Bruce Prichard Shoots on Vince Russo's last days with WWF

[@kingjoe3rd]

If Jim Ross, Jim Cornette and Bruce Prichard were all on a show together talking about the wrestling business it would be gold and I would pay whatever they asked of me just to watch it.

[@TheLockbeard]

I would pay as well

[@jojoface4940]

Mark ass!

[@michelledavidson8190]

Absolutely agree with you 👍

[@whatseatontim918]

Same

[@timothy4011]

How marky

[@MRWINDYMETHANE]

That Jim Cornette impression was absolutely hilarious 🤣

[@watermelonhelmet6854]

There are always two sides to every story... the thing is I've yet to ever hear a single person in the wrestling business back up Russo's side.

[@lalberts]

Watermelon Helmet listen to Disco Inferno then

[@tuchehstone]

There are three sides to every story: your side, their side, and the truth. I've discovered with narcissists and pathological liars that the truth isn't going to be on their side. It sits more with the other side.

[@GodyP]

Yeah I wouldn’t go to disco inferno for facts

[@adamlennard1828]

Luc Alberts idiot

[@RawKetchup]

Disco also thinks he's not a jobber.

[@josereyes1148]

russo says there was something calling him to vince in 2003.... yea its called having no place else to work.

[@sketchstevens5859]

Somehow that delivery is even more hilarious than it already it is. It's true though, Russo can't admit that his whole career has been relying on saying "I made the Attitude Era and WCW" when he really killed them off

[@joebob914]

thats not true vince russo went to TNA over WWE

[@hawksfan5]

@@sketchstevens5859 No you are wrong. Vince was the main reason behind the Attitude Era.

[@sketchstevens5859]

@@hawksfan5 Lol Vince can't book

[@hawksfan5]

@@sketchstevens5859 Are you dumb? Vince was the reason for the attitude era. This is something that cannot be disputed. It is a known fact. It its a FACT that Vince Russo booked the underneath better than anytime in wrestling history and that truly is what made the attitude era.

[@enixo_5106]

The Jim Cornette impersonation 😂

[@24magiccarrot]

Sounds more like Paul Bearer

[@clarys10]

What does he actually even say lol something bout god and 5 grand on the hood of his truck

[@BannedFromReddit4Life]

Sounds like Mickey Mouse

[@SuperDevolution]

@@clarys10 Cornette offered Russo 5 grand to fight Cornette with the "no knives, no guns" stipulation a while back

[@DiaAkin]

I HOLLERED!!! 😂😂😂

[@NickTaylorRickPowers]

These Cornett impressions. Gawd damn

[@boringbill88]

"I want out of the wrestling business in 15 months" Proceeds to sign 3 year deal with WCW

[@drunkensailor112]

And then goes to tna for years

[@boringbill88]

@@drunkensailor112 Yep...and then tries to get a job with Lucha Underground when TNA cans his ass.

[@noname8710]

Not to mention he tried going back to work for WWE in 2002.

[@amoney5820]

WERE GONNA HAVE TORNAMINTS

[@DaemonCaedo1]

Russo: "I know what I'm worth" Proceeds to run WCW into the toilet.

[@michaele8727]

😂

[@michaele8727]

Did you hear what Russo said how he took wcw ratings up, what a deluded asshole

[@joebob914]

but he didnt tho

[@kevinkidd7211]

🤣😂

[@hawksfan5]

@@michaele8727 Yes he did. Like he says you can look it up yourself.

[@FnRenner]

I can't imagine Russo being a good parent. I can however see him having a "baby on a pole" match every family reunion.

[@cobrahklutch9779]

Karl Renner lmao the baby on a pole thing reminded me of sum I recently watched on WWE network. I can’t remember what Ppv it was but it was WCW Ray Traylor vs John Tenta it was literally a sock with silver dollars on a pole match 😂😂 I couldn’t believe it hilarious shit man

[@benjaminmee3751]

For his custody battle 😂

[@ellieellieonthewall9189]

He made his kids have a diaper on a pole match. The winner got a diaper change. The loser had to sit in shit til the next match 😂

[@DODGERBLUE55]

Bro, it’s 8:30, Bro! You gotta go to sleep, Bro!

[@HMSL86]

He's a wonderful fatha, bro.

[@JasonL77]

Bruce’s impression of Jim Cornette sounds more like Mickey Mouse.

[@matthewsmith5374]

Well god damn...!

[@creoleDJ]

The one impersonation that he needs to NOT do!

[@spannerintheworks1190]

He does a good once of Vince, Savage, Rhodes, but this one is always poor.

[@jonalbertson10270]

That’s 💯 spot on

[@rosiegratz8377]

@@creoleDJ Yeah, probably the only one I don’t care for.

