Vince Russo Appreciation Thread

[RLStern]

I mean I was 10 when WCW shut down

I was looking on a weekly basic, so maybe I'm just bad at math but I saw a lot of 2.8 and 2.9's and 3.1 and 3.2. I saw like a 1.9 in there somewhere but that might have been after he left, but it was early 200 so I don't know. It still isn't WCW's best time rating wise no matter what. So, OBJECTIVELY WCW was better when Russo wasn't there it's a FACT because NUMBERS DON'T LIE

That isn’t how it works. He was increasing ratings of a horribly damaged WCW. It takes time to bring the ratings up.

It took two years at the WWF to bring it up to peak ratings.

The ratings were down to a 2.6 because of Bischoff, it was going to take at least a year to bring the numbers back to where they were, and another year to get them even higher than that.

He only had 2 months and half and got it back up an entire point.

 

[O-Blaze]

That isn’t how it works. He was increasing ratings of a horribly damaged WCW. It takes time to bring the ratings up.

It took two years at the WWF to bring it up to peak ratings.

The ratings were down to a 2.6 because of Bischoff, it was going to take at least a year to bring the numbers back to where they were, and another year to get them even higher than that.

He only had 2 months and half and got it back up an entire point.

Hey look, I like Russo. I just was using your own little logic against you with ratings and trying to have fun. Even as a kid I was also a HUGE WCW Mark, like huge. But you need to also give Bischoff credit as he was who was kicking WWF's ASS for awhile there, and getting them amazing ratings. Now anything else will have to wait, I'm about to be busy with the watch along we do here. But nice going back and forth with you. Keep it up.

 

[Just Juice]

The truth of the matter is that Russo is an Arquette Mark - but Arquette is simply an Arquette Mark.

 

[Just Juice]

 

[Tremendez]

WCW ratings began to dip in May for a variety of factors I may some day put into a post as succinct as Stern’s here. Russo didn’t dip the ratings. He nudged them up, but only a little because he was only given 3 months. Those early 2000 months where it dipped back to 2s and that 1.9 was Kevin Sullivan booking.

Sullivan was creatively bankrupt. Nash will tell you horror stories about the beginning of the nWo storyline and how little Sullivan got it. You have to remember the Dungeon of Doom was all Kevin Sullivan.

Thankfully for WCW Terry Taylor was given the book in 1997 as he’s responsible for WCW’s two best years.

He goes to WWF to help Russo and Ed in 1999. Which is why 1999 sees a good shift since I feel Terry knows how to work well within a team and helped Russo whenever he had an idea and didn’t clash with him.

Taylor and Johnny Ace comeback to WCW in late 2000 and is why 2001 was so good again. Anytime Sullivan was by himself WCW creative tanked like a fish.

 

[RLStern]

WCW ratings began to dip in May for a variety of factors I may some day put into a post as succinct as Stern’s here. Russo didn’t dip the ratings. He nudged them up, but only a little because he was only given 3 months. Those early 2000 months where it dipped back to 2s and that 1.9 was Kevin Sullivan booking.

Sullivan was creatively bankrupt. Nash will tell you horror stories about the beginning of the nWo storyline and how little Sullivan got it. You have to remember the Dungeon of Doom was all Kevin Sullivan.

Thankfully for WCW Terry Taylor was given the book in 1997 as he’s responsible for WCW’s two best years.

He goes to WWF to help Russo and Ed in 1999. Which is why 1999 sees a good shift since I feel Terry knows how to work well within a team and helped Russo whenever he had an idea and didn’t clash with him.

Taylor and Johnny Ace comeback to WCW in late 2000 and is why 2001 was so good again. Anytime Sullivan was by himself WCW creative tanked like a fish.

The reason they dipped is because the WWF was peaking with Rock as champion. No matter how good WCW was it was going to dip since The Rock was the biggest draw in wrestling since late 1998 and this was his first official babyface run. Rock was top draw as a heel in the corporation, as a babyface champion that means even more mainstream acceptance.

Another reason is Eric Bischoff, Standards and Practices, Hulk Hogan and being part of a booking committee. Unlike 1999 where he was by himself with Ferrara dealing with only Standards and Practices

 

[Tremendez]

The reason they dipped is because the WWF was peaking with Rock as champion. No matter how good WCW was it was going to dip since The Rock was the biggest draw in wrestling since late 1998 and this was his first official babyface run. Rock was top draw as a heel in the corporation, as a babyface champion that means even more mainstream acceptance.

Another reason is Eric Bischoff, Standards and Practices, Hulk Hogan and being part of a booking committee. Unlike 1999 where he was by himself with Ferrara dealing with only Standards and Practices

WCW remained in the 4s from November to May. There are factors within WCW for this dip and at some point I'll get into it.

