Vince Russo Appreciation Thread

[RLStern]

The greatest and most successful writer in wrestling history. Having success in every single tenure, at the WWF, WCW and TNA.

Here is RazorFist refuting the Russo filter myth:

 

[CakeWalker]

Despite our previous debates - I was always a big fan of Russo.

 

[Brad Boyd]

He was brilliant. Had a huge impact on DX created very over characters like Val Venis and Godfather (im sure all the indy new era fans shit on russo because women were "overly sexualized" by those successful characters) He had a huge hand in Rock and Austins segments. Beer truck, throwing titles in the river etc. What more is there to say? Unfortunately I find it interesting and baffling how much credit he doesn't get to this day for all he contributed. People choose to criticize him today instead.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

I’m hit and miss with Russo. Some stuff he did I love. I love how he made sure every single person had something to do, and how he had plenty of amazing ideas.

He also had some shit ones tho. Like the whole “Goldberg went off script” storyline was stupid as fuck.


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[Chris]

What's your opinion of Russo as an on-screen character as opposed to a writer, @RLStern?

 

[Brad Boyd]

I'll always remember Hogan shooting on Russo on either Nitro or Thunder, blaming him for dragging the company into the ground. It was a bold shortsighted thing to say. People still act like he was responsible for WCWs collapse. Signing WCW to AOL was the nail in the coffin.

 

[Chris]

I'll always remember Hogan shooting on Russo on either Nitro or Thunder, blaming him for dragging the company into the ground. It was a bold shortsighted thing to say. People still act like he was responsible for WCWs collapse. Signing WCW to AOL was the nail in the coffin.

You're not talking about the infamous Bash at the Beach 2000 segment are you? Him and Hogan both go at each other and its pretty hilarious especially bc I think both made good and bad points about the other

 

[Brad Boyd]

You're not talking about the infamous Bash at the Beach 2000 segment are you? Him and Hogan both go at each other and its pretty hilarious especially bc I think both made good and bad points about the other

I might be. I didn't grow up watching at the time and im still studying the WCW product but I've watched a number of documentaries on it. The rise and fall of wcw has that Russo and Hogan shoot included and I think that was Hogans last appearance if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

I'll always remember Hogan shooting on Russo on either Nitro or Thunder, blaming him for dragging the company into the ground. It was a bold shortsighted thing to say. People still act like he was responsible for WCWs collapse. Signing WCW to AOL was the nail in the coffin.

Objectively speaking, Nitro sucked under Russo tho. I mean on avg the lowest ratings for them during the Monday Night Wars. So I mean that means Russo just lost a step and by then sucked.


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[Chris]

I might be. I didn't grow up watching at the time and im still studying the WCW product but I've watched a number of documentaries on it. The rise and fall of wcw has that Russo and Hogan shoot included and I think that was Hogans last appearance if I'm not mistaken.

Yeah thats Bash at the Beach 2000, it's wild lmao Jarrett vs Hogan was advertised for the belt but somehow Booker T walked out as champion for the first time at the end of the night entertaining PPV for WCW 2000 too even outside of the drama

 

[RLStern]

Objectively speaking, Nitro sucked under Russo tho. I mean on avg the lowest ratings for them during the Monday Night Wars. So I mean that means Russo just lost a step and by then sucked.


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False. Russo increased ratings during each tenure. Specifically he increased WCW ratings an entire point in only 3 months.

Lowest ratings came after Russo departed, yet they were still the highest rated show on TNT & TBS

 

[RLStern]

What's your opinion of Russo as an on-screen character as opposed to a writer, @RLStern?

He was a great heel that’s hated by marks to this day.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

False. Russo increased ratings during each tenure. Specifically he increased WCW ratings an entire point in only 3 months.

Lowest ratings came after Russo departed, yet they were still the highest rated show on TNT & TBS

I just looked it up bro. They was in the upper 2's lower 3's with Russo. They was higher than that before Russo.

 

[RLStern]

I just looked it up bro. They was in the upper 2's lower 3's with Russo. They was higher than that before Russo.

So you’re a novice when it comes to WCW ratings then since you admit you just looked it up.

Russo’s ratings were higher than before he joined.

The week before he joined they had a 2.6, on his last show they got a 3.5.

The show averaged a 2.9 for the entire month before Russo was writing. Then his first month averaged 3.35

Month before Russo:
September 20, 1999 - 3.1
September 27, 1999 - 3.0
October 4, 1999 - 2.9
October 11, 1999 - 2.6

Average 2.9


Russo’s first month:
October 18, 1999 - 3.3
October 25, 1999 - 3.5
November 1, 1999 - 3.2
November 8, 1999 - 3.4

Average = 3.35

He increased the ratings, their numbers were falling, they hired Russo to bring them up, he brought it up one full point in 3 months, from a 2.6 to a 3.5.

Politics from certain members of management and the roster got him nonsensically taken out of power despite moving ratings quick, they violated his contract, thus he stopped working for them, then they lost the entire audience he had built up, which once you lose is difficult to get back.

You either have no idea what you’re talking about and didn’t read the numbers or you’re flat out lying.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

So you’re a novice when it comes to WCW ratings then since you admit you just looked it up.

Russo’s ratings were higher than before he joined.

The week before he joined they had a 2.6, on his last show they got a 3.5.

The show averaged a 2.9 for the entire month before Russo was writing. Then his first month averaged 3.35

Month before Russo:
September 20, 1999 - 3.1
September 27, 1999 - 3.0
October 4, 1999 - 2.9
October 11, 1999 - 2.6

Average 2.9


Russo’s first month:
October 18, 1999 - 3.3
October 25, 1999 - 3.5
November 1, 1999 - 3.2
November 8, 1999 - 3.4

Average = 3.35

He increased the ratings, their numbers were falling, they hired Russo to bring them up, he brought it up one full point in 3 months, from a 2.6 to a 3.5.

Politics from certain members of management and the roster got him nonsensically taken out of power despite moving ratings quick, they violated his contract, thus he stopped working for them, then they lost the entire audience he had built up, which once you lose is difficult to get back.

You either have no idea what you’re talking about and didn’t read the numbers or you’re flat out lying.

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