat Al Snow (13:43)---RVD and Sabu attack the Insane Clown Posse

September 20, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
As Good As It Gets
Tommy Dreamer & Beulah beat Rob Van Dam & Bill Alfonso

October 18, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
Taz No Contest Rob Van Dam

November 8, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Ultimate Jeopardy '97
Taz & Tommy Dreamer beat Rob Van Dam & Sabu

November 30, 1997---Golden Dome, Monaca, PA
November to Remember '97 (PPV)/Flag match
Rob Van Dam No Contest Tommy Dreamer (16:02)---All the refs get injured

December 6, 1997---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Better Than Ever
Sabu & Rob Van Dam beat Tommy Dreamer & Taz


1998

RVD, Alfonso, & Sabu
Rob Van Dam, Bill Alfonso, and Sabu

January 10, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
House Party '98
Rob Van Dam beat Bam Bam Bigelow

January 31, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Hostile City Showdown '98/Four Way Dance match
Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley, John Kronus & New Jack,
and Sandman & Tommy Dreamer
(1) D-Von beat Kronus
(2) RVD & Sabu beat Dudleys
(3) Sabu beat Sandman

February 21, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Cyberslam '98
Bam Bam Bigelow & Shane Douglas beat Rob Van Dam & Sabu
(23:13 Bigelow beat RVD)

March 1, 1998---Convention Center, Asbury Park, NJ
Living Dangerously '98 (PPV)
Rob Van Dam beat 2 Cold Scorpio (22:09)

March 21, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Al Snow beat Rob Van Dam

April 4, 1998---Burt Flickenger Center, Buffalo, NY
ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Bam Bam Bigelow---RVD won the title

April 18, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Bam Bam Bigelow---RVD kept the title

May 3, 1998---Cobb County Civic Center, Marietta, GA
Wrestlepalooza '98 (PPV)/ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam drew Sabu (30:00)

May 15, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
A Matter of Respect '98
Rob Van Dam & Lance Storm No Contest Sabu & Chris Candido

June 6, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Sabu & Rob Van Dam beat Shane Douglas & Chris Candido

June 27, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW World Tag Team title match
Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Chris Candido & Lance Storm---RVD & Sabu won the title

July 18, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW Tag Team title match
Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Chris Candido & Lance Storm---RVD & Sabu kept the title

August 2, 1998---Hara Arena, Dayton, OH
Heat Wave '98 (PPV)/ECW Tag Team title match
Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Hayabusa & Jinsei Shinzaki
(20:51 Sabu beat Shinzaki)---RVD & Sabu kept the title

August 8, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Sabu & Rob Van Dam No Contest Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley

August 29, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW Tag Team title match
Sabu & Rob Van Dam beat Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley---RVD & Sabu kept the title

September 19, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Rob Van Dam, Sabu, & Masato Tanaka No Contest Bam Bam Bigelow, Chris Candido, & Shane Douglas

October 10, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Lance Storm---RVD kept the title

October 24, 1998---Cleveland, OH
ECW Tag Team title match
Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley beat Rob Van Dam & Sabu---Dudley Boys won the title

November 1, 1998---Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, LA
November to Remember '98 (PPV)
Rob Van Dam, Sabu, & Taz beat Bam Bam Bigelow, Chris Candido, & Shane Douglas
(12:57 Sabu beat Douglas)

November 21, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Rod Price---RVD kept the title

RVD 1998
Rob Van Dam (December 12, 1998---Asakusa, Tokyo)

December 13, 1998---Korakuen Hall, Tokyo,
ECW Tag Team title match
Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley
(16:59; Sabu beat Buh Buh)---RVD & Sabu won the title

December 19, 1998---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Balls Mahoney---RVD kept the title


1999

January 10, 1999---Millennium Theater, Kissimmee, FL
Guilty as Charged '99 (PPV)/ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Lance Storm (18:50)---RVD kept the title

January 16, 1999---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
House Party '99/ECW Tag Team title match
Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Axl Rotten & Balls Mahoney

March 13, 1999---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW Tag Team title match/Three Way Dance
Rob Van Dam & Sabu beat Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley and Tommy Dreamer & Shane Douglas

March 21, 1999---Convention Center, Asbury Park, NJ
Living Dangerously '99 (PPV)/ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Jerry Lynn (21:18)---RVD kept the title

April 3, 1999---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Cyberslam '99/ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat 2 Cold Scorpio (16:42)---RVD kept the title

April 17, 1999---Burt Flickenger Center, Buffalo, NY
Dudleys won the title when D-Von beat RVD in a singles match

May 8, 1999---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Skull Von Krush---RVD kept the title

May 16, 1999---Mid-Hudson Civic Center, Poughkeepsie, NY
Hardcore Heaven '99 (PPV)/ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Jerry Lynn (26:57)---RVD kept the title

June 26, 1999---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Hostile City Showdown '99/ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Balls Mahoney---RVD kept the title

August 2, 1999---Hara Arena, Dayton, OH
Heat Wave '99 (PPV)
Rob Van Dam & Jerry Lynn beat Justin Credible & Lance Storm
(21:07 Lynn beat Storm)

August 31, 1999---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Justin Credible, Jerry Lynn, & Giant Kimala (Ben Peacock) beat Rob Van Dam, Buh Buh Ray & D-Von Dudley

September 19, 1999---The Odeum, Villa Park, IL
Anarchy Rulz '99 (PPV)/ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Balls Mahoney (19:39)---RVD kept the title

September 28, 1999---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam No Contest Lance Storm
Rob Van Dam beat Jerry Lynn---RVD kept the title

October 23, 1999---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam drew Sabu (30:00)---RVD kept the title

November 7, 1999---Bert Flickinger Center, Buffalo, NY
November to Remember '99 (PPV)/ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Taz (14:34)---RVD kept the title

November 27, 1999---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam pinned Uganda (Giant Kimala/Ben Peacock) (11:00)---RVD kept the title


2000

January 9, 2000---Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham, AL
Guilty as Charged 2000 (PPV)/ECW TV title match
Rob Van Dam beat Sabu (14:40)---RVD kept the title

Rob Van Dam vacated the ECW TV title due to injury on March 4, 2000. RVD was the longest reigning ECW TV Champion since April 4, 1998.

May 14, 2000---The Rave, Milwaukee, WI
Hardcore Heaven 2000 (PPV)
Jerry Lynn beat Rob Van Dam (19:50)---RVD's former "best friend" Scotty Anton (Scott Riggs in WCW) turned and sided with Lynn

July 8, 2000---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Rob Van Dam beat Balls Mahoney

July 16, 2000---Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA
Heat Wave 2000 (PPV)
Rob Van Dam beat Scotty Anton (19:02)

August 20, 2000---ECW Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Rob Van Dam & Kid Kash beat Justin Credible & Rhino

August 25, 2000---Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY
ECW Tag Team tournament
Jerry Lynn & Tommy Dreamer beat Rob Van Dam & Kid Kash
(Lynn beat RVD with Cradle Piledriver)---Yoshihiro Tajiri & Mikey Whipwreck won the title

RVD helped Kid Kash beat Rhino for the ECW World TV title in New York at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on August 26, 2000.

October 1, 2000---Roy Wilkens Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
Anarchy Rulz 2000 (PPV)/ECW TV title match
Rhino beat Rob Van Dam (12:41)


2001

January 7, 2001---Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY
Guilty as Charged 2001 (PPV)
Rob Van Dam beat Jerry Lynn (19:30)

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