Rob Van Dam was recently interviewed by WrestleShark. Here are some of the highlights.

On how he feels after his Ladder match at TNA’s Sacrifice and whether or not he has new respect for Bobby Roode: “Pretty rough. [Laughs.] A little bit banged up but I enjoy having those kinds of matches. I enjoy showing how tough I am. I’m not out just to impress the fans, I’m out to impress the whole industry. So, I enjoy that. Walking around limping or whatever the next day — that’s part of the reward.

“… No, I wouldn’t say [my opinion of Roode has changed]. I already knew he was a good wrestler. I feel like now we’ve been through one pretty decent battle together. So, I respect him for having been down that road with me. It was a pretty rough night that will probably stand out in both of our careers because matches like that do. So, it doesn’t really change my opinion of him.”

On whether or not he was injured at the pay-per-view: “No, I guess my elbow got skinned or something. [Laughs.] No. Like I said, I’m just banged up. When I’m injured, that’s when I can’t work and that almost never happens.

“It’s happened twice in my career; when I had to give up the TV title in ECW when I broke my ankle and when I had to get knee surgery in WWE. I took a full year out. Those were pretty good injuries that’ll stand out for me.

“With the other stuff, there are just too many factors involved with politics, bulls–t, story lines and blah, blah, blah. [Laughs.]”

On TNA’s upcoming tour of the United Kingdom: “The U.K. tour that’s coming up in January. Glasgow, Nottingham, Manchester and London. I am listen among the stars that’s going to be there. So, it’s something I’m looking forward to. Last year, I was looking forward to going and at the last minute, I got taken off the tour.

“So, I’m still apologizing to all my fans in the U.K. for not being able to make it out there to England. Or the U.K./London I don’t know. The U.K. and London are the same thing to us over here. I don’t think it is, technically, though. Is it? [Laughs.]

“But, anyway, according to this list, we have the biggest names going over there. I mean — Hulk Hogan. Come on. Hulk Hogan, Sting, Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, Samoa Joe, Velvet Sky, James Storm, Gail Kim, Mickie James, Matt Morgan, Bully Ray, Crimson, Gunner. That’s pretty much coming loaded. And I’ve heard that Dixie’s been really excited about the business that we’ve been doing over there and the response the fans have had.

“So, I know that this is really a high priority to her — getting over there more often and making our shows bigger. I heard a rumor that we’re going to be having some steel cage matches over there which is the first time TNA has done that in history. So, I feel the excitement already. Even though it’s in January, I’m looking forward to it already.”