Eh..... honestly, it's too late for an RVD run. The time to do it was 2001/2002 back when he was insanely over. He's been scaled away from the title scene for far too long and has been stuck in mid-card purgatory for well over two years. Can you build him back up? Yes. However, the issue is whether the fans would buy it.... and quite honestly, it would probably be a while until he was believable again, if at all.
However, i'll give it a shot, anyway.
Here's how i would've booked it for 2001/2002:
Alright, RVD loses to Angle and Austin in the triple threat match at No Mercy, but doesn't get pinned, just like it happened. This is fine, though, because his mere involvement in the match has already elevated him in the fans' minds. Since Booker and RVD already had heat around this time, a 3 month program between these two ensues. Booker basically gets in RVD's face during a backstage angle and says he choked like a suckah, blah blah blah. That RVD ain't really the whole damn show after all, etc. RVD retorts by saying at least he earned his spot in the main event, unlike Booker. RVD then says that he has obviously earned a whole lot more in addition to that (making reference to the amazing connection that RVD had with he fans back then). Where are the Booker chants? Let the feud keep simmering with backstage angles showing trash talk tossed back and forth. Instead of putting it on the backburner for the invasion angle, have RVD accidentally hit Booker T after the WWE wrestler that Booker was holding up for RVD escapes the hold. RVD then gives the crowd a "Well, i hated him anyway, kind of look." Booker gets pinned and rolled out of the ring. Once Booker regains conciousness, have him get RVD eliminated from the match as well. Have the both of them brutally brawl out of the arena.
Since the Invasion is over, the Booker T/RVD program can go into maximum overdrive. However, since Booker hasn't been hired by Vince Mcmahon yet, Booker just kind of stalks RVD by sitting front row during both of his matches for the first couple of weeks. During the first week, they simply exchange some trash talk until RVD walks away. The second week, RVD gets screwed out of a spot in the Main event at Vengeance for the Undisputed World title, thanks to Booker T. Afterwards, RVD goes right for him. They brawl for a few seconds until security breaks them up. RVD then grabs the mic and cuts a promo. He trashes Booker for being a psychotic deadbeat, etc. He then says that he wishes Booker T was a WWE performer so he could kick his ass and destroy his pride once and for all, etc. He then makes an offer. He'll ask Vince Mcmahon if they can meet in an unsanctioned match next week. Mcmahon's music hits. He says that this has gotten out of hand and needs to be resolved right now. So next week, he'll grant the unsanctioned match to both men. However, in the interest of fairness, there will be a dual stipulation. If Booker T wins, he gets his job back. If RVD wins, he will the be first man who challenges the newly crowned Undisputed Champion on the RAW following Vengeance. The next week, the match takes place. Before the match, an angle is shown where Stevie Ray approaches RVD in the locker room. Ray apologizes for Booker's misconduct in the recent weeks. Have Ray sit ringside. Give RVD alot of offense throughout the match, and have him kick out of several near falls. However, give Booker a few near fall kick outs as well. Just when it looks like RVD is about to hit the Van Terminator for the victory, have Ray shake the rokes up. Ray then grabs the chair that RVD was going to use for th VT and whacks RVD. Ray drags his brother's arm over RVD. Booker gets the pin. The brothers both hug and celebrate to a chorus of boos from the crowd. Both men walk out.
The next week, have RVD pull up in a car. Then have him say "Come on, let's go" to someone off camera. Booker T and Ray are shown giggling and goofing off in the locker room. Booker T is lured out of the locker room and Ray is there all alone. RVD then attacks Ray viciously. RVD drags him out into the hall. Ray screams for Booker. Then you see Booker get thrown into the wall. You hear someone say "Such a lightweight". It's RVD's old hardcore pal, Tommy Dreamer! They continue to beat on Booker and Ray until they just leave them there. A backstage interviewer catches up with RVD and Dreamer before they leave the arena. RVD says if Booker and Ray want anymore, come get some in a tag team street fight at Vengeance. The next week, the brothers accept. At Vengeance, RVD and Dreamer come out victorious. They end up brutalizing Ray so much that he's taken away in an ambulance. Ray and Dreamer are not seen on WWE programming ever again, since they both served their purpose.
The next night, Booker T comes out to the ring and cuts a promo and saves face. He vows to make RVD pay for taking out his brother. He also announces that Mr. Mcmahon has already given him a spot in the Royal Rumble, out of pity for his brother. He then says if RVD makes it into the Rumble, he'll get him back by making sure he's eliminated. RVD comes out and cuts a don't start none, won't be none kind of promo. He then says that his brother got exactly what he deserved and that Booker should take it as a warning not to push him any further, or else the same will happen to him. RVD not only eliminates Booker T, but wins the Royal Rumble.
The next night, RVD celebrates with the Dudleys and Tommy Dreamer in the back. However, his celebration is short lived when the Undisputed Champion, Chris Jericho, comes in and says RVD should savor the moment, because this as close as he'll get to the belt. Jericho waves it in RVD's face. RVD tries to go after Jericho, but the Dudleys and Dreamer hold him back. Booker T later attacks RVD with a Champagne bottle. The next week RVD comes out and cuts a promo in the ring saying that last week, Booker T touched RVD's last nerve. This thing between us has got to end. He then challenges Booker T to a cage match. Booker T comes out and says that isn't good enough. He says that since he can't steal away RVD's shot at Mania, he'll just crush his dreams by taking him out completely and ending his career during the match..... a LAST MAN STANDING match! RVD accepts. The next week, Booker T and Chris Jericho face off against RVD and Tommy Dreamer in a mixed tag match. The Dudleys do a run in and swerve by screwing Dreamer and RVD out of the match. Booker T gets the pin over RVD. Dreamer is completely obliterated and "taken out". Next week, RVD i shown training for the match with Booker T at No Way Out. He then says at No Way Out, he's going ALL out. Booker T gloats about getting the win over RVD a week before.
At No Way Out, RVD pins Booker cleanly. Both men get an equal amount of offense. The feud is settled. The next night on RAW, Jericho and RVD have a confrontation in the ring. Jericho says RVD can't win the big one outside of a hardcore setting. That unlike Jericho, RVD won't transition into a true Heavyweight superstar on the biggest stage of them all. RVD goes against Christian, Jericho's stooge, that night in the main event. However, it turns out the whole thing was a fix, and Christian and Jericho simply beat the crap out of him. Next week, RVD calls them both out. RVD then says he wants Christian's ass tonight. Jericho says take it easy, buddy, don't blow your wad. After last week, i think you should take baby steps. So Jericho says RVD will take one the Dudley Boys in a handicap match. RVD ends up winning the match. However, Christian and Jericho attack him afterwards and bloody him some more. The next week, RVD challenges Jericho and Christian to a handicap match. THey accept. However, Austin's music hits! He then says that he's been watching RVD these past few months and has grown to respect him. He watched him take all those beatings night after night and that he has what it takes to beat that jackass Jericho at Wrestlemania. Austin offers his partnership against Jericho and Christian. RVD and Austin beat Jericho and Christian. RVD gets the pin over Christian. At WM, RVD beats Jericho with the Walls of Jericho submission. Jericho gets a good amount of offense, and kicks out of a billion near falls. At the following PPV, the feud continues between the two. RVD pins Jericho in a Hardcore rules street brawl.
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