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 shaping the industry, but their working relationship has been a topic of discussion among fans and insiders. In a recent episode of his podcast, “83 Weeks,” Bischoff shed some light on Russo’s time in WCW and the challenges he faced.
One of the key points Bischoff highlighted was Russo’s tendency to collapse under pressure. According to Bischoff, Russo couldn’t handle the demands and expectations placed on him, leading him to leave WCW after just two years. This pattern of behavior was not exclusive to WCW, as Bischoff mentioned similar instances during Russo’s tenure in TNA. Bischoff’s observation suggests that Russo may not have been equipped to handle the pressures of the wrestling industry.
Another aspect discussed by Bischoff was the talent’s rejection of Russo’s creative ideas. Bischoff argued that it wasn’t solely a matter of the talent’s preferences but rather their recognition of Russo’s lack of understanding and competence. Experienced wrestlers, who had been in the business for a long time, quickly realized that Russo was an “empty suit” who didn’t know what he was doing. While some performers went along with Russo’s ideas to secure their jobs or give him a chance to prove himself, others saw through his facade and refused to accept his vision for the product.
Bischoff also expressed skepticism about Russo’s claim that he wrote all WWE shows and Vince McMahon merely signed off on them. He believed that McMahon had a hands-on approach to his product and likely made significant changes to Russo’s ideas. Bischoff argued that WCW had been dominating WWE at the time, so it was unlikely that McMahon would take a passive role in shaping the company’s direction.
Overall, Bischoff’s insights provide a glimpse into the challenges Russo faced during his time in WCW. It appears that Russo’s inability to handle pressure and the talent’s lack of faith in his creative abilities were significant factors in his struggles. While Russo’s contributions to the wrestling industry are undeniable, his time in WCW serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of understanding the product and earning the trust of the talent.
As with any industry, the wrestling world is filled with its share of successes and failures. The dynamic between Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff is just one example of the complexities and challenges faced by those involved in professional wrestling. It serves as a reminder that even the most talented individuals can falter under pressure and that success in this industry requires a deep understanding of the product and the ability to gain the trust and respect of the talent.