Vince Russo Not at the Writing Helm; Anyone See A Difference Yet?

[dwith]

So supposedly Vince Russo was done with writing the show's back at BFG. He still over see's it I guess, but not the main writer.

So most everyone used to complain about how terrible and illogical his writing was. I just want to get everyone's perspective on the new writing so far. What you like now, or dislike, or maybe you don't see much of a change yet.

Myself I didn't hate Russo's writing, but I knew he needed a change of pace for a bit. I honestly haven't seen anything along the new story lines that have changed alot. So far I have seen some subtle changes in fueds, and obviously the younger talent's are being wrote in more i think, but I'm not sure if that is a writer's thing or just TNA finally pushing some young talent.

One thing that I have really noticed lately is that the story lines are not as random, and they seem to be better prepared, but that's just my thought on the overall changes.

 

[hatehabsforever]

Well, James Storm, a TNA original, won the title after BFG, albeit possibly because of an injury to Kurt Angle. Robert Roode turned heel, taking the title from Storm. AJ Styles is in the main event of Turning Point. Velvet Sky is the women's champion (although this happened at BFG). Gail Kim has jumped ship and now is co holder of the Knockouts Tag Team title.

I don't know how much of this is attributable to Vince Russo no longer being at the helm of the writing team, but there does seem to be a philosophical shift at work here. Younger people, specifically TNA originals, being pushed more significantly, while the older talent who originated elsewhere seem to be playing second fiddle, at least for now.

It will be interesting to see if this trend continues. If it does, TNA shows promise and may continue to improve and develop. I'll believe it when I see it, but hopefully this trend does continue. It will be interesting to see if Samoa Joe is behind the assault on Storm as others have speculated in another thread. If so, it could be even more evidence of a philosophical shift at play on Impact Wrestling.

 

[Monkey_Mania]

I have noticed a little bit of difference. Main one being the focus on the new generation. A little bit more continuity in storylines is nice too. No more ass kissing it seems as well. All in all I have noticed a little bit here and there, but as of right now it's way to early to tell. I'd say give it about 6 months, and then see if you can't notice a difference.

 

[He's Phenomenal]

It's got slighlty less interesting lately but whether that's to do with Vince Russo or not, who knows? I don't know why people like to think Russo doesn't like pushing younger talents. Weren't he writing the show a couple of years ago when AJ Styles was World Champ, British Invasion were Tag Champs and Amazing Red was X-Division Champ? The fact of the matter is, if those guys aren't wrestling matches (AJ and Red especially), they're pretty dull. And you need more than just exciting ring skills to be a Champion.

Does the writer even choose who gets pushed or just get told to write for who management want to push? If it's the latter then I don't think it really matters all that much who writes the show, for how interesting it is, it matters who you're putting in the main angles. I get the impression that most wrestlers in TNA create their own characters and are allowed to play them out. It looks like they just get given an outline of an angle and then they make it their own. They're not told exactly what to say and who to be, so that probably makes the head writers job a little easier.

If Russo doesn't still have as much say as he always has (I doubt that though), I would say it's having a detrimental effect on the enjoyment of iMPACT Wrestling. I think back to just a few months ago when you had guys like Sting, Kurt Angle, Mr Anderson and Jeff Hardy fighting for the World Title. Now we could have Bobby Roode, James Storm, AJ Styles and (possibly) Samoa Joe. That's a massive drop in terms of pro wrestling talent and I can see it having a negative effect on the growth of TNA. With TNA on the road on a regular basis now, they need their star names in the top spots, with the lesser names making a name for themselves. If there's a promotional poster in your town with Sting and Kurt Angle on it, it's going to draw a lot more attention than one with Bobby Roode and Samoa Joe on it.

 

[IHW]

I've said it many times that i could tell he wasn't in charge. And i love it. Its fresh, the young stars are getting pushed. Aj and Bobby and James Storm are all in the Main Event, and the TNA Title Picture. Its great.

 

[SpecialFNK]

what does the writer do?
does the writer write out exactly how a match happens with what specific moves when?
does the writer decide not only WHO gets the victory, but HOW they get the victory?

Bruce Prichard is the head writer, but Russo is still there as a writer too.

 

[He's Phenomenal]

what does the writer do?
does the writer write out exactly how a match happens with what specific moves when?
does the writer decide not only WHO gets the victory, but HOW they get the victory?

Bruce Prichard is the head writer, but Russo is still there as a writer too.

