Vince Russo joins 1wrestling...

[Guest Downhome]

EDIT: This column has been removed from 1wrestling, as you can see either in my reply in this thread on down, or right here...

 

Earlier today a column was posted on 1Wrestling.com that was written by Vince Russo. The column contained Russo's thoughts on last night's episode of RAW.

The response to the column was overwhelming, with reaction split almost down the middle. Some readers loved the column and looked forward to more, and some thought the column was a conflict of interest and that it was inappropriate for someone who is an on-air TNA talent to write a column criticizing their competition.

 

Upon further relection, and at the request of TNA management we have removed the column from 1Wrestling.com.

 

...but here it is, as was on 1wrestling before.

 

 

I thought this might be of interest to a few of you, and since many hate 1wrestling because of pop-up hell, here you go...

 

Even though it was the best thing for both the WWE and I to part our separate ways a year ago, I’d have to say that the high spot was that I didn’t have to sit through “Raw” and “Smackdown” anymore. As a television viewer, to put it bluntly, both shows were flat atrocious. I vowed to never watch another WWE show again unless new writers were hired. . .or I got paid to watch it.

 

Starting now. . .I get paid to watch it. So now the question: Why did I not only agree to critique Raw, but rather suggested it. . .the answer is two-fold. First and foremost--the money. I’m looking to get out of this ungrateful business in two years and retire to the mountains of Colorado . When I do I won’t be able to live on my lumberjack salary alone. Number 2—for the past eight years everything I have ever done, said or written has been critiqued by everyone who of course knows more than I do, so I figure that now it’s MY turn.

 

Before I start the bad review let me first say that I do realize that there are problems in my own backyard—NWA/TNA. Can the show be better? Yes. Is there some inconsistency? Yes. Holes in the storylines? Some. HOWEVER—there is a reason. Despite what you’d like to believe the “Almighty” Russo is not writing the show solo. I’m working with others who I have never worked with before on a creative level. There are some adjustments to be made; other philosophies to understand; growing pains. And, we’re working them out. So now I ask—what is the excuse of the WWE. The same writers who weren’t doing their job a year ago—are still not doing it today. Who do they know? What do they know? When they were writing “Friends”, which is some of their claims to fame, why wasn’t that show so LOUSY? Why can you write for, say Phoebe, and not Eric Bischoff? What is the difference? Bischoff is a good actor. Or, were you really writer’s on “Friends”, or just getting the coffee for the writers?

 

HMMM?

 

Here’s why the show’s so bad.

 

First of all, isn’t it copyright infringement to rip off “Evolution” from TNA? I could have swore that I said “Evolution is the Solution” on a pay-per-view only days before they came up with the familiarly close; “Evolution”.  But never mind that—I don’t collect residuals for many of the things I contributed. OK—let’s start with Mick Foley. There is NOTHING to say negative about Mick. . . EVER. You just don’t do that. Mick can do no wrong. Yes, it’s true, Foley really IS God. But the trouble started when JR asked the question, “Are they (Evolution) going all the way down to the ring?” Where else were they going to go JR? But that’s nit-picky and I know it. But this isn’t—Randy Orton—who looks great and talks great—just shouldn’t use the words the writer’s give him. . .unless that is he wants to look stupid. Orton actually referred to Foley as a “loser”. What are six year-olds watching this show? Is that the best that the “Friends” writers can come up with. In that situation would one grown man refer to another grown man as a “loser”? Now that’s some ol’ time heat there. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough—then came the BAD FAKE WRESTLING. Mick got feed, after feed, after feed, with no member of Evolution ever trying to defend themselves. Again—say this was “real”--am I just going to run into a guy’s right hand again, and again, and again? It’s phony—unbelievable. IT NEEDS TO CHANGE. Then Triple H (nothing personal—everybody does it—it’s what they know) takes 5 straight shots in the face without ever once covering up. That to me is BAD wrestling. Over five years ago Vince used to pitch a bitch when Bret Hart would get hit in the corner again, and again, and never cover up—WHY IS IT STILL HAPPENING 5 PLUS YEARS LATER? Rethink your work guys. The more you just go through the motions the more fake it looks.

 

JR: “MY GOD!!!!!!!! MAE YOUNG’S GONNA WRESTLE!!! Again, am I supposed to get excited about this because I think JR is? Stop insulting my intelligence—I’m beggin’ ya!!!

 

Great to see the Dudley ’s still giving 110% . But again—Nowinski got HOW MUCH of surgery done to his nose? Did you say $30,000, JR? OK, OK, I’ll stretch my imagination a little. However, you could probably CLONE the guy’s nose for less!!!

