There was once a time when WWE had its work cut out for itself trying to compete with WCW. World Championship Wrestling was delivering must-see, edgier content than WWE was at the time, thanks in large part to Eric Bischoff's ideas that led to WCW being ahead in the ratings for 83 weeks straight. WWE's best answer was to hire as creative a writer for their magazine, Vic Venom, better known today as Vince Russo.
His name is easy to guffaw at now, but there was a time when some of the most thrilling story developments of the Attitude Era were conceived from the mind of Vince Russo, for example, the critically acclaimed Deadly Games tournament at Survivor Series 1998, which crowned The Rock his first WWE Championship win). As Head Writer, Russo also contributed to the formation of D-Generation X, the Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon feud, and Mick Foley's push.
His name is easy to guffaw at now, but there was a time when some of the most thrilling story developments of the Attitude Era were conceived from the mind of Vince Russo, for example, the critically acclaimed Deadly Games tournament at Survivor Series 1998, which crowned The Rock his first WWE Championship win). As Head Writer, Russo also contributed to the formation of D-Generation X, the Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Mr. McMahon feud, and Mick Foley's push.
- 10/25/2024
- by Joe Anthony Myrick
- ScreenRant
WWE.com
The writing staff at World Wrestling Entertainment have a lot of men and women to take care of. Former WWF/WWE writers Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara once said that they always tried to find something for everyone to do during their time in charge. That’s certainly something the current creative regime could take into account, because there are far too many wrestlers floundering.
There’s a lot more product for the current creative squad to fill nowadays, which actually makes the situation even worse. Monday Night Raw is 3 hours long, and Smackdown is 2 hours. In addition to that, there are various shows such as Main Event, Superstars and Pay-Per-Views to work with. That’s a lot of air time that needs fresh talent, but the performers listed here still find themselves pretty directionless.
This article explores 10 wrestlers and gimmicks currently on the WWE roster that simply aren’t working.
The writing staff at World Wrestling Entertainment have a lot of men and women to take care of. Former WWF/WWE writers Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara once said that they always tried to find something for everyone to do during their time in charge. That’s certainly something the current creative regime could take into account, because there are far too many wrestlers floundering.
There’s a lot more product for the current creative squad to fill nowadays, which actually makes the situation even worse. Monday Night Raw is 3 hours long, and Smackdown is 2 hours. In addition to that, there are various shows such as Main Event, Superstars and Pay-Per-Views to work with. That’s a lot of air time that needs fresh talent, but the performers listed here still find themselves pretty directionless.
This article explores 10 wrestlers and gimmicks currently on the WWE roster that simply aren’t working.
- 8/19/2015
- by Jamie Kennedy
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
The WWE Network has been a great resource for wrestling fans looking forward to checking out older content that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to see. When WWE Network launched last February the big selling point was that live PPVs were much cheaper thanks to the $9.99 monthly price and also the PPV archive included every WWE PPV. However, there were still things missing like some of the best Raw episodes from WWE’s greatest period, the Attitude Era.
It’s great news today to see that WWE Network has added a “Raw Attitude Era” section. If you have the full on demand library, click on Shows, then In Ring and then you’ll find Raw Attitude Era right there. The update includes every episode of Raw from December 15, 1997 to January 4, 1999. It’s basically a little more than a full year of WWE’s first official year...
The WWE Network has been a great resource for wrestling fans looking forward to checking out older content that they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to see. When WWE Network launched last February the big selling point was that live PPVs were much cheaper thanks to the $9.99 monthly price and also the PPV archive included every WWE PPV. However, there were still things missing like some of the best Raw episodes from WWE’s greatest period, the Attitude Era.
It’s great news today to see that WWE Network has added a “Raw Attitude Era” section. If you have the full on demand library, click on Shows, then In Ring and then you’ll find Raw Attitude Era right there. The update includes every episode of Raw from December 15, 1997 to January 4, 1999. It’s basically a little more than a full year of WWE’s first official year...
- 4/13/2015
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
wwe.com
It’s ironic that I was asked to write this week’s column on this particular topic. As the weeks pass, and I continue to follow the wrestling product closely for my website, I just not only become more and more frustrated by the WWE week, but more importantly . . . concerned. The professional wrestling business is truly getting to the point that I honestly don’t know if it’s ever going to be good again.
If it is—some drastic changes need to start happening, and I’m just not seeing any movement in that direction. No, what I’m basically seeing is the same old presentation of the product that we’ve seen post Attitude Era for almost the last 15 years.
Why may the wrestling business never be good again? Read on for the answers.
10. The Mid Card Is Dead
WWE.com
From experience, it is safe...