WWF was always going to win the majority of the wars in 1999, (you're underselling Austin a tad) but WCW didn't have to dip.

 

[RLStern]

WCW remained in the 4s from November to May. There are factors within WCW for this dip and at some point I'll get into it.

WWF was always going to win the majority of the wars in 1999, (you're underselling Austin a tad) but WCW didn't have to dip.

Austin was popular but he could never beat WCW, he was losing to them/Goldberg throughout 1998. It wasn’t until Rock was pushed in title picture that WWF turned the tide in November of 1998.

Then WWF entered its own boom period when they jumped from 4’s to 5’s 6’s, 7’s and 8’s in a matter of 3 months because of The Rock.

 

[Tremendez]

Austin was popular but he could never beat WCW, he was losing to them/Goldberg throughout 1998. It wasn’t until Rock was pushed in title picture that WWF turned the tide in November of 1998.

Then WWF entered its own boom period when they jumped from 4’s to 5’s 6’s, 7’s and 8’s in a matter of 3 months because of The Rock.

I think the show overall got better once Ed came onboard to work with Vince. I'm not a huge fan of 1998 in general until late November.

It's not just because of The Rock, either. I think the show overall picks up and they finally start the Austin/Rock feud.

 

[Tremendez]

Austin was popular but he could never beat WCW, he was losing to them/Goldberg throughout 1998. It wasn’t until Rock was pushed in title picture that WWF turned the tide in November of 1998.

Then WWF entered its own boom period when they jumped from 4’s to 5’s 6’s, 7’s and 8’s in a matter of 3 months because of The Rock.

I will say, though, 1998 is probably the best year when factoring in both companies.

When talking about business and product, WWF and WCW were almost even in 1998.

The only year I'd say there's no clearly cut number 1 as both win wars through the year.

 

[RLStern]

I think the show overall got better once Ed came onboard to work with Vince. I'm not a huge fan of 1998 in general until late November.

It's not just because of The Rock, either. I think the show overall picks up and they finally start the Austin/Rock feud.

The show picked up when they quieted down on Austin and started building the Rock/McMahon feud in 1998, right there they beat WCW, then Rock turns heel and as heel champion has the highest rated segments, higher than Austin, higher than Foley.

So much so that going into 1999 Rock was so far beyond a ratings draw from everyone else in the business.




Then we get the Rock/Austin feud which helps give Austin more attention, as Rock was more over than him prior to their feud for Wrestlemania 15, to the point where the crowds were choosing Rock over Austin despite being a heel.

https://wrestlingsmarks.com/threads...ld-during-the-road-to-wrestlemania-15.118706/

They had Rock give Austin a rub at Wrestlemania 15, then had Austin hold the belt in preparation for new main eventer Triple H being built by Rock, then getting the belt from Austin so they could lose it to Rock.

Instead Austin lost so much momentum in 1999 that he was gonna be turned heel to be kept hot against the Rock at Wrestlemania 2000. That was delayed until Wrestlemania 17 as Austin got neck surgery.

 

[Tremendez]

The show picked up when they quieted down on Austin and started building the Rock/McMahon feud in 1998, right there they beat WCW, then Rock turns heel and as heel champion has the highest rated segments, higher than Austin, higher than Foley.

So much so that going into 1999 Rock was so far beyond a ratings draw from everyone else in the business.




Then we get the Rock/Austin feud which helps give Austin more attention, as Rock was more over than him prior to their feud for Wrestlemania 15, to the point where the crowds were choosing Rock over Austin despite being a heel.

https://wrestlingsmarks.com/threads...ld-during-the-road-to-wrestlemania-15.118706/

They had Rock give Austin a rub at Wrestlemania 15, then had Austin hold the belt in preparation for new main eventer Triple H being built by Rock, then getting the belt from Austin so they could lose it to Rock.

Instead Austin lost so much momentum in 1999 that he was gonna be turned heel to be kept hot against the Rock at Wrestlemania 2000. That was delayed until Wrestlemania 17 as Austin got neck surgery.

I can't say one way or the other how true most of this is, but I do know most of what I like abut 1999 is focused on Austin.

His feud with Rock, his feud with Vince, Vince helping Austin after the dark wedding, the "higher power," the Fully Loaded end of an era.

The Rock was also absolutely killing it, though, with Mick, and then with Austin, and then the Rock 'n' Sock Connection. Great year for me.

And The Game makes the most strides of anyone that year to make him a bonified superstar. He is THE GAME.

 

[Brad Boyd]

Harsh but pretty true words for Owens. HHH clearly isn't always on the money when it comes to signing talent and their drawing potential.

 

[Brad Boyd]

Sad to hear Russo say that an attitude era can be duplicated. Ill take his word for it more than anyones lol This was posted 5 years ago i recommend it

 

[Brad Boyd]

Russo clarifies the filter myth