10 MORE Huge "What If" Scenarios In WWE History

8. What If Vince Russo Had Stuck Around?

Daniel Bryan
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He's rightly regarded as one of the most destructive figures in professional wrestling history, but while Vince Russo's assertion that he was "the driving force behind the Attitude Era" is a gross exaggeration, it's hard to argue with what him and the creative team achieved from 1997 onwards.

Vince departed for WCW in October 1999, and disaster followed. We got David Arquette and Russo himself as WCW Champions, the Fingerpoke of Doom, Judy Bagwell on a forklift, Goldberg's heel turn, regular fourth wall breakages: some of the worst ideas in wrestling history, in other words.

Russo is rightly regarded as one of the people most responsible for WCW's demise. Would the promotion still be around today if it wasn't for his disastrous influence? It's unlikely. Their financial troubles and internal strife meant its death was likely inevitable, though WCW may have limped on for several years beyond their March 2001 expiry date.

Sticking with WWE might have meant some of the aforementioned atrocities making it to Raw and SmackDown, though Vince McMahon's quality control was always stronger than WCW's. Still, we're sure Russo would've found countless ways to drag down the company's most successful period.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.