Rob Van Dam isn’t looking for any “bucket list” matches at this point in his career, but he is looking to show people why he’s still at the top of his game and a big draw in the ring.
RVD spoke with Wrestlezone’s Dominic DeAngelo ahead of this week’s IMPACT Wrestling TV tapings in Las Vegas, where he now resides. RVD talked about his latest run with IMPACT and was asked if he’s still looking to check anything off the list of goals after a very decorated in-ring career. Rob says he’s not angling for any specific matches and wants to continuing building his brand while giving back to the fans, some of which who haven’t seen him as much domestically. He also noted that his relationship with IMPACT Wrestling has been enjoyable, because he’s still in demand and gets respect from the locker room.
“As far as wrestling goes, it’s coming up will be officially 30 years since I’ve been wrestling professionally. It’s a long time, man. It’s what I do, it’s my job and so that’s the position that it has in my life is it’s all business for me. Over the last few years a lot of people in the States haven’t seen me wrestle, but I’ve been wrestling ten to twelve times a year. It’s been overseas mostly cause that’s usually who can afford me, and I’m not pricing to get out there six days a week cause I sure as hell don’t want that, you know? Always working on doing less and making it mean more and always been successful in that area and right now, it’s just great.
The schedule that I have with IMPACT is very favorable and they’re very glad to have me there because they know me and try to get me on other shows if I’m not already on them. The boys know that I’m making more money than them, but they tell me that they’re so happy to have the dressing room with me to share it with me and some of them tell me that they’re wrestling cause they grew up watching me and I inspired them and so I get a lot of love and respect and I also get a lot in the pocket.”
RVD praised IMPACT wrestlers like Rich Swann, Willie Mack and oVe, and talked about how he was revolutionary and went on to inspire some of the talent he works with now. He also explained that the wrestling business has changed a great deal, and it went from trying to protect the business to marketing towards a new crowd. He says he thought he’d be retired by now, but he hasn’t lost a step and his name value is still there, so he wants to make the best of a good opportunity when it’s presented.
“I’m still in great shape I can still do everything I ever could do, I can split for ya, do the backflip, any of that, but I don’t feel like I don’t have to be pushing the envelope in that area. Now that other guys are doing all these flips, I don’t feel like I need to get in there and do like a split-legged triple moonsault flip, you know? People are always going to scream for me and when you put me up against the new guys, RVD wins every time when you listen to the people. So it’s awesome. It’s a place for everybody. I’m at the opposite side of the spectrum of my career, so no, I don’t think about like any matches that I wish I could still have that I didn’t have. I’m just an opportunist and when a good opportunity comes my way, I appreciate it, I consider it, and quite often I do it.”
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