STW #51: Vince Russo in the WWF/WWE

On this episode: From the video store to the head writer, Bruce Prichard covers the rise of Vince Russo in the WWF for over three hours! From The Rock, to DX, and Stone Cold the "Russo Era" was all about "Attitude." You've heard Russo tell his story but what REALLY happened? Hear the good, the bad, and the ugly on our longest show ever!
Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard is an audio podcast that discusses topics, events, wrestlers and memorable moments through the lens of former WWE executive Bruce Prichard co-hosted by Conrad Thompson.
The show was launched in August 2016 on MLW Radio. The episodes typically range from 2 hours to 4 hours in length, and include discussions about previous WWE pay-per-views and former WWE wrestlers.
Wake up with the Morning Deuce with Bruce: www.Facebook.com/SomethingToWrestle
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[@TheSilentBattle]

9:55 start

[@kalebrunton527]

Maynard Breslow cheers bro

[@medes5597]

Thank God.

[@jasonrhodes766]

Maynard Breslow nice one man.

[@SAM-ru4vx]

bro they gotta pays the bills.

[@jonburgundy1]

The real MVP

[@SSJ2Phenom]

Russo: "I created Brawl for All so Bradshawrrrr would get his ass kicked."

[@Eric-wu7bp]

Bro!

[@johnsouthard541]

@Russell Adler fuck Bradshaw

[@thatguy123442]

To

[@sethputnamsghost6538]

Ha! You forgot The word bro in 4 spots!🤣👍 take care man!🍻

[@jamesjoshua3288]

Who takes their kids to go see American Pie? Vince Russo. Makes sense.

[@justinthibodeaux6380]

The 90s was a different time brother. The things that were on prime time television could never be on tv from 2012-now. Kids who grew up in the 90s seen a lot of things that wouldn’t be considered appropriate today but nobody thought anything of it

[@wwekane2468]

I just found out Vince Russo created me

[@scottyb003]

Bro, swear to God bro. Me too, bro.

[@joemama7163]

I knew your mom, it's certainly possible.

[@pikkon899]

Russo created the atmosphere but renamed it "air" as a swerve to fool the marks. "Bro. marks are not gonna know the difference, bro. They're marks, bro"

[@amd1273]

@@pikkon899 lol

[@Super122291]

@@amd1273 stop laughing. Idiot

[@hillsjason1]

“Man how can you not love Mantar? He had hooves for feet!” God I love Bruce 😂

[@ThatguyMatt12]

@Anonymous Anonymous 💯👍

[@i_used_adblock_to_watch_this]

I'm glad somebody likes Bruce.

[@jacksonthawbred4608]

jason hills because your a loser mark who wears new day t shirts lol

[@Josh_J9]

But if russo wrote mantar fat bruce would of bashed it

[@hillsjason1]

Just amused by the fact that he’s talking complete shit and knows it, but doubled down for a laugh. You guys could do with chilling the fuck out, what you getting so angry about things you’re not involved in for? 😂

[@vinson311]

I rented PPVs from my local video store. They even had tapes of shows before my time that I enjoyed as well!

[@robhart6120]

And

[@Krimsonking1998]

ElitePizza311 I used to do the exact same thing. I would go to my local vid store and rent all the wrestling PPV’s

[@MCLogikILL]

There was a mom and pop video rental place by my old house that had a bunch of old Jim Crocket and Mid-South tapes. I loved that place.

[@j.3o21]

And hook up 2 VCRs, dub that shit, and add to the collection. My life from 11-16yo, then I got laid.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@j.3o21 What happened after that? You chased pussy around until you knocked someone up or something like that? I must've missed out, because when I lost my virginity it wasn't this life-altering experience a lot of other folk had. It was fun, the chick did porno a few months later. I don't think those two things are related, it's just an interesting bit of trivia. I never understood why people mention getting laid at the end of a statement of behavior like someone's either going to judge them for the behavior "naw it's cool bro, I'm not a nerd I got LAID afterwards so that cured me of my questionable hobbies because I spent more time getting fucking LAID! HIGH FIVE!" or the experience was so impactful it changed their entire outlook on existence. Let your freak flag fly, my man. There are more women than men on this planet, you almost have to work at going through this world a chaste shut-in. You can trip and fall into pussy when you least expect it, and for whatever reason the older you get the easier it becomes. I miss being able to waste my time on pointless bullshit.

[@misaelchavarin5931]

Bro, I created the universe. - Vince Russo

[@JohnCena-ew1mf]

And then Jim Cornette buried it.

[@mypronounsarehewhothinksfo7083]

After reading Russo’s book I just want to say, Thank you sir for creating Wrestling for us all to enjoy. And also, thank you for the sky, trees, homes, food, and everything else.

[@delgrady10]

Bro…

[@chriscostanzo2630]

Corny is going to lose his mind

[@lxxredxxl9587]

Lmao

[@dannyjaco8997]

That’s hilarious. Lol

[@D2Kprime]

Rumor and innuendo from the Wrestling Observer states that Vince Russo also invented air.

[@timmylong833]

D2K Prime oh hell yeah! All praise Vince Russo!!

[@michaelforsythe9350]

Bro, people love air.

[@timmylong833]

michael forsythe you got that right pal! Air is good shit

[@jonnya4209]

Hot air, I could buy

[@ericlambert261]

Give this more likes!!!

