Is Vince Russo Secretly On Vince's Payroll?

[CardsRule]

Being the nutty conspiracy theorist that I am, I've often wondered if Russo isn't still on Vince's payroll. Think about it(as I'm sure most of you have). The writing in the WWF was never better than when Russo was at the helm, correct? Then he left and joined WCW which effectively lead to the demise of that company(giving himself the title? Really?). Now he's head of TNA's creative and TNA is starting to slide, IMO. Did I bump my head or is this plausible as an elaborate scheme perpetrated by McMahon to keep competition down.

[VeggieOverlord]

I believe McMahon sent Russo to WCW to destroy it from the inside. However, McMahon has never seen TNA as that much of a threat in order for him to start another siege. Yes, I'm aware they are stacking Raw tomorrow night, but the WWE was hyping a Hogan DVD after he already signed with TNA. Don't tell me McMahon is scared of TNA.

[rydndirty]

Jan 3, 2010 10:03:18 GMT -5 CardsRule said:

Being the nutty conspiracy theorist that I am, I've often wondered if Russo isn't still on Vince's payroll. Think about it(as I'm sure most of you have). The writing in the WWF was never better than when Russo was at the helm, correct? Then he left and joined WCW which effectively lead to the demise of that company(giving himself the title? Really?). Now he's head of TNA's creative and TNA is starting to slide, IMO. Did I bump my head or is this plausible as an elaborate scheme perpetrated by McMahon to keep competition down.

Did you ever think that the reason he was "good" in the WWF is because he had Vince to filter/guide his ideas? Maybe he just isn't that good by himself? His work in WCW and TNA has shown that.

By the way, I'm not saying he's complete crap. I have liked some of his ideas just like I have hated some.

[Schattenjager]

Uh, the WWF's writing improved a huge deal when they finally got rid of Russo and we were treated with perhaps the greatest time period in the company's history in 2000/2001. No, I don't think Russo is on Vince's payroll. He didn't have McMahon as a filter in WCW and everybody found out how incompetent the guy was when given full creative power.

[Metalheadbanger Man]

You bumped your head.

[taylorandborland]

Yeah, I used to think this too, particularly for WCW. But then again, a lot of WCW's problems were a lot bigger than bad writing. They couldn't even get the basic idea of inside communication down.

The idea of McMahon filtering Russo's bad pitches isn't unbelievable. Then again, we're talking about a guy who's been pushing for an incest storyline for ten years. Preferably between him and his own daughter.

[johnnyk9]

I always wonder if Paul Heyman is still on the payroll

[HMARK Center]

Russo's work in TNA for the past year or so has mostly been pretty good, so, um...no?

And, like it was already said, WWF's writing in 2000 through early 2001 was probably some of it's all time best.

[Stotty]

Aside from anything I would imagine it's probably illegal, so if word got out (and it's wrestling, so no one can shut their mouth) Vince and Russo could be sued for millions

[moonlight]

Back in WCW days it was a known fact that Russo used to get many of his ideas from Wrestling Forums. He stole some of my ideas, or maybe the check got lost in the mail.

[Cactus Jack]

Nothing more than a locker-room joke.

[deeks]

We are all smarks right? Smart marks. Why can't we concentrate on the smart part again?

Jan 3, 2010 10:09:26 GMT -5 VeggieOverlord said:

Don't tell me McMahon is scared of TNA.

I am sure Bret Hart showing up Jan 4th is just a coincidence. Right?

[donners]

TNA is starting to slide? After the two best PPVs of the year?

[GaTechGrad]

Why do people keep getting the idea that Russo killed WCW? When Russo was at the head of WCW, it was still getting 2's and 3's in the ratings. WCW went under because Ted Turner was forced out of power after the AOL/Time Warner merger, and the new execs didn't want to have anything to do with wrestling on their networks.

[Cry Me a Wiggle]

And I've always argued against the commonly held belief that Vince McMahon "filtered" Russo's "bad" ideas. It's more like the WWF was the only place where Russo really had free reign, as well as a production team up to the task.

Besides, now that Dutch is gone, hasn't TNA improved dramatically? Why must we let the myth of Vince Russo blind us to the fact that he's been doing a good to great job?

["Hollywood" Cactus Matt]

Jan 3, 2010 20:00:38 GMT -5 GaTechGrad said:

Why do people keep getting the idea that Russo killed WCW?

Would you prefer/accept the term "euthanized"? ;D

[Parrish]

No Russo is just that untalented

[Red Impact]

Jan 3, 2010 19:22:29 GMT -5 deeks said:

I am sure Bret Hart showing up Jan 4th is just a coincidence. Right?

Being afraid implies he believes they're a danger to his company, it doesn't mean he wouldn't acknowledge their existence and desires to squash them to send a point, to show another way to spin Hart appearing.

Also, it's the first Raw of the year and decade, another way to spin why they want to make it big.

[boomhauer20055]

No

Russo has been busy the past month writing the Val Venus Poker skit

[nerdinitupagain]

Jan 4, 2010 23:33:18 GMT -5 boomhauer20055 said:

No

Russo has been busy the past month writing the Val Venus Poker skit

I don't care what anyone says. It took up so little time in the grand scheme of things, made Sean Morley look like a badass porn star again, and set up the ending of the show perfectly.

No problem with that at all.