Jim Ross shoots on Rob Van Dam beating John Cena for the world title

For over forty years Jim Ross has been the Voice of Wrestling. From starting as referee in the regional territories to becoming the Executive Vice President for WWE, nobody has a story quite like Jim Ross. From recruiting and hiring some of the biggest superstars in the industry to providing the soundtrack for the most important moments in wrestling history, “Good Ole JR” was there for it all. Join us every Thursday morning as Conrad Thompson grills JR like you’ve never heard before, uncut and uncensored!
Logos and album art by Dave Silva
All backgrounds licensed by Videoblocks
Videos edited and uploaded by Steve Kaufmann
Some copyrighted images may have been curated and altered to create uniquely transformative content.

[@TheVGProfessor]

One of my favorite calls JR has ever made was about RVD’s kicks. He said something like “RVD’s kicks have two speeds: here they come and there they go”

[@DJDoubleCee]

Such a shame RVD’s title reign got cut short and he never got another shot at the WWE title. I would have liked to see him have a nice run with the belt.

[@sirnetflix7162]

The disgusting part was RVD was going to lose the title later that week anyway. So, he literally was going to have the WWE title stripped from him in barely a month. Such a mistrestment of one of their hottest stars of the era. He was just used as a side piece for Edge and John Cena, looking back it was a gross use of him.

[@adamandanna]

@Craig Adams imagine if he was related to the Rock, he could have several duis and stay on TV. Yeah its unfortunate they didn't go with him at least for a few months. Even Benoit and Eddie Guerrero got longer reigns then that.

[@larrystilltheeman39]

@@sirnetflix7162 where did you get this information from? Never heard of this. On free television he was losing before the incident? This isn't the Monday night wars era. I don't believe that. The free part is what I have a hard time believing bro.

[@ssnadera6498]

Rvd was midcard level for life no matter how much anyone wants to pretend otherwise, put him in with a golderg, taker, austin,bret ,etc and u see the guy just isnt mainevent status

[@larrystilltheeman39]

@@ssnadera6498 stop hating. He was main event level. All his matches for me was a must watch. His promos are mid card and 420 sounding but he is a attraction,at the main event level.

[@chrisferreira442]

Love JR lighting a joint while talking about RVD

[@KushClarkKent]

That totally caught me off guard lol. I had no idea JR smoked. I like him even more now

[@bradpaton3927]

LMAO!

[@Useryuuihdaeg]

@Pinko Cowpoke Jim Ross 420 💨 🤠

[@RMetsy]

In his memory

[@CGJUGO80]

Cute, but it was a cigarette.

[@yoholmes273]

I was there. Greatest show of I have ever been to and Ive been to many including Mania & The Royal Rumble.

[@bobbymariani2839]

Greatest event I've ever seen(I wasn't there in person), and I've been to old school ECW shows and WCW Nitro shows before the invasion, Also been to many Raw, Smackdown, house shows, and Wrestlemania 24.

[@yoholmes273]

@Bobby Mariani That's too sweet dog. I'm fortunate to live in the North East where some really amazing shows I was able to catch. What was great about that one, it was just so small. The tight , intimate, dumpy Manhattan center combined with rabid hatred for what everything Cena represented just set the stage for an incredible night. Everyone had the matches of their lives. Edge was a made man. Angle beat up & treated Orton like he was a child. Sabu vs BIg Gold Rey was incredible (aside from the dopey finish). Masato & Balls were clocking each other like the old days. And Terry effin Funk was like watching Michelangelo work. Funker even pulled the ole "My Eye" routine. Women were crying. It was beautiful. It is an energy I still feel today ....

[@mikejohn3265]

RVD is one of the best of all time. Rock, Stone cold, Bret hart and others were talented but trained and disciplined to get where they got. I doubt he fully reached his potential.

[@davidaames1624]

It was damn good booking...RVD had homeground advantage.

[@Marc_Araujo]

Shout-out to the third guy who got Cena's shirt, the guy who wiped his ass with it...fucking legend!!

[@shamsi780]

Thank you Edge!

