Rob Van Dam Wasn't Too Comfortable Working With 'Intimidating' WWE Legend
Rob Van Dam didn't feel like he and a WWE legend were exactly on the same level.
Dec 18, 2023
Working for WWE was initially quite an adjustment for Rob Van Dam, who joined the promotion in mid-2001 following the collapse of ECW.
As well as a change in style and navigating the backstage political waters, RVD also had to work with people he'd never shared the ring with before. One of his first rivals was none other than Stone Cold Steve Austin, who was then reigning as WWE Champion, as well as leading The Alliance of invading WCW and ECW stars against WWE.
According to the Whole F'N Show, working with his fellow WWE Hall of Famer wasn't an entirely comfortable experience. Speaking about their interactions during a recent edition of his 1 Of A Kind With RVD podcast, the 53-year-old noted that "He [Austin] was intimidating around the clock, he was an authoritative figure, and I did feel certain ways because of that."
Continuing, the former WWE Champion said:
"I've always liked Steve, but back then working with him in WWE, with me getting a big push, it wasn't something that I was real comfortable [with] and it wasn't like he was just like a dude that I work with."
While there were rumours of Austin coming back for a match with CM Punk, the Texas Rattlesnake reportedly hasn't been approached by WWE about it.
H/T Wrestling Inc.