I would've thought the wrestlers (in TNA) have a say in how they wrestle a match. It really doesn't come across like someone has told them exactly what moves to do and how to do them.

I didn't know the writer decided who got the victory, I thought higher up management would choose their own stars and not leave it to a writer, I just thought the writer would decide how they won.

 

[Azane]

Placebo effect.

He's still writing and contributing, and I bet he has a lot more than what average fans think in terms of pull.
Wrestlers get a rough outline of their match, usually they get a couple spots, the finish and the style, in between they work it out with each before and during. Writers write the majority of dialogue (wrestlers interpret how they want) and they usually control who wins matches, higher ups generally will give them an outline of where they want which stars, but the writers decide how to push or bury them. Of course the higher ups dictate some matches as well.

TNA has some pretty high and lows when it comes to excitement, Right now, we're at a high, could it be simply because of Russo? ya, it could, but it's also coming off a several month build to Bobby Roode being champion, even though they botched the titel swap at BFG. Internet wise, you know Roode is a favorite, so having the champion that the people (on these forums) can make the product look much better instantly.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think there has been a bit of a difference but, ultimately, I think it's too soon to tell whether or not the change is going to be a lasting one.

However, one thing that appears to have changed, for the time being, is that there's generally more focus & continuity going on in the storylines and angles TNA has going. It also looks like the big faction war/power struggle takeover angle is pretty much done and I'm hoping it stays gone for a long, long time because I'm just burned out with it. Another thing I've noticed over the past several weeks is that TNA doesn't have brawls breaking out every other episode, nor have we had any of the lame 4 to 5 minute gimmick matches that's long been a staple on Impact Wrestling. They no longer seem to be putting stuff out there just for the sake of making things look chaotic & wild for shock value or trying to "stir the pot". In general, wrestling content on the show has improved as there tends to be at least 1 or 2 good, solid matches on the show each week. The fact that the focus of the show has been more on younger guys or homegrown talent in general is a nice change. It's only been a few weeks but fans seem to be responding to it so far. Last week's IW scored about 1.8 million viewers and last night's show scored 1.73 million viewers. Not a massive increase above their 1.4-1.5 million average, but it's still growth.

That's not to say that there still aren't some problems. Nothing is ever going to be perfect or anything like that but I thought IW last night wasn't all that good of a show. Wrestling wise, there were a couple of pretty decent matches, but most of them felt like filler. TNA did pack a lot of matches onto the card, but most of them were in the neighborhood of 2.5 minutes in length. Most of the time, you just can't accomplish much in a 2.5 minute match, which are best served for squash matches in my view. Last night's show had another very long standing problem in TNA: they tried to cram in 2 or 3 weeks worth of potential shows & build up into a single 2 hour show. There was a lot going on with the show last night and, by night's end, almost none of it felt like it was important. Of the four championship matches on the card, the one that's had the most build up has been the Knockout title match between Velvet Sky & Gail Kim. Also, of the four championship matches on the card, three of them were announced just last night. The TNA World Tag Team Championship has never been less relevant than it has been in the past several months and it looks like the X Division is teetering close to going back to being little more than an afterthought to be tossed onto the card at the last moment. TNA also just made the TNA WHC match for Turning Point last night and it did feel just extremely thrown together. However, it's hard to give TNA too much crap over that because the title scene has been plagued by a lot of injuries over the past month. Kurt Angle pulls a groin muscle but still wins at BFG only to lose in 60 seconds to James Storm at the IW taping and Storm suffered a concussison at the Macon, Georgia tapings, so it happened to be lucky coincidence for TNA that they decided to take the strap off of him. I'm guessing that Storm's condition may have been surmised by the trainers backstage, who decided that he maybe shouldn't wrestle at the upcoming ppv, and had to make a last minute decision to put Styles in the main event.

I think TNA has made some good, steady progress so far. I just think they need to pace themselves better and not try to cram in a month's worth of potential stuff into a single night.

 

[czar76]

Seems that the show is slowly moving in the right direction. Would lay money that this is just a test run of sorts to see if the younger talent can draw. If the numbers improve things may keep heading in this direction if not things will change again. Hogan is off T.V, for now, and Sting is being used lightly which I think is the way to go. Will be interesting to see how the ppv goes.
As far as Russo, u can still see his influence as he is still doing a good portion of the writing. I think Prichard is more of the "yes/no man" with Russo still taking the lead in the day to day writing of the shows.
Hogan is head of creative or "booker" he lays out who gets pushed and who goes over who. It all seems to stop at him with Prichard being the go-between and Russo setting the storylines. Then there is Bischoff who has control of the show its self so in a way Bisch is really the guy in charge.
Not sure if this is the break down backstage or not but from all the things I have read it looks to be the most likely. If that or something like it is in place at least there is a clear chain of comand on the surface. Problem is of the bunch Prichard is the only one who hasn't fucked up things in the company at one time or another and I don't think he has enough sway to manage the other three.
Time will tell.