[@arcaderacer586]

Bruce Prichard and Jim Cornertte seem to be the most honest people in the wrestling business. I tend to believe everything they say. Love them both! Thank you bruce. Thank you Jim

[@MortonT1958]

Arcade Racer, I agree but would also add Arn Anderson to the list. Listen to AA’s podcast and you’ll be surprised.

[@bls8959]

Prichard has an entertaining take on things cuz he was close to Vince...but he is far from honest

[@davidgraham8299]

@@bls8959 I think he is honest, from HIS perspective.

[@xoynialedmc]

Hello, Jim Cornette. I know that you are reading this.

[@r33zy85]

“Gah damn right you’ll never be......”..I cry laughing every time..

[@leestenson6975]

I literally lol'd on the train

[@michelledavidson8190]

Same here

[@booty121212]

"No knives no gun, $5,000 on the goddamn hood hood of my fuckin truck!"

[@fmdof]

As bad as working for McMahon sounds, knowing hes still working circles around you AND has time to be in the gym is mind blowing. I don't think the man sleeps.

[@martyc909]

He does but they say it's like 4 hours a night.

[@mikepeterson764]

And he's still doing that at 73 years old.

[@samsmith8725]

@@martyc909 that all you need, unless you do back breaking labor

[@martyc909]

Sam Smith science says though you are at your best with eight hours.

[@animals_are_alive]

@@martyc909 I sleep 6, scientists aren't always right

[@BEERLIGHTBROKER]

It was never about the money? Russo demanded a million dollar. Nope...not about the money.

[@micanal9452]

Smackdown was about to come into play meaning more work for him.

[@juliandavidhoffer2022]

Spin Cycle yeah that’s great. But he alone doesn’t deserve to be paid more than everyone else. If it wasn’t just about the money he would’ve petitioned for everyone in creative to be paid a million.

[@pusanghalaw]

@EAT THIS YOU GRAVY SUCKING DOG what ratings?

[@pusanghalaw]

@EAT THIS YOU GRAVY SUCKING DOG there was no wwe back then, moron. it was wwf.

[@kelman727]

EAT THIS YOU GRAVY SUCKING DOG When someone offers a penny for your thoughts, sell.

[@TrebleForTheBass]

0:35 ***Correction. NOBODY cares about Vince Russo. Not just McMahon

[@Nostalgicguy2242]

Every Attitude era guy cares for Russo and is thankful for their whole careers, without Russo there would had never been any Rock, Stone Cold, Mankind, Triple H, Val Venis, Ken Shamrock, D lo Brown or Dudleys.. Russo made them all great stars and legends

[@jamesbyersmusic]

Of course there are people that care about Vince Russo - What a silly statement!

[@sese6227]

@@Nostalgicguy2242 lmao Wrong. Plenty of em think he's a jabroni & saying they're thankful, is laughable. Just listen to their shoots....& Saying there wouldn't be a Stone Cold or Rock without Russo, is blasphemous!

[@HitLeftistsWithHammers]

@@Nostalgicguy2242 he was a part of creative, not the sole hand.

[@jordane19969]

He is one of the greatest wrestling minds in history

[@moopert86]

Bruce nailed it on the head... For a guy who alleges to want nothing to do with the wrestling business Vince Russo begs an awful lot of people for jobs. You hear reports that he's hit up every promotion on the planet trying to get a writing job. Last I knew he still does a podcast talking about wrestling. He's still trying to make a living off of wrestling.

[@nickkenis1615]

WCW’s success over WWF was solely because of Hulk Hogan’s heel turn. That put them on the map. It was so unbelievably shocking when Hogan turned. Even as Hogan himself was about to do it, you could see the doubt in his eyes as to whether or not this was the right thing to do. In reality, he was about 4/5 years too late.

[@Rjensen2]

Nonsense. You CLEARLY were not watching. WCW had turned the tide starting in late '95 and early '96.

[@AaronLesterMedia]

​@@Rjensen2What tide? Fans didn't start paying attention until Scott came out of the crowd...

[@Rjensen2]

@@AaronLesterMedia You are full of it, and completely clueless to the time period. WCW was beating WWE starting with the very first head to head week.

[@AaronLesterMedia]

@@Rjensen2 Riiiight. But they were going back and forth every week until the NWO debuted. Check the ratings during that time since you're acting like a mark

[@MountaindewM]

May 27, 1996 - Scott Hall came to WC June 10, 1996 - Kevin Nash came to WCW June 17, 1996 - WCW started beating WWE July 7, 1996 - Hogan Heel Turn September 22, 1997 - Goldberg Debut December 1997 - Bret Hart join WCW April 13, 1998 - WWF beats WCW for first time in 84 weeks Dec 27, 1998 - Goldberg is defeated for first time September 10, 1999 - Bishoff fired from WCW October 3, 1999 - Russo starts at WCW April 2000 - Bishoff is brought back I mean that is a generalized timeline but they were already beating them before Hogan came into the WCW. It didn't hurt them and probably did help them but if they had another person join of notoriety it would have done just as well I think.

