Okay listened to the podcast...
Flair on the phone again. I'm not crazy about this, but it was more annoying during the Flair/Prichard episode. Please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors.
Show starts off talking a little bit about Summerslam. Flair liked Cena v. Rollins. Talked about how good a guy Jon Stewart was. The producer asks him about Vince Russo and their relationship. Flair says he didn't like some of the things Russo did, but that the damage had already been done in WCW. Working with him in TNA was a piece of cake Mentions he didn't like doing the Hall of Fame ring thing with... Flair forgets his name [Thinking he's referring to Abyss]! But once Flair talked to Russo; he was onboard. Producer mentions he doesn't watch TNA. Flair states, "He's not the only one who doesn't watch TNA".
Flair transitions to Charlotte vs. Nikki Bella. Flair mentions Charlotte's only really been wrestling for three years. Producer asks about Charlotte's life before wrestling. Flair mentions Charlotte was getting ready to open her own fitness studio and making about $85,000 but working 50 hours a week. At the 2012 Hall of Fame introduction Johnny Ace asked, "Why aren't you wrestling?". Charlotte didn't know. So she asked Papa Flair and Flair responded, "I'm sure you can!". Flair complements the NXT divas and talks about how they're all great and how they get along with one another... which unusual in the both the girls and boys locker room.
*commercial*
Russo joins. Flair asks, "So why did you leave me in the desert to die?" Russo states, "I've been waiting for you for fifteen years!" Flair tells a quick story about Flair, Guerrerro, Russo, and Ferrera taking a limo and Russo goes "You don't like me because you're friends with Jim Cornette!" Russo said he forgotten all about that. Flair mentioned Cornette never talked about Russo with Russo. They exchange pleasantries about their daughters. Russo jokingly says, "Now I can take credit for Charlotte's career after putting her in that angle fifteen years ago". Flair laughs.
Flair asks his status on TNA. Russo says he's hustling with his podcast and his work on iheartradio. His new show is wrestling/entertainment.
Flair asks Russo's relationship with Eric Bischoff. Russo hesitates. He said they're just two totally different people. He says the chemistry was never there and they tried to make it work, but since they're so different it was difficult. Flair asked who had power in the chain of command. Russo says Dixie never told Russo she hired Bischoff & Hogan. Him and Matt Conway were writing the show and next thing he knows, Bischoff and Hogan are there. Eric was only suppose to have creative control when dealing with stories involving Hulk Hogan. Russo says, "but slowly and surely...". He states Dixie had a bad habit of working behind his back. Flair pipes in, "I totally understand. She'll tell anything to your face, but she doesn't like to take responsibility for decisions that hurt people's feelings." Russo continues, "then Eric is a full fledged member of the creative team. Eric would then take things to Hulk who would change things the day of the show." Russo then talks about bringing in Bruce Prichard as another layer. Russo states "There were too many chefs and that's when I knew this wasn't a healthy company and I went home."
Flair asks about his relationship with Bruce Prichard and their time together at WWE. Russo states Prichard was kind of his mentor and took him under his arm. However, JJ went to WCW, Prichard was promoted, and Russo took over Prichard's spot on creative. Russo extended the olive branch for Prichard to come into TNA and help with tv, but "the next thing you know he was my boss." Flair can't figure out why Prichard isn't somewhere right now as he's a smart guy as is Russo. Russo states, "Dixie did more damage than good by just not being upfront and being honest, underhanded." He can't recount the many times Dixie told him, "You can't say anything" or "Don't tell anybody". It was hard to work under that umbrella.
Flair talks about Barry Bloom as similar to Dixie. Russo recounts starting with Jeff Jarrett. Says Dixie would talk constantly about Jarrett behind his back. Finally Russo tells her, "If you have a problem with Jeff you need to tell him and not me." That's the way she did business. Flair mentions he always have time for her because she was so nice to him, but it's so different than the way it's done up North. Russo says "Everybody thinks she's the nicest person in the world, but to be in the position she's in... she's not a very good boss." Flair said he'd take her all day long over that Dean Broadhead (I don't know who that is).
