syxx2001 0 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 Chris Lisanti Backstage politics, backstabbing, the boss’s friends putting themselves over, a lack of good wrestling, terrible storylines … boy does NWA TNA suck right now. The company that was supposed to be the alternative to the WWE has become a cheap imitation of them. Actually to say that is giving them too much credit. They have become a cheap imitation of WCW in it’s dying days. Jeff Jarrett in a prominent role, Vince Russo all over TV, silly booking ideas and matches, women wrestling men, a promising group of younger wrestlers and cruiserweights not being used properly, factions galore … sound familiar ? The only thing missing is a celebrity as world champion, but there’s still plenty of time. At one point in time NWA TNA was the talk of the wrestling world. They had captured some of the “insider” and “smart” fans, and you could argue that they were the best wrestling show on TV. Remember AJ Styles vs. Jerry Lynn vs. Low Ki ? I do, and ever since Vince Russo got involved with the company it has mostly been going downhill. I’m sure Russo has given all the people at Panda Energy (the parent company of TNA Entertainment) all the typical lines. I’m sure he has told them about how he made the WWF popular and created DX and WWF Attitude. I’m sure he told them about how David Arquette was on the cover of USA Today after he won the WCW World Title. I’m sure the people at Panda are buying into all that crap 100% too. Russo must be a great talker because having nearly destroyed WCW he still manages to convince people that he knows what he’s doing. What did having a woman hold the cruiserweight title do for the prestige of a title that at one time was a major selling point for the company ? What did having David Arquette winning the WCW World Title do to a title that had more history that any other in wrestling ? Yeah he was on the cover of USA today, but all it did was make wrestling fans mad and make non wrestling fans snicker, if they even paid attention at all. Russo’s theories spit in the face of wrestling tradition. They destroy the value of championships, they insult your intelligence, and they confuse and frustrate. Russo tries to appeal to non-wrestling fans, but at the same time he throws in tons of insider references that only the most inside fans would understand. This in effect results in a product that appeals to no one. Vince Russo insists that you have to have the mainstream get into your product for it to be successful, but what Vince Russo doesn’t realize is that the mainstream can’t drive the bandwagon. The diehards have to drive the bandwagon and then the mainstream will jump on board as it picks up steam. Let’s be realistic. The mainstream isn’t even watching the WWE right now, so why would they tune in to a product that they don’t even know exists? The Russo way turns off wrestling fans, and doesn’t appeal to anyone other than Russo and his band of merry idiots. Russo knows how to talk, and he manages to convince people through propaganda and selective memory that he is a genius at writing wrestling TV. He’s never succeeded on his own and while he did have few good ideas in the WWF heyday, they were even more successful without him, and WCW went downhill. I don’t mean to pin this all on Russo, because Jeff Jarrett is just as at fault. He’s a Russo supporter, because Russo is the only guy other than himself and his father that sees him as a main eventer. There are plenty of other hangers on, whose fate in wrestling rides solely on the shoulders of Russo winning the power play for the ear of Panda Energy. These people have plenty of self serving ideas, but again, who is that going to help? When I was in school the first thing we learned was that the reason we study history is so that we don’t make the same mistakes over and over again. I think it’s time for Panda Energy and Jerry Jarrett to open up the history books, because their company is repeating all the mistakes made during the dying days of WCW, and they don’t have the WWE brand name to fall back on. You can write Chris at [email protected]. that comes from 1wrestling. im gonna email him back with a few choice words Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adam 0 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 Russo is the main offender, I agree. I'm just glad Jarrett doesn't have the belt anymore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Astro101 0 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 Boy, people are writing about Russo a lot today. There was an open letter to him on PWTorch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adam 0 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 Lets hope he reads it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Dynamite Kido Report post Posted June 13, 2003 I mean really, does anyone think that Shock TV gets ratings anymore? I sure don't think so, but Russo continually tries to book shows thinking that it is still 1998..