On a recent edition of his “83 Weeks” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff discussed Vince Russo collapsing under pressure in WCW, the talent rejecting Russo’s creative ideas, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Vince Russo collapsing under pressure: “Did he even make it a full two years? Pack up his bags and go home and pout. And he had a pattern of doing that. It happened a couple times in TNA that I was aware of. Any time you put any pressure on a guy like Vince Russo, he collapses like a house of cards. And he did it a couple of times, I think, during his first run in WCW.”
On WCW not accepting Vince Russo’s ideas: “I think in Russo’s case, it wasn’t really the difference in the talent and what they were willing to accept and not accept. I think it had a lot more to do with talent — especially seasoned talent, people who have been around the block for a few minutes, probably recognized very, very early on that Russo was an empty suit and that he didn’t really know what he was doing. Therefore, they weren’t really willing to accept the kind of things that Russo wanted to do. Some of them did because some of them just wanted to keep their job. They just wanted to keep that paycheck coming in every month. Some of them probably wanted to give Russo some time and allow him to get comfortable, and the talent get to know Russo. That’s fine too; that’s your profession, that’s what you should do.
“But I think there were probably a number of talents that listened to Russo, just like I did when they first started working with him, and realizing that this guy is a fraud. There is nothing under the hood when it came to his original ideas. He just didn’t really understand the product, despite the fact that he claimed that he wrote all WWE shows and Vince just took a look at it and just signed off on it. I don’t believe that s**t at all. I wasn’t there admittedly, so I can’t say 100%. But I have never heard of Vince McMahon having a hands-off approach to his product. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. And I just don’t see it, especially at that time. Because keep in mind, WCW had been kicking WWE’s ass for quite some time until the latter part of ’98, ’99. I just don’t buy the fact that Vince McMahon was hands-off. I think there was a lot of reconstructive surgery done to some of Russo’s ideas and plans. So I don’t know, it just depends on what you want to believe. But I think more than anything, it was just the talent seeing through Vince’s bulls**t.”
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Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff are two prominent figures in the world of professional wrestling. Both have had significant roles in the industry, but their time working together in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was marked by tension and creative differences. In a recent episode of Bischoff’s podcast, “83 Weeks,” he shed some light on Russo’s struggles and the talent’s rejection of his ideas.
One of the main points Bischoff addressed was Russo’s inability to handle pressure. According to Bischoff, Russo would often collapse under pressure and leave the company. This pattern of behavior was not limited to WCW but also occurred during Russo’s tenure in Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling. Bischoff suggests that when faced with challenges, Russo would crumble like a house of cards.
Bischoff also discussed the talent’s resistance to Russo’s creative ideas. He believes that seasoned wrestlers quickly recognized that Russo was an “empty suit” who lacked a deep understanding of the product. While some wrestlers may have gone along with Russo’s ideas to secure their jobs or give him a chance to prove himself, others saw through his facade. They understood that Russo’s original ideas lacked substance and were not in line with what the audience wanted.
Bischoff also expressed doubt about Russo’s claim that he wrote all WWE shows and Vince McMahon simply signed off on them. He believes that McMahon had a more hands-on approach to his product, especially during WCW’s peak years when they were dominating the industry. Bischoff suggests that McMahon likely made significant changes to Russo’s ideas, indicating that the talent saw through Russo’s “bulls**t.”
The podcast episode provides insight into the dynamics between Russo, Bischoff, and the talent in WCW. It highlights the challenges Russo faced under pressure and the skepticism surrounding his creative ideas. While some wrestlers may have supported him, others saw through his lack of substance and understanding of the product.
As with any industry, professional wrestling is filled with creative differences and clashes of personalities. The story of Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff in WCW serves as a reminder that even experienced professionals can struggle to work together when their visions and approaches differ. Ultimately, it is the talent’s ability to recognize and adapt to these differences that can make or break the success of a wrestling promotion.