Here's the Deal

Stage 3 colon cancer. Laparoscopic surgery to remove it. 6 months of chemo ahead of us. You know what she tells me?


She says she’d rather be going through this than a divorce with me!
Just to let me know how good of a job I’m doing as a husband. She’s so awesome!
I’ve always said this, but- what an amazing wife!


The incredible strength we have as a team provides us with great power to cope with great and unpleasant times. Our love for life is filled with wonderful memories and an unstoppable desire to have many more. We are grateful for our past and our future, so we’ll do what we have to today to keep us healthy for tomorrow.
As you know, this is all new to us. What should we expect from the chemo treatments? I’ve heard of people getting treatments in the morning and going straight to work. I’ve also heard of it wearing people down. I understand they’ve come a long way in recent years, but what should we expect? Is traveling in between rounds an option? I’m asking you.


Sonya and I probably won’t know much more about what we’ll be going through until June, so we’ll keep you posted, as always.
We appreciate the support coming in-from prayers to cards to even running in her name T.?



You fans rock. Enjoy life. It’s there for you.

update on Sonya

Hello everybody. We want everyone to know that Sonya’s surgery went well and she’s back home recovering now. I’ve had her home for one week and after a few miserable days, she’s making her comeback. The misery was due to what they called “post-operation illis”. After the surgery to remove part of her colon and attach the loose ends, her body took a few extra days to swell intensely, which caused bruising and a lot of discomfort- to say the least. We got her checked out and soon afterwards, swelling went down and everything has been getting better day by day. At this point, we don’t know what kind of therapy treatment we’re facing but whatever they say to do-we’ll do it. We really appreciate all the support that you have been sending our way. The love, prayers, and positive energy made it all the way, as Sonya and I read every comment on my Myspace together and received the attended lift.

All the phone calls, texts, emails and other genuine, straight hearted messages mean a lot to both of us.

Now let me grab Sonya for you. SONYA...?




“Once again you fans have been amazing during challenging times. I still have the cards that I received from the jet-ski accident and I can never forget all the kind wishes. Your personal stories have given me strength in the knowledge that I am in no way alone in this battle, when it can be difficult to keep spirits up. I want to thank all the friends, family and fans that are going through this with us.”




---SVD




We will have an update for everyone at the end of the week. Cards can be sent in care of:

Dominion Distribution

7224 Muholland Drive

Los Angeles, Ca 90068




Please do not send flowers to this address.

Hello everybody. We want everyone to know that Sonya’s surgery went well and she’s back home recovering now. I’ve had her home for one week and after a few miserable days, she’s making her comeback. The misery was due to what they called “post-operation illis”. After the surgery to remove part of her colon and attach the loose ends, her body took a few extra days to swell intensely, which caused bruising and a lot of discomfort- to say the least. We got her checked out and soon afterwards, swelling went down and everything has been getting better day by day. At this point, we don’t know what kind of therapy treatment we’re facing but whatever they say to do-we’ll do it. We really appreciate all the support that you have been sending our way. The love, prayers, and positive energy made it all the way, as Sonya and I read every comment on my Myspace together and received the attended lift.

All the phone calls, texts, emails and other genuine, straight hearted messages mean a lot to both of us.

Now let me grab Sonya for you. SONYA...?




“Once again you fans have been amazing during challenging times. I still have the cards that I received from the jet-ski accident and I can never forget all the kind wishes. Your personal stories have given me strength in the knowledge that I am in no way alone in this battle, when it can be difficult to keep spirits up. I want to thank all the friends, family and fans that are going through this with us.”




---SVD




We will have an update for everyone at the end of the week. Cards can be sent in care of:

Dominion Distribution

7224 Muholland Drive

Los Angeles, Ca 90068




Please do not send flowers to this address.

The C word

One good thing about spreading positive energy and encouraging an optimistic approach to life- when it comes time to get a taste of my own medicine, it’s good. Still, it may not be fun to be put to the test. It may be quite unpleasant.
After thinking of several ways to put this, I decided to give it to you straight- just like we got it. After months of chasing down the origin of stomach cramps, we got the news that Sonya has cancer in her colon. Obviously, this was not something we wanted to hear, and were not at all prepared for it. This is the kind of thing that we hear about happening to other people. Us? Really?

I’m sure that a lot of you realize that cancer is way too common. In fact, I know that many of you are all too familiar with what we are experiencing.