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nikowwf Report post Posted June 13, 2003 I think its too much to say NWA sucks right now. Thats really really overkill. The point about Russo is right on though. I think the presence of Russo keeps NWA from being a real true alternative, because his thinking involes a LOT of what we don't like about WWE. niko Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest oldschoolwrestling Report post Posted June 13, 2003 I thought they wanted to be an alternative to WWE. I thought they had a great plan when they were showing kick-ass X Division matches. Why would JJJ ruin what could have been by bringing in Russo? He could have brought any other booker/writer in (Dusty, Cornette, Sullivan, Bill Watts) and been more successful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 Russo hasn't pissed me off in a long long time. If TNA is WCW in it's dying days...then what in the hell is the WWE? With in my opinion is still far worse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Slapnuts00 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 If Russo could stop booking himself to go over wrestlers on TV and making himself focal points of storylines, then a lot of TNA would be a lot more tolerable. It's definitely not as bad as that guy thinks though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nikowwf Report post Posted June 13, 2003 BPS, you, don't have a problem with Russo making himself the focus of the show? Its RUSSO, its not like Vince in the Vince vs. Austin days when he was super-compelling. This is Vince Freaking Russo. I think the mantra for a lot of NWA's problems seems to be WELL, ITS NOT BAD AS WWE'S. Which really means nothing...NWA has to deal with NWA's problems - if WWE does something MORE stupid it doesn't make what NWA does great. niko Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 I still don't see how Russo is the focus of the show. I watch it every week...and until two weeks ago he was gone for months. Now he's going to...what? Feud with Disco Inferno and I'm supposed to cry foul? Screw that. The AJ/Russo pairing makes sense due to past storylines with AJ and JJ and Russo. He's a manager for christsake. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nikowwf Report post Posted June 13, 2003 He's determined the outcome of the main event 2 weeks in a row. niko Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 So I'm complaining then that his character kept the title off of Disco Inferno and put it on AJ Styles? Boo...Hiss... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nikowwf Report post Posted June 13, 2003 I have to disagree. He took the spotlight from AJ Styles and put it on himself. I didn't like that. Russo is as uncompelling a character as humanly possible, and his involvement adds nothing and often takes heat from other people and puts it on himself. (by design no less) niko Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 Well he was obviously going to celebrate have a wrestler that FINALLY beat Jarrett after trying for so long. Without Russo Jarrett wouldn't be a face, which is obviously the way they want to keep him. His presence accomplishes a few things that they couldn't do without him. Jarrett a face, Styles the champion. Eventually they'll split anyway. The end of the show also planted that seed with Russo celebrating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nikowwf Report post Posted June 13, 2003 Well, we don't agree here. I think the product overall would be better if Russo's head exploded at some point and he just went away. Mind you, im not arguing NWA is bad, just the russo stuff. niko Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bps "The Truth" 21 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 It's funny because what pisses me off about Russo is the way he writes for the women characters. You're not in the minority with your opinion...I'm pretty much the only person who doesn't hate Russo's on air character. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
syxx2001 0 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 i dont see it. people are saying that jarrett made the worst mistake in bringing in russo. if anyone remembers, russo came in week 5. he brought in sabu for a ladder match vs malice. after thatm doesn't anyone remember the fucking x division matches between lynn/styles/low ki? gosh, its like you basically skipped and shitted all over that and jumped to may 2003. and i dont see how he is over booking himself. in this past month he has been on tv a total of maybe 2 or 3 minutes. he hasn't booked himself to go over anyone in tna yet. and if you say he went over on gilberti last week, then you need to look up the term "go over". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tim Cooke Report post Posted June 13, 2003 Wow, BPS, you are a TNA fan boy. Regardless of your love for the product, there is no way you can justify Russo being all over the show like he is. Does Russo draw? Is he a good wrestler? Is he helping get anyone over? I love old school managers. Jim Cornette was a better wrestler and manager than 50% of todays guys. But the thing was…he got the Express over and never overshadowed them. Plus, he drew in the right situations. The WEEEEE sucks, but TNA sucks equally. Tim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Astro101 0 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 bps, you're not the only one who doesn't hate him. I think pairing him with AJ is cool as long as AJ wins clean once in a while. