Rob Szatkowski
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Profile
- Height: 6' 0"
- Weight: 237lbs
- Birthday: December 18, 1970
- Hometown: Battle Creek, Michigan
- Trained By: The Original Sheik
- Professional Debut: 1990
- Previous Identities: Robbie V (WCW jobber),
- Nick Names: Mr. Monday Night, Mr. Thursday Night, Mr. Pay Per View, The Whole F'n Show, The Whole Dam Show
- Previous Manager(s): Bill Alfonso, Jerry Lawler
- Signature Illegal Weapon(s): Steel Folding Chair
Quotes
- "I'm R-V-D!"
- "Everything's cool when you're Rob - Van - Dam!"
- "You've got to know that things just have a way of working themselves out."
- "What are you getting yourself worked up about? You're not even yourself."
- "RVD 4:20 - I just smoked your ass."
- "I'm the whole Dam show!"
- "I'm the whole fuckin' show!"
- "Nobody gets higher than Rob Van Dam!"
Films
- Superfights
- Superfights 2
- X-Files
- Bloodmoon
- Black Mask 2: City Of Masks
Signature/finishing moves
- Five-Star Frog Splash
- The Van-Terminator
- The Van-Daminator (Spinning heel kick to opponent who is holding a steel chair by his/her face)
- Rolling Thunder (roll over flipping senton)
- Split-Legged Moonsault
- 4:20 (with Rey Mysterio)
- Cartwheel Backflip Splash
- Flying Thrust Kick
- Corkscrew Leg Drop
- Step Over Heel kick
- Monkey Flip Head Toss
- Air Van Dam (Top-Rope Somersault Plancha to opponent outside of the ring and in the crowd)
- Standing Moonsault
- Springboard Flying Thrust Kick
- Spinning Heel Kick onto Barricade
- Spinning Crescent Kick
- Pescado
- Corner Monkey Flip
- Lifting double underhook facebuster
- Steam Roller (Rolling Fireman's carry slam)
- Chair-surf Dropkick to an opponent sitting in the corner of the ring.
Wrestling career
He debuted in 1990 after being trained by the Original Sheik (Ed Farhat) and wrestled in many independent promotions across Michigan. He signed with World Championship Wrestling in 1992 and was dubbed "Robbie V" upon his arrival. His WCW run was uneventful and he left in 1994.
He wrestled in several independent promotions across America and in All Japan Pro Wrestling before signing with Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1996.
He gained considerable success in ECW including a record 23-month reign as ECW World Television Champion, before having to vacate the title due to a broken leg. He was the most popular wrestler to ever grace an ECW ring.
He stayed with ECW until its demise in 2001. A couple of moths later, he signed with the WWF and was an immediate hit with the fans even though he was a heel back then in the ECW Alliance. After the WCW/ECW Alliance broke up, he turned face. Despite being very popular with WWE fans, Van Dam has yet to cement his legend. He is considered small compared to most in WWE talent.
While in WWE he has captured the Hardcore, Intercontinental and Tag Team Championships.
On March 21, 2004 Rob Van Dam was traded from RAW to SmackDown!. He made his SmackDown! debut on March 24th, 2004, defeating Charlie Haas.
On January 27, 2005 Rob Van Dam underwent reconstructive knee surgery under Dr. James Andrews in Alabama to repair a torn ACL and meniscus he suffered earlier in the month.
Van Dam made an appearance at the ECW One Night Stand PPV in New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on June 12, 2005, and was accompanied by his ECW manager, Bill Alfonso. Van Dam, still months away from a full recovery, wore a knee brace and did not wrestle. He delivered a scathing shoot interview, criticising the way he had been booked in WWE, until he was attacked by Rhino. Sabu defended Van Dam, leading to an impromptu match, which Sabu won following assistance from Van Dam.
Van_Dam_lift.jpg
Out of wrestling
Rob Van Dam has also appeared in several films and television shows in the past few years, and currently owns a comics shop (RVD's 5 Star Comics) in Orange County, California.
He is also the inventor of the Van Dam Lift for weightlifting. This involves doing a split between two benches and lifting a dumbell from the floor to the waist. The lift was approved by the International All-Around Weightlifting Association in 1998, and RVD holds the current record, at 166.5 pounds.
Championships/accomplishments
World Wrestling Entertainment
- 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion
- 4-time WWE Hardcore Champion
- 1-time WWE European Champion (unified with IC title)
- 2-time World Tag Team Champion (with Kane, then Booker T)
- 1-time WWE Tag Team Champion (with Rey Mysterio)
Extreme Championship Wrestling
- 1-time ECW World Television Champion
- 2-time ECW World Tag Team Champion (with Sabu)
Miscellaneous Titles
- 1-time SAPW Tag Team Champion (with Chaz Rocco)
- 1-time NWC Tag Team Champion (with Bob Bradley)
- 1-time ASW North American Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time PSW Cordele City Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time IWF Television Champion
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 152 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- RVD won the PWI Comeback of the Year Award in 2001. He also won the PWI Most Popular Wrestler Award in 2001 and 2002. RVD was ranked # 1 in the 2002 "PWI 500".
External links
- WWE profile (http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/rob_van_dam/profile.jsp)
- Template:Imdb name
- Official homepage (http://www.robvandam.com/)
- Description of the Van Dam Lift (http://www.robvandam.com/vandamlift.shtml)
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