NuWu Sessions: Rob Van Dam, WWE Hall of Famer & CEO of RVDCBD
In this episode of NuWu Sessions, we sit down with wrestling legend Rob Van Dam. Recently inducted into the 2021 WWE Hall of Fame, RVD has kept insanely busy since coming out on the wrestling scene thirty years ago. On top of his impressive wrestling career, RVD has branched out to acting, stand up comedy, and entrepreneurship - current CEO of his brands RVDCBD and RVDTHC, what he calls “coming full circle” after his infamous 2006 arrest for possession of marijuana.
We talk to the man “behind the character of RVD”, delving deep into an array of topics, including ancient Greek stoicism philosophy, RVD’s relationship with the legendary Jack Herer, self image, and reflection on the days as a wrestler for the infamous, gory Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).
Discussing his early days as a marijuana advocate, RVD recalls some awesome stories about how he’d smoke weed with fans in the parking lots of arenas before and after shows, as well as agreeing to a somewhat controversial March 1999 High Times Magazine interview, with the insanely legendary headline: “RVD is just your average long-haired, pot-smoking hippie who’s always at peace with himself - especially when he’s kicking other people in the face!”
Scans from the original High Times Magazine March 1999 interview with Rob Van Dam
Fast forward to 2006, when RVD’s career almost came screeching to a halt - a traffic stop led to a possession charge when a cop found 18 grams of weed in RVD’s center console. In the immediate aftermath, RVD was stripped of his WWE title, won the same year, and faced ridicule from a number of his peers and his bosses. We talk to RVD about the arrest and the subsequent aftermath, as well as the future of cannabis - especially in states where the plant is still extremely illegal, both recreationally and medicinally.
RVD aims to normalize and promote cannabis use within the wrestling scene, with the goal of shifting the industry norm of prescription drug abuse, which has led to many early deaths of RVD’s peers. Improving this grim mortality rate within the sport seems to be the ultimate end goal of RVDCBD, resulting in RVD and his partners building the company up from the ground with medicinal properties of CBD as the highest priority. RVD himself formulated the products, tweaking the manufacturing process numerous times until he found the perfect product, including a wide range of CBD gummies, as well as the ultra powerful menthol CBD body cream.
RVD has no plans to stop, with numerous roles in recent movies including thriller ‘Assault on VA-33’, and numerous wrestling matches planned in the future. Check out ‘RVDology’, RVD’s YouTube series, where he shares valuable insights into his way of life and the sport of wrestling.