I was a huge RVD fan around that period too. He was entertaining in the ring and was decent on the mic but he was not the greatest like Rock or Austin who could cut a promo in their sleep.
I remember going to first ECW event back in 1998 or 99 i forget the year and it was a match with RVD vs Rhino. That I told my friend who was with me I would love to see RVD in the WWE. Maybe 3 later he did come to the WWE.
To bad when he was in the WWE and a show was in Toronto RVD was never there or he was injured. However I did get to see him live on RAW it was a match vs Orton where he punted him which was to write him off tv since his contract was terminated.