[@CBright7831]

Oh what I would give to have seen Paul Heyman's face when Vince Russo walked into the booking room in 2003. 😆

[@papamike612]

His book was 8000 pages long until they edited out all the “bro”s

[@tonyshaw8185]

lol

[@j.3o21]

So its 2 pages now

[@timmylong833]

papamike612 do you have the original copy?

[@gladroad]

"AND I'LL NEVER FORGET"

[@mider9996]

Hahahahaha!!!

[@sheriffkimbo]

My uncle had a video rental business. Blockbuster ruined them too. Netflix was an oddly sweet revenge for many.

[@xoynialedmcesoentill6034]

That makes no real sense besides being vengeful. Netflix sucks. I don't think you understand how things actually work; not just what you're meant to believe.

[@gregjohnson2824]

Being vengeful can be sweet.

[@tomjones5650]

Ready with Charge Kimbo.

[@josephohrablo4866]

The Vince in hospital with Austin hitting him with the bed pan was the best writing in WWE history imo

[@jasoncutshaw8401]

BS.. things like that ruin Wrestling because it's has NOTHING TO DO WITH WRESTLING

[@thomass789]

I thought it was CRAP and was pretty SHITTY.

[@thekingofkingsrp]

@@jasoncutshaw8401 I have to say with the state of things now, ratings and popularity seem at odds with that statement.

[@johnsouthard541]

DX invading dubbya See dubbya rashlin was pretty good

[@thekingofkingsrp]

@@johnsouthard541 hell yeah it was!

[@justinroark88]

You could tell Russo didn’t write the book because he doesn’t say “bro” every other word.

[@johnfinne]

I read both of his books and he said "bro" every three words. Maybe it was edited to just three instead of every other.

[@djd8a202]

@@johnfinne Broconomy bro..

[@lukasskywalker6514]

@@johnfinne damn, why’d you put yourself through that?

[@lukasskywalker6514]

@@johnfinne was it for a punishment or something?

[@travismcdonald6576]

Very good episode. I especially love how Prichard slams Russo for taking credit for so many ideas, then he takes the credit.

[@Vsvstubbs]

Lol

[@king425onlyforrest7]

Yes I agree, I feel Bruce is being childish and wont ever give Russo credit for anything. Part of his behavior is why I don't trust Bruce anymore than I do Russo

[@oslowilde6961]

Well Bruce gives JR and Cornett credit

[@alr5008]

Probably because Russo takes credit for stuff that he didn't create

[@HolyTbox]

I saw Russo in the crowd of a Raw back in '97 when he was Vic Venom and writing for the magazine. I was only 12 at the time and got him to autograph my program. I still have that program.

[@JoelChavez6121]

Russo blasts JR from going back to on the road too soon and being an ego maniac then books himself as WCW world championship

[@olbloodngut4039]

Russo has always been upset that JR was over.

[@peterf08]

@@olbloodngut4039 Russo has just done a podcast with JR and frequently says he best announcer ever..

[@olbloodngut4039]

@@peterf08 Ok, I didn't know that, but at the time he had to be upset about JR being over.

[@goharderthanyesterday3935]

He booked himself as champion because his first run in WCW the ratings rose from a 2.8 to a 3.5. They sent him home and brought him back when the ratings dipped again , so out of frustration he booked himself as champion.

[@RemmyRiffs]

I love JR but the truth IS that JR is and alway's has been an asshole behind the scenes and has buried multiple people. He also holds grudges for FAR too long. JR isn't exactly the "good ol' JR" that we saw commentate during the Attitude Era. The guy will alway's be my all time favorite commentator but I've listened to enough shoot interviews to come to the conclusion that JR was/is a douche...him being drunk that one night wasn't the SOLE reason he was fired, they were looking for a reason to fire JR a long while before that because of his attitude and just being a miserable guy in general.

[@henryocean5714]

Everybody laughs at the corny impression but my god that Terry Funk is hilarious and I had to do a double take with the Vince YOU'RE FIRED voice

[@jeffreyriley8742]

Yeah, his Funk is perfect. He has that little warble down pat. And his Vince is priceless. "God damn it, pal!" pops into my head all the time.

[@animallaj7238]

M

[@dpcrawford83]

I love the Terry Funk impersonation but the best is when Cornette does an impression of Bruce doing his Corny impression.

[@yankeeking921]

Funny when it's a bad idea it was Vince and Vince but when it was a good idea it was the committee.

[@carbonsilkthread]

I almost wish Conrad would’ve made up other promos or characters that “russo takes credit for” just to hear Bruce freak out. Great stuff!

[@BRISKETandWATERCRESS]

Dhh 55u6 7ol llo lpij cz cz ,5÷,+

[@jdh9219]

Yup, the women will only go so far with McMahon In charge because they will never be pushed to the top of the card….like headlining nights of wrestlemania and being pushed beyond belief. Russo is such a lying self righteous tool, among many other things. He created stone cold, the rock, the attitude slogan/era, the screw job, heel McMahon, Triple H, and Chyna and many others. He’s basically a creative genius. It’s a little known fact that the guy who wrote RAW by copying stuff he saw from Jerry Springer was also the ghost writer for some of the greatest movies ever like Casino, Goodfellas , and The Godfather. And lots more. Just an EXPERT story teller with limitless creativity smh.