This is very personal and I understand if you would choose to keep it on the down-low. One of Sonya’s first thoughts was that if she could have colon cancer (being a 32 year old, lean, active, and healthy eating female that barely hits 3 digits on the weight scale), “We need to tell everyone it could be them!”

Months of testing showed nothing of this nature. The blood tests and everything else they did could not detect the cancer until the dreaded colonoscopy. Sonya wants everyone to know that you HAVE to get checked. We found a huge research center where we are getting this taken care of. They have a lot of information about the subject, in case you might be searching City of Hope.

Keep in mind, this is curable and Sonya has surgery scheduled for the end of the week to get this thing taken out. We’re totally kicking its ass. We got this. We know that we have a lot of people praying and sending positive energy, and we appreciate it. Keep it up. And don’t tell Sonya’s dad, if you know him. We’ll do it when the time is right.

This will soon be a thing of the past. Sonya is amazingly strong and ready to fight.

This will be a squash match!

Anyone wondering what we’re up to...it’s this. Nothing else matters.

I’ll update you soon.

Take care of yourselves.
Enjoy life.
RVD

I'M BACK!

Hello readers. I hope everyone is well. Let’s catch up.


SVD and I had a great time in Portugal. I wrestled Raven on Friday in Santa de Maria Feira, frog splashed Joey Mercury in Elvas, and then we spent a couple of extra days in Lisboa to absorb its beauty. What a gorgeous place this was! Two highlights that stand out from the trip for me follow. In Elvas, everyone was hungry so we all left the arena before the show and traveled across the border to SPAIN to crowd a McDonalds counter with McWrestler Meals. Good thing we had the camera, right RVD TV watchers? The second memorable moment for me was the worst bump of the tour by far, and it was in my hotel room shower. My feet slipped out from under me, the curtain and curtain rod came down, I nailed my head on the sink counter on the way down and the shower hose broke and flooded the bathroom. It was pretty awesome. I’m just glad SVD didn’t have the camera on when she opened the door to see me lying in the water, covered in soap! I recommend visiting Portugal to anyone. Just be careful in the shower.
The weekend we were gone, Ron Slinker passed away. Ron gave me the professional name- that stuck with me throughout my career- back in 19991. Ron also got me my job with Bill Watts in WCW in 1992, and when Bill refused to let me use my professional name, Ron came up with Robby V. Of course, if you watched the show back then, you saw Robbie V, or Robbie Vee, or -well, who noticed anyway. I met Ron in Tennessee when I wrestled for USWA when he was there to see his son-in-law, Tex Slazenger. He was the first promoter to tell me that I was going to be a big star. Part of paying my dues involved driving down to Florida to sleep on this guy’s floor when I wasn’t even old enough to drink. You’ll read all about it some day in the big book. For more info=Ron Slinker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wow! From what I understand, WWE has added a concussion management program. I think that’s great news. I have recently joined Chris Nowinski’s program to learn and help educate with proper information about head trauma. Concussions have always been a pig part of my job, and I’ve had dozens of them myself. I laughed at them. Now, Chris has told me about common traits among different athletes who have suffered brain damage, and I find the whole subject very interesting. I have friends who live with “blanking out” and headaches and just like me, consider it part of the job. Let’s look into this more. WWE is apparently going to reexamine the wrestlers on a regular 6-month basis to test their memory, cognitive skills, and reaction time along with other appropriate measures. This is excellent. I wish similar tests were used to determine the cause and effect of drugs on people with different variables but of course, that would give us too much truth! For more info click here The Sports Legacy Institute -


Speaking of truth, I met with the legendary Jack Herer last week, which was way cool! Jack is responsible for exposing the truths about the corrupt war on pot with his book “The Emperor Wears No Clothes”, as well as “Grass” before that. “The Emperor” should be read in every public school, but it is not conducive to the governments plans. This was where I first learned that marijuana is basically non-toxic and no one’s ever died from it being in their body. I also learned here that cigarettes kill over 450,000 Americans a year but the government has huge interest in Alcohol, Tobacco, Pharmacy, Paper, Plastics, Oil and other enormous conglomerate businesses that would suffer if Cannabis was utilized the way it was intended. In the last ten years I’ve done a lot of research that-along with common sense- supports the truths I read in Jack’s book. The other day, he taught me a couple new things. He said that Budweiser sponsored the Reefer Madness movie campaign in 1937 and has paid for 50% of the governments war on pot since then, until around 1991 when the pharmaceuticals took over the responsibility. Hmm..makes sense, since I know what the war’s really bout. He also said that Hemp was used for 80% of everything until about 100 years ago. Not just the lumber in the walls, but the primer, the paint, the carpet, everything! Welcome to Jack Herer's Home on the Web


I often get asked why I speak so freely. How can I not? I reach a lot of people and I have a conscious!I recently watched nicotine junkies taking their last sucks before the International flight like they were baby puppies getting milk from their mother. It was pathetic, but I’ll fight for your right to make stupid decisions, because it is your right.


