South Philly Review
Rob Van Dam bringing positive energy to South Philly
By Joe Mason
Rob Van Dam was born in Michigan and he lives on the West Coast, but make no mistake about it, he’s a Philly guy.
Van Dam, a 2021 inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame and longtime professional wrestling star, became a household name when he was wrestling in Extreme Championship Wrestling, a promotion that was based out of South Philadelphia.
And on Sunday, RVD is returning to his other home.
“I’ve got so many good memories from having so much fun back in the late ’90s there and it’s always cool to visit, feel that energy,” Van Dam said. “The city has a certain energy. I feel it in the people, I look forward to going to Tony Luke’s and even though I wasn’t born here, it’s kind of a home because I walk around everyone knows me they think I lived there. A lot did of ECW wrestlers did, so they didn’t know I was flying in from the other coast, I appreciate that. It’s like an accepting feeling. NYC does it to me as well. In Philly, I’d be walking down the street, a garbage truck will go by and they’ll yell RVD!”