 

Kane/Van Dam promo? Now, I really haven’t watched “Raw” for about five years, so I have to ask: Did they ever explain why Kane can now speak normal English? I mean, he called Rob Van Dam a “DUDE”. Didn’t he used to have a voice box and the whole thing? Wasn’t he a monster badly burned in a fire a few years back? What happened? Forgetting all that, what this was was a really bad soap opera. I’m sorry—people just don’t talk like that in real life. They only talk like that if they’re part of a bad television show.

 

GREAT “Bad Blood” package. The WWE still does what the WWE does best—production. Even though many people don’t realize this—and never will—Executive Producer Kevin Dunn is just as valuable to that company as Vince is. Without Kevin that television product wouldn’t look the way it does.

 

AUSTIN ’S “BORING” SEGMENT.

 

WOW—I really don’t get this one. You’re telling your entire audience that you’re putting a boring guy in a boring segment on primetime Monday Night. Why would I watch this if you’re already telling me it’s boring. Now, don’t get me wrong— Austin was great— Austin is Austin —but I question the whole cluster!@#$. Are you going to tell your audience that the show is boring in mid-October when the Bucs and the Eagles are tied 21-21 at the half? Vince would have NEVER allowed this five years ago. Did Rachel ever come out and tell Monica that this particular episode of Friends was BORING? WOW guys, you should be BitchSlapped for this one.

 

Then—to add insult to injury—the quick roll-up from behind? Let’s put a little bit more thought in the finishes—shall we?

 

GOLDBERG

 

All right, everybody knows he’s not one of my favorites, nor am I one of his—BUT—Bill Goldberg does not deserve to be “just another guy”—because he’s not. Let me explain myself—when I had the opportunity to work with Goldberg it was very difficult for me. I mean, how do you book a guy who had done so much—so fast. It was hard to know what to do with Goldberg because at WCW you just weren’t going to top what he already done. But what’s the excuse here? The guy was away for two years—and had never been in the WWE before. Why not make him that monster again? The fact is you have a whole new audience today than you did five years ago. Let Goldberg do what Goldberg does best. You can see signs of political BS, putting Goldberg in his place, yada-yada-yada, but what you’re doing is killing a guy that you can’t afford to kill right now.

 

PS—love him. Or hate him, NOBODY has the intensity that Goldberg STILL has.

 

ALSO—I love Jericho , but I’m beggin’ him to cover up before Booker’s chops REALLY do start to hurt.

 

I have to say this—Eric is a pro. To let Mae Young sit on your face? I just don’t know if I could allow that—work—or no work. Again, no love loss, but Eric is good. I again have to ask the question, “Is he being punished for being Eric Bischoff”? I have to hope not because right now the WWE can’t afford the games.

 

WOW—AGAIN!!! Who did Scott Steiner piss off to only get 5 seconds on the show and as a guest referee for a Mae Young match no less? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I DON’T CARE HOW BAD YOU SAY HIS WORK IS—IT’S SCOTT STEINER!!! And, knowing Scott—is he saying NOTHING behind the scenes?!!! Where’s the Scott I know and love? Does David Schwimmer get treated this way?!!!

 

ALSO—what’s stopping  Steiner from leaving the ring to get to Test. Are the ropes electrified? Or, is it just “one of those rasslin’ things?

 

I liked Jackie Gayda and Rico. The characters were so over the top that I got it. What I don’t get is when they’re over the top and not supposed to be.

 

JR—“Test ran like a scalded dog.”

 

WOW.

 

And. . .six years later Lawler is still talking about puppies.

 

Maven & Orton. Both guys looked great in the ring. It was also great to see Mick and Flair out there helping the young guys—very refreshing to see. Lawler said that Mick’s book is on the “best smeller’s” list. Who is the WWE’s audience here? 10 year-olds? I love the King but unless your bedtime is 8 o’clock —your just not laughing at this !@#$%.

 

The highlight of the night—SOCKO!!!! SOCKO!!!! SOCKO!!!

 

Still over after all these years!!!

 

Oh, and in the finish of the match—GOD FORBID we have an upset. So far I have called the outcome of every match. Where’s the unpredictability?

 

Le Resistance? The gimmick worked 20 years ago—not today. In 2003—guys like these just don’t exist. It’s a joke. It insults my intelligence and doesn’t suspend my disbelief. I don’t believe. It’s juvenile. It’s stupid.

 

Next week-- Kane unmasked!!!

 

WOW—we get to see Dr. Isaac Yankem again.

 

PLEASE!!!!!

