On the May 15 RAW, Rob Van Dam's winning streak against Shelton Benjamin came to an end, as Benjamin pinned RVD to regain the Intercontinental Championship in a 3-on-2 Handicap Texas Tornado Championship Match. While it was a setbakc for RVD, he still has the Money in the Bank briefcase that he won at WrestleMania 22, guaranteeing him an opportunity at the WWE Championship anytime he wants to cash it in.
Truly one of a kind, Rob Van Dam is one of the most versatile Superstars on RAW, blending his martial arts background with a dash of extreme to create one of the most unpredictable wrestling styles around. Known for having no fear, taking risks and trying any move from insane heights, RVD loves to test gravity and utilize high risk maneuvers to secure a win. With his signature taunt of pointing his thumbs to himself, RVD confidently boasts that he is “The Whole Dam Show,” and you’d be hard pressed to think otherwise.
Taking advantage of his kickboxing and martial arts experience, RVD first gained prominence inside the squared circle in ECW in the mid-1990s. While he gained experience with a brief stint in WCW in 1992 and several tours of Japan, ECW is where RVD really began to shine. In 1996, his rivalry with Sabu led to a tag-team based on the respect they earned for one another, and together they captured the ECW Tag Team Championship twice.
In 1997, RVD showed up with Jerry Lawler on an edition of Monday Night RAW. Calling himself “Mr. Monday Night,” RVD wreaked havoc for a short period of time before heading back to ECW, where he began a rivalry with Tommy Dreamer. Finally, that April, RVD struck singles gold when he won the ECW Television Championship.
During his record-breaking 23 month long reign as Television Champion, RVD and Jerry Lynn had a rivalry that produced several classic matches. RVD fought off all challengers, and thanks to an undefeated record on ECW pay-per-view events, he gave himself the nickname “Mr. PPV.” As it turned out, it was neither friend nor foe that ended RVD’s lengthy reign; a broken ankle suffered during a match in January 2000 forced him to surrender the championship that March. Once recovered, RVD continued his rivalry with Lynn, and RVD defeated his long-time foe in the final match of the final ECW event.
After taking time off following ECW’s demise, RVD shocked the world on July 9, 2001, when he and Tommy Dreamer showed up on RAW during the WCW Invasion. RVD became a member of the WCW/ECW Alliance, and subsequently won the Hardcore Championship three times that summer, showcasing the style that made him successful in ECW. Drafted by RAW during the 2002 brand extension, he would go on to capture the Intercontinental Championship three times that year.
As Intercontinental Champion, RVD has the honor of being the final European and Hardcore champion as well. In July 2002, RVD defeated Jeff Hardy to unify the Intercontinental and European Championships, and one month later at Madison Square Garden, he defeated old friend Tommy Dreamer to dissolve the Hardcore Championship. He would then go on to lose the gold, but became the top challenger to Triple H and the World Heavyweight Championship, competing in the first Elimination Chamber Match at Survivor Series 2002.
RVD continued to have success on RAW, forming a team with Kane and winning the World Tag Team Championship in early 2003. After Kane was forced to unmask and the team split, RVD captured the Intercontinental Championship twice more, and later teamed with Booker T for another reign as World Tag Team Champion.
In March 2004, on the same night he and Booker lost the World Tag Team Championship, RVD was sent to SmackDown via the Draft Lottery. RVD formed an alliance with Rey Mysterio upon his arrival, and challenged for the United States Championship. After having issues with the team of Rene Dupree & Kenzo Suzuki, RVD & Mysterio teamed up to defeat them for the WWE Tag Team Championship in December 2004.
However, another injury would cost RVD the gold. On Jan. 13, 2005, RVD & Mysterio lost the championship to the Basham Brothers, and Rob suffered a torn ACL that kept him out for over a year. Not content to sit on the sidelines, RVD showed up at ECW One Night Stand and gave an emotional speech to say thank you to the fans that supported him in the beginning.
Just two weeks after One Night Stand, RVD returned to RAW, once again chosen in the Draft Lottery. He appeared on Carlito’s Cabana, but an attack from the Cool one put RVD on the shelf longer than he anticipated. Finally, after a year out of the ring, RVD returned in the 2006 Royal Rumble, making it to the final four before being eliminated inadvertently by former partner Mysterio. The following night on RAW, RVD defeated Snitsky in his first RAW match in nearly two years, then chased Carlito through the locker room after Carlito assaulted a referee.
In the following weeks on RAW, RVD defeated Carlito & Chris Masters to make the finals of the Road to WrestleMania Tournament; however, Triple H defeated RVD & Big Show in a Triple Threat final to earn the chance to face John Cena at WrestleMania.
Undaunted, the next week RVD found himself against Trevor Murdoch, with the winner qualifying for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania 22. RVD was victorious, and in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, he found himself constantly at odds with fellow RAW participants Ric Flair & Shelton Benjamin. He even had a chance to regain the Intercontinental Championship from Benjamin on RAW, but Flair ended up costing RVD the match. At WrestleMania 22, however, it was RVD who triumphed over Benjamin, Flair and SmackDown Superstars Finlay, Mat Hardy & Bobby Lashley, retrieving the briefcase to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. The next night on RAW, RVD came out and said that he wouldn't wait as long as Edge did to cash in, but when he did, it would be extreme.
On the April 10 RAW, after RVD defeated Rob Conway, Shelton Benjamin challenged him to a match for the Money in the Bank Briefcase. RVD declined, but offered Shelton a challenge for the Intercontinental Championship at Backlash instead. On the April 17 RAW, RVD got to pick Benjamin's opponent, with the stipulation stating that if Shelton won, the briefcase would be on the line at Backlash, but if he lost, it would be the Intercontinental Championship that was up for grabs. RVD chose Shelton's former partner Charlie Haas, and after Haas defeated Benjamin, the Intercontinental Champion went to Mr. McMahon for help. The WWE Chairman gave it to him, putting RVD in a 5-on-1 Handicap Match with the Spirit Squad. RVD lost the match, and as a result, he was forced to put his briefcase on the line against Shelton's gold at Backlash.
At Backlash, "Mr. Money in the Bank" pinned Benjamin to become Intercontinental Champion for the sixth time. RVD had defeated Benjamin in a Six-Man Tag Team Match on the RAW before Backlash, so that was his second victory over Benjamin in one week. He would gain two more wins over Benjamin the next two weeks before finally losing the gold back to Shelton on May 15.
