Russo: I don't know. I know TNA's been struggling to keep their head above water. To throw a third wrestling promotion out there, I don't know. When I look at the wrestling landscape today, strictly number wise, I don't see a third promotion being successful. What hasn't TNA done? What can a new promotion bring that's different? I wish Jeff all the luck in the world and want him to be successful, but the landscape doesn't seem fit for a third promotion.
Wrestling INC: Do you see the landscape of the business staying where it is or a continued trend downward?
Russo: I think the odds are in favor of it trending down because I don't see the necessary changes being made. Maybe they'll come. I haven't seen a change in theory or philosophy that would bring the ratings back.
Wrestling INC: Do you have any interest in getting back that head writer position?
Russo: On a full-time basis, the more I talk and read about wrestling, the less appealing it becomes. At the height of my success, it was Ed and I. We were good friends and we were writing the show with Vince. That's how I was most successful. In the last 15 years, creative has become level on top of level and I don't think that's a formula to success. So many people trying to get all their ideas on paper will never work. It needs to go back to being simplistic. One vision with everyone moving in the same direction hasn't happened in the last 15 years and it won't anytime soon. I couldn't work in a creative design destined for failure.
Wrestling INC: Are you bothered for not receiving credit during the hottest period in the business? People always talk about Vince McMahon editing your ideas, instead of giving credit.
Russo: Being a Christian it shouldn't bother me, but on the same token I am a human being. It does bother me because I don't stop for a second to give everybody else credit. Ed Ferrara and every piece of talent deserve credit. They were atop their game and unbelievable. I don't stop to put them over or Vince. Ed and I wrote this wrestling show and then we would bring it to Vince. He would put his bifocals on and not change or filter anything. He would add a little something to each segment that would make it that much better. He could take a good idea and make it greater.
That was the genius of Vince McMahon. A few weeks after I left the WWE, Vince had a companywide meeting, where a newbie throughout the question 'who is this Vince Russo I keep hearing about.' For McMahon to answer that Vince Russo was an appliance salesman he gave an opportunity, shame on him because before the Attitude Era the company was in the red. Now you're a billionaire and you don't want to give credit where it's due, shame on you. I'm a firm believer in giving credit when due, putting others over, and bringing people up with you and not down. Everybody in the WWE is responsible for that success. Nobody could have created a talent roster like Jim Ross. Yes, I take it personally because there's no reason for it. If you can't give credit or put someone else over, you need to look in the mirror because deep down there's a problem of ego.
Wrestling INC: When you were with the WWE, much of the talent got over. Today, there's only a handful and many have been around for awhile. If Vince McMahon rehired you and Ed Ferrara, got rid of the rest of the creative team, cut down the number of TV hours per week, and gave you guys free reign, do you think wrestling could get back to where it once was?
Read more at http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0609/576842/vince-russo-talks-tna/#o7yAxLmI3gP5iKSJ.99
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