Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2014 13:46:22 GMT -5
10. I Would Never Have Got Into The Wrestling Business In The First Place
There is no doubt about this. With all the highlights throughout my career that you think I may have experienced, there were at least 10 lowlights for every single one.
But, let me start from the beginning. The moment I made the decision to make professional wrestling my career, I knew right then that I was painting myself into a corner because my options would be very limited. If I had ever decided to leave WWF, where was I going to go? At that time, I knew that ECW wasn’t going to be a main stay. To me, it just never had the feel of turning into a full-fledged viable third promotion. It had nothing to do with Paul Heyman, or the talent that was there, but it did have everything to do with MONEY. So, if you ever wanted to explore other options—there was only WCW. You had no other options. You weren’t working for a mobile phone provider where you have 10 options—you had ONE.
This is something that I still deal with today. When you have a resume that consists of 23 years of sports entertainment—exactly what are you going to do with that?
9. I Put Vince McMahon Ahead Of My Family
This was a huge mistake for me. Something I wish that I could take back every day—but, can’t. My wife raised my kids on her own without me being there—it’s that simple. Rather than put my time and effort into the only thing that should have mattered to me—I was out chasing ratings that in the big scheme of things meant absolutely nothing. I put Vince McMahon and the WWE before my own family, and just writing that sickens me.
I missed my son hitting his first home run—to this very day that still haunts me. And, for what, somebody who, went it came down to it, didn’t give a s**t about me? He only cared when I was the cash cow delivering him numbers. For that, I gave up my family. That’s just about as sad as it gets.
8. Giving My All For What?
I gave the wrestling business everything that I had—I left nothing on the table. I agonized over every word, every sentence, every paragraph. I became obsessed with making every single show the best that it could be. I didn’t sleep at night, I didn’t enjoy the quality of life. I went in and out of depression. I changed as a human being. And, for what?
At the end of the day what was it for? The people that I worked with over the years didn’t appreciate it—they never appreciated it. They took advantage of me and never once cared about my well being.
The critics, who had no idea of the work that I was putting in, were not only thankless—but often critical on a personal level—not a professional level. When all was said and done, all that was left were those who “got”, and I thank God for that. All I wanted to do was ENTERTAIN. That’s it. If I put a smile on your face every Monday night, that was the pay-off for me. Unfortunately, looking back know, in attempting to put smiles on peoples’ faces—I left a permanent scar on my own mind.
7. The Undertaker Symbol
When I was writing TV for the WWE, I was not a Christian at the time. I guess it’s fair to say that my God at that point in time was the almighty RATINGS. So, hanging a wrestler from a cross meant nothing to me—even though I put if over as a “symbol”.
Of course, years later when God slapped me upside the head, I realized how wrong that “stunt” was. To make light of Jesus dying on a cross to save us from all our sins—is almost unforgivable. That GOD has a big heart!
6. Not Working Harder In Relationships
Looking back, I wish I would have worked harder to establish personal relationships during my time in wrestling. Jim Ross immediately comes to mind. Vince McMahon was successful in driving a wedge between JR and myself—and I shouldn’t have allowed that to happen. As a man, I never really got to both know and understand Jim Ross—and at the end of the day that loss is mine.
And, there were others that didn’t care too much for me—Bischoff, Hogan, Flair, Goldberg, JBL, I should have been the bigger man to work on all those relationships. Truthfully, the reason why I didn’t was because I felt that they all had their minds made up about me—so, I didn’t try. With hindsight being 20/20—I should have. My loss.
5. I Should Never Have Gone To WCW
When I left the WWE, I was burnt out on the business. I was physically, mentally and emotionally spent. I knew that—there was no mystery about it. My game plan was to work at WCW for two years, save all my money—then get the hell out! WCW even offered me a THREE year contract and I turned it down. Two—and done—that was all I was going to commit for.
Well, as the story goes—my plan didn’t work out too well. I took my ball and went home from WCW three months later, and all that money I was going to save for my “early” retirement? It all went bye-bye a few years later, courtesy of an unsympathetic stock market.
4. Bash at The Beach 2000
I wish that entire Bash at the Beach incident would have never happened. Once I knew there was a problem that night, all I knew was that I had to “get the match in the ring” (something Vince taught me-that his father taught him) and get the belt on Booker T. We had all agreed on that unanimously during the week. That was my goal, that was my priority, and I was going to make that happen at all cost.
If I knew then, what I know now, I would have just went with what Hulk wanted to do. I would have just said screw it—and put him over. The aftermath was not worth the next two years of my life going through senseless depositions. It was a waste of my time, and everybody else’s involved. But, who knew that it was going to be such an issue? I surely didn’t.
3. I Should Never Have Gone Back To TNA
When I walked away from TNA in 2004, I did because I became a Born Again Christian, and I could no longer be around that environment. What I knew was a problem before—now became magnified about 1,000 times over. Through my new eyes, I now clearly saw the rotten dark, underbelly of pro wrestling and I no longer wanted anything to do with it.
During my absence, Jeff Jarrett’s wife, Jill, had her cancer return—but, this time it was bad. I loved Jill Jarrett, and miss her to this very day. At that time, Jeff had so much on his plate, caring for Jill, and raising three little girls—oh—did I mention that he was also trying to get an upstart business off the ground? In my heart—I wanted to help my friend. If I went back to TNA, I could have taken some of the burden off his shoulders. So I did.