Flair's producer asks about Russo's transition from WWE Magazine editor to creative. Says as a wrestling fan since 1972 that the product at the time had hit an all time low. Citing T.L. Hopper as an example while WCW had started up the nWo. Russo says he wanted to be apart of WCW. Says he talked to his friends Jeff Jarrett and Kevin Nash to talk to Eric Bischoff and Eric gives him a call. Said at that point it was the most arrogant conversation he had with anybody, but t that time Eric deserved to be arrogant. Bischoff had a chip on his shoulder. So after the conversation Russo said he felt so dirty. He hated he had talked to Bischoff and felt dirty afterwards. The next day during a meeting with Linda McMahon Vince walks into the room. Russo rolls the dice and asks Linda if she thinks he is only capable of being the magazine editor because he (Russo) is capable of more. Russo states Vince got mad and cut a promo on him. Russo finally says to Vince "I want to help you." Next Monday Raw hit an all time ratings low. That Tuesday, Vince calls Russo up to his office. Russo thought he was going to be fired. McMahon and his right hand men were in the off as McMahon was sitting holding the WWE Magazine in his hand. McMahon slams the magazine on the table and says, "This is what our show needs to be." Russo says he was shocked. From that point on he started writing television with McMahon.
Flair asks to clarify if he was a writer or head writer. Russo talks about Bill Watts bringing him in and being on the writing team with Cornette and Prichard. Says the meeting happened around the same time. Flair asks about when Steve Austin came in. Russo says Austin was already there, but not as Stone Cold.
Flair talks about how he hated Bischoff talking about closing the WWE. Says Bischoff was crazy for firing Austin. Russo talks how he feels not enough guys speak up at the WWE today. Credits Austin for speaking up. Says McMahon's directions were for the Ringmaster to be silent and not talk. Russo talks about watching WCW and Stunning Steve. Steve kept pushing McMahon to get on the mic. Steve got a 2 minute opportunity on color commentary and Russo knew right then and there Steve would change the landscape. Says Austin bounced the "Austin 3:16" off him before the King of the Ring event. Flair talks about being Austin's biggest fan. Talks about "what?" still enduring to this day. Flair said the fact he got to drink on tv still kills him.
Russo talks about everyone playing it safe and no one talking a chance like Punk's pipebomb. Russo says because that's what got Austin, Foley, Rock over by being on the mic and taking chances. Flair says the importance of bulletpoints has changed since his day. Russo says there were certain guys who depended on him to write for him because talking wasn't his forte. If you don't give guys freedom to run it's like a hamster running around in a cage. Wrestlers are not being allowed to let loose and that's missing today. Flair talks about everyone walking on glass.
Flair talks about Seth Rollins being very good on the mic. Russo says he gets the eggshells thing because "where are these guys going go?" Russo asks if Flair if felt there were moments where he felt he had to take chances. Flair talks about getting started and heading to the Carolina territory. He talks about the old guys hating younger guys like Steamboat. FLair talks about Wahoo beating Flair a couple times in a match. Russo asks if Flair was to break into the WWE today with scripted promos. Flair says he would be fired within thirty minutes. Flair said he would take the chance.
Flair asks Russo how he stayed in the business so long without drugs or drink. Russo says he knew looking at the bar nothing good would come of it and he went to his room.
Flair's producer asked about booking for WCW and the idea for Flair being buried in the desert. Russo said him and Ferrera had a game plan and "nothing was done without a game plan". Russo talks about a week or two before going to WCW. Russo mentions watching Hulk and Flair wrestling on Nitro in a 15-20 match. He said they were letting the match go way too long and deserved better than that match. Russo wanted to get Hulk and Flair into that legendary spot they deserveed to be in. The plan was to knock off the legends one by one. Hulk and Flair would be off tv. Mentions others such as Piper, Hennig, and Hacksaw. When all of them were off the shelf and then they'd bring all these legends back - united - like the avengers. However, three months in execs said they were going in another direction and a week later Flair was back. Flair disputes this and says Russo called him two weeks later to return to tv because Terry Funk quit. Russo says he can't remember that. Flair says he got into an argument with Russo over it. Flair recounts the time Bischoff promised him a year off after a career match and was called back a month later because Hulk wouldn't work with Vader and Rude. Russo again said it would be like the Avengers with the legends having issues with one another but all coming together in the end.
