10 Dark Secrets Wrestlers Accidentally Revealed

6. Vince Russo Lets Slip That He Secretly Helped TNA

Marty Jannetty Ultimate Warrior
WWE

This was the most poetic ending imaginable to the career of Vince Russo.

He was a man known for his love of the swerve turn. His device reached total parody at the helm of WCW, by which point he had made an ironic disaster of the word "unpredictable". Wrestlers swerve-turned every week. Fans expected them to swerve. The turns generated minimal reactions. The trope was so frequent - incessant - that fans struggled to recall whether or not the babyfaces had already turned heel.

He did much the same thing in TNA, in addition of course to devising several, nonsensical gimmick matches, and was reviled by the audience. He was the impediment to the promotion's success. He was gangrene.

He was, by 2014, the hardcore pornography of pro wrestling bookers, in that TNA used his services but didn't want anybody to know about it. He revealed his consultant role, someone hired to assist with commentary, in an email to Mike Tenay.

Swerve!

He actually sent it by accident to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, which seems as though he had contacts in the dirt sheets he seems to hate so much!

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!