 

[Iron Sheik Says FACK]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Dave Lagana recently signed to the TNA writing staff?

I think it's WAY too early to make any decisive comments about the matter, but I think that TNA is heading in the right direction. I just think they need a few good months of solid story lines and a focus on wrestling. Since they changed their name to Impact, I started watching again and I do enjoy a lot of what the company has to offer, but I just think they are trying to do too much. They have all the talent that they need, I just want to see some decent fueds that aren't over the top or more importantly, aren't based on real life dramas (Kurt/Karen).

 

[Dizzy]

Well, they are doing a youth movement like they said they were.

Roode, Storm, AJ, Aries, Sorensen, Velvet, Crimson, Gunner, Morgan being the focal point of the product with Hardy, Anderson, Jarrett, Ray being the second fiddle midcard guys is what everyone wanted.

So, It is a big fresh change and you can tell the difference. People still find a way to complain about it. What can you expect?

what does the writer do?
does the writer write out exactly how a match happens with what specific moves when?
does the writer decide not only WHO gets the victory, but HOW they get the victory?

Bruce Prichard is the head writer, but Russo is still there as a writer too.

The writer lays out the scripts to what will happen through out the show. The head writer lays out the entire concept and direction of what will happen through peroid of time.

Prichard is the head writer and booker, so he and the writers get together on ideas and who gets the victory, how the get the victory and who gets pushed.

Russo is probably writing mid-card feuds like Garrett Bischoff vs. Eric Bischoff while Prichard lays out the plans for the main event feuds and what to do with certain talents.

So, yes Prichard is responsible for the new product. The details of the product is done in part by the writers but the head writer/booker lays out the plans.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

Still sucks.

The only difference I can spot is who is being pushed. Other than that the booking, the promos, the content, the finishes - it's all the same. I won't even attribute that small shift to Prichard. I'll attribute it to TNA running out of ex-WWE talent to push only to see them all flop, realizing that there's a huge gap between being someone in another company and being someone. I ain't even kidding.

Van Dam - does he even remember it?

Hardy - snorted himself

Anderson - seizures don't equal promos

Clearly Two Potheads and a Half didn't work. The only person who actually did the job right is, as always, our favorite milk drinkin' son of a bitch - Kurt Angle. Other than that, flop, flop, flop like a fish on a rock.

Is the new injection of fresh talent into the Main Event scene going to work? Let's fucking hope so. Has it worked so far? I'd say yeah. So far so good.

Unfortunately good things in wrestling have a life span of about two weeks these days. Here's hoping this one lasts for long.

WWE sucks.

 

[SpecialFNK]

Hardy didn't work? he had his out the business personal problems that effected him, but I think as far as his wrestling talent he works. the fans have gone crazy for him since his return. he's starting off small, but he's going to get back to the top again.

TNA is pushing the young talent, but I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree on Gunner. I don't know what he's done to piss off somebody, but he's getting killed. wasn't that long ago he was getting a push. lately he ran away scared from Abyss and then lost on a DQ to Garrett where he didn't have any offensive moves at all.

 

[Ferreira]

I'm really not sure if it's Russo fault or anyone fault but I do see a change in IMPACT Wrestling as a show. You do have four Original guys on the Main-Event: AJ, Roode, Storm, Joe. And they are not fighting a group of guys that want to take over and demolish the originals, that's new in TNA.

These four guys are on top and it seems normal. Just like Kurt Angle, Sting, or anyone else, they seem fit to the main-event of IMPACT Wrestling and TNA as a company. And that is indeed thanks to a good work of promoting these guys on tours and also by video packages they do every week to show that these four guys and others do deserve the spotlight.

I'm not really sure how to say these but I guess the focus of the show has changed a bit since the Writing Team changed. I'm not sure if it's because of that or it was the plan all along. I wouldn't be surprised if Hogan and Bischoff tought that after Bound for Glory 2011, and a whole year since BfG2010, it was time to show these guys instead of others.

