Editing Rob Van Dam (section)

==== Longest-reigning World Television Champion (1998–2000) ====
Van Dam remained the World Television Champion for the rest of 1998, and he started 1999 by making successful title defenses against the likes of [[Spike Dudley]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999a.html#010299|title=ECW results - January 2, 1999|date=January 2, 1999|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Lance Storm at [[Guilty as Charged (1999)|Guilty as Charged]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999a.html#011099|title=Guilty as Charged 1999 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> [[Jerry Lynn]] at [[Crossing the Line '99]], Balls Mahoney at [[Anarchy Rulz (1999)|Anarchy Rulz]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999a.html#011599|title=ECW results - January 15, 1999|date=January 15, 1999|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> and 2 Cold Scorpio at [[ECW CyberSlam#1999|CyberSlam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999b.html#040399|title=CyberSlam 1999 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref><ref name="ecw99">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#99|title=RVD's ECW Career (1999)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref>

Van Dam and Sabu were scheduled to make a title defense on April 17, but Sabu was suspended by ECW before the match occurred.<ref name="ecw99"/> Instead, Van Dam faced D-Von Dudley in a singles match and as a result of losing the match, Van Dam also lost the ECW World Tag Team Championship to the Dudleyz.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999b.html#041799|title=ECW results - April 17, 1999|date=April 17, 1999|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> After losing the tag team titles, Van Dam focused on defending the Television title.<ref name="ecw99"/> He entered into a rivalry with Jerry Lynn against whom he defended the Television title at [[Hardcore Heaven (1999)|Hardcore Heaven]] in a "no time limit" match.<ref name="hardcoreheaven">{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999b.html#051699|title=Hardcore Heaven 1999 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam retained the title, and the match was deemed so good that [[Paul Heyman]] aired it on [[ECW on TNN|ECW]]'s debut on [[Spike (TV channel)|TNN]] in place of a [[Shoot (professional wrestling)|shoot promo]] about TNN that he was planning, but was not allowed to air.<ref name="hardcoreheaven"/> Van Dam continued to defend the ECW World Television Championship for the remainder of the year.

Van Dam began a feud with [[Rhyno|Rhino]] in the beginning of 2000. Van Dam successfully defended the ECW World Television Championship against Rhino on January 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000a.html#010700|title=ECW results - January 7, 2000|date=January 7, 2000|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam got a victory during a title defense against Sabu at [[Guilty as Charged (2000)|Guilty as Charged]] which was Sabu's last match in the promotion.<ref name="ecw2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/vandam.html#00|title=RVD's ECW Career (2000)|publisher=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000a.html#010900|title=Guilty as Charged 2000 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> Van Dam was scheduled to perform in a "champion vs. champion" pay-per-view main event against the ECW World Heavyweight Champion [[Mike Awesome]]. This match potentially could have been ECW's most lucrative pay-per-view main event, and Heyman was depending on it to bring an influx of badly needed finances, but the match never occurred because Van Dam suffered a broken ankle during a successful title defense against Rhino on January 29.<ref name="ecw2000"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/2000a.html#012900|title=ECW results - January 29, 2000|date=January 29, 2000|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}</ref> The injury also forced Van Dam to vacate the ECW World Television Championship.