Flair then reiterates Russo not having anything to do with the downfall of WCW as "that ship already sailed". Russo said he was grilled in England for the downfall of WCW and losing $62 million. Russo talked about having to hear "Russo killed WCW" for fifteen years. Flair again repeats Russo had nothing to do with the death of WCW. Russo says they wrote a book about the death of WCW with him on the cover. Since Flair gave that interview stating Russo didn't killed WCW no one has said anything to Russo about the death of WCW. Russo said it was like the Pope spoke. Russo said he was happy to talk to Flair because everyone shut up.
Flair's producer asks about the common refrain about Russo being "he needed an editor" and if Russo felt that was fair? Russo talks about being a fact and number guy. Russo talked about him receiving a base salary and getting bonuses if the ratings went up. Brings up Hulk talking about Russo firing people if they were 40 years old or up. Russo says it was an insane comment. Russo says from 2000 to 2015 the WWE ratings have gone down every single year. Says Raw has lost half their audience, but the NFL still retain their viewers. Says many point to Vince McMahon being "that editor". However, Vince McMahon has been there for the past fifteen years as ratings have gone down. If McMahon was behind the success of the attitude era then how do we explain 2000-2015? Flair says when you lose Rock, Taker, HBK, Flair, Austin... when you lose these brand guys it's hard to find marquee names. Russo says this is exactly his point. Russo talks about writing for the big names in the attitude eras, but they still needed material. Flair recounts the roster in 80s NWA and if Crockett had stay east of the Mississippi they'd still be business. Russo asks who WWE had gotten over the past 15 years? Mentions Cena, Angle, and Brock as the only three guys. Russo doesn't think it's on the boys, but the material they're given. Says it's someone's fault. Flair says writers on Russo's level don't grow on trees either. Russo talks about Bray Wyatt and how great he is. Russo says WWE dropped the ball on him many times and it's not on Bray Wyatt. Flair praises Wyatt as well. Russo says it's wrestling 101 to have wrestlers on tv every single week and have a role. Slowly they'll get better and better. There is no consistency. Flair says he thins Bray got a shoulder injury for his absence. Russo then talks about Sandow getting himself over. Now Sandow is gone from tv. Russo is apoplectic over his booking. Russo says he would continue to put Sandow out there and not into the Randy Savage gimmick. Russo thinks the WWE thought process is if guys are just put out there and have good matches they are going to get over. It takes more than a good match to get over. It's the pattern the WWE fell into.
Flair's producer asks if it's time for Judy Bagwell on a pole on Raw. Russo bets his house and children that Judy Bagwell on a pole would outdraw an 8 man tag match with no stakes and nothing on the line that continues for fifteen minutes and goes through two commercials. Russo says he spent twenty years of his life helping people getting over. Says the writer have to give them material to keep themselves over every week. Russo cites Robert DeNiro. DeNiro was in many classics, but he was also in Rocky and Bullwinkle. So even a great actor like Robert DeNiro needs great material to be over. Russo says there will never be another Flair or Austin.
Flair's producer asks about what Russo thinks his best work in WCW and WWF? Russo says thinks New Yorkers are stereotyped. Says the best characters are who the person is magnified 1000 percent. When people believed Russo was the obnoxious Russo on WCW television that's when he started receiving criticism. Russo talked the IWC being the smallest base with the loudest voice and don't want entertainment. Yet entertainment is what draws the masses. Again Russo gives the tired old WCW 2.5 to 3.5 story he gives. *rolls eyes* He talks about TNA having audience of over two million, but finances hurting TNA. TNA had no money to do stunts (like DX tank). Russo talks about Tara and her spider. TNA cut Tara's spider because they couldn't afford the couple hundred for the spider. Russo says it's not the things he did. He said he had bad ideas and did things he didn't like, but he looks at the numbers.
Russo said he hated being a character on tv. He said Bischoff suggested Russo becoming a character. Russo said Turner execs were so hard on him for instant ratings Russo decided he would do it himself. Russo said he had a blast doing the angle with Flair and he had a soft spot for David Flair. Flair said David is too nice a guy for the wrestling business. Russo thought the FLair angle was good and the best fun in WCW.
Plugs for Russo follow. Russo asks Flair for a favor. Russo asks Flair to be on his podcast (I do not want to transcribe that
). Russo again thanks Flair for saying Russo didn't killed WCW. Says it was the nicest thing anyone in the business has done for him and brought tears to his eyes.