Wrestling Superstar Rob Van Dam Reveals CTE Diagnosis After Suffering Hundreds Of Concussions In Ring

Rob Van Dam has an announcement to make, and it's arguably every professional athlete's greatest fear.

The 50-year-old longtime wrestling superstar – whose "RVD" chants have have reverberated from arenas to homes across the country for nearly 30 years – has chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly known in the sports world as CTE.

Though a definitive diagnosis of CTE can currently only be made by examining the brain tissue of a deceased person (in fact, most of the available studies on the condition are based on ex-athletes who donated their brains to science), many wrestlers, boxers and football players have become increasingly aware of the signs.

Fans will learn of Van Dam's diagnosis as cameras follow the superstar to a therapy session, but they'll also get to see how the condition affects his everyday life.

"Usually, it shakes off in a few seconds, like, bam, I smack my head, my equilibrium is off, and I'm like, 'Whoa,' give me a minute,' I'll tell the referee," he says about a recent match.

Despite the diagnosis, RVD's determined to keep things positive and hopeful.

"I feel good. I still got double vision, and I think it gets worse as the day goes on maybe because my brain's tired or something, I don't know," he says. "'Cause from what I've heard, brain stimulation is bad for it, and I'm supposed to do nothing. 'Don't think, don't read, don't look at s--t.'"

"I'm doing my best, but anyway, I feel good," adds the legend. "I'm just like still hoping, you know, I'm sure tomorrow I'll wake up and feel fine. 100 percent. Positive."