Our government outlawed hemp by prohibiting “marijuana” and enforces the position that it is a dangerous, addictive drug with no medicinal properties. They arrest and kill people to enforce this and at the same time they give it to patients of theirs, to help with their ailments. Why do I speak out?


People consider murder an option to make their lives better, and people think everyone should own a gun! The gift of life has always been over looked and often considered surplus when power comes from destroying it.


Where’s the respect for life lost? Let’s see.If you’re attracted to the same sex you’re likely brought up to believe God hates you. In fact, if you’re Christian or Catholic or whatever, there’s a pretty good chance that you are taught that God does not accept you. Kill people that don’t share your beliefs or live on the same piece of land, and you may be seen as a hero. Die from fighting against people from other countries and your life will be honored from the perspective of the U.S.government. As long as it’s part of their agenda. We live in a world where people throw cigarette butts on the ground and are convinced that my choice to use “fucking” instead of their acceptable “fricking” or “frigging” or “freaking” has done them harm. People look at Global Warming like people used to react to claims that the world wasn’t flat.I live in a world where a fantastic story book is respected as the exact word of God, and murderers are expected to tell the truth in court because they swore on the Bible.


Some priests fuck little boys and others are looked up to as if they have God’s ear before he goes to bed every night.Policemen murder their wives as if they were gang-banging target practice, but hide the body instead of fabricating evidence.
With past Presidential scandals and constant hypocritical assholes getting busted in politics all the time, how can we not acknowledge that we are -and always have been- lied to?


“A foolish man simply accepts what it is that he thinks, while a wise man thinks about what it is that he accepts.” This came from a story I read recently by Alex Shane, a man who shares my message. HHH Black Magic I live in a world where irresponsible junkies that are hooked on drugs are thrown into a cage like criminals. Our rights as human beings to freedom are over looked for big business.


Good friend and very smart writer - Jimmy Palmiotti- quoted Abe Lincoln in a book I read that really stuck in my mind. “Those who would deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves, and under a just god, can not retain in for long.” MySpace.com - jimmy palmiotti -


No doubt I make myself a target by speaking so freely, but we , as people, have a right to seek the truth. Now, here’s the reason that most people don’t understand my willingness to speak the truth, even when facing undesirable consequences. Are you ready for this? I have integrity.“Having integrity means I’d rather go down for what I believe in, then go up for what I do not.”


That’s an RVD original. Now check yourself.

YOU'RE EXCEPTIONAL

Hello and Happy Holiday everybody! Hope all is well. For St. Patrick's Day this year, how about we all think green and do something friendly for the Earth? Maybe throw that empty bottle in the recycle bin instead of the trash, just once. Maybe, just for the holiday, you can refrain from throwing that cigarette butt down on the ground, and actually throw it away! Yay! St. Patty's Day!
Watch Lil' Bush! It's very, very funny.


I had fun at the Wonder Con in San Fran, and then at the BTW convention the following week. I actually got to mark out a bit hanging with the stars of the 80's I used to watch. The Hart Foundation, Honky Tonk Man ( He can sing and he can dance), Harley Race, and Damn- it was so good to see Dr. Death Steve Williams!
Thanks to everyone I saw at Wizard World Convention last weekend in Los Angeles! It was a good show, a great time and we got some awesome footage for RVD TV with friends Mic Foley, Ray Parks, Daniel Logan, Scott Schwartz, Fat Momma and other celebrities, and of course, the extreme fans of California!