 

Two matches were interrupted in the middle to go to break. In my five years of writing “Raw” that was NEVER done. Every segment had either a match, interview, or ga-ga. Is the creativity so low that you can’t come up with !@#$% to fill the show. What if I go to something else during the break that turns out to be better and I NEVER come back to the boring match? Again—five years ago Vince would have never allowed that, but today he does. WHY? That’s the million dollar question.

 

Man, that felt good. Now I understand why you guys do that to me every week. But, not only was it good. . .it was easy. Bottom line: Unless you’ve ever been in that spot you have no idea how difficult it is.

 

BUT. . .they still need to be better. . .much better.

 

(The comments you just read were opinion—and only opinions—of the writer who wrote them)

 

...I'll comment on it myself, in a few. For now, I'll just say that I'm shocked over how much I agree with this guy, it's amazing to me.

 

Sincerely,

...Downhome...

Edited June 17, 2003 by Downhome

[Guest Mr Monday Night]

Russo is a genius. Let's just hope his critiques don't go to a blind eye or a deaf ear.

[Guest William E]

Hell, I actually agree with him too,especially the part about Stiener, why is he actually putting up with the shit they hand to him.

[Guest BoboBrazil]

Why is his column under the name Tommy? Was he Tommy Fierro I do agree with what he says though. I've always liked Vince Russo, despite all the hate he gets on the internet. He does have his problems, but he makes the product more interesting and I believe if they let him do his thing when he was there last year that they would be doing in the 4's now regularly, instead of the 3's

[Guest Indy]

Wow, even if it is Russo....I like this column. I hope he doesn't change this into something that will make his public image look worst then it already is.

[Guest DawnBTVS]

I was surprised at how much I agreed with him too....nice to see he acknowledged that there were problems in TNA rather then making up bullshit excuses like Linda

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

So right, yet at the same time, so wrong.

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

Yes but we can still see Russo's crapariffic ideas in there.

Speaking of wanting an upset.....Maven didn't need to beat Orton. They have no plans for Maven but plenty for Orton. It would be counterproductive for Orton to lose.(as much as I hate him)

And then saying that there shouldn't be a commercial break in matches. Well what if the match is 15 minutes long? Are we going back to your 3 minute matches Vinnie?

[Guest William E]

So right, yet at the same time, so wrong.

Scary it is

[Guest myburninghammer]

I was surprised at how much I agreed with him too....nice to see he acknowledged that there were problems in TNA rather then making up bullshit excuses like Linda

What are you talking about? He blamed them on the other writers.

 

And to Russo: as right as he is, 1) he's not saying anything we haven't already said here for at least a year and 2) people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. My mom should be proud of me for using that one...

[rising up out of the back seat-nuh 0]

Good column. Although Russo has pandered to the pre-teen audience more than once in the past.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

GREAT “Bad Blood” package. The WWE still does what the WWE does best—production. Even though many people don’t realize this—and never will—Executive Producer Kevin Dunn is just as valuable to that company as Vince is. Without Kevin that television product wouldn’t look the way it does.

 

I think this should be highlighted. WWE's production is their best quality.

[Guest Eagan469]

well, I like him better than SK as a recapper already

[Guest NoCalMike]

Good article. Basically echoing the frustrations with Raw that we all have. It is nice to read some of the "inside" quirks he throws in there time to time.

[Guest Zack Malibu]

I agree with Russo 100%. I've always admired the guy for at least putting an effort into wanting young guys to be stars, etc., and now this. He hit the nail right on the head.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

I think the problem is, is that Russo has identified the problems, but his solutions are just as bad. That's where 'so right, so wrong' comes in.

 

He wouldn't have Orton calling Foley a "loser", he'd have Orton make it a ~SHOOT~ and go over everyones heads.

 

He wouldn't have Steiner stay in the ring as if to be held back by the 'electrified ropes', he'd have Steiner and Test brawl all around the arena, and rather than have a 15 minute long match, he'd just dedicate 4 segments to showing them going into the womens washroom and getting Tests head shoved into a toilet full of shit... Mae Youngs shit, most likely...

 

Le Res wouldn't be French Nationalists, they'd be "Gay Paris" and prance around holding baguettes.

 

Oh and *note to self:* In 2 years Bomb Colorado

[Guest oldschoolwrestling]

Great read, excellent points. But with just about every match in NWA-TNA having a run-in, the pot and the kettle both remain black.

[Guest notJames]

So what I've gleaned from Russo's first outing is that he visits the SmartMarks' WW_ Forum. He also apparently frequents AOL chat rooms.

