RVD’s Surprise SmackDown Appearance: One Day’s Notice

One big thing

WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam (RVD) made a surprise appearance on the September 13th episode of SmackDown, revealing it came together with just one day’s notice.

The details

• RVD was contacted by WWE on Wednesday for a Friday appearance.
• He was asked if he could fly out the next day.
• Despite the short notice, RVD was available and agreed to go.
• He appeared in the crowd with his wife, Katie Forbes.

Why it matters

RVD’s unexpected appearance, along with other wrestling legends like Vickie Guerrero and Teddy Long, added excitement to the show and demonstrated WWE’s ability to create memorable moments on short notice.

What they’re saying

RVD on his 1 of a Kind podcast:

“It was an invite that happened with not a lot of notice at all. It was a one-day notice to fly out. Wednesday, sorry about the short notice, but you would have to leave tomorrow. But, you know, are you available on Friday? And I was.”

The big picture

• Surprise appearances by wrestling legends can boost fan engagement and ratings.
• RVD’s willingness to appear on short notice shows his ongoing positive relationship with WWE.
• These quick turnarounds highlight the dynamic nature of live wrestling programming.

By the numbers

• RVD is a one-time WWE Champion.
• He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.
• His last regular WWE run ended in 2014.

What do you think about WWE’s strategy of surprise legend appearances? Do you enjoy these unexpected moments? Leave a comment below with your thoughts!