Why I respect Jim Cornette

[AmazingRen 0]

JIM CORNETTE DISCUSSES WHAT'S WRONG WITH TNA, THE FUTURE OF THE BUSINESS, OVW, ROH, WWE'S BUSINESS AND MORE

by Mark Pickering @ 6:33:00 PM on 7/25/2004

 

 

Blake asked Cornette what he thinks WWE needs to do to turn business around.

 

"What you've got to remember is they're still on top. They're the biggest company in the world. The problem is that when you have a boom, every great peak is followed by an equally distant valley. In this business it's a cycle. Now that the main promotion is a national, worldwide promotion the peaks and the valleys come all at the same time. There's never being a period of wrestling when wrestling was selling out everywhere, all the time, every time. The company now is in a valley because the stars are not hot. See Vince Russo tried to take a lot of credit. The only credit I give him is for destroying the wrestling business. He tried to take credit for putting the WWE attitude over. He was overlooking the fact that he had Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, two off the hottest stars ever to come up, the two hottest, both at the same time. You could have read cooking recipes on the television show and it would still drawn because it's a talent driven business. Vince Russo didn't do anything but hamper the undercard that couldn't stand up to him. Now you are always in between stars. There was no star between Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin in that period of the early 90's. Instead of hurrying people, instead of rushing people now if a start isn't there you can't make one. You can help them along but if Steve Austin had been Steve Austin and the Rock hadn't been the The Rock the pushes they got wouldn't have helped. It takes a creative push and it takes a talent".

 

 

Blake asked if Cornette was familiar with the NWA:TNA product.

 

"Unfortunately yes. Vince Russo is on camera as a talent and I feel no need to pay $9.95 American money for the right to be just pissed off in my own home. If I have to look at his face then that's going to cause me to break stuff. So I never got one. Then I was taking some time off a couple of months ago and there I was sitting on the couch and there I was, so I ordered it. And I would like to say the production is amazing, the lights and the set and all they stuff they do. I don't know about the six-sided ring now, this was before that. They'll reinvent anything. But it was absolutely without a doubt the most abysmal putrefying all-inspiringly bad big budget wrestling show I've ever seen in my life. The matches made no sense, they went on forever, they went nowhere, they fell apart due to green guys trying a bunch of stuff that nobody understood even if they were sitting there with a notepad trying to keep track of it, because that Russo's idea of surprising people because he's a moron. Jerry Jarrett I have a ton of respect for, he started me in the business, he was a tremendous promoter, a genius in the wrestling booking department. Jeff I've known for 20 something years, he's a great kid but Jeff Jarrett is not a guy to build a promotion around. I can understand because it's his promotion partially that he wants to make sure he cant walkout on himself, that's a factor. Still, take this dollars that they're spending on PPV's and start a territory in Nashville and Alabama and Mississippi and part of Georgia and you could run forever.

 

 

Credit PWinsider

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

Uh, well, he hasn't seen the recent product, so his veiws are out of date. I really don't see how anything he says is relevent to today's shows. But that's just me.

[Guest whitemilesdavis]

Plus he's got major agenda against Russo, for the whole J.R. thing. I don't see how he could be impartial. I've got nothing but respect for Cornette, but he's not the person tho listen to when it comes to TNA.

[AmazingRen 0]

Not really. Vince Russo is still a talent and the company is still being built around Jarrett.

[Guest whitemilesdavis]

Not really. Vince Russo is still a talent and the company is still being built around Jarrett.

 

What is this in respones to?

[Guest The Last Free Voice]

Dude, the company has been built around Jarrett from DAY ONE. He owns part of it. It's not that hard of a concept to grasp. They build it around him becasue of either ego or the fact they know he isn't going anywhere. Maybe a bit of both.

[AmazingRen 0]

Dude, the company has been built around Jarrett from DAY ONE. He owns part of it. It's not that hard of a concept to grasp. They build it around him becasue of either ego or the fact they know he isn't going anywhere. Maybe a bit of both.

But what Jim is saying is that Jarrett isn't a big enough draw to build a company around.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

Even though Cornette's got bias against Russo, he's generally right. The shows have been off and on since day one. You'll have a match which hits perfectly followed by a match that makes no sense. They're having problems telling stories in and out of the ring, and always have. This is the biggest flaw of TNA, and the reason WWE is on top.

 

That and Jarrett truly IS a horrible worker to build a company around. Maybe not twenty years ago, but definitely now. He's got very little charisma and can't improvise on the mic.

[Guest Coffey]

I agree. Jim Cornette, despite personal bias, knows what he's talking about when it comes to the professional wrestling business. Yes, he definitely hates Vince Russo. I give him that, but you can look beyond that. If you take out the Russo parts, and look outside the spectrum, what else do you see? You see Cornette talking about the talent that is being used. That's a valid complaint. Granted he says Russo has something to do with the way the green wrestlers work a match, but he still points out that the matches are, at least from what he witnessed, not being worked correctly.

 

What else does he mention? He mentions that Jeff Jarrett isn't a main eventer. How many of us have thought that or said that in the past? I know that I have. Regardless of if it's his company or not. It shouldn't be about feeding his ego, it should be about everyone making money. Jarrett on top, obviously, isn't the best thing that TNAW could be doing right now.

