What are your feelings on Vince Russo? (Another "5 Star Classic" thread. AKA a "The Naitch Original")

**The Naitch** · 12-22-2010, 03:36 PM

Do you think he gets or doesn't get enough credit for the success of the WWE? Is he a slimey, greasy douche? Do you like the guy? What are your general thoughts on Vince Russo?

For those that aren't familiar with Vince Russo, here's a general summary of his book:

Quote:

It comes across that he thinks he doesn't get enough credit for the success of WWE's turnaround with the Attitude Era. He doesn't think Vince McMahon is the creative genius that he claims to be.

He says that no superstar is bigger than the WWE, not even Austin. Austin grew paranoid, always wanting to know a week ahead what was in store for his character. He refused to work with Jeff Jarrett because he made a reference to his Austin 3:16 shirt. He never forgave Owen Hart for breaking his neck. It's all in the writing, comparing it to Seinfeld. Why did Jason Alexander's show fail? Why did Elaine's show fail? It's all in the writing. Just look at TNA. Hogan ain't bigger than the WWE. Just watch TNA. It's awful. Nobody cares about Mr. Kennedy (or whatever his name is in TNA). Guys like Kurt Angle and even Flair. They're not the same anymore without the "machine" behind them. (ie. Main Event Mafia? LOL)

He claims to have had a hand with Sable's success. Goldust was mainly his idea. It was his idea to put Shane and Stephanie on TV. The Montreal Screwjob was all his doing. It was his idea to bring in Mike Tyson and to have Shawn Michales rip his shirt revealing a DX shirt underneath. "It wasn't about what we could do for Tyson?", it was "What could Tyson do for us?" He was spending 9 hours writing RAW every week. As much as you'd like to believe that there was a booking committee, there wasn't. There was no "writing team". It was all Vince Russo. Vince McMahon would just add his two cents here and there after Russo submitted the script. Basically making no major changes to the original draft. McMahon would agree with whatever Russo came up with that week. Basically it was the Vince Russo show.

In the WWE, he was "protected" by Vince. He said the reason why he "failed" in WCW, was because he didn't have the protection he had while he was in WWE. Bischoff never trusted Russo (when Bischoff agreed upon the Bash At The Beach 99' finish, they left in their limo, only to find out that Russo went back into the ring and did his infamous shoot on Hogan)

He quit WWE because he felt that Vince McMahon didn't care enough about him personally. He actually had a breakdown crying about it. He doesn't talk about his stint with WCW, but says that he's happier working at his CD store and his new found relationship with Christ. He was never happy when he was with the WWE. He was always trying to fill the void, with the next chase.

**Razzamajazz** · 12-22-2010, 04:13 PM

i swear i've seen this thread before

**The Naitch** · 12-22-2010, 04:14 PM

that's why it's a The Naitch Original aka A 5 Star Classic (better than Adamle Originals or ECW Originals)

**Nicky Fives** · 12-22-2010, 06:40 PM

Russo (as part of a collective) was responsible for WWF's success during the late 90's, but was also responsible (as part of a collective) for killing WCW and for holding TNA down....... 1 good versus 2 bad makes me dislike him....

**SlickyTrickyDamon** · 12-22-2010, 06:45 PM

He wasn't fully responsible for Attitude era. Paul Heyman is the primary reason for the Attitude era.

Also he wasn't even responciple for all of the stuff produced for WWE. He made alot of stuff and he was put through a filter like JR, Vince McMahon and to a lesser extent Jim Cornette.

So, I think he gets too much credit for WWE and too much blame for WCW. He was out of his job in WCW rather quickly and then later came back with Bischoff. WCW was too reactionary and replaced him quickly when they weren't getting WWF's ratings because they thought WWE's lead writer would give them ratings. They forgot that it was mainly the talent that drove the attitude era not the writing. With all of the crap writing that Russo put in Attitude era I think they succeed in spite of him NOT because of him.

**MoFo** · 12-22-2010, 06:52 PM

WCW under Russo was much better viewing than Bischoff's era. He pushed a load of young guys well and phased out the likes of Hogan.

Lance Storm's 'Team Canada' is one of my favourite factions in wrasslin. Not enough credit and too much bad stuff is automatically attributed to Russo.

**Juan** · 12-22-2010, 07:38 PM

How can you post at TPWW and not know how everyone here feels about Russo?

**Emperor Smeat** · 12-22-2010, 07:47 PM

After reading the Death of WCW, it showed that Russo can be great as long as their is someone else or a group that can tell him when an idea or gimmick is too much or stupid.

WCW and TNA didn't have someone strong enough to refuse the crazy stuff Russo was capable of writing while WWF knew when it was better to ignore a Russo idea and when it was good to push a Russo idea.

WCW's mistake by the time they got Russo was wanting to win the weekly ratings or short fix which is what Russo can do well instead of long term planning which is what WCW needed the most. It also didn't help that there were too many egos clashing for any real work to be done.

