10 Best WWE Matches of the Year 2006

#3 John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam - ECW One Night Stand

'' If Cena wins, we riot '' They probably had to

This one was a long time coming for Rob Van Dam. As early as his WWE debut in 2001, many had him pegged to be a future WWE Champion and it looked like we were about to get that in 2002 before Triple H creative card got in the way.

Rob Van Dam spent pretty much all of 2003 and 2004 being misused and spent all of 2005 on the shelf. He returned in 2006 to a strong push with the WWE Championship ready for the taken.

This match is a must watch. Not only is it a damn fine performance from both men, but it also has the most incredible crowd response to a WWE match ever. Seriously, the live audience responses to The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania and Cena vs. CM Punk at Money in The Bank are truly spectacles for sure, but this one was a whole different breed.

The bell rings and a very loud “F*** you Cena” chant starts up. That was in the first three seconds, so that should tell you how the rest of the chants for the match will go. Some nice back and forth friendly wrestling started it off.

A slugfest leads to Cena send RVD to the floor and then Cena jumped off the top with a punch to RVD’s back on the floor. A funny moment as Cena punches Rob through a fan sign that read “F*** you Cena”.

RVD hit his spinning leg drop off the apron onto Cena on the barricade and then RVD hit a guillotine legdrop on the apron. RVD with the Rolling Thunder onto the steel chair. RVD went for the split legged moonsault, but Cena got his knees and the steel chair up to block it.

After Cena took control for a while, RVD came back with a dropkick while Cena was on the apron to send Cena crashing to the floor. RVD brought a table into the ring. Fans chanted “Whole F’N Show” for RVD, and he really was making it his.

Frustrated with the referee, Cena took him out with a clothesline. Cena brought the steel steps in the ring and nailed RVD in the head with them, which RVD sold greatly as usual. A table was set up in the corner.

As they staggered near it, Cena sent RVD to the outside. When he turned around, he was met with someone in a trench coat and bikers helmet, who tackled him through the table, then revealed to be none other than Edge.

RVD climed back in the ring, hit a 5 Star Frogsplash, and ECW General Manager Paul Heyman came out to make the three count. Should have been the start of a great WWE Championship reign, but Rob Van Dam mucked it up for himself, unfortunately.