10 Precise Moments Wrestling Bookers Lost Their Minds

5. Vince Russo

Vince Russo WCW
WWE.com

Did Vince Russo ever have a mind to lose?

The most ancient take you'll ever read on the wrestling internet is that Vince Russo required the filter of Vince McMahon to be effective in the role. You read this all the time because it is true, and for evidence of that, look no further than Vince Russo's very first night on the job in WCW.

The man who in league with Eric Bischoff constantly contaminates wrestling discourse by saying that wrestling spends too much time catering to the "mawks" catered to the mawks by reimagining WCW as a meta show written by Vince Russo - who instantly became the most important character. In the parameters of the show, Russo "booked" wrestlers to lose, and they cooperated with the script. Within an hour, Vince told the audience in a business predicated on suspension of disbelief that it was fake. Also, things that were meant to be real also happened, but he just f*cking told you that they couldn't be.

Some contrarian voices might tell you that nWo 'silver' had potential, and that a series of unfortunate incidents scuppered the deal, but it was hardly going to salvage business, was it?

 
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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!