I'm really surprised about Crimson not main-eventing TNA anymore. The guy seemed rushed to the top but at least me I tought he would be a main-eventer by now. But because TNA don't want him as a champion and neither want to end his undefeated streak, it's hard to book Crimson when those two clauses are in place.

Something has definitely change. I'm sure it's for the best but I'm not quite sure if it's going to last....

 

[ABMorales787]

There seems to be a change in the norm. There's a solidly built feud on the TV title for one. Despite the notable similarities to the "Who Hit Austin" story from '99-'00, the Roode/Storm/Styles/Joe stuff is easily the most interesting storyline TNA's done all year and it doesn't involve conspiracy theories or a stable taking control of the company. The stories seem more simple and to the point than being long, calculated schemes.

 

[SpecialFNK]

I'm really not sure if it's Russo fault or anyone fault but I do see a change in IMPACT Wrestling as a show. You do have four Original guys on the Main-Event: AJ, Roode, Storm, Joe. And they are not fighting a group of guys that want to take over and demolish the originals, that's new in TNA.

These four guys are on top and it seems normal. Just like Kurt Angle, Sting, or anyone else, they seem fit to the main-event of IMPACT Wrestling and TNA as a company. And that is indeed thanks to a good work of promoting these guys on tours and also by video packages they do every week to show that these four guys and others do deserve the spotlight.

I'm not really sure how to say these but I guess the focus of the show has changed a bit since the Writing Team changed. I'm not sure if it's because of that or it was the plan all along. I wouldn't be surprised if Hogan and Bischoff tought that after Bound for Glory 2011, and a whole year since BfG2010, it was time to show these guys instead of others.

I'm really surprised about Crimson not main-eventing TNA anymore. The guy seemed rushed to the top but at least me I tought he would be a main-eventer by now. But because TNA don't want him as a champion and neither want to end his undefeated streak, it's hard to book Crimson when those two clauses are in place.

Something has definitely change. I'm sure it's for the best but I'm not quite sure if it's going to last....

was Crimson really on the main event scene before?
he was leading at a point in the BFG series, but I don't think i remember him actually being on the main event level.
I think it was all planned to have Crimson "injured" in the BFG series. that allowed him to keep the streak going but to not win the BFG series.
I don't think Crimson is ready. he hasn't even been in TNA for a year yet, and he wasn't some well known name from WWE either.
I think Crimson should remain around the mid card for awhile yet, continue to build him there.

correct me if I'm wrong, but it's the writer that scripts how a match is won? like what move is used or how there is a pin/submission? so in a case where a wrestler wins with a small package, that was scripted by a writer? or if there is interference, that also is scripted by the writer? these are things I think TNA has not done as well in the past.

 

[MFR0mack]

Van Dam - does he even remember it?

Clearly Two Potheads and a Half didn't work.

These statements are just idiotic. One, Jeff Hardy isn't a pothead, he's a drug addict. Two, there's nothing wrong with smoking marijuana, an herb that's been shown to be a healthier alternative to things like painkillers and Tylenol that wrestlers usually take in large doses. Three, RVD's title run in Impact Wrestling was pretty successful & only failed because Hogan and Bischoff tore him down 'cause they never liked him. But then again, when you end your post stating this:

WWE sucks.

It shows you are kind of narrow-minded and won't see anything beyond your own limited tunnel of vision.

 

[Rayne]

These statements are just idiotic. One, Jeff Hardy isn't a pothead, he's a drug addict.

Ignoring the whole "drugs are evil" siderail, two points. One, the term "pothead" was used in a casual reference to the show "Two and a Half Men". It's not a gutbuster of a joke, but a flippant comment using a social reference to color the poster's opinion. (I do it myself all the time. Chicks love it.) Two, do you hang around Jeff Hardy enough to know what he's consuming? I know plenty of potheads who also chew Vicodin like Smartees.

Two, there's nothing wrong with smoking marijuana, an herb that's been shown to be a healthier alternative to things like painkillers and Tylenol that wrestlers usually take in large doses.

Being a daily smoker myself (not cigarettes)- a reduction in function of short-term memory, an increased risk of throat and lung cancers, decreased sperm count (although I'm not terribly upset over that one), heightened paranoia amongst some users. Those are just the physical effects; we could also talk about the sociological ones, such as a decrease in job opportunity, decreased cash flow, and an odor which clings to you that pot smokers find pleasant but non-smokers find acrid and offensive. If there was nothing wrong with smoking pot, it would be completely unnecessary to make an argument that there's nothing wrong about smoking pot. People don't insist upon justifying alcohol addictions by saying that it cures cancer and evens temperment, but for some reason a marijuana addiction (yes, you can get addicted to pot, just not chemically addicted) gets every half-assed justification there is.

