- 8 months ago
Rob Van Dam faced The Rock on the October 25, 2001 episode of WWE SmackDown! in a chaotic, hard-hitting Hardcore Championship match that embodied the unpredictable nature of the Invasion era. The bout featured nonstop brawling, weapon use, and constant momentum shifts, with both men trading strikes and high-impact offense around the ring and ringside. RVD relied on his kicks and aerial attacks to keep Rock off balance, while Rock answered with his trademark power moves and aggression. The match was heavily influenced by outside interference, as multiple wrestlers became involved, creating confusion and breaking up potential finishes. Amid the chaos, RVD capitalized at the right moment to score the pinfall and retain the Hardcore Championship, with the post-match scene continuing the disorder as brawling carried on.
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00:00A match which could swing the momentum for either the WWF or the Alliance.
00:08RBD puts the hardcore title on the line versus The Rock.
00:15The following contest is going to go for a hard fall and it's for the World Wrestling Federation Hardcore Championship.
00:22In the ring, representing the Alliance, playing at 235 pounds, the Hardcore Champion, Rockman!
00:30Well, he's the cold, cool, and collected RBD.
00:33He'd feel any of this pressure that's on him here in this matchup ball.
00:38Will Rob Van Dam feel pressure?
00:41Everything's cool when you're Rob Van Dam.
00:43And the Rock is cool.
00:48The matchup, the matchup, the matchup, the matchup, the World Wrestling Federation.
00:56Oh, Mr. McMahon asked The Rock to be a part of this matchup to help pull out part of the heart of the Alliance here tonight.
01:03But make no mistake about it, The Rock's not doing this for Vince McMahon.
01:08He's doing it for all the fans.
01:13Please, what an egomaniac.
01:16The Rock says this.
01:17The Rock says that.
01:20Rock, rock, rock.
01:21Here's what I say, RVD is the most hardcore athlete this sport has ever seen.
01:29The crown jewel of ECW, the most popular member of the Alliance, and long before Survivor Series,
01:37The Rock is gonna learn to respect R-D-D.
01:42Well, this isn't ECW, this is WWF SmackDown, and RVD is in the match of his life against The Rock with a hardcore title on the line.
01:51No holds barred, balls count anywhere, anything goes, no disqualification.
01:57I mean, how hardcore can the people's eyebrow be?
02:02The crown back in the ring.
02:04Do you think The Rock is willing to pay the price to be hardcore with Rob Van Dam?
02:10Oh, please.
02:12And Rock did all the need.
02:13Who likes the material, Vince McMahon?
02:16You know what?
02:16You ask me that hardcore question, does The Rock want to be hardcore?
02:19Yes, he does.
02:20And so does everybody in this building want The Rock to be hardcore.
02:24The unorthodox style of Rob Van Dam.
02:27How will that play into this matchup against the people's champ?
02:32Rob Van Dam off the ropes, knocked down by RVD.
02:35And let's set the record straight, pin balls count anywhere.
02:39No misqualification, no count outs.
02:42To win the match, you have to either pin the other man or make him tag.
02:47Balls count anywhere, doesn't have to be in the middle of the ring as The Rock delivers the right hands to Rob Van Dam.
02:52I mean, not even Earl Hebner can screw those rules up.
02:54Ball account, RVD, Rock going for a ride.
02:59Dudley Boys moments ago winning the WCW Tag Team titles from the Hardy Boys, getting the Alliance a little bit of a roll.
03:05Rolling thunder!
03:07And speaking of a roll, rolling thunder, cover, hook of the leg, and The Rock kicks out.
03:11And let me state for the record, without even consulting Shane and Stephanie,
03:15that when the Alliance wins that Survivor Series, I'm sure we'll find a place for The Rock.
03:21If the Alliance wins its Survivor Series, it's one match to determine which company survives.
03:26It's do or die.
03:27Will it be the Alliance or the WWE?
03:33Crowd coming to its feet for The Rock, and The Rock is a class act.
03:37No whining, no complaining after losing the WCW title at No Mercy, giving Y2J is due.
03:45All The Rock wants is a rematch.
03:48Well, right now, The Rock better concentrate on the hardcore title.
03:52The Rock better concentrate on Rob Van Dam.
03:56What a shocking night this has been on SmackDown.
04:00A family has been divided.
04:02Mr. McMahon and his wife, Linda, against their two ungrateful, their two despicable children,
04:09Shane and Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley.
04:12Oh, the McMahon family is definitely divided, and it's only gonna get worse.
04:15Can you imagine what's gonna happen in the next few weeks going to Survivor Series?
04:20Oh, look at this now.
04:22I asked you a question.