[@matthewrolon1912]

“TOURNAMENTS” LOL he did the Same for WCW Spring Stampede and that didn’t work

[@jessvolina6007]

Bruce’s JC impersonation just made my year lol

[@mpeters220]

Vince (McMahon) came by later to talk things over with us (when Russo wasn't there), and was really taken aback by Russo not knowing that Jerico worked with HHH, but we totally didn't bury Russo to Vince and we all tried to work with Russo. That all doesn't add up.

[@mikepeterson764]

They didnt go to Vince and start telling him everything. They pitched Vince Russo's ideas. Vince buried himself.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

Burying him to Vince insinuates that they took his good ideas and just downtalked him to make him look bad when it wasn’t warranted. If the ideas he brought are true, he did it to himself. You always notice in every Russo story that he is the only one who ever tells his side and that he contradicts himself endlessly. Just think of the fact that he wanted to be done with wrestling by 40 and couldn’t work with McMahon anymore. Yet the minute WCW is done, and multiple times since, he’s jockeyed for a job there. Or the fact he spent another decade at TNA or still talks about wrestling as his profession. Vince kills himself because he makes it so obvious that he lies a lot.

[@murraysaucedo897]

caca

[@roccoz2231]

Bruce's version is a lot more believable than Russo's. Russo claims that he had a whole year of creative written out, and that his ideas were so amazing that the entire creative team feared for their jobs, so they buried him. Whereas Bruce stated that they all approached the Russo meeting with an open mind and felt that, if anything, his presence on the creative team would help alleviate the intense pressure they were all under. But Russo was unprepared, unfamiliar with the current product, and unwilling to work as a team player.

[@mikepeterson764]

He wanted to strip all the titles, again? Cause it worked so well the first fucking time he did it.

[@Nobleshield]

Tawnaments, bro. Tawnaments

[@zerocool1ist]

Ill never believe Vince said he was going to give him the money.

[@MrT571]

Vince would sooner invite Dixie Carter to a job interview.

[@johnreese3797]

Prime Time wrestling had credits in the 80s. Wrestlemania 1-3 also had ending credits on the VHS tapes.

[@vettepilot427]

To be fair, those all-too-common cliffhanger endings for RAW worked better without credits. It was much more exciting just to see the RAW trademark on the bottom of the screen as the show went off the air with Stone Cold in police custody or someone in the ring holding a new title belt. I think it would be appropriate to have credits at the beginning, but not the end.

[@Grayto]

Fair point. Im sure they could have worked them into the into/Smackdown videos before each show.

[@timf7413]

Here's the thing, Russo claims he "doesn't want to be in the wrestling business" when it suits his narrative, but at the same time he keeps trying to be involved in the business in some way. If he really wanted to just walk away completely and be done, he could do just that.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

Russo says everything according to his narrative. Look at TNA. He always points to the ratings he brought, but then when anybody bags on TNA he immediately claims he never was allowed to write things by himself. Russo always wants full credit when things go well, but whenever you question any bad writing he claims he didn't have the budget or the control to be good. It's just the cycle of Russo. The fact he never had outstanding writing post WWF seems to tell the tale.

[@willdallas53]

To put this in perspective, Bischoff was making 500k a year as a base salary at the height of the nwo as the president of the entire company. Russo asked Vince for double that to lead wwf creative.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

If it's to believed he got $535K or whatever from WCW. So not a bad gig.

[@diggadirt393]

7:00 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@yrrah123]

If Russo got his way in 2003 we would of ended up with 10 heel face turns a week and HHH vs Billy Kidman in a contract on a pole strap match with Russo winning the title and then another restart with all the titles. Good Times

[@joes4194]

"Would of?"

[@TheArchersTungsten]

You get douche chills when they quote Vince Russo he's so god damn corny . It hurts to listen to his writing. I can't believe his job was a writer. Like a guy with no legs being a marathon runner.

[@williammunny1844]

Bruce went on Russo’s show like a month or two before this podcast was released, and didn’t say ANY of this to his face. If you go watch the 2 hour Russo/Bruce interview, and then listen to this, it really shows what kind of person he is. I mean Russo got him his job in TNA, when Bruce was unemployed. I just don’t know why he’d go into super burial mode, right after he was so nice to Russo’s face. Kinda shitty.

