[WWE] Story on WWE.com: Is RVD Really Champ?

Archive

Ed Williams III wrote a story on WWE.com that questions RVD’s Championship victory at One Night Stand. Some excerpts:

Controversy is reigning supreme following ECW One Night Stand. Rob Van Dam is celebrating like he’s the new Champion, but is that really the case after everything that went down in his match against John Cena? That question will be answered as the Championship situation will be cleared up right when RAW goes on the air tonight at 9/8 CT on the USA Network.

Cena had things going his way, and RVD was hurting outside of the ring. Then, from out of nowhere, Edge emerged from underneath the ring and speared Cena through a table that was propped up in one of the corners. Edge then knocked out referee Nick Patrick, the second official knocked out, and left Cena laying in the middle of the ring. RVD recovered and came back to see his opponent motionless in the ring. Seizing the opportunity, Van Dam scaled the ropes and delivered a Five Star Frog Splash. But there were no referees to make the count. With that, Paul Heyman strode to the ring, grinning from ear to ear. Heyman told RVD to cover Cena, and the head of ECW made the count, seemingly making RVD the new Champion.

But was that even legal? Although there were no referees around to make the count, does Heyman have the authority to become an official on the spot? And if not, then did the Championship actually change hands?

Also, what will Mr. McMahon think about what happened? In fact, in a previous interview with WWE.com, The Chairman was excited that ECW was going global. But does he feel the same way now that RAW may be without a Champion. How will Mr. McMahon react to the possibility of being in charge of a brand without a Champion?

Even though a wide array of questions are swirling around the Championship situation, one thing is for certain. This is an unprecedented chain reaction of events that sent shockwaves through the entire industry.

Matthew Michaels is editor emeritus of Pulse Wrestling, and has been since the site launched.