[@pikkon899]

J.R. wanting to go out there despite the Bells' Palsy doesn't sound like a case of ego but more or less a case of him not wanting to back down from the disease. Ego would be J.R. saying he didn't need anyone else next to him because he was just so damn good, which he never did. That whole section was Russo being biased. He already admitted to not liking J.R. and him "pleading" with J.R. to not go out there was him trying to stay face in front of a guy he didn't like to begin with. That was low.

[@melbias5046]

no that was ego my friend

[@Redhotshawntexas]

@@melbias5046 how do Russo’s dingleberries taste?

[@melbias5046]

@@Redhotshawntexas I don't know but you should know since your thinking about them.

[@justinrieper8883]

Even worse, you can't see how showing your face in the midst of a disease battle is Jim Ross needing to feel the love of all his fans, to continue to endure the battle and reinforce his fire to overcome an unfortunate set of life's cards. Sorry buddie, but your perception of Jim's battle with this disease is a flawed inability to sympathize with the man's reasoning in showing himself to the public after the fact. Sounds like you and Russo would be great fishing pals!

[@evilsWa]

@@justinrieper8883Bell's palsy isn't a disease.

[@sdd619]

Its funny to hear Bruce at the start of this episode. He is all happy & in a good mood. Then he hears what Russo wrote about him that Conrad had read out of Russo's book. Bruce was checked out of the rest of the show. I would assume that Bruce had not read the book up until this episode.

[@tommyhallum2054]

Of course Bruce didn't read that book who would want to torture themselves like that and as far as checking out I don't know about that cause yeah he disagreed with a lot of things said in the book sure but he also gave Vince russo a lot of credit In this interview and agree to alot of what Russo said and that's really what makes me believe Bruce's point of view. Russo's biggest problem is that it's not good enough that he was a big time player in the attitude era he needs everyone to confirm that he was the only player and that just not the case.

[@creoleDJ]

He said a few times that he didn’t yet read the book & a lot of the stuff he heard was news to him

[@creoleDJ]

The 1:47:13 mark seems to exemplify that!

[@kevinjones8902]

9u I 9u and I'm 99.1 99.1 for for you guys 👦

[@ZakynthosDiamandis]

​@@tommyhallum2054 by checking out I think he meant, it noticeably deflated Bruce somewhat. It perhaps struck a nerve as there may have been some truth in what Russo said about Bruce not being a sincere person. Notice how Bruce mentions they *used* to be friends. Then later when asked if it's standard for WWF employees to cut people off when they leave the company, Bruce says yes and that there's a strange culture in the WWF. Something Bruce himself was guilty of.

[@josereyes1148]

i think russo hears an idea, thinks about it in his mind and over time ends up thinking it was his idea. i have a friend like that. Montreal, DX invasion, the rock. the pattern is the same.

[@j.3o21]

It was all his idea bro.

[@MrStuDubb]

John Wigmore “Idear”

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

I knew somebody like that, too. It's almost a compulsive thing, like they don't even realize that's what they're doing.

[@mrrickson3571]

Considering he's offered multiple times to come on the show and invited Bruce Conrad Cornette and bitchoff to come on his show and debate it man to man and they all were afraid to shows who was lying and who wasn't. Oh and he (Russo) pronouns pal aired a clip of The Rock giving him credit for what he claimed on a talk show years ago...I know who I believe. Prichard Cornette and bitchoff are all well known for talking bullshit and lying.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

@@mrrickson3571 No one's AFRAID to go on Russo's show. They don't want to bring him any business. These people apply wrestling principles to their podcasts - it's all a work and by going on someone's show they agree to "work" with them - i.e. Don Callis and Disco Inferno bury each other all the time, but always end up going on each other's little shows, because they know that stimulates interest in both of their programs.

[@carbonsilkthread]

I actually liked the blood bath from the Brood.

[@scottyb003]

Me too. It fit the gimmick of the Brood.

[@SirHaroldMaguire]

I liked that every wrestler got scared or grossed out except Big Bossman "they d'un pissed me off!"

[@account9434]

Conrad could be a fictional person, bruce just asking himself question in a different voice

[@Mimichele1719]

I've relistened to this episode about 5 times or more. Simply bc I love hearing Bruce so mad.🤣🤣

[@andrewlivingston1590]

So it’s not just me!

[@Mimichele1719]

@@andrewlivingston1590 Nope! Lol I don't even know how many times I have relistened. ,I do know the number is high.

[@bradsmith1300]

Yeah I’m at about 6 or 7 😂😂

[@Phafanapolis]

@55 minutes in - Russo says you can't book like you did 20 years ago... which is exactly how Vinco Russo books today. His solution to everything is "Attitude Era."

[@brickadoebaebi2951]

Even Tho Some Of His Booking From That Era Could Be Useful In WWE Right Now,Nothing Too Crazy Like The Owen Stunt. But Still A Decent Edgy Vibe On The Show.

[@j.3o21]

Its called "Attitude Era Bro"

[@GLPitt1]

He doesn't book anything. He doesn't work with any major wrestling promotion.

[@ultimatematty]

@@GLPitt1 Check out Devotion Championship Wrestling. Russo books for them right now.

[@peterf08]

It's actually not Vince said the business needed to develop into a more reality based programme and he was right because that's we're TV is today

[@JaizMusic]

1:45:53 In fairness to Russo, Bret Hart himself stated on the WWE Greatest Rivalries - Shawn Michaels Vs. Bret Hart DVD that he wanted to come in with a machine gun, and contemplated ways to do it. So Russo's not delusional about Bret's extreme bitterness about the Montreal screwjob. If anyone has seen other comments I made on STW videos, yes Shawn Michaels is my favorite wrestler of all time.

