Rob Van Dam discussed the importance of originality in professional wrestling and critiqued the modern trend of wrestlers using each other’s signature moves. Speaking on TMZ Inside The Ring, the ECW legend recalled advice he received from Sabu early in his career about carving out his own niche.
“I mean, I would love to pass them on if you ever hear me, you know, talking about like what Sabu taught me,” Van Dam said. “Don’t try to be like someone else. There’s already one of those guys. And don’t, don’t try to take someone else’s spot. Someone already has that spot, you know, create your own spot.”
Van Dam contrasted his era with the current landscape, noting that distinct move sets were a hallmark of wrestlers in the past. He observed that today, many performers share the same repertoire, making it difficult for individuals to stand out as unique.
“And also, I came from a time when people really weren’t doing each other’s moves,” Van Dam explained. “There was like, maybe, like, Johnny Yeast did the ACE Crusher, which Randy Orton does his RKO now… but that was about it. You know, it wasn’t like everyone was doing a one and a one and a half and everyone was doing this. But now it’s so different in that respect, like in the wrestling schools, everyone does everyone else’s moves.”
RVD agreed with CJ Perry’s assessment that the unwritten rules about protecting finishers and signature colors seem to have relaxed in recent years. He suggested that this shift makes it significantly harder for modern talent to project a special aura.
“That would make it harder to be special in that way,” Van Dam concluded.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit TMZ Inside The Ring with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. Subscribe to TMZ Sports on YouTube.