[@sirnetflix7162]

RVD’s 2006 incident is something will forever go down as one of the most disappointing moments ever. You had childhood favorites like Mysterio and RVD FINALLY getting their due, finally being recognized for being as good as they are, and Rob shits the bed like that. Granted, if that happened today WWE would probably be more lenient, but you have to follow the law of the times, and he didn’t. Although I’m sure it’s something RVD regrets to this day. It’s the blackest mark on his career, probably the only one really. He’s still my favorite, but fuck I wish things happened differently. But Jim Ross is right, there isn’t really much to say about it. You shake your head, wish it didn’t happen, and move on. Can’t change the past.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

I mean the only leniency to really show would be maybe not suspending him for 30 days. But a publically traded WWE wouldn't leave the belt on him even today after this.

[@sirnetflix7162]

@@Matt-cr4vv Jimmy Uso gets multiple DUIs and is still given belts and kept in the main event. I think RVD would get the pass tbh

[@3jmontg]

It was not DUI, it was possession. Its a joke, they should have let it slide. So many worse crimes, such as austin beating his wife etc...

[@sirnetflix7162]

@@3jmontg Exactly

[@LanceJ.]

RVD didn’t have to change. He didn’t change and he was still brought back. The laws and old way of thinking about pot needed to change.

[@AWBDream]

It was illegal. If you break the rules expect to be punished

[@LanceJ.]

@@AWBDream ok, grandpa

[@AWBDream]

Lance J. I’m in my 20s and think weed should be legal but he knew the rules and said F it anyway

[@deadeyedarwin]

@@AWBDream Unless you're related to the Rock.

[@mr.wilson3529]

@@AWBDream Are u related to the rock? Do you politic like all the top stars did. Do you think if cena or scsa was smoking weed they'll be fired. How about roman reigns since 2014, you can think the rock for that one.

[@Hunkzilla]

Classic match. Easily one of my favourite matches of the Ruthless Aggression era

[@bryantaylor9101]

Is JR smoking Lucky Strikes and sippin Wild Turkey during these podcasts? God bless if he is.

[@JayceeGenocide]

Yes UNFORTUNATELY

[@Chris-kz7us]

You wouldn't have seen Hogan did what Cena did that night

[@JLove2000swrestling]

No John cena should have won he was kicking rvd ass the entire match

[@Enoch_Owl]

True and I definitely agree but then again Cena is no Hulk Hogan.

[@raywebb2550]

That was a great show

[@Dakatari]

RVD had the talent unfortunately Vince/WWE didn't recognize it because he was a Heyman guy.

[@invertedname3099]

Well evidently they loved him talent wise but most shoots and even RVD’s own words indicate he didn’t want anything to do with the acting and weird stories. The politics backstage didn’t work for him. .

[@bradpaton3927]

Tell thaTo Brock Lesnar.

[@crylittlesister6377]

I think it's hilarious that people nearly rioted when HHH was awarded the World Heavyweight Title in 2002 but they didn't complain when RVD got handed the ECW Title

[@KT-mw2jt]

With RVD and Sabu that ECW reboot could’ve done a little bit better, their own star power would’ve helped carried and I’m sure them being originals along with dreamer and sandman would’ve gotten more to help with it, crazy how one mistake changes a lot

[@seankilduff7652]

I thought the crowd that night, was awesome.

[@MrLawyer711]

In hindsight after hearing the crowd reaction, they really should’ve called an audible and had Cena win instead. Imagine the heat! They may have actually started a riot…it would’ve been beautiful!

[@deadeyedarwin]

The company will turn their backs to it if your part of Somoan dynasty apparently.

[@alexblake1067]

They keep looking for the next Rock

[@kingcra9954]

Last good year of wrestling then it was good up until 2008 after that trash

[@Matt-cr4vv]

RVDs cash in was pretty cool. It makes sense that a good guy would announce his challenge ahead of time as picking the bones is inherently the heel move. But for RVD it was also solid because while you would say it’s stupid to announce ahead but you can compensate for him doing it on his home turf like he did. But while it’s “stupid” to give somebody a heads up on a cash in it makes sense that good guys would do the honorable thing with it. But I also think at this point the concept is a bit overdone for me.

[@josephohrablo4866]

The ECW fans went ballistic for Van dam . They tore Cena apart

[@JLove2000swrestling]

No they didn’t tear nobody apart RVD was getting his ass kicked by John cena edge saved rvd 😂

[@nocturne311]

​@@JLove2000swrestlingWrestling is scripted. I don't know if anyone has ever told you this. Lol.