04:23Oh, wait a minute.
04:23This is dangerous position up here.
04:25The Rock and RBD up there on that steel stage in this hardcore title match.
04:31It's a dangerous position for The Rock, because The Rock is out of his element.
04:36But Rob Van Dam is quite at home in a hardcore situation.
04:40What a heel kick to the chin by Rob Van Dam, thundering off The Rock.
04:47RBD on the move.
04:49Into The Rock.
04:50I think RBD hurt himself.
04:52Brick that knee, bouncing off that steel.
04:54Looks like Rob Van Dam is laying a smack down on The Rock.
04:58Wouldn't you say that?
04:59Oh, and a kick out falls down anywhere in this matchup.
05:03Take another look.
05:04Feel this impact to the face of The Rock.
05:07Robbie, Robbie, Robbie, Robbie.
05:10The fans came to the Rock.
05:11I think The Rock is laying a snack down on RBD.
05:16A hardcore chance in trouble ball.
05:19No smiles for The Rock here tonight.
05:22He's all business.
05:23But notice how Rob Van Dam blows away from a pitting predicament.
05:26You can fight all you want on the outside, but you have to go for a couple.
05:30The Rock doing this for the fans.
05:35The Rock doing it for the World Wrestling Federation.
05:37The Rock is doing it for his own ego gratification.
05:40Who in the hell are you fools?
05:43Egal gratification.
05:44This is legal fits, by the way.
05:46You can use these weapons in a hardcore matchup.
05:49Everything is legal in a hardcore matchup.
05:51And Voltax.
05:52Oh!
05:53The steel perch goes to the back.
05:55And The Brahma Bull is stinging as he thunders off that steel post.
06:02And The Brahma Bull in trouble as Rob Van Dam tosses all the weapons into the ring.
06:11And now Rob Van Dam has to go exactly where he wants him.
06:16RBD with a shot to the head.
06:18Kick to the midsection.
06:20And the champion continues to pound away at the Brahma Bull.
06:25Oh, look out.
06:26Rob Van Dam went for the trash container.
06:28And the Rock from behind.
06:29Here comes the People's Champion.
06:34RBD tossed back into the ring.
06:39Hardcore title on the line.
06:42Rob Van Dam, I don't think he knows where he is.
06:44Oh, Rob Van Dam knows exactly where he is.
06:48RBD, the king of extreme.
06:50The master of the hardcore style.
06:52The hardcore champion.
06:54Drop kick to the face.
06:56And only RBD can make a drop kick truly hardcore.
07:01Oh, look out.
07:01RBD with that steel chair in hand.
07:04Hitting up The Rock.
07:05Steel chair thundering up the forehead.
07:07The Rock's had a bad week with chairs, hasn't he?
07:09Yeah, he really does.
07:10He really has.
07:11As Rob Van Dam floats in the cover.
07:13Hook of the leg.
07:14Mayhem the Rock.
07:15Rock gets the shoulder up.
07:17No quit in The Brahma Bull.
07:19It's only a matter of time before Rob Van Dam lairs down Rocky.
07:24And notice even the people here in Nebraska appreciate the talents of R-D-D.
07:30The Rock struggling to his feet.
07:33RBD, the hardcore champion.
07:35Reversal.
07:36RBD whipped into the corner.
07:38Rock follows it up on a close line.
07:40Hardcore title on the line.
07:42But much more than that.
07:43Momentum needs to be built here for both companies heading towards Survivor Series.
07:51This is a must-win situation for both organizations.
07:55And Rob Van Dam now being stopped by The Rock and RBD gets his feet off.
08:00Oh, look out.
08:01Top rope.
08:02And Rock through the trash container is RBD.
08:06Cover.
08:06And RBD just kicked out.
08:08A half second away.
08:11But that half second was all Rob Van Dam needed.
08:14Hey, look at the trash can, Paul.
08:16It's been obliterated.
08:18Flatten like a pancake.
08:20On the impact, the trash can disintegrated.
08:24But Rob Van Dam knows this situation.
08:28He knows it all too well.
08:30Rob Van Dam in the match.
08:32The home quarterback of his life against the challenger, The Rock.
08:37Have we answered your question yet?
08:39You asked me if The Rock could be hardcore.
08:41Doing pretty damn good here.
08:42This for the incidentally.
08:43And Rock, look out.
08:46Going for it.
08:47The Rock with a sharpshooter.
08:49Submission home locked in.
08:51Will RBD tap?
08:54Will he tap?
08:55Rob Van Dam trying to get to the ropes.
08:58Can we get there?
08:59And Rock pulls it back to the center of the ring.
09:02Sharpshooter locked in.
