Rob Van Dam (RVD) recently expressed his admiration for Jeff Jarrett’s pursuit of the AEW World Championship, highlighting their long history and the impact Jarrett has had on the wrestling industry. During an episode of his 1 of a Kind podcast, RVD gave a shout-out to Jarrett, who announced his intentions to chase after the AEW World Title in 2025. Despite being 58 years old, Jarrett’s determination to go after the top prize in AEW has drawn attention, especially given the competition from other contenders like MJF.
RVD reminisced about their first meeting in 1990 when he was just 19 years old and working in USWA (United States Wrestling Association). At the time, Jarrett was already an established figure in the industry, and RVD viewed him as a veteran. “I met him in ’90 when I was 19, when I was in USWA, and I just thought of him as already being older, established,” RVD said. “He had that — him and Robert Fuller had the Tag Team Championships. They were the big babyfaces every night, his daddy was the promoter, and so he had that number one babyface push kind of position.”
Although Jarrett was not yet a true veteran at the time, his prominent position in the company and his family’s influence made him seem like one to the young RVD. It wasn’t until 2010, two decades later, that the two men would cross paths again, this time in TNA Wrestling, where they were both part of the same Lethal Lockdown team at the Lockdown pay-per-view. That year, they also had their first singles match, where Jarrett picked up the victory.
RVD’s comments reflect his respect for Jarrett’s longevity in the industry and his belief that, despite being further along in his career, Jarrett’s ambition remains strong. With the AEW World Championship now in his sights, it seems Jarrett isn’t slowing down anytime soon.