[@ExoTheDrakoXIII]

Bruce Pritchard is your typical southern American male They are all about pushing narratives and getting the systems around them to make this a reality. They will tear anyone down who exposes them. This is a way of life, sadly. Russo is more like me, we're both Italians and respect matters to us. Your government, laws and systems do not undo what makes us individuals. They will never understand this so they just double down on their way of life by forcing it on others. That is Bruce Pritchard, in a nutshell.

[@williammunny1844]

@@ExoTheDrakoXIII LOL ah man, that’s not true, bro. I mean yeah, we’ve got our fair share of assholes, but so does every other place on earth. Being a “true” southerner is about being courteous to others, honoring your word, and helping others. Bruce would be this way if he was born in Norway lmao.

[@bawstonbredbeantownsfinest5249]

And russo talked all this trash about vince in his book years later when he knows vince will never employ him again shows the kind of person he is. LIterally these excerpts from his book shows he is not about the money, and yet he put out these stories for money. Said to vince he planned to be out of the wrestling business with in 18 month which was in 1999. Russo never stopped in the wrestling business till nearly 20 years later. He proves in his own words he is not a man of his word.

[@Rjensen2]

@@williammunny1844 True Southerner? 🤣🤣🤣

[@zenoftupac9096]

Vince Russo looking desperately for fatherly acceptance from VKM points to deficits in Russo’s childhood experience with his actual father and/or mother. Him wanting those credits & his name in such also points to this same thing.

[@Wadzillia]

It's weird to want that kind of relationship from your boss.

[@Giveme1goodreason]

Possibly. But I work at a company where the boss is the kind of guy that grown men myself included look up to and do want to please. I had a great childhood and an amazing father, the kind of man I genuinely hope I one day manage to be half as good as. But yeah my boss is something else and he has that effect on people even external trades talk about my boss like he’s this all powerful figure of virtue. VKM could be similar.

[@aikidoboynj]

With how much money was being made in the wrestling world during the Monday Night Wars. Not that 350,000 isn't a great salary, but only Vince really knows how much Russo was worth to the company, but with how much they were bringing in he should have probably been getting paid more then that, especially on this 24/7 like work schedule.

[@Anomaly188]

Bischoff was getting $500K as WCW's president. Russo asked for double that just to head creative. And in a business that lives on personalities and marketable stars most of the incoming money is bound to be made on merch sales, which the boys were getting the lion's share of in that era.

[@kevp8485]

Never knew Russo went back in '03.

[@lukerose384]

'02

[@nicholasfarrell8403]

It was for like 2 weeks

[@bls8959]

Cuz he didn't

[@tedoverholt156]

Every time Vinnie Mac makes a sharp turn Bruce Pritchard breaks his nose

[@jcriniti2644]

Nothing will ever top Bruce's Cornette impression.

[@travismcdonald6576]

To be fair to Russo, his last bowel movement in Titan Tower accomplished more than anything Stephanie McMahon has ever done behind the scenes.

[@jeremyboehm5512]

Travis McDonald How the hell do you know? You do know the WWE is seeing record profits?

[@jasondiend4248]

yet sales are down. You know how you make money when sales are down jack up the price of tickets and merch. This makes people pay more so as you lose people you still don't lose money. Smart business that is about all they're good at is business. The wrestling part they have given up on that a long time ago.

[@jeremyboehm5512]

@@jasondiend4248 The product sucks but as far as Russo's bowel movement being "better than anything Stephanie has done " that's horseshit.Stephanie was behind the scenes during the "Ruthless Agression Era" that's pretty good right?

[@jasondiend4248]

I don't disagree with you on that point. I was more commenting on the WWE seeing record profits. I actually want Stephanie and HHH to take over. At the end of the day no matter how much want to shit on them Vince is the problem. At least Stephanie and HHH are trying risky business. They keep fighting for NXT even though it is a failing venture in losing millions. Yet NXT is the best product the WWE puts out.

[@jeremyboehm5512]

@@jasondiend4248 I agree with you.You may be right about Vince.Maybe he's too old and has lost touch with what's happening now? HHH probably would steer the WWE ship in the right direction.

[@testodude]

Vince Russo is a legend in his own mind.

[@syedsaadjameel4]

Bruce Prichard to me seems like a more composed and laid back version of Jim Cornette. I love listening to Bruce.

[@bkkb7262]

Only difference is Cornette doesn't suck Vince's nuts like Prichard does.

[@tuchehstone]

No one else does the Cornie impression better than Bruce! No. One!

[@doubledown0411]

Heres a fun fact. When it comes to credits, back in 1980s, the NWA TBS show ran credits at the end. I remember seeing Dusty Rhodes's real name (Virgil Tunnels Jr, learned from Apter mags) in the credits. He was Booker at the time, tho in my 10 year old mind, I thought that meant that he "owned" the company. It was my first bit of Smark knowledge and I told EVERYONE.

