Posted September 5, 201015 yr comment_5455346 This was as good a RVD match from this era as you will see and it's all because of Johnny Smith. RVD does contribute a few stiff elbows early and looked decent in some of the first exchanges, but most of the match is carried by Smith. Really loved Smith's counters to RVD's typical spots and I thought the arm work - while it ultimately went nowhere - was well developed, sharp and looked really good. Smith was also really working the crowd well and I really should give RVD credit for selling the arm some and taking some decent theatrical bumps in this one. Smith worked the great majority of this on offense which was definitely to the better and I loved the spot where you thought he was going to get caught up top by Van Dam but ended up hitting his dropkick and then elbow drop for good nearfall. you have to question the logic of having RVD win entirely because of Fonzy interference, but it kept Smith looking strong and RVD was so over at that point that nothing was really going to hurt him. Deserves to go through.
November 5, 201015 yr comment_5458021 Johnny Smith v. Rob Van Dam Solid Nomination - FanCam 10-2-99 - I think RVD benefits from being in the ring with Smith because while the early sections look pretty, I didn’t think it looked choreographed which can be a problem in A LOT of ECW matches. I am not against choreographed moves but I prefer more organic movement. Ugh, another outside brawl segment. I guess it is just the nature of the beast. After RVD gets back in the ring, Smith takes over and does some nice British stuff that I mark out for. I wonder how the crowd feels about an All Japan mid-carder kicking RVD’s ass. Ugh the flip to the grab a chair to the Van Daminator was the dumbest thing I have ever seen. I’ll forgive it because Smith was super fun here. RVD hits his big moves in the stretch run and Smith counters with a short arm clothesline and a small run of his own. I could do without the Fonzie interference but Smith really put RVD to the test. I really liked this match and can’t see it NOT making the set. Easy nomination.
November 26, 201015 yr comment_5458747 ECW World TV Title: Rob Van Dam © vs. Johnny Smith (10/2/99) This was structured similarly to the Balls match as RVD took all of Smith's offense well and Smith made RVD's spots look good as well making this a fun watch unlike some of RVD's other matches at the time. I dug Smith taking it to the mat and making RVD work harder to get out of his holds and I think this moves forward easily.
