Post by Deleted on May 18, 2017 8:40:17 GMT -5
The beloved, or infamous, former head writer for WWE, WCW, and TNA Vince Russo dedicated a podcast episode to roster cuts he would make were he in charge of WWE creatively right now. In light of WWE's declining TV ratings, he cuts the combined Smackdown and Raw roster to 30, to be used across both shows.
podcastone.com/episode/Vinces-30-Man/Woman-WWE-Talent-Roster
Russo would keep:
Brock Lesnar
John Cena (True star- he and Lesnar are a cut above the rest of the roster.)
Randy Orton (Legit, needs new creative content.)
Jeff Hardy (Never seems to age.)
Matt Hardy (He and Jeff are stars who "still have a lot left in the tank.")
Alexa Bliss (She's changed Russo's perception of her in the last few months. He's now a big fan.)
Naomi ("Most underrated woman on the roster," "a team player.")
Neville (The only cruiserweight Russo keeps.)
AJ Styles (Russo has a personal attachment.)
Baron Corbin (Russo likes his look and athletic background.)
Enzo (A Russo favorite.)
Big Cass (Reminds Russo of Test.)
Karl Anderson
Luke Gallows (Gallows and Anderson have showed versatility, flashed humor- but they're poorly used.)
Lana (Attractive woman.)
Rusev (Was a step from being a main event wrestler, but creative "dropped the ball.")
Miz (A "star," would have been so in the Attitude Era.)
Maryse (Same as Miz, plus she's an attractive woman to appeal to male viewers.)
Nikki Bella (Star quality, attractive woman.)
Shinsuke Nakamura (No one else like him.)
Dolph Ziggler (Russo still has faith in him- all the tools.)
Jinder Mahal ("Most intensity in WWE [recently].")
Charlotte Flair (Will be the greatest woman wrestler of all time, needs more character development.)
Finn Balor (Only as "The Demon." Russo doesn't see the appeal of regular Finn.)
Bray Wyatt (Should be pushed on an "Undertaker level.")
Seth Rollins (Though he "forgets to sell" when it's time for his comeback.)
Braun Strowman
Roman Reigns (Reigns vs. Strowman is Russo's favorite story. He'd "give anything" to write for Roman.)
Kevin Owens (Owens "gets it," but is miscast as "prize fighter.")
Dean Ambrose (“By the skin of his teeth.” While Alexa has increased in Russo’s esteem, Ambrose has dropped.)
They just made the list!
Notable Cuts:
Austin Aries - He kept a day off rather than work with a “giant in the business” at TNA. (It's personal.)
Samoa Joe - “Great guy... [But] one dimensional.”
Seamus & Cesaro: “They hurt those brands to the point that they can’t be resurrected.”
New Day: “Same [problem] as Sheamus & Cesaro.”
Bayley: “Anyone can sell march.. kids like colors… Gimmicks are going to come and go. I want the real megillah.”
What do you think? Is Vince Russo right? Are these the real top 30? Do the rest hold back WWE’s main TV?
podcastone.com/episode/Vinces-30-Man/Woman-WWE-Talent-Roster
Russo would keep:
Brock Lesnar
John Cena (True star- he and Lesnar are a cut above the rest of the roster.)
Randy Orton (Legit, needs new creative content.)
Jeff Hardy (Never seems to age.)
Matt Hardy (He and Jeff are stars who "still have a lot left in the tank.")
Alexa Bliss (She's changed Russo's perception of her in the last few months. He's now a big fan.)
Naomi ("Most underrated woman on the roster," "a team player.")
Neville (The only cruiserweight Russo keeps.)
AJ Styles (Russo has a personal attachment.)
Baron Corbin (Russo likes his look and athletic background.)
Enzo (A Russo favorite.)
Big Cass (Reminds Russo of Test.)
Karl Anderson
Luke Gallows (Gallows and Anderson have showed versatility, flashed humor- but they're poorly used.)
Lana (Attractive woman.)
Rusev (Was a step from being a main event wrestler, but creative "dropped the ball.")
Miz (A "star," would have been so in the Attitude Era.)
Maryse (Same as Miz, plus she's an attractive woman to appeal to male viewers.)
Nikki Bella (Star quality, attractive woman.)
Shinsuke Nakamura (No one else like him.)
Dolph Ziggler (Russo still has faith in him- all the tools.)
Jinder Mahal ("Most intensity in WWE [recently].")
Charlotte Flair (Will be the greatest woman wrestler of all time, needs more character development.)
Finn Balor (Only as "The Demon." Russo doesn't see the appeal of regular Finn.)
Bray Wyatt (Should be pushed on an "Undertaker level.")
Seth Rollins (Though he "forgets to sell" when it's time for his comeback.)
Braun Strowman
Roman Reigns (Reigns vs. Strowman is Russo's favorite story. He'd "give anything" to write for Roman.)
Kevin Owens (Owens "gets it," but is miscast as "prize fighter.")
Dean Ambrose (“By the skin of his teeth.” While Alexa has increased in Russo’s esteem, Ambrose has dropped.)
They just made the list!
Notable Cuts:
Austin Aries - He kept a day off rather than work with a “giant in the business” at TNA. (It's personal.)
Samoa Joe - “Great guy... [But] one dimensional.”
Seamus & Cesaro: “They hurt those brands to the point that they can’t be resurrected.”
New Day: “Same [problem] as Sheamus & Cesaro.”
Bayley: “Anyone can sell march.. kids like colors… Gimmicks are going to come and go. I want the real megillah.”
What do you think? Is Vince Russo right? Are these the real top 30? Do the rest hold back WWE’s main TV?