[@MrBooBeeDoo]

Never understood why Vince would balk at paying Russo $1m a year. He was likely paying his top stars $1-$2m a year. I mean he signed Bret Hart on a $1.5m contract back in 1996 when business was down. Shawn and Taker were getting $750k a year. Business was THROUGH THE ROOF in 1999. He could have easily afford to pay his HEAD WRITER $1m a year.

[@devangpatel5227]

he values the talent more than the writers...

[@CraigHarrisWakka]

Writers should be able to live off of 100-300K a year.

[@Holden308]

Fun Fact: If you watch the original Wrestlemania, they did actually have credits at the end, including the Executive Producer being none other than Vince McMahon. Back in 1985 not many people took notice of things like that. Vince was known then to most fans as just a commentator. That he actually owned the company was a surprise to most of us.

[@Adam-zw1ck]

Only on the tapes, they didn't have them live....

[@johnfalcetta5431]

What a candy ass Russo is. Wanting Vince to have feelings for him.

[@jamesteegardner2273]

It's like he was hurt when he realized his boss only thought of him as an employee. Like wtf, no shit he only cares about ratings and his business, he's your boss. He's paying you good money, what makes you think you're entitled to his love/respect/appreciation? It's not like he wasn't cashing his paychecks...

[@darylmixan8170]

That nanny line is true Vince... Vince was a guy that knew the drive to his house was a few hours, and Creative were loyal for years, but if they were 5 minutes late, they'd get their ass riped... it would be insane working for Vince... he wanted to control everybody

[@tanmartselby6937]

Vince Russo and Charles Barkley. The only two guys to be misquoted in their own autobiographies.

[@c.l.freeman7654]

Nich Hodge he used to wrestle Michael Jordon in the 80’s

[@southbeachtalent]

Meltzer gave the Barkley / Laimbeer 1990 match in Detroit a 4 and a half stars

[@martyc909]

@@southbeachtalent They talk about that match still to this day.

[@southbeachtalent]

Terrell Owens was also misquoted in his own autobiography. That's one he'll of a crew!

[@thebipolarbear1]

Happened to Terrell Owen's too

[@craigperry3779]

If Russo came back in the early 2000's maybe he would have stopped HHH's "reign of terror" and the brand split. Then I wouldn't have quit watching 15 years ago.

[@southbeachtalent]

Craig Perry same for me. I remember being in high school and really wanting to like wrestling again. I dressed as Mankind with Mr. Socko for Halloween freshman year! But it just got worse and worse. I check in on that time period (01-04) on the network to see what I missed. Not much at all

[@cameron3578]

Nah by 2002 H had way to much influence to stop what happened, unfortunately.

[@roobear78]

you serious! look what he did to wcw and tna both were already bad but he managed to get them ever lower into the ground with his dumb shit

[@EGarrett01]

Russo's dumb shit actually had a chance to get over, HHH winning the title 30 times had no chance to ever be over.

[@beardedgoon7864]

Craig Perry Russo went back,in 2002

[@-th1rty3-]

I don't get how he never applied to be a writer for Jerry Springer after WWF. It would be still the same. People brawling, shocking twists and reveals and fans chanting. Like he said, his creative juice is gone and it's time to move on to better pastures.

[@Anomaly188]

He has the same mentality, he just thinks he's too good for Springer because he's from New York despite his lowest common denominator mindset and lack of intelligence.

[@nunyabidness4655]

Bruce, take your pill!

[@jph595]

Credits at the end of a show solidifies that this isn't real, it's just a show. And it's their job to portray it as real, even though the audience knows it's fabricated.

[@gupworld7395]

Vince Russo perfectly fit in with the crash tv era, whether you hate or love him. He simultaneously created some of the best and worst moments in pro wrestling

[@belialbradley222]

Something I've noticed going back some time now was Russo wanting a gig where he reviews shows remotely and pitches new ideas. I didn't realize it went back to 2002 (2003?) when he came back to WWF briefly. According to Prichard Russo did just that during this two week stint: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn3UYoJmqrSYaJY No way that working from home was ever going to fly. Going back to at least the 90's the lead writer job is a 24/7 occupation. This return was not going to work out.

[@craigperry3779]

This whole episode is really strange. What is the deal with having a loving relationship with your boss? I know I'm not on the road 24/7 and I'm sure shit gets weird but.... love your boss weird?

[@BigEvan96]

Writers had a direct connection to Vince. Listen to Jim Cornettes interviews where he talks about writing TV while at the McMahon house.

[@Nostalgicguy2242]

@@BigEvan96 at Vince's table while Shane and Stephanie eat their Wendy's burgers?..

[@BigEvan96]

@@Nostalgicguy2242 idk maybe.