But, I shouldn’t have.
I went back to a business that had not changed one iota. It was all negative—there was nothing positive about it. Again, hindsight—I just should have offered to help Jeff on a “personal” level, and not have gotten back involved with wrestling.
2. I Should Have Stood Up To Bischoff In TNA
From the time Jeff Jarrett was taken from power due to the Kurt/Karen Angle incident, I was put in charge of creative and was working with Matt Conway. During that time, Matt and I were making a concerted effort to build the younger guys on the TNA roster. When Eric Bischoff came in, he literally ripped up our format, and attempted to start over. If you look back, many veterans were brought into TNA at that time—and, they became the core of our roster.
I felt that was a huge mistake. At that time I thought it was vital to the future success of TNA, that we build a much younger roster. But, I didn’t stand up to Eric. I chose not to debate him because I felt that it was clear that I was just not going to win. So—I tapped out. Again—looking back—I should have put up more of a fight because deep down inside—I knew I was right.
1. I Should Have Made Wrestling A Better Place
I had 23 years to make an impact on the wrestling business—and, I don’t feel like I accomplished that. No, I’m not talking about what you see on your television screen every week; I’m talking about what goes on behind the scenes. There are many things about the wrestling business I don’t care for—many things. It is ego driven, it is selfish, and for the most part—nobody cares –REALLY CARES—about anybody else. It’s each man and woman for themselves and that doesn’t make for a very pleasant working environment. I wish I would have worked harder on improving that—I really do.
Unfortunately, most of the time I was concerned with watching my own back.
I thought this was a very interesting article regard Vince Russo's career, and it shocked me. What are your thoughts on this? I'd like to hear your opinions.
When I left the WWE, I was burnt out on the business. I was physically, mentally and emotionally spent. I knew that—there was no mystery about it. My game plan was to work at WCW for two years, save all my money—then get the hell out! WCW even offered me a THREE year contract and I turned it down. Two—and done—that was all I was going to commit for.
Well, as the story goes—my plan didn’t work out too well. I took my ball and went home from WCW three months later, and all that money I was going to save for my “early” retirement? It all went bye-bye a few years later, courtesy of an unsympathetic stock market.
4. Bash at The Beach 2000
I wish that entire Bash at the Beach incident would have never happened. Once I knew there was a problem that night, all I knew was that I had to “get the match in the ring” (something Vince taught me-that his father taught him) and get the belt on Booker T. We had all agreed on that unanimously during the week. That was my goal, that was my priority, and I was going to make that happen at all cost.
If I knew then, what I know now, I would have just went with what Hulk wanted to do. I would have just said screw it—and put him over. The aftermath was not worth the next two years of my life going through senseless depositions. It was a waste of my time, and everybody else’s involved. But, who knew that it was going to be such an issue? I surely didn’t.
3. I Should Never Have Gone Back To TNA
When I walked away from TNA in 2004, I did because I became a Born Again Christian, and I could no longer be around that environment. What I knew was a problem before—now became magnified about 1,000 times over. Through my new eyes, I now clearly saw the rotten dark, underbelly of pro wrestling and I no longer wanted anything to do with it.
During my absence, Jeff Jarrett’s wife, Jill, had her cancer return—but, this time it was bad. I loved Jill Jarrett, and miss her to this very day. At that time, Jeff had so much on his plate, caring for Jill, and raising three little girls—oh—did I mention that he was also trying to get an upstart business off the ground? In my heart—I wanted to help my friend. If I went back to TNA, I could have taken some of the burden off his shoulders. So I did.
But, I shouldn’t have.
I went back to a business that had not changed one iota. It was all negative—there was nothing positive about it. Again, hindsight—I just should have offered to help Jeff on a “personal” level, and not have gotten back involved with wrestling.
2. I Should Have Stood Up To Bischoff In TNA
From the time Jeff Jarrett was taken from power due to the Kurt/Karen Angle incident, I was put in charge of creative and was working with Matt Conway. During that time, Matt and I were making a concerted effort to build the younger guys on the TNA roster. When Eric Bischoff came in, he literally ripped up our format, and attempted to start over. If you look back, many veterans were brought into TNA at that time—and, they became the core of our roster.
I felt that was a huge mistake. At that time I thought it was vital to the future success of TNA, that we build a much younger roster. But, I didn’t stand up to Eric. I chose not to debate him because I felt that it was clear that I was just not going to win. So—I tapped out. Again—looking back—I should have put up more of a fight because deep down inside—I knew I was right.
1. I Should Have Made Wrestling A Better Place
I had 23 years to make an impact on the wrestling business—and, I don’t feel like I accomplished that. No, I’m not talking about what you see on your television screen every week; I’m talking about what goes on behind the scenes. There are many things about the wrestling business I don’t care for—many things. It is ego driven, it is selfish, and for the most part—nobody cares –REALLY CARES—about anybody else. It’s each man and woman for themselves and that doesn’t make for a very pleasant working environment. I wish I would have worked harder on improving that—I really do.
Unfortunately, most of the time I was concerned with watching my own back.
I thought this was a very interesting article regard Vince Russo's career, and it shocked me. What are your thoughts on this? I'd like to hear your opinions.
off basically.