[@dineatdennys247]

Never clicked so hard

[@GavinWoods]

If you're talking on striking while the iron was hot, why was RVD not made champ in 2001 when he was white hot?

[@mikejohn3265]

According to JR they bought ECW for their library and the talent were an afterthought.

[@ironman2326]

I wonder if JR calls the play by play when watching a PPV at home?🤔

[@goldwynn6098]

Hilarious comparing JRs reaction to this compared to Plane Ride from Hell. Can't say boys will be boys for speeding and smoking weed because you're champion. Ric Flair doesn't even get punished for his role. JR really pisses me off when it comes to shit like this.

[@Yami-Diablo]

How? Ric Flair was protected by Vince.

[@bclr6843]

My guess is if hhh or Cena got caught smoking weed it would have just been boys will be boys.

[@MrWhitegold13]

Is this repeated

[@D-Ry]

Every time that human thumb opens his mouth I fall asleep. WHY DOES HE DO PODCASTS? He sounds boring as Hell and would rather be eating a whole buffet table.

[@TheJDough1]

Man if RVD wasn’t a dopehead hippy, he could have been an all timer

[@JayceeGenocide]

Yet it works for Matt Riddle. RVD IS an ALL-TIME GREAT... The GOAT

[@TheJDough1]

@@JayceeGenocide Matt Riddle is not an all timer. I wouldn't even class him in the tier HHH is on. (Which is tier 3 of greatness). RVDs in ring ability is great but overall he was just good. Why to you is he "the goat"? Above people like Flair, Hogan, Hart, Or even guys like Hall & Nash?

[@JayceeGenocide]

@@TheJDough1 He was a Far Superior Athlete, I Put Him on Their Tier as Well as Triple H & Scott Steiner.

[@TheJDough1]

@@JayceeGenocide I’m happy you enjoyed him that much. I just don’t see it.

[@JayceeGenocide]

@@TheJDough1 I grew up in the North East & Had ECW Before They Got a Nationwide Cable Deal. I LOVEd RVD since I Was a Kid. WWE Screwed Him Over Because of Weed. Now They Are Allowed To Smoke Weed. Their 80's Stars Were Known CokeHeads.

[@harshmohanbadola]

THIS WAS THE WROST NIGHT OF JOHN CENA'S CAREER...

[@TheMarc388]

To his credit he handled it extremely well.

[@anthonywomack2260]

@@TheMarc388 yeah he did

[@deadeyedarwin]

No it wasn't

[@InvisibleHotdog]

RVD's mess up was one of my biggest disappointments as a wrestling fan

[@daveeol1987]

What mess up

[@InvisibleHotdog]

@@daveeol1987 got caught a month later with Sabu and drugs in the car

[@ssnadera6498]

What a joke, rvd is nowhere close to cenas level, it was a dumb move to give him the belt and beat cena and it got proven later

[@hush5640]

RVD was much better than Cena

[@KushClarkKent]

lol. First of all, RVD is at least 10x the wrestler Cena is. He was super over at the time and putting the title(s) on him made all the sense in the world. He held the MITB and WWECW was about to launch so they obviously needed a big name to be the face of the brand. Imagine how stupid it would have looked if RVD lost to Cena at ONS and showed up empty handed at the first live ECW taping. Then what? Also, RVD is the reason One Night Stand even happened in the first place. I'm sure that made Vince a little bit of money and a title run is a nice way of showing appreciation. It worked out well for everybody in the beginning. RVD screwed up but it is what it is. Him getting pulled over gave us the epic Edge/Cena rivalry so there's that.

[@yoholmes273]

MARK meter is strong with this one.

[@kellyallen8528]

As a wrestler, RVD is out of Cena's league. Cena got more over but that doesn't make him a better wrestler. Arn Anderson is a better wrestler than Hulk Holgan, that doesn't mean he got anywhere near as over as Hogan did, obviously.

[@ssnadera6498]

@@KushClarkKent you are not understanding, no matter how much u like rvd, he is midcard level, wwe must have been lacking main eventers at the time to give him the belt

[@Fektthis]

They were pulled over in a speed trap. Those cops are god awful right there. Smoke weed or not they're going to come up with a reason to search your car in that area.