[@jackjohnson5714]

he was just scamming him for more money

[@oldheadprisonofficer7024]

I fucking lost it on the Jim cornette part lmao

[@travelreview5962]

When I hear all these people in Hollywood talk about how hard they work as im with 100 other hits building an oil refinery 200 feet in the air on an 8" beam pulling on chains I can't help but feel they are so detached from the average person. "On the road 250 days a year"...well, a lot of people do that for a lot less money without complaining guys....and don't tell me they aren't talented or that anyone could walk in and dowhat they do. It's pretty clear it doesn't take an extraordinary amount of talent or skill to write wrestling TV because fucking Bro Russo made it to the top and stayed there.

[@Oldguy1900]

Now that Vince McMahon is retired I want to read his books,be a very very interesting side of all the stories from the last 30 years. If he ever does a 'tell all'.book.

[@skywarp55]

Yr impression of Cornette is hillarious. Thank you. Subscribed

[@robthegod1]

That cornette impression what amazing.

[@Waynes-Way]

When Russo came back, he asked McMahon why was the brand split even going on? Then he laid out every storyline he had to Vince McMahon which included the Invasion 2.0.

[@Anomaly188]

Russo is a lot like Vinnie Mac in that if something is going on that they're not directly involved with or isn't occurring inside their little bubbles then they pay no attention to it and wouldn't have a clue unless you sat down and explained it to them. That's why Scott Hall was able to just recite the "Bad Guy" speech from Scarface in his Razor Ramon pitch because Vince had never seen the movie.

[@DaemonCaedo1]

lol you need to stop saying "Vince did this and vince did that, when they both have the same name." "Vince called and Vince answered" -.-

[@erikflores4744]

Vince screwed Vince

[@Nostalgicguy2242]

That's why they named Kevin Sullivan "the Great Wizard" and Kevin Nash "Oz" back in the day so they wouldn't get confused over the names..

[@downwithputinsaveukraine1313]

Vince said to Vince hire a nanny, after which Vince said that what Vince said evinced his Vincyness.

[@thatdudewithtrexarms8594]

Russo is a character, both in real life and on screen. He wasn't someone who didn't not deliver. I always enjoyed his articles in the WWF magazine. He's still a liar and nuts. I would rather have Cornette in My writing team lead tbh.

[@rickpowers3677]

Was Russo implying that he should've made just as much money as Austin? WWE did just fine without Russo.

[@willdallas53]

Austin made 12 million dollars the year Russo left so no he wasn’t implying that.

[@jamesmccormick875]

Russo leaving was the best thing that happened to the WWE. He went to WCW and put the nail in the coffin for them then he went to TNA and ran that into the ground.

[@cphmail8079]

Only gave wwf its highest ratings ever. Gave TNA it’s highest ratings ever too. Time Warner killed WCW. All these are facts!

[@PhillyCYOSports]

Russo is credited sometimes for booking from 1997-1999, but in reality only had major fingerprints on the product from September 1998-August 1999, not even a full year. That stretch was some of the worst written tv in wrestling history.

[@WCWThunderRosa]

Cole S the build to Summerslam 1999 is one of the most goddamn confusing periods in wrestling ever

[@pusanghalaw]

can't wait for the day cornette finally clocks russo for all his crimes against pro-wrestling.

[@alfa01spotivo]

@@pusanghalaw even though he gave tna its best years

[@pusanghalaw]

tna sucked ass. even with cornette. i prefer smokey mountain or ovw.

[@GorditoCrunch343]

J Crash Just goes to show that you can get away with anything when the product is hot. 1999 is still their peak year of popularity and ratings to date.

[@neil2905]

7:01 😄😄😄

[@jasonlinton9902]

Its unreal to me that russos highest pay during the attitude era was $300k with all that money coming in plus russo wrote the story lines for the attitude era i figured his pay would be in the $1million range

[@JRock-xv3sk]

Just curious. What's Conrad's background in wrestling? Was he a backstage at some point or just a mega fan?

[@Charlydx21]

Jason Roberts also, whose he to rate every match ever wrestled and having everyone’s else’s opinion on a match useless.

[@JRock-xv3sk]

@@Charlydx21 I was just curious as too his background in wrestling. I don't mind him at all just want too know so too determine how much weight his opinions carry

[@MagusX1]

Jason Roberts he was a Super fan who was engrossed into the wrestling community. And also he is been a big part of the community doing events for AEW, and running star cast. He becomes friends with Ric Flair and he is married to one of Flairs Daughters and his sister in law is Charlotte flair. He references his past by being a Superfan by going to shows, buying things like flairs robes, and belts. And then as he got older he reached out to guys like flair. I find him rather knowledgeable and his insight is better than most fans.

[@deweycuffley4554]

He has none and still doesn't. He has money that's his background in wrestling and Ric Flair opened up door's for him.

