Controversial former WWE writer Vince Russo has remained a major talking point in the wrestling community for years, thanks to his outspoken personality and highly divisive creative decisions during his time with the company. Despite his rocky relationship with Vince McMahon, Russo has repeatedly expressed a desire to return to WWE and contribute to the company once again. However, according to recent comments made by Russo himself, it seems that WWE’s current Co-President Nick Khan and Executive Vice President Triple H may be standing in the way of that possibility. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Russo’s claims and the possible reasons behind the apparent animosity between himself and WWE’s top decision-makers.
In a recent interview, former WWE writer Vince Russo discussed the current state of the company and the impressive way in which Vince McMahon has played his hand in recent years. Russo, who worked for WWE in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has often been critical of the company in recent years, but he seems to have a newfound respect for McMahon’s business savvy.
“The most impressive thing out of this whole thing is just the way Vince McMahon played his hand,” Russo said of the WWE chairman and CEO. “You’re talking [about] a master card player.” Russo went on to explain that McMahon had been faced with a difficult decision when it came to the future of the company. When Nick Khan, Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H vetoed the potential return of McMahon’s long-time friend and ally Bruce Prichard to the WWE’s board of directors, it seems to have sent McMahon a clear message that he was no longer the sole decision-maker in the company.
“At that point in time when they did that, I really believe that these are the two things that kicked into Vince’s mind,” Russo said. “Number one: over my dead body will you ever own this company, and number two: not only am I gonna sell the company so it will never be yours, but when I do I am gonna be the one soul in charge of creative.”
Russo’s comments about McMahon’s strategy may seem harsh or even conspiratorial, but they do reflect a certain truth about the WWE’s current situation. McMahon has always been fiercely protective of his company and its creative direction, and he has made it clear that he will do whatever it takes to maintain control. The recent appointment of Khan as WWE’s president and chief revenue officer, therefore, may have been part of a larger effort to prepare the company for a potential sale or public offering.
But for Russo, McMahon’s cunning business moves are nothing new. In fact, the former writer recalled a similar situation from his time with WWE when he wanted to fire Shawn Michaels, one of the company’s biggest stars at the time. Despite Russo’s frustration with Michaels’ behavior and attitude, McMahon refused to let him go. Instead, McMahon shared some wisdom with Russo that still resonates with him to this day.
“What Vince told me was, ‘Vince, let’s sell the cow before we give the milk away,'” Russo said. “And I remember saying to myself, ‘Oh my God, he’s right.’ Because Vince was always looking at the long game, and that’s what’s made him a billionaire.”
Russo’s admiration for McMahon’s business acumen may come as a surprise to some, given the criticism he has leveled at the WWE in the past. But there is no denying that McMahon has been able to navigate the often-turbulent waters of the pro wrestling industry for nearly four decades, and that he has always had a keen eye for talent and storytelling. Whether his latest moves will be enough to keep the WWE at the forefront of the industry remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Vince McMahon is still playing to win.
In conclusion, it seems that Vince Russo’s hopes of returning to WWE have been dashed, with insiders suggesting that Vince McMahon may never forgive Nick Khan and Triple H for vetoing his potential comeback. Regardless of where you stand on Russo’s contributions to the wrestling industry, it’s evident that his relationship with the WWE top brass remains frosty at best. Only time will tell if attitudes shift and a Russo resurgence becomes a possibility, but for now, it appears that his dreams of once again contributing to WWE’s creative process will remain just that – dreams.
