Post by Andrew is Good on Feb 4, 2007 22:17:28 GMT -5
I haven't been able to post much due to work, but sometimes when I'm working (well, standing around waiting for the other guys to ask me to pull up stuff on the gin wheel), I was thinking about this. Vince Russo has been constantly constantly bashed into the ground for his writing and his creative ability. After watching a number of shoots with Vince, and listening to his interview with RD Reynolds, I started to see where Vince Russo was coming from, and why Vince did the things he did.
I don't agree with a lot of what Vince Russo does or has done, but generally, his way of booking is a good way. He said once that he believes wrestling is 25% of the whole deal with professional wrestling, and I disagree on that account. I believe it's 50-50. The wrestling is as important as the characters, and vice versa. One of my favourite Vince Russo philosophies on booking is it's important for everyone, no matter where they are at on the card to have something. And in recent weeks in TNA, very few wrestlers haven't had much to do. Let's also look at some of the positive changes and personality changes that have come out thanks to Mr. Russo:
-Chris Sabin
Now, instead of being just some random wrestler, he has a personality. He has has a character and can express himself and get himself some great heat against his opponents. Plus, he's not afraid to look bad I feel, a great trait for a heel.
-AJ Styles
Is it just me, or has AJ's ability on the mic gotten better. AJ has always been great in the ring, but I've been having so much more fun watching him perform now that he has a character. It's like, he was great before, one of the best. Now he's even better.
-Petey Williams
Petey's babyface turn was such a great idea. He wasn't this rah rah America is best type of babyface. He just stood up for what he believed in, and what he felt was right. And that's what turned him babyface. Because a lot of times, the ridiculous over the top USA loving babyfaces aren't too believable. But beliving it's wrong to burn the American flag and acting on it, it shows that Williams has some dignity, and makes him a great character.
-Abyss
One of Vince Russo's philosophies is reality. Take Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake. Nobody in the world walks around dressed like that, acting like that with huge clippers. He's trying to take Abyss and give reasoning to why he is the way he is, instead of just saying, oh this guy is a crazy monster. This angle is currently the best right now in professional wrestling in my opinion. There is so much to it. Plus the teases of will Abyss turn or won't he was great stuff.
-Sting/James Mitchell
Sting and James Mitchell have become literally the angel and the devil on Abyss' shoulder. Because it's hard to tell what Abyss is exactly going to do every week, it's interesting to see the kind of reasoning that Sting and James Mithcell give Abyss to go over to/stay on their side.
Those are just a few examples. Now, most of the wrestlers who didn't have characters before, had characters. And there's something interesting about Vince Russo and TNA. Has anyone noticed an increase in the ratings. Now, instead of just seeing great wrestling, they see great wrestlers having great matches that people can care about and get behind. There are some black spots, I will say that. The Voodoo Kin Mafia's WWE nonesense was not my cup of tea, but I like the angle they're doing with Christy Hemme. And the whole Angle/Joe thing I feel isn't very good, plus Kurt Angle's character is definitely not like Steve Austin's 1997 character, though they're trying. Steve Austin back in the day if he didn't get what he wanted, he didn't moan and complain and try to threaten hurting somebody's girlfriend to get what he wanted. Steve Austin would go out, find what he wants, and take it. One looks like a babyface, the other looks like a heel.
Then of course the next week after you hurt somebody's girlfriend to get what you want, you save Sting and stay in the ring and celebrate with him. The fans are cheering the guy who a week earlier attacked Samoa Joe's girlfriend. The Steve Austin of 1997 however would stand in the ring and celebrate with Sting, then turn him around and hit him with the stunner. They're just not following up with Kurt's character. But generally, come on. What's with the Russo hate?
I don't agree with a lot of what Vince Russo does or has done, but generally, his way of booking is a good way. He said once that he believes wrestling is 25% of the whole deal with professional wrestling, and I disagree on that account. I believe it's 50-50. The wrestling is as important as the characters, and vice versa. One of my favourite Vince Russo philosophies on booking is it's important for everyone, no matter where they are at on the card to have something. And in recent weeks in TNA, very few wrestlers haven't had much to do. Let's also look at some of the positive changes and personality changes that have come out thanks to Mr. Russo:
-Chris Sabin
Now, instead of being just some random wrestler, he has a personality. He has has a character and can express himself and get himself some great heat against his opponents. Plus, he's not afraid to look bad I feel, a great trait for a heel.
-AJ Styles
Is it just me, or has AJ's ability on the mic gotten better. AJ has always been great in the ring, but I've been having so much more fun watching him perform now that he has a character. It's like, he was great before, one of the best. Now he's even better.
-Petey Williams
Petey's babyface turn was such a great idea. He wasn't this rah rah America is best type of babyface. He just stood up for what he believed in, and what he felt was right. And that's what turned him babyface. Because a lot of times, the ridiculous over the top USA loving babyfaces aren't too believable. But beliving it's wrong to burn the American flag and acting on it, it shows that Williams has some dignity, and makes him a great character.
-Abyss
One of Vince Russo's philosophies is reality. Take Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake. Nobody in the world walks around dressed like that, acting like that with huge clippers. He's trying to take Abyss and give reasoning to why he is the way he is, instead of just saying, oh this guy is a crazy monster. This angle is currently the best right now in professional wrestling in my opinion. There is so much to it. Plus the teases of will Abyss turn or won't he was great stuff.
-Sting/James Mitchell
Sting and James Mitchell have become literally the angel and the devil on Abyss' shoulder. Because it's hard to tell what Abyss is exactly going to do every week, it's interesting to see the kind of reasoning that Sting and James Mithcell give Abyss to go over to/stay on their side.
Those are just a few examples. Now, most of the wrestlers who didn't have characters before, had characters. And there's something interesting about Vince Russo and TNA. Has anyone noticed an increase in the ratings. Now, instead of just seeing great wrestling, they see great wrestlers having great matches that people can care about and get behind. There are some black spots, I will say that. The Voodoo Kin Mafia's WWE nonesense was not my cup of tea, but I like the angle they're doing with Christy Hemme. And the whole Angle/Joe thing I feel isn't very good, plus Kurt Angle's character is definitely not like Steve Austin's 1997 character, though they're trying. Steve Austin back in the day if he didn't get what he wanted, he didn't moan and complain and try to threaten hurting somebody's girlfriend to get what he wanted. Steve Austin would go out, find what he wants, and take it. One looks like a babyface, the other looks like a heel.
Then of course the next week after you hurt somebody's girlfriend to get what you want, you save Sting and stay in the ring and celebrate with him. The fans are cheering the guy who a week earlier attacked Samoa Joe's girlfriend. The Steve Austin of 1997 however would stand in the ring and celebrate with Sting, then turn him around and hit him with the stunner. They're just not following up with Kurt's character. But generally, come on. What's with the Russo hate?