[@Habück]

to Russo's defense: It was not so easy to "do your homework" on the last 3 years of wrestling in the year 2002 when there was no KZbin, no Network or anything ...

[@jbtornado]

There was still wrestling sites then. Wouldn’t have taken long to catch up. Plus wwf at the time listed it’s angles and storylines still on its own website. Nothing like today. But not like it was the pure dark ages

[@Habück]

@@jbtornado come on, it was a very dark age ...

[@garyliebler556]

For a guy that supposedly sucked and did nothing, so many people in the business sure can't stop talking about Russo. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

[@justinpeterson3686]

Russo is easy to slam dunk on.

[@KliqDon1983]

Everyone trashes Russo because of his failures in WCW but this guy was key to the attitude era and had the balls to tell Vince what he didn't want to hear .... That he was completely out of touch.

[@hootypoot7832]

Howa bout a re-brand? Mornings with Bruce and the Deuce.

[@downwithputinsaveukraine1313]

Dingo & The Baby!

[@thegooseman90]

I can picture Vince McMahon being dumbfounded and saying "what the F have i done."

[@johneastwood3039]

How is it not true that Russo improved the ratings? Before Russo came they were averaging a 2.2. By the time Russo left they averaged a 6.2.

[@jesterr7133]

I got eight words for ya! Austin, Rock, Undertaker, Kane, Angle, Michaels, Jericho, HHH. Those are eight of the biggest stars in the history of professional wrestling. All of them created their own gimmicks, or had them before Shitstain got there. Russo wrote a few storylines, but they and WWE would have been successful without Shitstain. Look at what happened when he didn't have those guys. If Shitstain was that good, then TNA or WCW would have taken WWE out years ago.

[@johneastwood3039]

@@jesterr7133 You seriously need to take Cornette's dick out of your mouth. WWF had Austin, Rock, Kane, HHH, Road Dog, Billy Gunn, before Russo and did nothing with them. Austin was The Ringmaster, Kane was Isaac Yankem and Fake Diesel, Road Dog was Double J Jessie James, Billy Gunn was a cowboy and Rockabilly and The Rock was Rocky Maivia. The origin of the attitude era and all those characters success came while Russo was head booker. I haven't stated a single opinion during this conversation, all just facts.

[@EarthRockerAdam]

This should be titled: Bruce Pritchard exposes how much of Vince Russo's book is BS

[@Matt-cr4vv]

24 years later and Russo still isn’t meant for the wrestling world yet has never left it

[@AxelLaw]

Russo does not understand wrestling culture. Wrestling wasn't treated like other TV shows, which is why credits weren't on RAW or AWA.

[@EmperorTaebok]

Russo is one of the biggest liars in history ... and he's not even very good at it.

[@outcast668]

I would rather listen to nails against a chalk board; then endure a Russo rant or interview. I have to listen to either Conrad Thompson and Bruce Prichard (they both have such good chemistry on the podcasts), or Jim Cornette

[@Messifi10]

Dont forget hogan. These 2 would have blow the lie detector test

[@bobbycecere]

The ratings would prove otherwise

[@Tom_Ate_95]

where did Russo lie?

[@A1PrimeTimeMovies]

Conrad was totally subtweeting Bruce when he said “why do so many grown men care so much what Vince thinks of him?” 🤣🤣

[@ryanstevens1855]

Vince Russo is better than all the writers they have now put together. Look at the ratings.

[@robkearsy2995]

I like Vince Russo but he has fixation on stripping people of titles & having Tournament's cause that was a great storyline in WCW in 2000.

[@aotp36]

it actually was pretty good

[@amoney5820]

HE HAD TORNAMINTS

[@azapro911]

Russo was delusional enough to believe that he ran the Attitude era. 21 years later, even a second moderate success hasn't happened.

[@jasonlinton9902]

Jim cornette hated what russo did to wrestling but we needed something new and jim didnt understand that the attitude era was perfect and made everybody in the buisness very very rich but jim wanted to always go with the good guy vs bad guy but people got tired of it and wanted something new and boy did we get it with stone cold steve austin and the attitude era it was crazy people started cheering the bad guys and vince didnt understand what was going neither did jim

[@bdr113080]

I wish he never left WWF. He ruined WCW, he made WCW unwatchable .

[@benashworth7653]

the only good thing was the world title push for booker t.

[@benashworth7653]

well, that's true .actually wcw might been on top of the ratings for a year and a half, but they only had the better product for about 6 months of that time. wwf was better by summerslam 97...

[@robkearsy2995]

WCW already lost a lot of luster it around the spring & early summer of 99.

[@Neelt2001]

He didn't exactly ruin WCW because WCW was already "ruined" when he was hired. But making David Arquette champion & his other ideas certainly DIDN'T HELP matters.

