The Live Wire Match Of The Week: Rob Van Dam vs. Tommy Dreamer

Raw, August 26th 2002

This was the final outing for the Hardcore Championship in the WWE, as it was “unified” with the Intercontinental Championship. The Hardcore Championship itself had high points and low points, but in general, it was always fun to watch; ECW stalwart Tommy Dreamer was a perfect fit to be the last man to defend the belt, and RVD had a fair bit of history with the hardcore style too… so here we go.

0:00 One Of A Kind. It’s good, but it’s not Walk. Never was.

0:50 Here’s DREEEEEEEEEEEEEAMER! (I may be a bit of a Dreamer mark)

0:55 Dreamer is another one that needs his old school music… Man In The Box FTW!

1:38 We’re off! Handshake and show of respect appreciated by the fans.

1:55 Chain wrestling! Reversal sequence! Into an “Indy Stand Off”. RVD slowed himself down a tad, but Dreamer was hanging with him fine.

2:25 RVD poses

2:30 ECW! ECW! ECW! Chant

2:40 RVD drops into splits; Dreamer dropkicks him in the face

2:57 Spear into the corner from RVD, Dreamer brings the cane into play as a counter and even a side Russian cane sweep.

3:22 LADDER!

3:35 RVD dropkick means Dreamer gets a LADDER TO THE FACE! 2 count off the back of that.

3:54 This is a shortened version of an old school style ECW arena spanning brawl. RVD sets up the ladder between ring and barrier. SPINEBUSTER on the floor from Dreamer! 2 count!

4:30 Dreamer steadies the ladder as RVD is back in the ring. Dreamer tries a suplex from ring to ladder. Blocked! Bulldog attempt to RVD, which RVD blocked and as a result, Dreamer eats ladder.

5:19 It’s a Dreamer match. He gets crotched on the railings. It’s an inevitability.

5:30 RVD jumps off the ladder and kicks Dreamer in the face. 2 count off that on the floor outside.

6:00 RVD introduces chairs into the ring. Splash on a chair gets a 2 count for RVD.

6:24 SPLIT LEGGED MOONSAULT! Blocked with a chair! Dreamer’s DDT attempt countered into an RVD Northern Lights suplex for a 2 count!

6:46 Dreamer driver! Dreamer Driver! DREAMER DRIVER!!! RVD escapes, throws a kick…

6:53 … but gets caught in the Dreamer DDT! Nobody, but NOBODY sells that like RVD does. Vertical headstand, almost! And it gets… a 2 count. Doesn’t bode well for Tommy’s chances.

7:05 Dreamer brings the ladder in while JR is doing some role play dialogue between ref and Dreamer.

7:27 Side slam from Dreamer to RVD on the ladder.

7:45 Dreamer goes up top. Elbow drop misses on to the ladder! RVD drops the ladder on top of Dreamer, and then ROLLING THUNDER on to the ladder! 2 count!

8:22 Spinning leg drop, RVD pops up to the top rope. Dreamer punches his way out of the incoming splash. Sets up the ladder as a platform on the second rope… and gets crotched through it.

9:05 RVD spin kicks Dreamer, spinning the ladder and leaving Dreamer hung up in ladder based tree of woe. RVD gets a chair and hits the modified Van Daminator to the upside down Dreamer. Ouch!

9:27 RVD pops up to the top rope. HUGE five star frog splash! Three count finishes the match at 9:45

9:55 RVD gets the Intercontinental Title back, and retires the Hardcore Title at the same time.

10:40 Dreamer and RVD hug in the ring in a great show of respect and friendship.

10:55 Dreamer is walking up the ramp doing RVD’s thumbs gesture, in tears.

A great little forgotten gem from this era of Raw, throwing in a ton of ECW callbacks and Dreamer and RVD trademarks spots. Well worth checking out!

Until next time… have fun, go mad.