The inaugural ECW One Night Stand event is considered as one of the best events of the Ruthless Aggression Era of WWE. The Second One Night Stand event that took place back in 2006 was more impactful where Rob Van Dam defeated John Cena to win the WWE Championship in front of a house full of hardcore ECW fans.
Speaking of Rob Van Dam, the WWE Hall of Famer recently looked back at this iconic event which also marked the beginning of the resurrection of the ECW. Van Dam won the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 22 and cashed it in on John Cena and challenged him for the WWE title at ECW One Night Stand event.
WWE Legend Reveals Surprising Details About John Cena’s Expectations At ECW One Night Stand
The event is remembered as one of the most impactful events of the time which helped us getting familiar with John Cena heat for the first time. Recently, Van Dam spoke on his “1 Of A Kind With RVD” Podcast about this event and explained what John Cena was expecting from it;
“John knew he knew what he was in for. Like, he knew that that crowd was gonna be roasting him. I don’t think either of us could have known how hot it would get in there to that level.
John Cena Dropped The WWE Title To Rob Van Dam At ECW One Night Stand 2006
“He knew that they were all gonna be against him and wanna see him get his ass beat and I just remember him being so cool with it, being such a good sport about it.” Said the WWE Hall of Famer.
“It’s the coveted top seat in the industry and I did it my way, which meant so much more to me than winning it 20 times doing it their way.” Said the former WWE World Champion Rob Van Dam.
“I remember dropping down to my knees, you know, and just like soaking up the crowd and like taking all that energy in and [I] guess that’s the only time I felt that particular energy…maybe that’s why it’s hit me so hard.”
Van Dam’s victory at One Night Stand is considered one of the most impactful wins of his professional wrestling career. WWE wanted to build him as a top babyface through this victory but he could not survive in the promotion for long as just after one year he was released from WWE.
H/T – Inside The Ropes for the Transcription