5. Stripping RVD of WWE Title – 2006
In 2006, the ECW brand was being resurrected by WWE. The influence of the extreme was changing WWE from within. ECW was returning as the third brand and that brand needed a face.
At the time, Rob Van Dam was the current Money in the Bank holder. He cashed in his contract against John Cena at ECW’s One Night Stand and won the WWE Championship. He would be crowned ECW Champion too.
There is no telling how far the run of RVD would have gone if he hadn’t been caught in possession of marijuana in his car and lose both championships as punishment. A fine is understandable, and so is a scolding. RVD was one of the hottest stars in wrestling at that point, and a misdemeanor like that shouldn’t have cost RVD his life’s work, especially when he was caught doing something that was always apparent with the character.