Rob Van Dam Slams AEW Collision’s Viral No-Sell Spot: “I Want My Money Back’

Everyone has their own favorite form of pro wrestling. AEW, while they lack the ongoing stories that WWE crafts on a weekly basis, they do feature a lot more pure pro wrestling. This is something that has been a burden and a blessing for Tony Khan’s company over the past 5 years. RVD, although he’s appeared for AEW on a couple of occasions, doesn’t seem to be a fan of everything they do.

The August 10th, 2024 edition of AEW Collision featured a World Title Eliminator match between world champion Swerve Strickland and Tomohiro Ishii. This encounter drew attention when a video clip from the match went viral, showing Ishii absorbing strikes from Swerve without flinching, a move known as “no-selling” in wrestling.

The viral clip brought reactions from fans and wrestling figures, and fans weren’t silent either. One fans clipped a piece of the match while calling it “dog sh*t.” This was noticed by WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam. Known for his straightforward opinions, Van Dam commented on the clip with the remark, “I want my money back,” highlighting the unconventional nature of the moment.

While some viewers criticized the sequence, others offered a different perspective. Twitter user @StevieTenenbaum defended the match, noting the tendency of fans to focus on brief clips rather than the entire event. “It’s so easy to pick out a 10-second clip and say ‘this match is bad’ for engagement,” they wrote. “Y’all really suck the fun out of a hobby that you’re supposed to enjoy.”

There was a thought that RVD’s appearances for AEW may have taken WrestleMania moment away from him in Philadelphia. Obviously, Rob Van Dam is still the Whole F’n Show, and he is also a free agent, so his opinions are his own.

This debate about pro wrestling is not going to die down any time soon. If anything, it will likely give AEW supporters more fuel to keep their fiery fandom burning. RVD has spoken his piece on the situation. Only time will tell if and when his next AEW cameo will come around after this comment.

What’s your take on AEW’s booking? Do you think they’re making Swerve Strickland a strong AEW World Champion? Let us know what you think in the comments section!