10 Things You Totally Forgot About WWE In 1997
7. Vince Russo Was Head Writer
For all of the flack and criticism that Vince Russo gets for his time as WCW's head writer, along with some of his writing during WWE's famed Attitude Era, the man was also the lead writer for one of the most creatively satisfying years in WWE history. In fact, on his watch as head writer, the company was taken to new heights never before seen.
After one of the worst-rated Monday Night RAWs in company history (March 3rd from Germany, with an Owen Hart/British Bulldog main event), Vince McMahon decided to shake things up internally and promoted Russo, the writer and editor of RAW Magazine, to lead writer of the early Creative Team.
Russo's RAW Magazine was a bit of a departure from the traditional WWF Magazine. As a former day one subscriber, I vividly remember articles discussing previous taboo topics such as talent departures, backstage rumours and gossip, former talents now working for WCW, Kerry Von Erich's suicide, and more. It really was a groundbreaking production for WWE at the time and it directly lead to Russo's promotion to both the Creative Team in 1996 and eventual head in 1997.
While many fans like to negatively point out the years of poorly-written, Crash TV-style writings of Russo, many of them have forgotten, or choose to ignore, that the man was responsible for the rebirth of a promotion that was nearly dead and buried.
For all the credit that WWE likes to heap on the likes of Steve Austin, DeGeneration X, and The Rock for helping to resurrect the company, Vince Russo's name should be at the top of that list if, for no other reason, his work in 1997.