Everyone loves watching a veteran return to in-ring action. It is cheered even more when that veteran returns to defend the honor of the promotion that made them famous. This is precisely what the audience in Tampa witnessed during the 200th episode of AEW Dynamite.

The Jack Perry and Jerry Lynn feud is heating up, but the fans did not expect Lynn to call in favor of a friend that beat John Cena 17 years ago to uphold the honor of ECW. 

Rob Van Dam debuts in AEW ahead of WrestleMania 40

The 200th episode of AEW Dynamite took place in from of a packed Tampa crowd. The fans were eagerly waiting for the Jack Perry vs. Jerry Lynn confrontation. AEW announced this a week before the event. Jack Perry is the current FTW Champion. During the last week’s episode of AEW, the Champion called out the ECW original after he disrespected the champ. 

However, during the confrontation, Lynn did not get into the ring. While standing at the entrance, Lynn said, “I don’t run the show around here, and with all the plates and screws in my neck, there’s not a doctor alive who would clear me to get back in that ring.” Lynn revealed that doctors did not clear the former WWE star to part-take in any in-ring matches. 

Nevertheless, he would not let Perry get away with disrespecting ECW. He claimed that he called upon a close ECW friend that would defend ECW’s honor. This was none other than Rob Van Dam. The Tampa crowd went wild as his ECW theme, ‘Walk’ by Pantera played. RVD looked to make a decisive impact and got into the ring to confront Perry. However, the champ quickly retreated. Subsequently, while RVD and Lynn shared a moment in the ring, Perry went for a surprise chair shot but was out-maneuvered by the veteran.  

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Perry got into the crowd and avoided any confrontation. As a result of this, there will be a match between Perry and RVD. However, this will not result in a feud between the two. This is because RVD is being promoted to appear at WWE’s biggest stage, WrestleMania 40. He will be in Philadelphia as part of the weekend package. WrestleMania 40 will take place from 6 April to 7 April 2024.  

Could we see RVD vs. John Cena after 17 years?

Since RVD is slated to appear at WrestleMania 40 in April 2024, this appearance in AEW could be a one time thing. WWE would not promote RVD had he signed a multiple-year contract with AEW. RVD’s popularity came from WWE, ECW, and Impact wrestling. One of the most iconic matches he had in the WWE was at ECW One Night Stand 2006 against John Cena for the WWE Championship title.

With Cena representing WWE and RVD representing ECW, the crowd was on RVD’s side. The jeers Cena received from the New York crowd were deafening. The match was great and iconic due to ECW’s limited time being brought back by the WWE. Even today, a reliable journalist for wrestling Bill Apter reminded the possibility of WrestleMania 40, RVD-Cena in Philly. 

Are you excited about RVD’s return to the ring in AEW? Do you want to see him take on John Cena after 17 years? Tell us in the comments down below.