Vince Russo's 10 Life Lessons In The Wrestling Business

5. Understand Paranoia

Because of what I just wrote in step 6---PARANOIA RUNS WILD in professional wrestling. Because everybody is gunning for everybody else€”independent contractors, not their fault€”nobody trust anybody. Not their opponent, not the writer, and CERTAINLY not the lady in catering. The wrestling business in built on Paranoia, and if you don€™ recognize that, and you don€™t know how to handle it---it€™s going to be a very long day in the office. Before you go in and present a wrestling story/angle to any wrestler, you have to know that individual inside, and out---and understand in advance what his issues are going to be with your story. The usual problem is that many wrestlers don€™t have the vision to see the forest from the trees. In other words---they can only zoom in on what they€™re doing THAT NIGHT, as opposed to where the story is going over the next four weeks. Sometimes the athletes really do forget that you€™re all on the same side---for the greater of the good---and that you are there to work for THEM. To assist them in getting over every way you possibly can!