[@johnnieriot13]

It was called a pound sign

[@vapeymcvape5000]

It's always been called a 'hash' in the UK

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Back in my day we split the difference and just called it a pound of hash.

[@brandonford4474]

A better drinking game would be to take a drink with every add.

[@Vsvstubbs]

No shit

[@Vsvstubbs]

83 ads

[@Carelock]

Brandon Ford Do you have a deathwish?

[@rondeschenes]

Thank you. Between the product plugs and KZbin's ads, this is unbearable. And I work in advertising.

[@ivorypoet6972]

Podcast ads or youtube ads? they both are out if control

[@goodbrothermusic2740]

Russo saying Austin and Taker had a bad match because they wanted to show mutual respect is bullshit. If I'm not mistaken, that's the match where Austin accidentally got knocked out by Taker. Taker lifted his head up quick and caught Austin on the chin. Earl Hebner wakes up Austin and says you know where you are? Austin: "No" Hebner: "wake up boy you're in the garden"

[@nickcox1408]

I remember that one. Taker knocked goofy. Austin said that match isnt his favorite.

[@DoctorBastard]

Bro bro you know bro, bro you know bro bro you know you know bro bro bro you know you know bro bro bro bro...

[@aaronsnacks6128]

You know bro I I I I I I d I ya ya know bro Jeff bro these marks bro. Fuckin bird man but he is entertaining.

[@stevenkunzer9027]

Doctor Bastard aaas

[@MrRwk314]

I'm gonna be completely honest with you bro.

[@PhilMiCoochie]

Yeah bro I know bro, do you know bro? Huh bro? These marks bro they..theyre so freaking out of control bro. Bro bro bro bro bro

[@the6footplustree75]

How does he talk to girls?

[@troywright359]

Sorry Pritchard, you know that's not fair to expect him to write both Raw and Smackdown for no extra money

[@richardwmgauthier]

Yeah I'm not a big fan of Russo but can you imagine writers on say NCIS being told they now have to write NCIS Los Angeles and NCIS in the same time frame for no additional money. It would never happen.

[@Nobleshield]

Fair or not though, that's how it works. The issue was more Russo thinking that it should change for him.

[@troywright359]

@@Nobleshield that wasn't how it worked then, nor is it how it works now. Back then, they wrote for Raw, PPV + Heat. Thats one weekly full 2 hour show and ppvs, along with heat to tie up any loose ends. There wasn't a precedent of 2 weekly full shows. Now, they have separate writers for separate shows. If your boss just randomly came to you and said he would add an extra two thirds workload, meaning you can never see your family, you have the right to reject it. It's not a fair offer, because it wasn't what was offered then, nor is it what's offered now.

[@cip7068]

Here's all the credit for the Attitude era: McMahon, Austin, Rock , HHH, Michael's, Undertaker , Foley ... Most talented roster in Wrestling history.

[@dkres82]

Russo does deserve some credit though. His writing was good at that point.

[@dkres82]

@SPACE MONKEY1102 yes I know why he's hated. Just saying the early AE stuff was gold.

[@dementedavenger2784]

Gotta give some credit to the Hardyz, edge and Christian, and the dudlyz for injecting life into the tag teams

[@melaniel.4269]

@@dkres82 Nope. His writing was abysmal. His ideas were idiotic. From the Brawl for All to Beaver Cleavage to Meat to Hawk wanting to committ suicide to Kai-En-Tai wanting to castrate Val Venis he only wrote shit. He also wanted to kill any momentum popular wrestlers had (as Mick Foley writes in his first book, when the Rock & Sock Connection took off and became popular, Russo wanted to do 10 segments with them in just one Raw Show. Foley and Rock vetoed because they knew that would be overkill and kill them instantly with the crowd or the other example when during the height of Austin's run Russo insisted that he should do a feud with Jeff Jarrett - and lose to him. Austin rightfully vetoed) The absurd thing is that Russo even gets credit for stuff he had nothing to do with it. Like creating Goldust (that was mostly Vince McMahon), Kane (Cornette and Prichard booked his first few months) or the "This is your Life" segment (which was the idea of WWF Photographer Bill Banks upon which Foley and Rock improvised most of the stuff) or Austin - McMahon which basically was completely made by those two on their own. So no, his writing wasn't good at all, it was already abysmal but because the WWF at the time had one of the greatest Rosters in the history of Wrestling nobody seemed to really notice since the Top Stars were basically booking and improvising thier own ideas with Vince McMahon chiming in every once and again before he became completely idiotic (after all Katie Vick was his idea...) Really, Russo did nothing different in WWF than what he did in WCW and TNA later with the sole difference that most of his "ideas" were shot down in WWF while everywhere else he had a free hand and could show just how clueless he was about wrestling.

[@PhilMiCoochie]

He had a million ideas but only about 10 ideas were ok then Vinny and Pat put their spin on it to make it gold

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

I'm actually incredibly surprised that so much of Cornette's rants seem to be corroborated by Bruce and Conrad here - he started so early, burying his superiors to get himself over rather than prove himself through effort, results, and time rendered. 1:43:35 - Time stamp of Russo taking credit for something shitty for no reason - for those who recently listened to Cornette's "Montreal omnibus" where he admits to coming up with the actual finish and keeping it under wraps all this time, those who are on the fence about either account can listen to them both and decide for themselves, though Cornette's version does seem like he's genuinely getting something off his chest and I have to admit I kinda find the irony of CORNETTE being one of the guys responsible for delivering the coup de gras to kayfabe pretty compelling. Why the hell would he lie about something like that?