 

Brilliance. Utter brilliance it takes to parrot the general consensus of the smark community. Please. Give him a thousand more columns. Genius like this cannot be contained.

 

…

 

Feh.

[Guest RugbyDiva]

That was a great aritcle. Puts everything in perspective. All those thoughts go through my head, and he just put them in words. Props to Russo. Well done.

[Guest nikowwf]

You could do a similar rant about NWA/TNA and it would have all the similar inconsistencies. Wow, he is a genius. 1wrestling remains the bastion for unbiased report that it is, giving the BOOKER for a rival company a forum to review WWE shows.

 

niko

[Guest Retro Rob]

Do you think Russo noticed that many of the "lowlights of the show" were things they he frequently did when writing Raw? Seriously, this guy shouldn't talk. He actually said that Scott Steiner should be pushed to the moon because he is SCOTT STEINER. This is the same guy who killed an entire promotion and put on crappy storylines for the part of the last 10 years in three different companies. He complains about matches with commercial breaks, well at least lately the matches have been lasting longer than 3 minutes, as opposed to 1999 when an 8 minute match was considered a blessing.

 

Russo should just fuck off already. Why not retire early? I'm sure he could work as a park ranger in the Rocky Mountains for a few years.

[Guest Zack Malibu]

You could do a similar rant about NWA/TNA and it would have all the similar inconsistencies. Wow, he is a genius. 1wrestling remains the bastion for unbiased report that it is, giving the BOOKER for a rival company a forum to review WWE shows.

 

niko

He admitted problems within the TNA team. Stop being so blinded just because you don't like the guy.

[Guest Goodear]

What a douche.

 

First of all, isn’t it copyright infringement to rip off “Evolution” from TNA? I could have swore that I said “Evolution is the Solution” on a pay-per-view only days before they came up with the familiarly close; “Evolution”. But never mind that—I don’t collect residuals for many of the things I contributed.

 

Can someone reach through the computer screen and slap the taste out of this guy's mouth? Just because he said the word 'evolution' on a show does not make it his trademark or copyright. Fucking Christ what a dip. Darwin should whoop his ass. 0-1

 

But the trouble started when JR asked the question, “Are they (Evolution) going all the way down to the ring?” Where else were they going to go JR? But that’s nit-picky and I know it.

 

Ross and The King are an embarassment and I don't think its even nit picky since they are supposed to be the viewers guide to the action and fail miserably at it 1-1

 

But this isn’t—Randy Orton—who looks great and talks great—just shouldn’t use the words the writer’s give him. . .unless that is he wants to look stupid. Orton actually referred to Foley as a “loser”. What are six year-olds watching this show? Is that the best that the “Friends” writers can come up with. In that situation would one grown man refer to another grown man as a “loser”?

 

What should Orton call Foley, a fatfuck homo cracker ass? They only have so many words to use here Vince without getting bleeped out and 'loser' properly gets across why Orton and Co. don't respect Foley. Because he's spent the majority of his career doing the job for people. 1-2

 

Now that’s some ol’ time heat there. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough—then came the BAD FAKE WRESTLING. Mick got feed, after feed, after feed, with no member of Evolution ever trying to defend themselves. Again—say this was “real”--am I just going to run into a guy’s right hand again, and again, and again? It’s phony—unbelievable. IT NEEDS TO CHANGE. Then Triple H (nothing personal—everybody does it—it’s what they know) takes 5 straight shots in the face without ever once covering up. That to me is BAD wrestling.

 

This from the guy who booked David Arquette to be world champion. For him to go on and on about 'fake wrestling' is just retarded considering THAT'S THE POINT OF THE SHOW! Realistic fights would remove about 80% of the worker's offense for the love of Pete, and I personally don't need to see that many front facelocks. 1-3

 

JR: “MY GOD!!!!!!!! MAE YOUNG’S GONNA WRESTLE!!! Again, am I supposed to get excited about this because I think JR is? Stop insulting my intelligence—I’m beggin’ ya!!!

 

I won't deny that. 2-3

 

Kane/Van Dam promo? Now, I really haven’t watched “Raw” for about five years, so I have to ask: Did they ever explain why Kane can now speak normal English? I mean, he called Rob Van Dam a “DUDE”. Didn’t he used to have a voice box and the whole thing? Wasn’t he a monster badly burned in a fire a few years back? What happened? Forgetting all that, what this was was a really bad soap opera. I’m sorry—people just don’t talk like that in real life. They only talk like that if they’re part of a bad television show.

