RVD Enjoys the Show and the Backstage Vibes at WWE’s First SmackDown on USA Network

Summary

– Rob Van Dam made a surprise appearance at WWE SmackDown’s first episode back on USA Network.

– RVD was invited by WWE with little notice but enjoyed reconnecting with fans and the backstage crew.

– The WWE Hall of Famer also filmed interviews for future WWE content during his visit.

Rob Van Dam had what he called an “awesome” time at WWE SmackDown’s big return to the USA Network. RVD and his wife, Katie Forbes, were spotted in the front row at last Friday’s episode at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. This marked the start of WWE’s new five-year deal with NBCUniversal for SmackDown. The show had previously aired on Fox since 2019.

RVD and Katie were briefly shown on camera before a tag team match where Kevin Owens and Randy Orton took on Grayson Waller and Austin Theory. Discussing his appearance on his “1 Of A Kind” podcast, RVD joked, “How about that? RVD pops up wherever he feels like. That’s part of being The Whole F’N Show, you know?” He explained that the invitation came on short notice, with WWE reaching out just a day before the event. Despite the quick turnaround, RVD said it was “awesome to be there.”

While at SmackDown, RVD also took the opportunity to film interviews for future WWE content. He spoke highly of the backstage environment, mentioning that everyone, including Paul Heyman and Triple H, was cool and welcoming. RVD also noted that the young talent in WWE showed much respect toward him and that the crowd brought great energy to the show.

RVD was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021 and has since had occasional matches for AEW. His surprise appearance at SmackDown added a touch of nostalgia to the event, much to the delight of the fans in attendance.