Rob Van Dam Details His Relationship With Vince McMahon

Rob Van Dam’s time in WWE was, overall, very successful, and despite the controversial manner in which he lost his WWE and ECW titles, RVD is still in WWE’s good books, having been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.

Now, in conversation with Kenny McIntosh for Inside The Ropes Magazine, RVD has detailed his relationship with WWE Owner Vince McMahon, saying the following about 'the boss':

“I’ve always gotten along with Vince overall. I was always uncomfortable talking to him in a manner of just being intimidated and feeling awkward. He would always go out of his way, if we were walking along the hallway, to shake my hand and say, ‘Hey Rob, how are you doing?’ But then I wouldn’t know what to talk about.

“It would be like, ‘Well, how’s the weather?’ And it would just be like that. I was just intimidated because he is Vince McMahon, he is the most important man that I am ever going to meet. Then at the same time, what are we going to talk about? Am I going to tell him that I can’t believe they have a girl in a Spiderman outfit in the new series now?”

Van Dam further reflected on how he grew as a performer in WWE, and how he now responds to thoughts from others, rather than perceive them as criticisms:

“I feel like my whole mindset back then was so young, and I was still kind of finding the validation to be accepted. I feel like my place in the universe was a place where people would keep telling me that I need more of this or less of that because that always made me feel that I wasn’t really respected or that someone was looking down on me.

“That’s how I always took advice, and it was hard for me to take. Now I look at Vince, and he still is the same important man but I am able to express my feelings a little better than I was then. I am better with my wording and more comfortable with the fact that when I am honest and genuine, people just appreciate it.”