Wrestling rivalries enter real-life ring
By Jonathon Moran
August 15, 2005

Contrary to popular belief, the rivalries in professional wrestling aren’t always fabricated for the sake of good TV.

Outspoken World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) wrestler Rob Van Dam says there are very few of his wrestling opponents he would describe as “friends”.

“It is like a huge billion dollar corporation, we can’t all be friends,” Van Dam said in Sydney, promoting the WWE’s upcoming Australian tour.

“I personally don’t mind telling you there are very few guys in the dressing room I would ever have in my house or in my car taking a trip with.”

Female wrestler Victoria, whose real name is Lisa-Marie Varon, was a little more diplomatic.

“There are some women I don’t get along with,” she said.

The WWE Australian tour will begin in Sydney on October 27, with further dates in Adelaide and Melbourne.

The tour will feature a selection of the company’s RAW wrestlers, including champion John Cena, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Edge, Lita and Carlito.

But Van Dam’s arch rival isn’t scheduled to appear in the ring.

“Someone that I don’t mind hitting extra hard is Chris Jericho,” he said.

“He’s told me that I’ve busted him open more times than anybody else he has ever wrestled.”

And Van Dam’s appearance is also in question with the wrestler undergoing knee surgery in January.

“This is the first surgery I have ever had in my life,” he said.

“I am known as being one of the guys that doesn’t get hurt and I took a lot of pride in that and I still do.

“They say it takes like 12 months for this to heal, but I am a phenomenon, so people are looking at me, not quite sure when I will come back.”

If his confidence is anything to go by, Van Dam will be in the ring in October.

“I am one of the toughest guys in the company,” he said.

“I thought I was indestructible until I got my knee surgery.”

Credit: 7news