Rob Szatkowski

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), Mr. Monday Night, Mr. Pay Per View, The Whole F'n Show
• Previous Manager(s): Bill Alfonso, Jerry Lawler
• Quotes: "I'm R-V-D!", "Everything's cool when you're Rob Van Dam!"
• Signature Illegal Weapon(s): Steel Folding Chair
• Film(s): Superfights, Superfights 2, Black Mask II, X-Files, Bloodmoon, Black Mask 2: City Of Masks

Signature/finishing moves

• The Van-Terminator
• The Van-Daminator
• Five Star Frog Splash
• Rolling Thunder (roll over flipping senton)
• Split-Legged Moonsault
• 4:20 (with Rey Mysterio)
• Cartwheel Backflip Splash
• Flying Thrust Kick
• Corkscrew Leg Drop
• Standing Moonsault
• Step Over Heel kick
• Monkey Flip

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. 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 he suffered earlier in the month.

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)

Misc.

• 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 (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
• Rob Van Dam at the Internet Movie Database
• Official homepage
• Description of the Van Dam Lift