 

Well dude, Kane was mocking RVD's voice pattern there so that's what that was. But yeah, not a whole lot of guys talk like a wrestler in real life. But this is not real life if you get what I'm saying? Some of the most interesting promos in the business like Flair and Jericho sound NOTHING like what a real person would say but still carry a whole lot more weight than say Brock Lesnar who basically talks like a normal joe. 2-4

 

AUSTIN ’S “BORING” SEGMENT.

 

Agreed although I think its safe to say Russo sort of invented all this meta-wrestling crap to start with 3-4

 

GOLDBERG

 

I'll buy this too 4-4

 

WOW—AGAIN!!! Who did Scott Steiner piss off to only get 5 seconds on the show and as a guest referee for a Mae Young match no less? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I DON’T CARE HOW BAD YOU SAY HIS WORK IS—IT’S SCOTT STEINER!!! And, knowing Scott—is he saying NOTHING behind the scenes?!!! Where’s the Scott I know and love? Does David Schwimmer get treated this way?!!!

 

So Russo wants Scott to be more of a prick? There's some genius locked up in this man's gourd I tell you folks. 4-5

 

ALSO—what’s stopping Steiner from leaving the ring to get to Test. Are the ropes electrified? Or, is it just “one of those rasslin’ things?

 

Yes you ass, it's a wrestling thing. IT IS A WRESTLING SHOW. I'm really sorry that Russo doesn't like wrestling and all but for the love of Jesus. 4-6

 

The highlight of the night—SOCKO!!!! SOCKO!!!! SOCKO!!!

 

Still over after all these years!!!

 

Remember folks, not covering up after punches = bad because its not realistic ... getting a sock stuffed in your mouth is good. 4-7

 

Oh, and in the finish of the match—GOD FORBID we have an upset. So far I have called the outcome of every match. Where’s the unpredictability?

 

Unpredictability is Russo code for wacked out nonsensical crap that makes no sense. Orton needed the win since he just came back and needs more cred for his push. 4-8

 

Le Resistance? The gimmick worked 20 years ago—not today. In 2003—guys like these just don’t exist. It’s a joke. It insults my intelligence and doesn’t suspend my disbelief. I don’t believe. It’s juvenile. It’s stupid.

 

Indeed 5-8

 

Next week-- Kane unmasked!!!

 

WOW—we get to see Dr. Isaac Yankem again.

 

PLEASE!!!!!

 

Because six people will know that on sight? 5-9

 

Two matches were interrupted in the middle to go to break. In my five years of writing “Raw” that was NEVER done. Every segment had either a match, interview, or ga-ga

Is the creativity so low that you can’t come up with !@#$% to fill the show. What if I go to something else during the break that turns out to be better and I NEVER come back to the boring match? .

 

That's because a) all of his matches were 5 minutes long at the most and b) he doesn't understand that wrestling fans like to see matches. A match in progress that goes to break such as this weeks tag match provides a hook so someone will turn back into the show. Once again, Russo hates wrestling, loves PROMO 5-10

 

WOW what a genius Vince Russo is... go him.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Didn't pretty much everyone agree that last night's show was a good one? If so then why is the majority now agreeing with Russo who completely tore the show apart?

[Guest JericholicEdgeHead]

"GREAT “Bad Blood” package. The WWE still does what the WWE does best—production. Even though many people don’t realize this—and never will—Executive Producer Kevin Dunn is just as valuable to that company as Vince is. Without Kevin that television product wouldn’t look the way it does. "

 

In other words...Hey Kevin I hope you read this so you can try to get Vince to re-hire me.

 

Sorry I'm not going to be one of the many who drink's Russo Kool-Aid.

 

Sorry Vinny-Ru but I still think you should just leave wrestling and write for SNL or Conan.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

But Kevin Dunn *does* do a great job in producing WWE shows. That was Russos best point IMO.

[Guest JRE]

Ever since his flop in WCW, the name Russo will always go hand in hand...with laughing out loud. What a joke.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Russo did shows ten times as bad.

[Guest Downhome]

Holy shit, 1wrestling has already taken this column down...

 

Earlier today a column was posted on 1Wrestling.com that was written by Vince Russo. The column contained Russo's thoughts on last night's episode of RAW.

The response to the column was overwhelming, with reaction split almost down the middle. Some readers loved the column and looked forward to more, and some thought the column was a conflict of interest and that it was inappropriate for someone who is an on-air TNA talent to write a column criticizing their competition.

 

Upon further relection, and at the request of TNA management we have removed the column from 1Wrestling.com.

 

...that's odd. I wanted him to start writing more every week about RAW damnit!

[Guest Retro Rob]

Are these Russo columns one of the "perks" of paying for 1bob, or is it free to the public?