Three, RVD's title run in Impact Wrestling was pretty successful & only failed because Hogan and Bischoff tore him down 'cause they never liked him.

I am one of the largest antagonists of the Hogan/Bischoff era, but this just plain isn't true. What kind of increased ratings did RVD bring to Impact? Where was the increase in merchandising? RVD got his chance. No one cared. So someone else got the chance, which is The Story of Professional Wrestling. If RVD's run was pretty successful, he wouldn't be crammed in the bottom of the mid-card right now- he'd be front and center, making people money. RVD hasn't put asses in seats since the beginning of the last decade; just because you, personally, liked what he does from an entertainment perspective doesn't mean that he brings in money.

 

[MFR0mack]

One, the term "pothead" was used in a casual reference to the show "Two and a Half Men".

Naw, not really, it was pretty clearly used as an attack against marijuana smokers putting them among the same group as heavy drug addicts (Jeff Hardy). It definitely wasn't some casual joke, as the original post was laced with negativity and hostility towards "potheads" and WWE, as well.

Two, do you hang around Jeff Hardy enough to know what he's consuming? I know plenty of potheads who also chew Vicodin like Smartees.

Never said he didn't smoke pot, bro. But when you start doing heroin, cocaine & taking massive amounts of prescription painkillers, whether you smoke pot or not is irrelevant. You're a drug addict, not a stoner.

Being a daily smoker myself (not cigarettes)- a reduction in function of short-term memory, an increased risk of throat and lung cancers, decreased sperm count (although I'm not terribly upset over that one), heightened paranoia amongst some users.

-Marijuana does not increase the risk of any throat or lung cancer, at all. The smoke can can be harmful & reduce maximum lung capacity (because it has carcinogens like any type of smoke), but not to any harmful levels and certainly not on any cancerous levels. Doctors suggest bongs (which use water to filter the smoke) or vaporizers anyways. Both of which RVD uses (smoked with him at The Hash Bar in Venice Beach, very intelligent guy).
-Loss of short-term memory is not only a person-to-person issue (as in, subjective, it does not occur to everyone), but a consistent link has never been able to be drawn between any type of memory loss and marijuana use through. All types of scans & studies have been done and no definite correlation has been found.
-Heightened paranoia is, again, subjective and usually only caused when the person has something to be paranoid about in the first place that they kept in the back of their mind before getting high.

Those are just the physical effects; we could also talk about the sociological ones, such as a decrease in job opportunity, decreased cash flow, and an odor which clings to you that pot smokers find pleasant but non-smokers find acrid and offensive.

None of these are even statistically provable. They're just made-up.

If there was nothing wrong with smoking pot, it would be completely unnecessary to make an argument that there's nothing wrong about smoking pot.

You need to brush up on your history lessons, bra. We have to make our statements that there's nothing wrong with smoking pot because cannabis suffered one of the worst smear campaigns in all of history, thanks to cotton companies that didn't want hemp to take all their business. Propaganda has been blindly spread since the 1920s on what weed is and what it does to you and it's only been in the past 25 years that scientists have discovered not only was half the shit said about weed false, but there are numerous uses for marijuana in the medical industry. These arguments still have to be made because, sadly, the government still treats weed like it did 80 years ago and still shoves bullshit down everyone's throat trying to convince people it's bad.

(yes, you can get addicted to pot, just not chemically addicted)

If you cannot get chemically addicted, then you're not addicted. You're talking about a mental dependency... But the thing is, you can become dependent on anything in this world. From sunlight to cell phones to cheeseburgers to jerking off... You can become dependent to making money and go through depression and withdrawals when you aren't stealing some every day. Weed's no different from ANYTHING else in the world in the sense that you can become dependent on it.

What kind of increased ratings did RVD bring to Impact? Where was the increase in merchandising?

Sorry, but this is Impact Wrestling. NOBODY brings increased ratings. NOBODY brings more merch sales. Not Kurt Angle, not AJ Styles, not Jeff Hardy, not RVD, not Bobby Roode. None of these guys are putting more asses in seats, so it's pretty ridiculous to claim RVD did any worse a job than anyone else or that he "failed." Nobody's watching or buying, and it's not because of the guys they put the belt on.