Post by #HEEL Dark Lord on Oct 26, 2006 17:27:54 GMT -5
October 26, 2006 - For six consecutive years IGN and THQ have teamed up to bring our readers an ongoing exclusive look at the superstars of the WWE, and this season is no exception. Famous the world over, our "SmackDown Countdown" chronicles each wrestler, diva, and legend that will appear in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, and comes complete with never-before-seen screenshots and direct-feed movies of every last one of them. Every day for the next nine weeks, we'll profile more than 60 different personalities (including two each on Mondays and Fridays as a special homage to Raw and SmackDown fans), and for the first time ever, will cover two different platforms with images and video from both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 versions. Hot stuff? You bet.
But enough with the formalities it's time to throw down with today's Countdown superstar, Rob Van Dam!
HEIGHT:
6'
WEIGHT:
235 lbs
HOMETOWN:
Battle Creek, MI
Arguably the most uniquely gifted athlete ever to compete in professional wrestling, Rob Van Dam can do things that no other wrestler can do, has done or ever will do. RVD is also known as "The Whole F'n Show," because ECW fans feel seeing RVD wrestle is alone worth the price of the ticket. Rob Van Dam's one of a kind offensive arsenal includes Rolling Thunder, The Van Daminator and the mind-blowing Van Terminator.
Distinguishing himself from other wrestlers by exhibiting his martial arts skills and uncanny flexibility, RVD first gained fame inside the squared circle of ECW. Rob Van Dam and Sabu were both trained by Sabu's uncle, The Sheik and had a tenuous relationship that resulted in epic extreme battle with one another and two ECW World Tag Team Championship reigns. In fact, at one time, Rob Van Dam was a co-holder of the ECW World Tag Team Championship and The ECW World Television Champion simultaneously. RVD held the ECW World Television Championship for a record-breaking 23 months and his championship reign was ended only because Rob Van Dam broke his ankle and was forced to relinquish the championship.
Since signing with WWE in July 2001, Rob Van Dam has been equally impressive, racking up two World Tag Team Championships, a WWE Tag Team Championship, and six WWE Intercontinental Championships which saw RVD unify the Intercontinental Championship with the WWE Hardcore Championship and WWE European Championships before retiring both of those titles.
As successful as Rob Van Dam had been, he entered WrestleMania 22 still known as the greatest wrestler never to have held a World Heavyweight Championship. However, RVD won the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 22 for the right to challenge the WWE Champion. RVD then cashed in his championship match at ECW One Night Stand on June 11, 2006 and defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship in an Extreme Rules match. Rob Van Dam vowed to re-christen the title as the ECW World Title.
On the world premier of ECW on SciFi in June 2006, ECW Representative, Paul Heyman finally awarded Rob Van Dam with the ECW World Title that had eluded RVD for over 10 years. Rather than throwing down the WWE Championship, RVD chose to wear both belts because the ECW World Title is the greatest achievement in his career, and WWE Championship amuses him because "it spins." A few weeks later, however, RVD lost the WWE title to Edge and dropped the ECW World Title to the Big Show when Paul Heyman betrayed RVD and refused to count in his favor when acting as a referee.
Source: WWE.com
Stats
Strength: 7
Submission: 7.5
Durability: 8
Technique: 8
Speed: 8
Charisma: 8.5
Hardcore: 9.5
Stamina: 8.5
Overall: 89
FINISHERS
Five-Star Frog Splash
Five-Star Frog Splash
But enough with the formalities it's time to throw down with today's Countdown superstar, Rob Van Dam!
HEIGHT:
6'
WEIGHT:
235 lbs
HOMETOWN:
Battle Creek, MI
Arguably the most uniquely gifted athlete ever to compete in professional wrestling, Rob Van Dam can do things that no other wrestler can do, has done or ever will do. RVD is also known as "The Whole F'n Show," because ECW fans feel seeing RVD wrestle is alone worth the price of the ticket. Rob Van Dam's one of a kind offensive arsenal includes Rolling Thunder, The Van Daminator and the mind-blowing Van Terminator.
Distinguishing himself from other wrestlers by exhibiting his martial arts skills and uncanny flexibility, RVD first gained fame inside the squared circle of ECW. Rob Van Dam and Sabu were both trained by Sabu's uncle, The Sheik and had a tenuous relationship that resulted in epic extreme battle with one another and two ECW World Tag Team Championship reigns. In fact, at one time, Rob Van Dam was a co-holder of the ECW World Tag Team Championship and The ECW World Television Champion simultaneously. RVD held the ECW World Television Championship for a record-breaking 23 months and his championship reign was ended only because Rob Van Dam broke his ankle and was forced to relinquish the championship.
Since signing with WWE in July 2001, Rob Van Dam has been equally impressive, racking up two World Tag Team Championships, a WWE Tag Team Championship, and six WWE Intercontinental Championships which saw RVD unify the Intercontinental Championship with the WWE Hardcore Championship and WWE European Championships before retiring both of those titles.
As successful as Rob Van Dam had been, he entered WrestleMania 22 still known as the greatest wrestler never to have held a World Heavyweight Championship. However, RVD won the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 22 for the right to challenge the WWE Champion. RVD then cashed in his championship match at ECW One Night Stand on June 11, 2006 and defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship in an Extreme Rules match. Rob Van Dam vowed to re-christen the title as the ECW World Title.
On the world premier of ECW on SciFi in June 2006, ECW Representative, Paul Heyman finally awarded Rob Van Dam with the ECW World Title that had eluded RVD for over 10 years. Rather than throwing down the WWE Championship, RVD chose to wear both belts because the ECW World Title is the greatest achievement in his career, and WWE Championship amuses him because "it spins." A few weeks later, however, RVD lost the WWE title to Edge and dropped the ECW World Title to the Big Show when Paul Heyman betrayed RVD and refused to count in his favor when acting as a referee.
Source: WWE.com
Stats
Strength: 7
Submission: 7.5
Durability: 8
Technique: 8
Speed: 8
Charisma: 8.5
Hardcore: 9.5
Stamina: 8.5
Overall: 89
FINISHERS
Five-Star Frog Splash
Five-Star Frog Splash
