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Post by somsta on Feb 3, 2015 22:15:22 GMT -5
Let me finish...
The last couple of days I've been listening to a bunch of podcasts with ex-WWE writers. They all talk about how the WWE hasn't changed in style in 15 years, how Kevin Dunn influences Vince and keeps him hating any new ideas, and they basically just recycle the same thing over and over again. Anyone with fresh ideas is pretty much dismissed.
This got me thinking how there was one time that Vince listened to someone else and allowed his product to represent someone else's vision. And that someone else was Vince Russo.
How in the world did Russo accomplish what no man or woman on the face of the earth has been able to do before or since?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2015 22:18:07 GMT -5
Vince hadn't quite settled into his life's calling of "crazy old man" yet.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2015 22:21:24 GMT -5
Vince was beyond desperate at that point, he was up for anything.....ANYTHING.
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Post by Mayonnaise on Feb 3, 2015 22:21:29 GMT -5
VKM (called to avoid confusion) was on his ass and WWE about to lose (if not die) so he took a chance on Russo. Russo wasn't a genius, he was a guy who just had the balls to tell VKM he was an idiot at his lowest moment. It was nothing to do with having a good idea, it was a right place and time thing.
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mizerable
Fry's dog Seymour
You're the lowest on the totem pole here, Alva. The lowest.
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Post by mizerable on Feb 3, 2015 22:21:35 GMT -5
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BigBadZ
Grimlock
The Rumors Are All True
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Post by BigBadZ on Feb 3, 2015 22:28:26 GMT -5
He said "pretty please" while giving McMahon this face  |
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Sam Punk
Hank Scorpio
Own Nothing, Be Happy
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Post by Sam Punk on Feb 3, 2015 22:29:46 GMT -5
He said "pretty please" while giving McMahon this face You know, he kind of looks like George Clooney here. |
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Post by xxshoyuweeniexx on Feb 3, 2015 22:31:49 GMT -5
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Post by Oh Cry Me a Screwball on Feb 3, 2015 22:32:19 GMT -5
Nah.
Russo knew what worked in 1998, but he also had excellent talent like Austin, Rock, Taker, Kane, Foley, DX, etc. that were all hitting their stride that could make anything work. That was the true brilliance of the Attitude Era.
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Post by freeze Austin on Feb 3, 2015 22:36:02 GMT -5
I think of Russo as more of a seer rather than a genius or someone in tune with an audience or someone that knows what will work.
All of the talk about how this is the "Reality Era" and what we are watching is the "new kayfabe" of matching the on screen storylines to online newz stories and smart fan perceptions were Vince Russo ideas/visions from 15 years ago. Only difference is that WWE is presenting it in a somewhat more logical and entertaining way (it still sucks for the most part, though).
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Post by Kevin Hamilton on Feb 3, 2015 22:37:15 GMT -5
Vince was desperate at that point. He'd likely have tried just about anything.
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Post by xCompackx on Feb 3, 2015 22:39:37 GMT -5
I don't really like to label anyone as a "genius" when it comes to wrestling because it's rarely just one person making all of the good decisions that make a great wrestling show. I mean, if we're going to label Vince Russo as a genius for making the Attitude Era a success, it's hard to deny that Vince McMahon deserves just as much credit for being able to (usually) filter out the bad ideas and really push the good ones.
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fw91
Patti Mayonnaise
FAN Idol All-Star: FAN Idol Season X and *Gavel* 2x Judges' Throwdown winner
Tribe has spoken for 2024 Mets
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Post by fw91 on Feb 3, 2015 22:42:37 GMT -5
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Post by Tiger Millionaire on Feb 3, 2015 22:46:00 GMT -5
The same guy that booked WCW. The same guy that had the announces deride a wrestler for not following the script and give credit to another while he was getting powerbombed? That Vince Russo?
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Post by berlynwright on Feb 3, 2015 22:48:21 GMT -5
i don't think he's a genius. he just had a vision for growth at desperate times.
plus i can appreciate him for trying to give everyone a gimmick and storyline. now compare that to midcarders in WWE now.
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StuntGranny®
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Not Actually a Granny
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Post by StuntGranny® on Feb 3, 2015 22:49:40 GMT -5
Meanwhile in Kentucky, a man is reading this thread while slowly taping his fists...
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Post by Hit Girl on Feb 3, 2015 22:57:10 GMT -5
Vince needed ideas.
Russo said "hey, how about some tits?"
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Post by This Player Hating Mothman on Feb 3, 2015 23:19:17 GMT -5
Vince Russo had the grand ability to tell what media was popular in the late '90s. His actual ideas were trash, he just had the keen sense to look at what was making waves and say, "Let's do this". The second he was allowed to go past the point of suggesting how to do things, it was a disaster.
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hassanchop
Grimlock
Who are you to doubt Belldandy?
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Post by hassanchop on Feb 3, 2015 23:27:56 GMT -5
What New Jack says:
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Post by Vice honcho room temperature on Feb 3, 2015 23:50:25 GMT -5
Vince Russo was a breath of fresh air that the WWE needed but his air became stale quickly. Still it was needed at the time just to get the ship right.
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