[@robminmonaca]

neelt2001 it was adding insult to injury at that point for WCW.

[@KnowledgeVariable]

I luv everyone here

[@conniecarroll7222]

Who all truly believes Russo tried to hold up Vince for one million and expect to get it ?

[@davidgraham8299]

Pretty much everyone.

[@bestinthesmokersworld2422]

Pritchard's Jim Cornette impression sounds more like Paul Bearer.

[@GregBurch]

That Cornette impression was the Russo of impressions.

[@michaelking2582]

It's like listening to O.J. talk about Scott Peterson.

[@robkeller3431]

the Cornette impression had me cracking up 😆

[@dustinrhodes4793]

Sounds like Russo just didn't want to work lol. I want out at 40, I know what I'm worth. Did he honestly think he was worth more then 350k a year in the 90's?!?!?!?! Lmao

[@tomwalker389]

2:05 If that is the case, then Russo should have been made to pay a 9-figure restitution to the business.

[@Decetop]

Vince Russo should never return to wrestling for the same reason Jon Gruden shouldn't have returned to coaching. These guys think that they can just come back into a business after a decade without any new ideas and for some reason they'll get the same result. You can like Russo and his writing if you please but even his biggest fans have to admit he doesn't exactly have a wealth of ideas. His "swerves" were so overused that they're basically booking poison at this point. Not to mention he has a habit of overstating his influence on a product's success. Anyone who has read his schlocky book can tell you he truly believes he is the sole reason for both Stone Cold AND the Rock. He places writing above all else, talent be damned, but TNA nearly died under his watch because their writing sucked and they lost all their talent. WWE does have a writing problem, but Russo's slop isn't the answer.

[@benashworth2278]

well, u called the gruden thing

[@Funkizeiro]

TNA was in its prime during Russo...it almost died when Hogan and Bischoff showed up and tried having a Monday Night War

[@GarseJanacek]

@@benashworth2278 Gruden is intentionally stripping the team to rebuild.

[@benashworth2278]

@@GarseJanacek I hope it is intentional

[@BizzyIzzy87]

Damn dude was way over paid

[@seabrook1976]

Russo may be every bit as bad as people say he was, but he has a good point about WWE not rolling the credits.

[@mach1sports]

1 wrestling,2 wrestling , 3 wrestling go!!!

[@walterlevesque4879]

That is a bs response though "just get a nanny"

[@callum6486]

Nah McMahon is right

[@GuyBurny]

@@callum6486 how’s that?

[@jesterr7133]

Conrad went out of his way to defend Russo due to their friendship, but his defense doesn't make any sense. If Russo got out of the wrestling business because he did not want to be in it, then why is he still constantly doing a podcast about wrestling? Why is he still trying to be as close to it as he can? Why does he talk about it so much if he hates wrestling as much as he claims to? Why isn't he doing something else? You would think he would have caught on writing somewhere in the last 20 years if he was really that good, and had other opportunities.

[@ChalkInTheLand]

Obviously I don't know what Vince McMahon really did or didn't say to Russo. But if I had to bet money on what was true, I'd put it on Russo is making most of this up. I don't believe Vince McMahon would pay a writer $1,000,000 for just over a year.

[@TheNextStep851]

"Russo always talks about how he improved ratings and did this and did that, and when you go back and you look at them a lot of this is just not true." www.2xzone.com/ratings/rawhistory.shtml#.WpIPGHzLiUk This statement is completely untrue. During his time writing RAW the ratings climbed from a 1.9 in March of 1997, all the way up to the 5-6 range every week in 1999. Sometimes even the 7-8 range. In 1999 they dropped below a 5.0 just twice, in August. I enjoy the show and listen regularly, but Prichard comes across like he has a real axe to grind whenever he talks about Russo. He tries to paint him as this scheming liar when in fact the numbers are there for all to see for those who can be bothered to look. In WCW, Russo and Ferrara were putting the building blocks in place in late 1999 when they were allowed to get on with their jobs. In 2000 it was an uphill battle to stop the bleeding. Had WCW not formed a booking committee in January 2000 from which he then went home, it's likely he'd have managed to get the ratings back up to a 4.0 by the spring instead of having to recover from a 1.8 when he came back. RAW's rating had climbed up almost 2 whole points by the end of 1997 when he was 9-10 months into writing the shows. He was given 3 months with Nitro before they changed things up on him. Not gonna happen. www.gerweck.net/tv-ratings/1999-ratings/ www.gerweck.net/tv-ratings/2000-ratings/ When he was writing for TNA the average rating went up every single year from 2006 until 2009, and they hit their peak in 2011. Once he left, they began to drop, just like RAW's did in 2000 (mainly in the fall). Russo = Ratings. Behold the rant of truth, ladies & gents.