As you know, I'm not traveling too far these days. That fact remains, in spite of all the offers I get every day to wrestle or sign autographs in different parts of the world. Having said that, there is something on the horizon I should tell you about. At the end of March, I am scheduled to pull my suitcase out of the closet yet again, and this time...I need to pack my singlet and boots! Ready for this? March 28 and 29, RVD returns to the ring...in Portugal!!! Since you saw my last match in WWE in June, I have only wrestled twice. You saw the blink-of-an-eye return on the RAW 15 year anniversary show. My match with Booker T in PWA is this week's episode for RVD TV. Now, I'm getting ready for my return, and my first time in Portugal. Can't make it to the show? That's all right, RVD TV members, you know I'll bring it to you. I have been having a blast with RVD TV and from the feedback of the members, so has everyone else. I don't know how many times we've filmed an episode and said "This is our best one yet!" but it does keep getting better and better. Through RVD TV, fans have been inspired to grow, think outside the box, question authority, be positive, take care of their health-physical, mental and spiritual, improve their relationships, and enjoy life! I feel like it's serving it's purpose!


While some negative people will say I claim to be perfect, I claim the opposite. I know that I like me better today than I did last year, and I know that this pattern will continue as I go through life, learning and growing inside. I urge others to follow this way of life, but not to agree with everything I say or do. That's your choice, which I encourage you to realize, and to own. No one can take that from you. It's always about making sensible choices.


Here's something I run into a lot, when using my personal experiences to draw from as examples for motivation. Well, you're an exception. Now, I realize that most of you have not been World Champions, but some of you have been champions of different passions. Some of you never wanted to be. Whatever the case, you are exceptional, too. There's never been another you before. Unless they specifically surveyed you for the statistics, they aren't talking about you specifically when they give the intimidating numbers. When I was 18, I entered a contest to win a t-shirt at the Battle Creek Toughman Contest. Out of every one in the arena, who ever punched the target the hardest got the shirt at the end of the night. My "why not" attitude justified a chance, and although the odds were against me, I still have that t-shirt. Somewhere. Anyway, I trained hard, and entered the next contest in Kalamazoo 3 months later. Against all odds, I made it to the main event and took runner-up to a seasoned veteran of the ring. That was me though, and I'm an exception, right? I dreamed of being a professional wrestler, as a child, and made it happen. Yeah, but-I'm an exception. I wanted to be different than all the other wrestlers and stand out instead of copying someone else. Yeah, but-I'm an exception. I was a huge fan of martial arts movies and wanted to be in them. I found out how to make it happen. I'm an exception. Okay, so maybe I just have mad fighting skills. Is that it?


I love being married, even after ten years, and miss my wife when we're apart. Yeah, but-I'm an exception. If you keep telling yourself that- maybe you'll feel better about yourself-falling short of your dreams. Hey-I'm all for living the exciting life so you guys can live through me, but I'm a happy person and I want everyone else to be happy too so we can all enjoy the gift of life. Do you remember when the WWE sent the boys to Iraq for that "volunteer" trip that I didn't go on a few years ago? So many of my peers didn't want to go but didn't have the ball to say so. They felt like they wouldn't get away with saying "no" to the boss and decided they respected me for doing it. Guess what they told themselves? RVD's an exception.
I told them what I'm telling you. Anyone can do the things that they think only I can!It's called "going for it".

You can sit in the audience and talk about how good you'd do on stage, or you can go for it, and show us. Usually, when you think about the worst that could happen, it's not enough to keep you from going for it. The first time I remember being "exceptional" was when my second grade teacher wanted my parents to consider putting me in an advanced class and to skip third grade. Didn't know that one, did you? Academically gifted, was what she said. There's where that sense comes in to play to make good choices. You know what that tells me? I've been very good at paying attention- to school, to life, and to people. THEY may have you feeling like dreams aren't worth chasing, but I know better.It's your life. Don't let anyone make you feel otherwise. So, you just don't feel like it's worth it? Remember that commercial "Someone's going to win the lottery- Why not you?" I'll second that question, and there are a lot of rich lottery winners that will agree.
Don't sell yourself short. Really. Who wants to be another statistic?

Off to the Wonder Con!

Greetings everybody! I hope your energy is up!

Are you guys following Kimbo Slice? I have been for awhile and his fight with Tank Abbott went just about as I expected. Damn, Kimbo hits hard! Look him up on youtube and watch the street fights that made him famous and got him to where he is in MMA!
Congratulations to Frank Mir. That is one hell of an expert and master of his style! I'm even more impressed with him after seeing that beautiful knee bar he executed on Brock. Everyone seems to be saying the same thing about that fight. Brock was completely dominating and out of no where, it seems, he was caught in the submission.