It’s ironic that I was asked to write this week’s column on this particular topic. As the weeks pass, and I continue to follow the wrestling product closely for my website, I just not only become more and more frustrated by the WWE week, but more importantly . . . concerned. The professional wrestling business is truly getting to the point that I honestly don’t know if it’s ever going to be good again.
If it is—some drastic changes need to start happening, and I’m just not seeing any movement in that direction. No, what I’m basically seeing is the same old presentation of the product that we’ve seen post Attitude Era for almost the last 15 years.
Why may the wrestling business never be good again? Read on for the answers.
10. The Mid Card Is Dead
WWE.com
From experience, it is safe...
- 10/4/2014
- by Vince Russo
- Obsessed with Film
When the question of my next WhatCulture.com assignment came around, the Editor of this website asked me to discuss the “Top 10 Reasons Why WCW Went Out of Business.” After putting much thought into the subject, I explained to him that almost 15 years later, I Still couldn’t give a reason as to why WCW actually went out of business, because I was never privy to that information at the top.
It is a known fact that my critics love pointing the figure at me when it comes to the demise of WCW, however, this is clearly another situation where nobody wants to look at the facts. Even though I had a two year contract with WCW that ran from October 1999’, to October 2001, I only actively wrote for the company for 9 months. The first three months came from October 99 to January 2000, when if you go back and look, the ratings...
It is a known fact that my critics love pointing the figure at me when it comes to the demise of WCW, however, this is clearly another situation where nobody wants to look at the facts. Even though I had a two year contract with WCW that ran from October 1999’, to October 2001, I only actively wrote for the company for 9 months. The first three months came from October 99 to January 2000, when if you go back and look, the ratings...
- 7/12/2014
- by Vince Russo
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
1999 was a magical time for the WWF. Steve Austin was the top star and his feud with Vince McMahon and his cronies sparked a boom period that helped the company rise to the top of its popularity.
With WCW faltering, WWF enjoyed the leg room of being alone at the top. With dynamic characters such as Austin, The Rock, Undertaker, Mankind plus the advent of competitive matches on free TV, it seemed like the company could do no wrong.
However, creatively the company was starting to falter under head writers Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara. With Vince inter-twined in the main story line, Russo and Ferrara were left to a heavy reliance on sex, swerves, lewd behavior and MTV-style television to reach viewers.
The strategy had worked in late 1997 and 1998, but as a result of burnout and growing pressure to deliver, creative suffered in 1999. From mid-card acts such...
1999 was a magical time for the WWF. Steve Austin was the top star and his feud with Vince McMahon and his cronies sparked a boom period that helped the company rise to the top of its popularity.
With WCW faltering, WWF enjoyed the leg room of being alone at the top. With dynamic characters such as Austin, The Rock, Undertaker, Mankind plus the advent of competitive matches on free TV, it seemed like the company could do no wrong.
However, creatively the company was starting to falter under head writers Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara. With Vince inter-twined in the main story line, Russo and Ferrara were left to a heavy reliance on sex, swerves, lewd behavior and MTV-style television to reach viewers.
The strategy had worked in late 1997 and 1998, but as a result of burnout and growing pressure to deliver, creative suffered in 1999. From mid-card acts such...
- 3/21/2014
- by TK Maxwell
- Obsessed with Film
The Shoot Interview.
Three words that make fans salivate. As much as we either love or hate the product we see on screen or in the ring, nothing is more intriguing than what goes on behind the scenes. In a true shoot interview, a wrestler is out of character and literally “shooting” from the hip, hence the term. It is usually a reflective interview about their careers, along with the good times, any regrets, and of course their opinion on other wrestlers and booking. If you have never watched a shoot interview, here is a great place to begin. A great shoot video lets the performer walk the fine line of telling the truth, and working the viewer.
What I am bringing you here now is, Rich Latta’s personal Shoot Interview Hall Of Fame. I have been compiling this list in my mind for a while, and to quote Dolph Ziggler,...
Three words that make fans salivate. As much as we either love or hate the product we see on screen or in the ring, nothing is more intriguing than what goes on behind the scenes. In a true shoot interview, a wrestler is out of character and literally “shooting” from the hip, hence the term. It is usually a reflective interview about their careers, along with the good times, any regrets, and of course their opinion on other wrestlers and booking. If you have never watched a shoot interview, here is a great place to begin. A great shoot video lets the performer walk the fine line of telling the truth, and working the viewer.
What I am bringing you here now is, Rich Latta’s personal Shoot Interview Hall Of Fame. I have been compiling this list in my mind for a while, and to quote Dolph Ziggler,...
- 12/16/2013
- by Rich Latta II
- Obsessed with Film
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