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Zack Malibu Report post Posted June 13, 2003 I'm with bps on this one as well. How can you people say "Russo overshadows the workers?" Last time I checked, Russo took himself off TV VOLUNTARILY, and allowed the Disco Inferno of all people to establish a fresh, interesting persona for himself. While a lot of his booking ideas are not the greatest pieces of work, the man tries to find something for everybody to do. He hates to leave someone out. While the man may not believe in "faces and heels" anymore, he also doesn't believe in jobbers, as even the lowest member of the card typically has something to do. AJ winning the belt with Russo's help makes sense, and puts the final piece of a puzzle started months ago in place. You know damn well that if Jarrett kept the title by aligning with Russo, people would call for his head for doing so. They'd say "Oh great, he booked his buddy to go over"..."they killed AJ's heat, they killed Raven's heat"..."Jarrett and Russo as the top heels, oh boy". So, instead of the obvious finish and keeping the belt on the man that NO ONE wants to have it anymore, they give the title to their hot, HOMEGROWN talent, pair him with the top heel manager/advisor character, GET THE BELT OFF OF JARRETT, and take Raven out of the match without having him beat. They did everything right in that main event the other night, but you blind as a bat Russo haters can't see the big picture. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Big Poppa Popick Report post Posted June 13, 2003 ::looks up:: Preach on brother. Amen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Gary Busey Report post Posted June 13, 2003 What ever happened to the Styles/Living Legend connection? Didn't Larry have to become AJ's manager, and all of that came before the Russo connection? I can't remember how that ended. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Dames 0 Report post Posted June 13, 2003 They dropped it...Larry never showed up again after the following week. Dames Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Zack Malibu Report post Posted June 13, 2003 Wasn't Larry in AJ's corner for the title match, but not seen after it? I think I remember him interfering for AJ and Jarrett knocking him out in the early part of the match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Devin Report post Posted June 13, 2003 I'm with bps on this one as well. How can you people say "Russo overshadows the workers?" Last time I checked, Russo took himself off TV VOLUNTARILY, and allowed the Disco Inferno of all people to establish a fresh, interesting persona for himself. While a lot of his booking ideas are not the greatest pieces of work, the man tries to find something for everybody to do. He hates to leave someone out. While the man may not believe in "faces and heels" anymore, he also doesn't believe in jobbers, as even the lowest member of the card typically has something to do. AJ winning the belt with Russo's help makes sense, and puts the final piece of a puzzle started months ago in place. You know damn well that if Jarrett kept the title by aligning with Russo, people would call for his head for doing so. They'd say "Oh great, he booked his buddy to go over"..."they killed AJ's heat, they killed Raven's heat"..."Jarrett and Russo as the top heels, oh boy". So, instead of the obvious finish and keeping the belt on the man that NO ONE wants to have it anymore, they give the title to their hot, HOMEGROWN talent, pair him with the top heel manager/advisor character, GET THE BELT OFF OF JARRETT, and take Raven out of the match without having him beat. They did everything right in that main event the other night, but you blind as a bat Russo haters can't see the big picture. I was about to go on this big rant, but it looks like Zack's already covered the bases. Well done, Zack Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Zack Malibu Report post Posted June 13, 2003 I'm with bps on this one as well. How can you people say "Russo overshadows the workers?" Last time I checked, Russo took himself off TV VOLUNTARILY, and allowed the Disco Inferno of all people to establish a fresh, interesting persona for himself. While a lot of his booking ideas are not the greatest pieces of work, the man tries to find something for everybody to do. He hates to leave someone out. While the man may not believe in "faces and heels" anymore, he also doesn't believe in jobbers, as even the lowest member of the card typically has something to do. AJ winning the belt with Russo's help makes sense, and puts the final piece of a puzzle started months ago in place. You know damn well that if Jarrett kept the title by aligning with Russo, people would call for his head for doing so. They'd say "Oh great, he booked his buddy to go over"..."they killed AJ's heat, they killed Raven's heat"..."Jarrett and Russo as the top heels, oh boy". So, instead of the obvious finish and keeping the belt on the man that NO ONE wants to have it anymore, they give the title to their hot, HOMEGROWN talent, pair him with the top heel manager/advisor character, GET THE BELT OFF OF JARRETT, and take Raven out of the match without having him beat. They did everything right in that main event the other night, but you blind as a bat Russo haters can't see the big picture. I was about to go on this big rant, but it looks like Zack's already covered the bases. Well done, Zack ::takes bow:: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