Let's not forget, with no disrespect to Mir, the referee made a shitty, shitty call by standing both guys up and even taking a point away from Brock for striking to the back of the head. Brock did, while Frank was rolling around, but that happens every fight and you never see a point being taken away, especially with no warning! I bet many of you are remembering now, huh? I'm just saying that we will never know what would have happened if that horrible call wasn't made when Brock was pounding on him.


Did you guys catch Paul Heyman's new web site show "Heyman Hustle"? From what he says, he wants to show the real side of celebrities who are known for their game face. Sounds a lot like the inspiration behind RVD TV from that perspective. Anyways, it's Paul-so check it out! The Heyman Hustle

By the way, the response to RVD TV has been awesome! The members support started out great and has grown continually , which rocks because I've been having a lot of fun with this project. You'll see a lot more of Justin McCully, as he’s so behind RVD TV he's all over it- planning, filming, directing, editing and kicking ass, with a LOT of laughs.


You might have seen the article I wrote in this month's Cannabis Culture Magazine. This book is exactly the right place and the right time to tell it like it is. I do have something to share with you, to help you understand the "gateway " theory. Masturbation leads to rape. Ten out of ten rapists were asked if they tried masturbating first and they all said yes. This is a stupid formula, right? Thank you.


I'll be in San Francisco this weekend at the Wonder Con. Stop by Friday-Sunday and get your geek on! WonderCon :: What's New


People have been asking for some proof of authenticity with the autographed items from other wrestlers, available at 5 Star Comics. We obtained those photos and things back when the physical store was open and I had monthly guests in there. There's no tracking down proof for you, but if it comes from my store...C'mon! Do you gotta ask these stars if they know me?


I get asked what I drive, sometimes, and I realize that you could benefit from knowing that I drive a hybrid. I love my car. It's a 4 door with plenty of room. It doesn't look funny. It looks just like the other Camrys. The difference is- I drove it off the lot for 465 miles before it needed gas. It feels like driving other cars and I forget that it's a hybrid and still love it. Take that for what it's worth.


Here's what I'm leaving with you today. I recently watched a special on women trapped in slavery in the U.S. Of course it's even worse in other countries sometimes but there are slaves here that feel hopeless to their circumstances. They arrive expecting a job as a waitress. After they are told to surrender their passports and identifications, they are sent to a place where they passed around the room, repeatedly rapped and broken down. Then they are rented out or sold to pay back the enormous debts they are told they now owe for the flight and accommodations. They work, afraid to tell anyone in fear of their families being murdered. It's pretty bad. While I was watching this, and comparing it to men I know who think being a "pimp" is cool, I felt angry. I also couldn't help but entertain the thought of how impossible it would be to control men this way. Men would fight and run and protest.
Here's a question for all males reading this. Have you ever...ever, really wondered what it would be like going through life as the weaker sex? Can you imagine knowing that most likely, you could be taken advantage of if the men around you were not decent people?


I know, some of you ladies are strong, and some guys are pretty weak. If this is the case with you, just own it and stop trying to steal people's energy. On the tv show Blind Date, you always see guys wrestling with women they just met, and they're serious! Whether they're rolling on the ground or boxing or whatever, the guy REALLY wants the girl to know that he is the dominate one! Quit being such an a-hole and help the lady up! Establishing dominance is a control factor used to take someone's energy to make up for a lack of self-esteem. When you're in balance, you don't need to take people's energy. You even try to give them energy, which raises your energy by doing so. Awareness is the key. Notice next time you're trying to take someone's energy...and stop it. Ladies who want to beat guys up because they got some masculinity where others have feminine qualities -this goes for you too. Competition is different. That's where you exercise your challenges and grow from it. Some ladies might be offended by being called the weaker sex. Face it, men are designed to be physically stronger and unless you are an exception, you live your life knowing this.


When I have a problem with an individual, I naturally think of physicality as a means to solve the issue. This is so natural, that I’m surprised when I’m reminded that not all men think this way. Now, to think of being a female, and never thinking from that perspective, seems very unnatural to me. Females must live their entire lives viewing the world from a woman’s point of view. Personally, I pull over to help push cars out of intersections when I see that a female is at the mercy of the stalled vehicle. I do the same for a dude if he needs help. I’m not saying you should all go to this extreme, but if you don’t feel like you should have to hold the door open for her, just check and make sure it’s not because you resent her for getting special treatment. If you’re hating on women because nothing would ever come between you and your bro’s, you should probably check and see if you’re gay.
Men who beat women are as tough and respectable as men who beat children.


Okay, I’m off to the Wonder Con. Feel good everybody!