09:04Rob Van Dam is in a lot of trouble here.
09:07Wait a minute, wait a minute.
09:09Shane McMahon pulling the ring out of the ring.
09:12What's he doing here?
09:14I thought Shane left.
09:17It's a disqualification man.
09:19It doesn't matter what Shane is doing.
09:21By D&D by Shane McMahon.
09:24Do you like Shane's involvement?
09:26It doesn't matter if you like his involvement.
09:28Rob Van Dam, top rope, going for the five-star, perhaps, of the top shuttle by R.B.D.
09:37Five-star frog splash to The Rock by R.B.D.
09:42And when it comes to going off the top rope, no one gets as high as Rob Van Dam.
09:48The desperate Shane McMahon trying to save the hardcore title for the Alliance.
09:55RVD into the cover.
09:56This is going to be a day of shame.
09:59The Rock kicked out.
10:00He kicked out.
10:02Shane can't believe it.
10:03I don't believe it.
10:05There's going to be a smoke out by Hedman.
10:07How many champions can Hedman screw in the name of the WWF?
10:13Wait a minute.
10:14Shane's father, Vince McMahon.
10:17And look at the look at Vinka's face.
10:20Shane's going to regret the day that he held his mother so his sister Stephanie could slap her.
10:27Vince wants to teach us some of the lessons.
10:29R.B.D. with a chair.
10:33Rob Van Dam has The Rock just where he wants it.
10:38The Rock, in unfamiliar terms, has a challenger.
10:42I think the hardcore champion, Rob Van Dam.
10:45Missed with a Vandaminator.
10:47Rob Van Dam on the mid-section.
10:48DDT on the chair.
10:52Despite the fact that Shane McMahon trying to screw The Rock,
10:55the Brahma Bull continues to take it to R.B.D.
10:59Did you see the fire in the eyes of Mr. McMahon?
11:04Driven by the knowledge that Shane L was his own mother so Stephanie could slap Linda.
11:08Vince was, he was on fire.
11:10Vince is insane.
11:12The man should be institutionalized.
11:14Hardcore title on the line.
11:16Rock looks to go into the cover.
11:17Here's the hook of the leg.
11:21He's got him.
11:22He's got him.
11:22No.
11:23Rob Van Dam kicks out.
11:24Is there anyone as hardcore, as extreme, as Rob Van Dam?
11:31Oh, no.
11:32Not another Alliance member.
11:35Look at this.
11:36Now it's test.
11:37Pump handles.
11:38What the hell is he doing?
11:40No disqualification.
11:42How many times do I have to tell you?
11:44The Alliance is pulling out all the stops.
11:47Wait a minute.
11:48It's Jericho.
11:50Where's Jericho?
11:51Test for the Bulldog.
11:53Jericho's not a huge Rock man, but he's out of here for the WWE out.
12:00And here's Booker T.
12:02Booker T who lost to Jericho earlier on.
12:05Oh, look out.
12:06Here's Booker T getting his.
12:09The Rock playing the SmackDown with a big right hand at Rob Van Dam.
12:16The odds have been overwhelming for The Rock, and yet he continues.
12:20Smile Buster.
12:22Smile Buster.
12:23And Rob Van Dam, RBD is in trouble.
12:31The Rock setting up RBD with the Hardcore title.
12:35The Hardcore title is in trouble.
12:37Oh, no.
12:38No, no, no.
12:39Here it comes.
12:40The most electrified move in sports entertainment today.
12:44That's the most electrified move in sports entertainment.
12:48Oh, look at this.
12:49Booker T jumping up The Rock.
12:50And a trash can tie in Rock's head.
12:55And Rob Van Dam rolls on the Rock.
12:58Right this way.
12:58He's got it.
12:59Rob Van Dam is hitting The Rock.
13:01The damn Alliance.
13:03The Alliance beat The Rock.
13:05And the name of the Alliance, RVD, has been The Rock.
13:14Yeah, thanks to about 20 of his buddies and tested Booker T are beating the hell out of Jericho.
13:20Well, wait, Shane McMahon one, Booker T two, that's three.
13:24Shane McMahon ran like a dog.
13:26I hate when you exaggerate.
13:28And tested Booker T, taking it to The Rock and Jericho.
13:32All you ever do is complain, it goes like this.
13:36The Rock goes to the people's elbow, but everything is legal in a hardcore match.
13:43RVD, with a hard course wall package, Rob Van Dam pins The Rock.
13:48It's been a hilarious week in the battle between the WWF and The Alliance.
13:52But Monday Live on Raw, the stakes are even higher.
13:55Father versus son, Vince versus Shane, in a street fight.
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