[@couchdweller9364]

I just recently listened to cornett's show a few weeks ago and I feel your correct on think it was cornies came up with the finish I just the way he told the story as he tells it screwing bret was not even a thought it was just do it this way and get the belt off him. And if bret just went to the back and went to wcw after it would have never been as big as it is now bret just never left it alone and was all but hurt

[@king425onlyforrest7]

I'm not saying Cornette is lying about all of this, but how is this possible when he wasn't an agent then? They would have leaned more on Jack Lanza or Patterson for match layouts.

[@jimreily7538]

Yep, Russo is still trying to interject himself, trying to take credit for things he never did. Inflating his own importance. It's easy to think "oh, Cornette is exaggerating about Russo", until you hear stories from Russo's own book. Then it becomes apparent - hes as bad, if not worse, than how Cornette has portrayed him. Russo was constantly trying to undercut, and destroy his coworkers, by bad-mouthing them to bosses and higher-ups. Everything Cornette has said about him, has been corroborated. And it's a pattern of behaviour. Just read the email Russo sent to Dixie Carter, trying to get Cornette fired from TNA. Routinely doing the same things. Not talented, not creative - actually, any actual work seems to have been done by Es Ferrara. Russo's speciality, it seems, was manipulation.

[@troywright359]

You can tell when Pritchard doesn't remember properly, he'll just echo Conrad or say "Yeah"

[@KobaAM]

Troy Wright lol yeah. It happens a lot. Conrad asks in great detail and then Bruce repeats it as if he was gonna say that the whole time.

[@shadowman2192]

The SH#%T stain on the underwear of life. ~Jim Cornette

[@RickRomo]

1:01:15 the legend of Chainsaw Charlie. God damn you, Bruce Prichard. hahahahaha

[@rexsexson5349]

The book of bro. By bro Vince Bro Russo, bro. Ch 1 Bro Ch 2 uh Bro Ch 3 Bro Bro Ch 4 bro bro bro bro bro bro Ch 5 - 99 New York is better than everywhere else Bro! Ch 100 What's wrestling bro?

[@scottyb003]

Chapter 101: I swear to God the end Bro.

[@jackharper8076]

@@scottyb003 bra

[@StephOMacRules]

Preface word by Matt Riddle.

[@RobberStormfire]

Russo is such a tool. At first, I thought it was just a trendy thing to hate on him. But now I've seen so much about him, interviews, etc. Cornette is absolutely right about this guy. Just listen to everyone that has ever worked with him, Bischoff, Cornette, Prichard, lots of wrestlers, you hear the same thing. He somehow thinks he changed everything when obviously it was the talent on the roster. He didn't make Stone Cold Steve Austin.

[@troywright359]

Shady runs with Shady. Sometimes it's Slim.

[@micmaliss]

And yet, Vince Russo produced the highest season of WWE television to this day.

[@warshipsatin8764]

i think vince russo got annoyed that he was never given the credit he deserved so he decided to take credit for everything just to annoy people like bruce and cornette

[@Maky313]

Interesting podcast... It essentially feels like not enough people give Vince Russo enough credit and Vince Russo gives himself too much credit.

[@kylemma33]

Vince Russo's ego is so unbelievably out of control.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

I like to think unemployment keeps a leash on it for the time being.

[@romans52345-cy3tq]

Cornette's is bigger

[@Carelock]

romans52345 As is his bank account...

[@romans52345-cy3tq]

@@Carelock Cornette got no money

[@Carelock]

romans52345 You right, most people I know with 10 acres and a 5000 square ft house who don’t work are struggling mightily.

[@Daysleeper1990]

Russo used his son as a case study for cool content, wrote all these raunchy segments based on that info, then was shocked when McMahon was selling merch to preteen and teenage kids lol. Come on dude lol.

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Possibility 1) The "my kid was a case study" story was complete horse-hockey and he just stole his ideas from ECW. Possibility 2) Russo was even getting worked by his own kid and his son was stealing ideas from ECW. Bonus Round: Steve Austin stole his finishing move from Mikey Whipwreck and got the idea for his "3:16" promo from a "Dudley 3:16" sign held aloft by Sign Guy Dudley on the day Steve Austin debuted for the promotion and also he took Sandman's beer gimmick, because Russo isn't the only one who decided it doesn't count if it's not on network television.

[@brandongordin9774]

@@fuzzydunlop7928 possibility 3- ADD Russo threw a whole bunch of ideas out there, most were juvenile. And Vince cmahon took the turds and found the pearls.

[@viccrown8188]

Easy Bruce, we ALL loved the Brood Blood Baths. I loved allll of that.

[@brandondickson4266]

Conrad I fucking love you! "Did Vince get in them guts" that's my guy right there lmao

[@Justme42yay]

I believe the forward to Russos book was “Bro, bro bro bro this bro bro was bro my bro career bro.”