 

Cornett makes a lot of valid points, and for the most part, I agree with him. TNAW has problems, and I'm sure that Russo has to do with some of them. Jarrett, obviously, has to do with some of them, and the talent working the matches and being pushed has something to do with it as well. Cornett is making a lot of sense.

[Vyce 0]

I agree. Jim Cornette, despite personal bias, knows what he's talking about when it comes to the professional wrestling business.

Maybe.

 

But he offers virtually NOTHING of value in this article.

 

Q: "What's wrong with the WWE now, Jimmy?"

 

A: *rambles about Vince Russo, who hasn't been with the company for years now*

 

Q: "What's wrong with TNA, Jimmy?"

 

A: *rambles about Vince Russo, doesn't know anything about the recent product*

 

I read nothing but two long paragraphs about Cornette's seemingly eternal grudge against Russo.

[Guest Coffey]

That's not what I got from the article at all. What I got was that Jim feels WWE is in a down cycle because that's what the business does. They were in a boom, but then with the demise of ECW & WCW, the WWE stands alone, so it's time for another down cycle. He then stated how they were the top dog in business, which I interpreted as him saying "they suck because they don't have to be good." So, basically, from what I understand, he's saying "WWE doesn't have any competition right now because they ran everyone else out of town. This business is a business of ups and downs, WWE is down right now because they don't have to be up."

 

I already addressed the second part. He pointed out TNAW's flaws were more than just Vince Russo. You've got your fingers in your ears.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

The only flaw in this is that Russo doesn't make the final decision, and never did. Jerry and Jeff Jarrett always have, and always will. So blaming two green workers for putting on a shitfest when it's Jerry, Jeff, and Dutch Mantel telling them what to do in the ring, and Russo just giving guidelines for what to do outside of it? That's bullshit, IMO.

[Guest MikeSC]

I agree. Jim Cornette, despite personal bias, knows what he's talking about when it comes to the professional wrestling business.

Maybe.

 

But he offers virtually NOTHING of value in this article.

 

Q: "What's wrong with the WWE now, Jimmy?"

 

A: *rambles about Vince Russo, who hasn't been with the company for years now*

He pointed out, quite simply, that the WWE is down because guys like Austin and the Rock aren't there and major draws are needed to help a company out of a natural business downswing. He barely mentioned Russo.

Q:  "What's wrong with TNA, Jimmy?"

 

A:  *rambles about Vince Russo, doesn't know anything about the recent product*

 

I read nothing but two long paragraphs about Cornette's seemingly eternal grudge against Russo.

Corny doesn't like Russo. Fairly common knowledge. However, his criticisms of TNA wrestling are valid. He feels that a lot of the guys are green as hell and are quite incapable of working a match when a spot goes awry (a beef he's had with the business for years now). He feels that JJ is totally incapable of carrying a company --- which is rather accurate.

-=Mike

[Magus 0]

i pretty much agree with Cornette here, but i hate Vince Russo too, so maybe i'm just as biased.

 

I agree with him mainly on what he said about Russo, Jeff Jarrett, and booking the matches (not to mention the weak angles). but i do have to admit that his whole vendetta against Russo kind of took over his answers.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

First and foremost keep in mind that I really do like Jim Cornette.......but it's really hard for me to take him seriously these days. I mean, I know that Cornette has an awesome wrestling mind and he is truly a living legend of pro wrestling IMO. But when I see things like this(weather he is making good points or not)and like the thing that he did about IWA-MS about a year or so ago, I get a little annoyed. The reason why is simply because he is running OVW......has some sort of biased against them(him and Russo have had problems for years and him and IWA-SM promoter Ian Rotten don't get along because of the deathmatches making it so that NO wrestling companies can run somewhere in Kentucky...and now Corny is pissed because OVW used to run there and can no longer do so.)and it's basically hard for me to justify his complaints because I HATE OVW......and I have problems with their product.

[Guest M. Harry Smilac]

Russo is to Cornette as Getting screwed is to Bret Hart.

 

Both always find a way to slip a small dose of their thoughts on the subjects even if they have no revelance to a question.

 

Just gotta sort through the crap for the good stuff.

 

He's most right about the green wrestlers in TNA which makes sense since he farms even greener pastures like OVW

[TheBigSwigg 0]

I have to admit, it would be a lot easier to take Cornette's remarks if he wasn't being handed a steady check by McMahon. Though I agree with most of what he says, it's hard to take someone's remarks seriously when they've got plenty of protection.

[Guest MikeSC]

I have to admit, it would be a lot easier to take Cornette's remarks if he wasn't being handed a steady check by McMahon. Though I agree with most of what he says, it's hard to take someone's remarks seriously when they've got plenty of protection.

OK, I have no protection whatsoever and I agree with most of what Corny said.

 

Do you take it seriously now?

-=Mike

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Not unless you were in a panda suit doing the macarena, Mike.

[Guest MikeSC]

Not unless you were in a panda suit doing the macarena, Mike.

I told you not to tell a soul about that.

 

Bastard.

