Rob Van Dam on John Cena’s physical in-ring style at ECW One Night Stand
Rob Van Dam recalled the ECW One Night Stand match against John Cena for the WWE Championship in 2006.
On WWE Vault, Van Dam revisited the environment at Hammerstein Ballroom for the pay-per-view. Both competitors expected it to be an intense crowd but it was more hostile than anticipated.
“I think that John and myself both expected the crowd to hate him and to be really strongly behind me. They far exceeded our expectations. We couldn’t have predicted that they would take it that far. And it was a once in a career kind of experience that them throwing his shirt back. That’s John Cena’s shirt. Do you know how many fans on the planet would love to go home with his shirt? But if anybody kept that shirt, the rest of the fans would’ve probably pummeled him.”
He proceeded to discuss Cena’s in-ring performance in the bout. Van Dam needed to prove that ECW had talent with the same or even better capabilities than their WWE counterparts.
“And I don’t know if a lot of people will say this, but, and this might be the pothead calling the kettle black, but he’s a little stiff when he put….I don’t mind saying that. When he put his submission on me, where he’s got you in the headlock and he’s got your feet and on your stomach down there going, ah! There’s not even room to scream because there’s no air left. Because he was like folding my body in half.”
“I wanted to prove we could handle it, we could hold it, ECW. You don’t need the SmackDown guy sitting up there and this and that. But now I understand what a heel that makes Edge against WWE. We just helped put Cena down, which is great for them too, for their rivalry.”
“I was here because I ignored the right people, because I stuck to my guns and because I connected with the fans my way, and all of that was just so fulfilling. I’m grateful. That was definitely the match out of my career that everybody wants to talk about. And that’s because it put me at my highest position.”
Van Dam won the WWE Championship that night cementing the event and moment as one of the most iconic moments in wrestling history.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.