**The One** · 12-22-2010, 08:07 PM

Russo - VERY creative guy, no foresight. If left to his own devices, he'll throw it all against the wall and see what sticks. He needs someone who's intelligent enough to be able to see how something will play out. It's why Heyman was so revered. He was similarly creative, but he was able to anticipate the audience reaction to something and cultivated his style to appease them. Russo on the other hand has flashes of genius, but he can't seem to grasp the fans won't like everything he comes up with, as a result, without a McMahon to center him and give him focus, the audience grows bored watching Russo strike out horribly while waiting for that one magical homerun.

**BigCrippyZ** · 12-22-2010, 08:22 PM

From what I've read/heard, I don't think you can name one person as the reason for WWF's success or WCW's failure. To me, it was a coincidental "collaborative" effort on the part of Vince, Russo, JR, Heyman, Cornette, Bischoff and the talent (and egos) they had to work with.

**BizarroKing** · 12-22-2010, 08:37 PM

Russo looks fat in the pic, compared to his WCW days anyway.

**The Naitch** · 12-22-2010, 09:29 PM

People's metabolism slow down as they reach 50. Like it just suddenly comes to an abrupt halt out of nowhere *T-R-U STORY*

12-22-2010, 04:13 PM	#2
Razzamajazz it's really real meat Posts: 7,366	i swear i've seen this thread before

12-22-2010, 04:14 PM	#3
The Naitch RAPTURE READY. Posts: 31,936	that's why it's a The Naitch Original aka A 5 Star Classic (better than Adamle Originals or ECW Originals)

12-22-2010, 06:40 PM	#4
Nicky Fives b/c 5 is better than 4 Posts: 9,721	Russo (as part of a collective) was responsible for WWF's success during the late 90's, but was also responsible (as part of a collective) for killing WCW and for holding TNA down....... 1 good versus 2 bad makes me dislike him....

12-22-2010, 06:45 PM	#5
SlickyTrickyDamon Quark is Less Impressed. Posts: 38,371	He wasn't fully responsible for Attitude era. Paul Heyman is the primary reason for the Attitude era. Also he wasn't even responciple for all of the stuff produced for WWE. He made alot of stuff and he was put through a filter like JR, Vince McMahon and to a lesser extent Jim Cornette. So, I think he gets too much credit for WWE and too much blame for WCW. He was out of his job in WCW rather quickly and then later came back with Bischoff. WCW was too reactionary and replaced him quickly when they weren't getting WWF's ratings because they thought WWE's lead writer would give them ratings. They forgot that it was mainly the talent that drove the attitude era not the writing. With all of the crap writing that Russo put in Attitude era I think they succeed in spite of him NOT because of him.

12-22-2010, 06:52 PM	#6
MoFo Narc stole my star Posts: 6,110	WCW under Russo was much better viewing than Bischoff's era. He pushed a load of young guys well and phased out the likes of Hogan. Lance Storm's 'Team Canada' is one of my favourite factions in wrasslin. Not enough credit and too much bad stuff is automatically attributed to Russo.

12-22-2010, 07:38 PM	#7
Juan Doin' It Right Posts: 35,461	How can you post at TPWW and not know how everyone here feels about Russo?

12-22-2010, 07:47 PM	#8
Emperor Smeat Former TPWW Royalty Posts: 66,665	After reading the Death of WCW, it showed that Russo can be great as long as their is someone else or a group that can tell him when an idea or gimmick is too much or stupid. WCW and TNA didn't have someone strong enough to refuse the crazy stuff Russo was capable of writing while WWF knew when it was better to ignore a Russo idea and when it was good to push a Russo idea. WCW's mistake by the time they got Russo was wanting to win the weekly ratings or short fix which is what Russo can do well instead of long term planning which is what WCW needed the most. It also didn't help that there were too many egos clashing for any real work to be done.

12-22-2010, 08:07 PM	#9
The One Boss Posts: 17,611	Russo - VERY creative guy, no foresight. If left to his own devices, he'll throw it all against the wall and see what sticks. He needs someone who's intelligent enough to be able to see how something will play out. It's why Heyman was so revered. He was similarly creative, but he was able to anticipate the audience reaction to something and cultivated his style to appease them. Russo on the other hand has flashes of genius, but he can't seem to grasp the fans won't like everything he comes up with, as a result, without a McMahon to center him and give him focus, the audience grows bored watching Russo strike out horribly while waiting for that one magical homerun.

12-22-2010, 08:22 PM	#10
BigCrippyZ Posts: 3,033	From what I've read/heard, I don't think you can name one person as the reason for WWF's success or WCW's failure. To me, it was a coincidental "collaborative" effort on the part of Vince, Russo, JR, Heyman, Cornette, Bischoff and the talent (and egos) they had to work with.

12-22-2010, 08:37 PM	#11
BizarroKing I'm Brllnt! Posts: 3,139	Russo looks fat in the pic, compared to his WCW days anyway.

12-22-2010, 09:29 PM	#12
The Naitch RAPTURE READY. Posts: 31,936	People's metabolism slow down as they reach 50. Like it just suddenly comes to an abrupt halt out of nowhere T-R-U STORY