Wrestlemania 18
Wrestlemania 18 is held at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario. The event features Rob Van Dam vs William Regal, Jazz vs Trish Stratus vs Lita, The Undertaker vs Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan vs The Rock, Edge vs Booker T and Triple H vs Chris Jericho.
Jericho – Van Dam Intercontinental title
Jericho defeats Rob Van Dam to capture WWE Intercontinental championship.
Van Dam vs Lynn – Full Metal Mayhem
Van Dam defeats Lynn in a special “Full Metal Mayhem” match at TNA Bound for Glory on pay-per-view. Van Dam picks up the pinfall victory after hitting a “Van Terminator” on Lynn with the ladder in front of him at thirteen minutes and ten seconds.
Roode vs Van Dam – TNA title
Roode defeats Van Dam in a singles competition ladder match at Sacrifice to retain the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Roode ascends the ladder and retrieves the title hanging above the ring for the victory at fifteen minutes and thirty seconds.
Wrestling101.com interview
Van Dam gives his thoughts about what influenced him to become a professional wrestler:
I started watching wrestling through WrestleMania and for WrestleMania II I actually watched in an arena and paid to watch it on a screen. Hulk Hogan was the man, but I was a big Ultimate Warrior fan. Some of the guys that caught my attention weren’t necessarily the main focus, I liked ‘Leaping’ Lenny Poffo a lot because he would do flying headbutts and moonsults, when other guys wouldn’t even leave their feet and that caught my imagination.
Van Dam vs Ion – X Division title
Van Dam defeats Ion in singles competition at Bound for Glory to obtain the TNA X Division Championship. Van Dam picks up the pinfall victory after delivering a Five Star Frogsplash at eight minutes and five seconds.
Ion vs Van Dam – X Division title
Van Dam defeats Ion in singles competition to retain the X Division Championship on the special “Championship Thursday” edition of IMPACT. Van Dam picks up the pinfall victory at four minutes and thirty-two seconds.
Van Dam vs Ryan – X Division title
Van Dam defeats Ryan in singles competition at Turning Point to retain the TNA X Division Championship. Van Dam picks up the pinfall victory after delivering a Five Star Frogsplash at seven minutes and forty-five seconds.
Kash vs Van Dam – X Division title
Van Dam defeats Kash in singles competition on IMPACT to retain the TNA X Division Championship. Van Dam picks up the pinfall victory after delivering a Five Star Frogsplash.
Van Dam vs Aries – X Division title
Aries defeats Van Dam on IMPACT via disqualification. The match ends at twelve minutes and twenty-nine seconds when Ray runs in to attack Aries. Due to the circumstances of the match’s end, the X Division titles does not change hands.
RVD vs King – X Division Title
Van Dam defeats King in singles competition at Final Resolution to retain the TNA X Division Championship. Van Dam picks up the pinfall victory over King at nine minutes and twenty seconds.
RVD vs York – X Division Title
Van Dam defeats York to retain the TNA X Division Championship at Genesis. York takes the loss immediately after earning the title shot. Van Dam picks up the pinfall victory after delivering a Five Star Frog Splash at five minutes and thirty seconds.
RVD vs Ion vs King – X Division Title
Van Dam defeats Ion and King in triple threat action on IMPACT to retain the X Division Championship. Van Dam scores the pinfall victory over Ion at six minutes.
Shining Wizards interview
Van Dam talks to Shining Wizards about his time in WWE, ECW and TNA.
I am sure there was a reason. I don’t know why I wasn’t booked on the 1st ECW PPV. It wasn’t my job to make the matches. That was Paul Heyman’s. I am sure when he put the card together, he had a reason for not putting me on it, and I took offense to it. So I entertained the first offer that Eric Bischoff put on the table to go to WCW.
Money in the Bank ladder match
Orton obtains the Money in the Bank contract briefcase to claim a shot at the WWE Championship anytime over the next year. Orton ascends a ladder and grabs the briefcase hanging above the ring for the victory at twenty-six minutes and thirty-four seconds.
Marvel.com interview
Van Dam talks to Marvel.com about his WWE return.
It’s awesome. I predicted that this return to WWE might be the most impactful part of my entire career. It has a lot to do with timing, and a lot to do with being RVD because I have so many years of experience. But it’s all positive. All the time I’ve spent. There’s no downside. I don’t have that a.g.e. factor that seems to affect a lot of other people. Honestly, my body feels as good as it ever did. Sometimes my back bothers a little bit, but it bothered me even more when I was 23. Sometimes my knee bothers me a little bit.
Del Rio vs Van Dam – World Heavyweight Title
Van Dam defeats Del Rio at WWE Night of Champions. Due to the disqualification finish, when Del Rio refused to let Van Dam out of a submission hold after a rope break, Del Rio retains the World Heavyweight Championship at thirteen minutes and twenty-five seconds.
Talk is Jericho interview
Van Dam is a guest on Talk is Jericho to discuss WWE, TNA and ECW. Jericho releases statement.
It’s part 1 of Chris’ conversation with the WWE’s Rob Van Dam. How’d he get his name? What about the two-thumb self-salute? Plus, hear about RVD’s time training with The Sheik, wrestling in Japan, and his move to the ECW.
Barrett vs RVD – No. 1 Contender
Barrett defeats Van Dam on WWE Monday Night RAW for a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. Barrett picks up the pinfall victory at eleven minutes and fifteen seconds.
Barrett vs RVD – Intercontinental Title
Barrett retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship at Payback by defeating Van Dam in single’s competition. Barrett picks up the pinfall victory at nine minutes and thirty-one seconds.