-=Mike

[Jacques 0]

He feels that JJ is totally incapable of carrying a company --- which is rather accurate.

Well guess what? Jarrett has carried company from day 1 and it's doing rather well. Not to mention that he has been a USWA main eventer, WCW main-eventer and would have been a WWE main eventer if not for Austin refusing to have a program with him.

[UseTheSledgehammerUh 0]

Jarrett's not a main eventer.

 

He's only been so in USWA, WCW, and TNA because he's a medium-sized ex-WWF fish in a little pond.

 

Two of the three companies have gone out of business, as well.

 

Jarrett's a very strong mid-card wrestler/champion. He should stay there. If I was Austin, I wouldn't want to work him either. He draws apathy heat, is generic, and generally annoying to watch wrestle.

[Guest whitemilesdavis]

Well guess what? Jarrett has carried company from day 1 and it's doing rather well.

 

I wouldn't go that far.

 

Not to mention that he has been a USWA main eventer

 

That means nothing. Main evented a crappy regional promotion? So what?

 

WCW main-eventer

 

True, and he wasn't so bad in WCW, though the company did go belly-up.

 

would have been a WWE main eventer if not for Austin refusing to have a program with him.

 

This is refutable, but it certainly didn't help that Austin didn't want to work with him. However, to assume he would have gotten over as WWF main-eventer otherwise is a stretch.

 

Having your booker be champion is never a good idea.

[King Cucaracha 0]

If Austin had put Jarrett over then he at least would have had the chance to be a main eventer. It's not like supreme wrestling skill mattered during that time-period and Jarrett had sufficient enough character.

 

All he needed was a little rub. Not to say he'd have been a star if Austin had put him over/worked with him, but getting beaten up by Chyna didn't help his drawing power.

 

Two of the three companies have gone out of business, as well.

Yeah...USWA and WCW's demises were solely down to Jeff Jarrett being a mediocre worker. Thanks for clearing that up.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

OK, I have no protection whatsoever and I agree with most of what Corny said.

 

Do you take it seriously now?

-=Mike

I agree with him, but it's like the Yankees pitching coach insulting the Brewers. The reason they're on top is because they have money and history and the Brewers don't.

 

That didn't quite come out as well as I thought it would.

[JJMc 0]

Hey Miles, what's wrong with your ride? Plus, it looks like you live in a nice area with nice weather (I see palm trees) instead of fucking New England where every other day is cloudy/rainy.*

 

 

*Unless that is just some random pic of the same model car (?).

[Jacques 0]

That means nothing. Main evented a crappy regional promotion? So what?

Obviously you didn't saw much of USWA. It was atleast as big as TNA back in the day.

 

This is refutable, but it certainly didn't help that Austin didn't want to work with him. However, to assume he would have gotten over as WWF main-eventer otherwise is a stretch.

He was mega over during his "women are inferior" days. He just needed a semi-push to become a main eventer.

 

Having your booker be champion is never a good idea.

Yup, it definitely gives IWC something to bitch about.

 

And who else would be a better candidate to be a booker then a guy with 15 years experience in the business, been atleast an upper-carder everywhere he's wrestled at and a damn solid wrestler to boost. Everybody bitches about how he has buried everybody when ALL the opponents he has beaten are by cheating. He beat AJ by cheating, defeated Chris Harris when Harris had him beat twice in the match and Kid Kash told ref to stop counting or he will lose his job and he buried Truth by, well ...actually jobbing to him.

 

Nuff said.

[Guest whitemilesdavis]

Hey Miles, what's wrong with your ride? Plus, it looks like you live in a nice area with nice weather (I see palm trees) instead of fucking New England where every other day is cloudy/rainy.*

 

 

*Unless that is just some random pic of the same model car (?).

 

Random pic of same model.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

Obviously you didn't saw much of USWA. It was atleast as big as TNA back in the day.

Yes, but that had less to do with Jarrett than it did with Lawler.

 

He was mega over during his "women are inferior" days. He just needed a semi-push to become a main eventer.

Yes, but he was still J-E-Double-F J-A-Double R-E-Double T. He's the reason I didn't watch WWE back then, and was the reason I switched from WCW. I know lots of people who did the same.

 

And who else would be a better candidate to be a booker then a guy with 15 years experience in the business, been atleast an upper-carder everywhere he's wrestled at and a damn solid wrestler to boost. Everybody bitches about how he has buried everybody when ALL the opponents he has beaten are by cheating. He beat AJ by cheating, defeated Chris Harris when Harris had him beat twice in the match and Kid Kash told ref to stop counting or he will lose his job and he buried Truth by, well ...actually jobbing to him.

 

Decent booker, horrible champion.

[Guest whitemilesdavis]

Obviously you didn't saw much of USWA. It was atleast as big as TNA back in the day

 

That's not saying much, except TNA has a national cable outlet and USWA didn't. And yeah, I've seen a good bit of it. I'm an old-school fan, so it's good with me.

 

Yup, it definitely gives IWC something to bitch about.

 

Have you not noticed that every time a worker books, said worker wins belt? Doesn't it seem like an ego trip, rather than doing what is best for business?