Rob Van Dam Compares His NXT 2300 Arena Return to ‘Coming Home’

Rob Van Dam is gearing up for an emotional return to the iconic 2300 Arena for WWE NXT’s show on November 6th, a place synonymous with his groundbreaking days in ECW. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, the wrestling legend shared his excitement and nostalgia for the Philadelphia venue that played such a pivotal role in his career.

“I am in Philly. I’m excited to see [the fans]. Hopefully they’re excited to see RVD. That stuff we did years ago in the ECW Arena, it is never gonna die,” Van Dam expressed. “We made history, and it’s still impacting the industry today. All the young guys now grew up watching us, they’re all ECW fans, they all loved it. So I think it’s so cool that WWE is acknowledging, not just the history, but also making it relevant today. Some of us guys can still move.”

When asked to delve deeper into his feelings about returning to the 2300 Arena, Van Dam didn’t hold back on how special it is to him. “It is a lot like you would imagine. It is like returning home in a way. My energy feels different there than it does when I’m in any random arenas or venues across the country or world,” he said. “There, there’s a special feeling. I don’t know. It sounds cliche to say this, but I kind of feel like I helped build it. I feel like all of us [ECW] originals that really brought the energy, I feel like that’s our home.”

Rob Van Dam also noted the significance of WWE incorporating ECW elements into their current programming, emphasizing the added credibility it brings. “It adds credibility when you do an ECW kind of event, and you have the actual ECW guys on it. What they did this week for the NXT show, they changed the opening, that was pretty cool. Pretty significant historically, that’s really giving us a lot of love,” Van Dam added.

As RVD returns to a place brimming with memories, fans can look forward to seeing an ECW original back in his element, celebrating the legacy that continues to resonate within the wrestling world.

What do you think about WWE’s nod to ECW history with NXT’s special event? Share your thoughts below and tell us about your favorite ECW memories!