[@cmonhitme419]

@2.18.00 " i dont know how the business has survived without him inventing everything," BP

[@adamsBASSCOVERS]

1:16:46 Bruce is about to lose it and after 2:17:16 of hearing Vince Russo take credit for EVERYTHING, Bruce snaps🤣

[@vxrdrummer]

Bruce impersonating Vince over Sable looking at Stone Cold made me piss my pants!

[@daleharris3809]

3:05:00 "Vince is calling me while I'm at the movies with my kids, you're really gonna call me during American Pie?" Me: You took your kids to see American Pie??? 🤔🤔🤔

[@mjbeezer]

Right?! What a douche.

[@PuertoVerdean]

Russo’s talking out of his ass, but I disagree with Bruce. You should definitely get more money if you’re writing both Smackdown and Raw.

[@dmblan82]

"7,000%"...had me rolling

[@scottyb003]

Just Vince and Vince is a good name for a t.v. show.

[@ryanandrewblack1458]

I'll always believe Russo's success in the WWF only came from the fact that he had several other very talented writers to filter his ideas through. Without those elements- well, we saw what happened to WCW...

[@TakersMissy]

+bill gates - hey, I HATE Vince Russo, but I wouldn't go THAT far! Gillberg vs. Ellsworth would be better than ANYTHING POS Russo did, especially in WCW - imho, that is. ;-)

[@TakersMissy]

+Nick Conte, my understanding is that Russo WAS purposely obnoxious - well, maybe to say purposely ARROGANT for sure. The biggest mystery is how in the HELL did he ever convince McMahon to hire him in the first place!!

[@pinnacleproductions6275]

Ryan Andrew Black Were you even old enough to watch WCW? Why don’t you watch 1999 WCW shows, truth is it was 100X better than WWE is today as far as creative goes. Don’t get production mixed with creative! Russo’s production was horrible in WCW but if you watch it he had some good ideas & if he was able to stick with it, things would’ve been better.

[@CarterHayes77]

WCW was an entire different beast but, it was dysfunctional from the top down. Even bischoff wanted to quit earlier than he did because of it. Russo jumped onto a sinking ship, he didnt have control over benoit, saturn, guerrero, malenko leaving or bret hart getting concussed and forcing him to retire, or goldberg nearly losing his arm smashing limos. I'm no Russo fan, he did a lot of bad stuff but WCW had probably 5/6 guys as a collective you could blame for its quality and downfall

[@Daysleeper1990]

​@@CarterHayes77 Russo jumped onto a sinking ship but he definitely wasn't removing water with a bucket as much as he was putting in new holes to make it sink faster. Arquette as champion? All the pole matches? His terrible on screen persona? His shoot on Hogan? WCW was floundering after the Halloween Havoc 98 debacle and the Fingerpoke Of Doom in 99 but Russo would have been one of those guys as a collective you could blame for its quality and downfall. His tenure was pure garbage.

[@S1873]

Is it true that Russo pitched Conrad the idea of Save with Conrad?

[@Dredsed]

Conrad is doing wrestling a service ❤

[@Natefuentes]

Still my favorite STW episode

[@blazerocker1734]

As if any more proof was needed, Jim Cornette's view of Russo and reasons for despising him have been publicly confirmed.

[@Rschr101]

Find a new idol. Cornette likes to watch other men sleep with his wife.

[@Slechy_Lesh]

@@Rschr101 He likes to share, so what?

[@crewdawg2008]

@@Rschr101 Cornette's personal life is irrelevant as it relates to his knowledge and understanding of professional wrestling. I disagree with Cornette's political leanings, but as wrestling is concerned, there's practically nobody more knowledgable.

[@samwell707]

Corny is pissed because he didn’t creat the attitude era. Simple

[@josephboza7448]

Russo thinks he is jesus christ. How ironic the last major thing he did for Vince was to make Chyna win the WWF Interconential Championship in of all things a good house keeping match. I think Russo wanted to be like the character Mr. McMahon and be on tv every week. WCW stroke his damn ego when they were practically on their death bed.

[@jasonbattaglia2390]

HE HAD HOOVES GOD DAMMIT!!! LMAO ...😂😂😂😂😂DEAD

[@diamondj.4076]

jason battaglia 🤣🤣🤣

[@mider9996]

As a kid I didn’t care much about the adult garbage, I loved watching Austin and The Rock.

[@cmonhitme419]

@1.02.00 funk impression!!!!!! LOL

[@DeanMoxley87]

Great episode !! Shame their was no Bro Meter 😂

[@johngist3761]

That Gold Dust implant part was sad.

[@joshuajackson7596]

These wrestlemania tapes are the ones that patrick bateman always has to return.

[@creoleDJ]

26:18 I swear, the ideas Russo came up with! I see why Jim Cornette goes off on Russo like he does!

[@FAITHandLOGIC]

As opposed to the "genius" of Vince McMahon before Russo became part of creative? McMahon and his ultra creative ideas of wrestling plumbers, tax agents, hockey goons, repo men, pirates, mounties, mantaurs, res roosters, vikings, clowns, body donnas, max moons, police officers, hog farmers, ball players on strike, alligator men, ninjas, gobbledygookers, garbage men, evil dentists, giant sasquach, a masked guy named "who"? ... and I can go one.

[@TheNanoman79]

Isn't there video of Vince doing the Shawn Michaels' zipline entrance? I swear I have seen it

[@fthomason93]

Juan Jimenez that's definitely something Vince would do

[@kmv683]

It might be on the Heartbreak and Triumph dvd but yes, Vince tested out the zipline personally

[@michaelmearney5721]

Really interesting to hear about his 03 return.

