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Rob Van Dam was instantly a popular name when he first stepped foot in WWE, bringing his cult following from ECW. He was a huge part of the midcard and tag team division, having fun matches with an array of opponents, eventually rising to the top and winning the ultimate prize - the WWE Championship - defeating John Cena to gain the gold in 2006. Just a year later though, he left the company. It was certainly a sudden and steep decline to the point where he was no longer with WWE, despite holding the promotion’s top prize just a year prior. Many fans may wonder why he left in 2007, taking his talents to the independent wrestling scene.
RVD Was WWE Champion Just A Year Before Leaving
Rob Van Dam had consistently been one of the best in-ring talents in WWE, coupled with him having such a natural chemistry and connection to the audience, and winning several belts over the years, such as the European Title, Intercontinental Title, and both the WWE and World Tag Team Titles. When WWE brought back the ECW brand, RVD was placed at the top of the show, winning the ECW World Championship for the very first time. After winning the Money in the Bank at WrestleMania 22, it felt as though RVD was going to further break through the ceiling to superstardom.
At One Night Stand 2006, RVD cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase, defeating John Cena in a tremendous match which had a raucous crowd. He won the WWE Championship, becoming a double champion. He was firmly on top of the world, and he looked unstoppable. Unfortunately for RVD, his time at the top came crashing down not long later, causing a chain of events that likely played a big part in his decision to eventually leave WWE just a year later.
RVD Suffered From Burning Out In WWE
After winning the WWE Championship, RVD became the reason for his own demise. Less than a month into his title reign, RVD was suspended from WWE due to a Wellness Policy violation, which would see him get booked to lose both the WWE and ECW Championships in just a few days, before being suspended in storyline, explaining his absence during his real suspension. This mistake made during his time with the number one belt in the world certainly couldn’t have sat well with WWE, especially with the boss, Vince McMahon, who has had a tendency to punish those who do things to threaten the quality of the product or integrity of his titles.
When RVD returned, he was no longer in the WWE Championship picture. He remained firmly on the ECW brand, with it quickly becoming clear that the once rogue and chaotic show was no longer in existence, and this was a WWE version of ECW. RVD was used to put over the likes of Bobby Lashley, who was WWE’s pet project on the ECW show, as he dominated as the World Champion, despite having no former affiliation with the brand, and being as far away from the core of what ECW used to be as possible.
With his poor booking and due to the unforgiving life on the road, RVD became burnt out, which is something that many wrestlers over the years have suffered from, meaning that time off was necessary to refresh and recharge the batteries which keep them going. He left WWE following a feud with Randy Orton, briefly returned for the 15th Anniversary Raw show, and then went off to the independent scene. This wasn’t the only factor in him leaving though.
RVD’s Personal Life Also Led To Him Leaving WWE
In 2007, RVD’s wife at the time (he has since remarried), Sonia, was diagnosed with colon cancer, which was rare for someone of her age. The difficulties surrounding this played into his decision to leave, likely contributing to him burning out too. Once she recovered, RVD finally allowed himself to be tied down with a contract as he joined TNA in 2010, spending a few years there where he would become the TNA World Champion.
If RVD had stayed with WWE, then there is a chance that his momentum would have seen an upturn, but there is also every chance that he would have continued dropping down the card, getting more frustrated with his legacy being threatened. Instead, he wisely competed around North America and the rest of the world for a few years. In 2013, he would return to WWE for a brief yet unspectacular comeback. His booking during this run showcased exactly why it was probably best for him to leave in the first place, as he wasn’t booked as the strongest of competitors, with few memorable feuds or matches.