TNAWrestling.com has an extensive interview up with writing team member Vince Russo. Some excerpts:
About three years ago, I became a Christian and at that time, I was still in the wrestling business. There are a lot of pitfalls concerning the wrestling business; things that I would change if I could. Being a Christian, those pitfalls magnified about 1,000 times over. That’s why I walked away two years ago, because I just couldn’t do it anymore. And, that was my struggle with returning — I knew I was coming back to the same business; the same pitfalls. That’s why returning was not an easy decision to make. But, what helped me make the decision (to return) was that I came to the realization that the picture was much bigger than the day to day. And that helped make the decision much, much easier.
When I started with WWE and WCW, I was a man on a mission. It was all about the ratings, all about writing the best show I possibly could. It was tunnel-vision because it really was a personal challenge to me. Today, at 45, it’s not about that. My goals today are much, much different from what they were 10 years ago. My goals today are to make the wrestling industry a better place and to really give the boys in the business a better working environment, to give them an opportunity, to give them a chance. I care a lot about people today, much more than I did 10 years ago.
It really, really bothers me to see girls in the business looked at as nothing but T&A. Even though I had a lot to do with T&A in the mid- and late-1990s, I never really looked at women that way; I really didn’t, because they have/had a dream, just like the guys. It’s almost pre-historic to be looking at women in 2006 the way we did years ago. There are a lot of really talented women out there. I want them to be given the chance to show what they can do in the ring, how they’ve trained to be wrestlers
I think Kurt will be a locker-room leader, much like The Undertaker was at the WWF when I was there. The boys really respected The Undertaker, almost like a father figure, teaching them right from wrong and keeping them in-line, making sure they didn’t go into business for themselves, that it was the company first. I think Kurt Angle, with his experience and what he’s accomplished in this business, is going to have a great influence and a great impact on that locker room, which will really help the talent grow up in a hurry.
I don’t want anything to do with being on TV; I really don’t. If it ever got into a situation where I was absolutely, positively, 100 percent needed to help get a younger guy over, then yeah there’s a possibility, like I did for A.J. a couple of years ago. But I have no interest in getting on TV again.
Bill Goldberg probably was the hardest and the toughest individual I’ve ever had to work with. Bill Goldberg came (to stardom) so fast, in such a short period of time. He became a huge, huge star in the wrestling business and there was a part of Bill Goldberg who believed he could lose it all as quickly as he got it. So, instead of looking at where something creatively might help him in, say, six months, he instead simply looked at how it would effect him immediately. But all talent has to realize, and this isn’t just about Goldberg, that creatively we know where we’re going with the character “¦ and yet they, unfortunately, don’t – they simply see what they’re going that night. They’re only seeing chapter one, not the whole book.
You can read the full interview, including his thoughts on AJ Styles, LAX, Lance Hoyt, Samoa Joe, Ron Killings and more, here.
In other news, TNA has posted a video of Samoa Joe in training here:
Will SoCal Val do Playboy? Well, she’s gotten the offer at least.