[@viccrown8188]

1:37:14 I remember this time very vividly, and I wanted to know what was next in every storyline, I couldn’t wait. Everyone had a storyline from the bottom of the card to the top of the card and they most of the time intertwined. And the moment he left WWF, is when all that disappeared and it went right back to the top guys.

[@kevinsteele8771]

Vince Russo invented wrestling, didn't he? Let's ask him bro 😜

[@RagnarokB]

Bro, you don't know the half of it bro. Russo actually invented the very notion of inventing things! Bro! Almost forgot that last one...

[@tnadrg1982]

Bro bro bro i created the attitude era bro bro bro

[@Vsvstubbs]

Ads killed this show

[@theRagingBolt]

Bruce Prichard criticizes Vince Russo's creative ideas, goes back to WWE in a top level creative position and gives us Nikki A.S.H., Lilly the doll, Karrion Kross in a red bondage gimp suit, Doudrop, Seamus in a stupid looking mask, Johnny Drip Drip, America's MOIST Wanted, water gun fights, Matt Riddle on a kick scooter with birds flying out of his ass on his entrance, and that's just what happened within the past 6 months with a lot more to follow.

[@markleopard8960]

I wish cornett had been on this show with them lol.

[@mider9996]

Well god damn!

[@bubbagrace2997]

And Ron Goldman with a gun?

[@cobrakaiisback4709]

When I win the powerball I am going to have vince russo and jim cornette run a wrestling company together. I will go bankrupt after 3 to 5 shows but oh what an amazing 3 to 5 shows of wrestling it will be.

[@skippythealien9627]

Cornette would have had an aneurysm just thinking about Russo lmfao too bad Prichard and Cornette aren't on good terms anymore

[@nickcox1408]

Not sure corny would've made it through the whole podcast 😂

[@ryanstevens1855]

Russo may not be the legendary writer he thinks he is but I would much rather watch any Raw or shockingly, any WCW stuff he wrote over this boring trash they are airing on tv today.

[@bryannason5063]

Ryan Stevens you need some help

[@yousuck1563]

Ryan is right actually ..stuff Russo wrote was trash for most part but today's product somehow some way set the bar even lower

[@Nostalgicguy2242]

Russo is HOT!!

[@danielthain5351]

Agreed

[@neondeion12]

@You Suck "for most part but today's product somehow some way set the bar even lower" Isn't that the best way to describe the stuff Russo wrote in WCW and TNA?

[@seanmcclure]

I would love for Greg Gagne and Vince Russo to argue who came up with all of the great things about wrestling.

[@robleavold84]

Spruce Moose Pritchard and Conradisson Thompson this was a good insight into Vinnie Russo’s time in the WWE from Spruce’s perspective.

[@chrisortiz8072]

So basically Russo did the minimum amount of work on the magazine and the guy before him just made things up

[@1v1atm]

They didn't know what a blunt was. Come on

[@grannysfamily8804]

When Bruce said fuc** genius. Russo wrote everything. I don’t how the business survived as a whole without Russo. I laughed so hard I was on ground. Thanks the laugh Bruce. Great show you and Connie have magic. Lol😂😅😊

[@jdh9219]

Russo got brought into creative after a shitty Raw from Germany aired and The ironic part of all this is that the “out of touch and “too old school Vince cronies” as russo calls them like Cornette and Bruce etc. They all told McMahon that the Raw from Germany was going to suck. McMahon had the idea that part of the show would show stone cold or whoever was there in the studio in Stamford at the same time a Raw was going on in Germany. He thought it would really show the world how “the WWF was a GLOBAL POWERHOUSE” in the world of wrestling! People like Cornette disagreed and thought that some old/poorly lit dank building in Germany would look dull and boring…. compared their competitors having a crazy live show with all the Pyro, bright lights, and loud passionate fans going nuts for the WCW stars. They were right. So the Raw Vince said was so rotten was rotten because he didn’t listen to his “yes men cronies”. He then brought in a bad magazine guy to get “fresh and young ideas”. We got a guy who would sit in a room watching Jerry Springer to get ideas. If Russo wasn’t on a leash We got tons of garbage matches, bad comedy, and logic free chaos. 1 out of every 25 Russo ideas could be tweaked by other real wrestling minds and made into attitude era GOLD. If anyone doubts that, just go watch some Russo era TNA. Ge wrote stuff like Abyss being drugged by “Dr.Stevie” so he couldn’t move or talk, but he could still feel pain smh. Go watch awful Russo era WCW where he tried to copy Bischoff and be an on screen heel. I won’t complain about seeing bra and panties matches when I was younger…but The guy thinks he’s the Howard Stern of wrestling. even got Turner to make him his own action figure with a black trench coat and bat to copy sting. 😂

[@5280mminnick]

2 possibilities: Russo is telling the truth and there is a company/employee wide conspiracy to cut him out OR He is batshit crazy. I pick number 2😂 Still like listening to his phony stories though. He sure believes what he says😂😂😂

[@peterf08]

Wrestling has changed so much now that i don't think Russo could book anything edgey as it would offend the marks now

[@peterf08]

@Raoul's Eyepatch highest RAW and TNA ratings in both their history but he sucks because some wrestling mark on youtube said so 😂

[@crashintonickdm]

Vince Russo is intolerable. Everything good is his creation. Everything bad was someone else’s fault

[@aaronsnacks6128]

crashintonickdm he really is the anti Christ of pro wrestling. That was a shoot!

