Rob Van Dam, a WWE Hall of Famer known for his iconic run in ECW, recently shared his thoughts on his favorite opponents from his time in the promotion. Having worked with a diverse range of talent, RVD reflected on both his big and small ECW colleagues during an episode of his “1 Of A Kind” podcast.
Big Guys: Bam Bam Bigelow
When asked about his favorite big guy to work with, RVD immediately mentioned Bam Bam Bigelow, a man known for his unique combination of size and agility.
“I’m going to probably go with ‘Bammer,’ Bam Bam Bigelow for the bigger guy,” RVD said. “I had some really good matches with him, and I also — well, I mean, I had really good matches with everybody, but also he was in a special place in front of my eyes because I grew up seeing him. Then to meet him, like, I thought he was really cool, and I respected the guy.”
Bigelow was a huge part of RVD’s ECW run, and he was also the wrestler RVD defeated to become the ECW Television Champion, a title RVD held for an impressive 23 months.
Small Guys: Little Guido & Spike Dudley
When it comes to his favorite smaller guys, RVD had a tough time picking just one, sharing that it was a toss-up between Little Guido (aka Tony Mamaluke) and Spike Dudley.
“Smaller guy? Man, that’s a toss-up between two people, it’s hard to make a decision between Little Guido and Spike Dudley,” RVD said.
Both Guido and Dudley were key figures in RVD’s ECW tenure, and he formed memorable rivalries with both. Reflecting on his time with Spike Dudley, RVD praised his fellow wrestler for not only enduring punishment in the ring but for making RVD look even better in the process.
“I loved beating up Spike, he was so good at taking a beating and making me look awesome,” RVD explained. “He was so tough, and we had great chemistry.”
Legacy and Impact
Throughout his ECW career, RVD worked with a range of talent, from heavy hitters like Bam Bam Bigelow to smaller, high-flying performers like Spike Dudley and Little Guido. His ability to work with such a diverse group of wrestlers is one of the factors that made him a beloved and respected figure in the world of professional wrestling.
Please credit “1 Of A Kind” when using quotes from this article and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
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