[@JoelChavez6121]

His ability to sucker other companies into exactly this is why he kept getting work

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Hmm, Vince Russo = God, confirmed?

[@goharderthanyesterday3935]

That’s actually not true , he has a series where he covers all of the episodes of the attitude era starting from 12/15/97 and he religiously admits to where he messes up ... stop believing what you hear and think for yourself.

[@jesselewis525]

It's about damn time someone else agrees on this. Besides, as I've said before, NOBODY was even aware that Russo was the head writer for the WWF until years after when the business began to become exposed. And then people make comments as if they were there and know what was going on. Now I know I say some dumb things a lot of times, but just don't front like you knew for yourself how the guy operated.

[@philiphaller1018]

That OJ Simpson idea... My god haha

[@user-oo7mx8rf2p]

I can't believe this episode was 5 years ago.....

[@michellemarty7510]

Does Vince Russo want credit or not? Just based of what he wrote in his book I'm honestly not sure.

[@SteelSunday]

He doesn't want credit but damn it if someone else is going to get credit! so he wants credit. He really does want credit, like wwe having credits at the end of show. the only man i know who had "produced by vince russo" put on the pamphlets of the World Wrestling Allstars shows.

[@marcroyer5507]

i wonder how many great ideas were derailed because of vince mcmahon looking down on southern accents and short talent. stone cold , shawn micheals, cm punk daniel briant ray mysterio. it took heavy brow beating to bring him around to them being stars so i wonder how many hall of famers never even made it to an audition because of his close mindedness

[@gamingalien2965]

love the 18 million adverts in this video

[@russoswerve7856]

Honestly I would’ve loved to watch the Simpson-Goldman ‘Weapon Of Choice’ match at wrestlemania

[@carbonsilkthread]

Who takes their kids to see American pie?

[@dkres82]

Depends on their age I could see someone taking their 16-17 year olds.

[@jesselewis525]

I used to watch Robocop religiously when I was in elementary... I'd say that's worse than American Pie.

[@mattgarcia2519]

@@jesselewis525 I'd buy that for a dollar!

[@mlcash9]

Russo was in the right place at the right time. But now that time has passed so please "Bro" go away.

[@mlcash9]

A. Thats because of the PC world we live in and the lack of control they give the wrestlers today on the control of there characters which makes them the "superstars" like rock and stone cold. Russo was part of creative not the jesus of pro wrestling who gave us the attitude era.

[@beefymario88]

He was in the right place and right time for 3 years writing an ultra successful, never been surpassed, breaking into popular culture TV show every single week for 3 years. Let me say that again - he was in the right place at the right time every week handing Vince McMahon a show for 3 years? Seriously? You don't think that maybe McMahon would've fired Vince if he was simply in the right place at the right time? More like Vince Russo the most successful writer in the history of wrestling HELPED THIS TO BE THE RIGHT TIME AND PLACE?! Someone had to write for DX, Rock, Stone Cold, McMahon. Someone gave them the story , acknowledge who gave them those stories and give the man the credit he deserves. In any other profession the most successful writer in its historys peers and fans would not pretend that he was but a footnote. Seriously, the man was head writer for 3 years, the most successful writer EVER!

[@mwcarolina]

He’s not that good, he’s good with others involved, but he’s not this creative writer that you just made him sound like. He did help write the show, but others were involved including Cornette, Prichard, wrestling talent and the boss himself Vince McMahon. Russo does get some credit, but not all you seem to be giving him. On his own, Russo’s writing is just not good and he books VERY short matches with overbooked finishes. Example you ask??? “A 4 way ladder match with Kevin Nash as special guest referee!!!!”

[@hawksfan5]

@@mwcarolina Are you a Jackass or just play one on the internet???? RUSSO WAS THE HEAD WRITER.

[@mwcarolina]

Yeah he was the head writer, but JR had some pull as did Cornette and Prichard. In WWE the show wasn’t Russo’s show, it was a collection of talented men and in the end McMahon had the final word....When Russo is on is own look at WCW....he made that company worse than when he first started there

[@DaRealPatrickP]

Thank Terry Funk impression sounds like Hank Hill.

[@Jtower1967]

I want to take Bruce to negotiate for me on my next car purchase!

[@DeanMoxley87]

WOW Vince McMahon says Trips would never be more than a mid card guy............

[@travismcdonald6576]

DM87 Helps that he married his daughter.

[@ReanimatorsMutilations]

But then he done roids and Vince's eyes lit up

[@epicproportionsmediaproduc6697]

He was already main eventing when he got involved with steph. ;)

[@nxtwomenfan497]

Vince McMahon also nearly gave the go-ahead to fire John Cena in late 2002.

[@stevenkunzer9027]

He also apparently said Shawn Michaels would never be the World Champion

[@michaelfigueroa2595]

1:42:17 left me in stitches

[@moneymentality6552]

No idea why but this interview on Russo is riveting

[@trevorromano2231]

Maybe because (imo) Vince Russo has a Personality Disorder and he lacks the self awareness to hide it … so it just all lands on the pages of his book.

[@rosiegratz8377]

Remember that old arcade Smash T.V. I always envisioned that was the goal VR always strived to be.

[@Nobleshield]

Good luck, you'll need it!