Vince Russo Says TNA Won’t Grow On Spike TV, Talks Being Hated By Internet Fans & More

Former TNA Writer Vince Russo recently spoke with Dameon Nelson of the Pro Wrestling Report. You can watch the full interview below. Here are some highlights:

Rumors that Spike and TNA came to a stalemate because of him:

That’s just ignorance. Somebody who has no idea about how negotiations between a network and a show on a network. That’s millions and millions of dollars that go well beyond a Vince Russo. That’s just from people that have no understanding how the business works.

Lying about his consulting position with TNA:

From the get-go my job at TNA hinged at nobody knowing i worked for them. It was going to be secretive. I didn’t like that from the get-go. I don’t like to be dishonest and not being in the open and to hide things. I don’t like that and i felt very uncomfortable. The fact of the matter is, that’s what Dixie Carter wanted. I did my best for 10 months and do the best i could do for what they wanted.

His relationship with Dixie Carter:

You know here is the thing. I’ve worked with Dixie Carter for over 10 years now. Every time i sat back and watched while Dixie brought in new leader after new leader. I know full well how things were going to turn out and where it was heading. But my job was the television part so I never got involved. I always took on this attitude of looking out for Dixie Carter and looking out for her interest and i think Dixie knows that. That’s why I think there will always be a relationship between us. I just wanted to have the best television show and protect her.

Why he thinks the Internet Wrestling Community hates him:

Here’s the thing. I’ve been working in wrestling for over 20 years now. No nobody from this internet wrestling community has ever approached me or confronted me about anything. They just report what they have heard from another party. What they heard from hearsay. What they heard from this ‘source’ that nobody knows about. Nobody has ever dared to confront me as you and I are having this conversation right now.

The point is this. the internet wrestling community is just a small part of the audience. My job as a creator is to make the highest rating i possibly could. When you are talking about high ratings you need to talk about the appeal to the masses. When you need to appeal to the masses you can’t exactly do things the internet wrestling community wants you to do them. You are more or less going after a broader appeal of that casual fan. So because i did not represent wrestling the way they (The internet wrestling community) wants it. That’s what started the personal attacks ‘I’m a moron, I’m an idiot, I don’t know what I’m doing’

What he thinks of the issues between SpikeTV and TNA:

I’ve been holding this back for years and I finally get to say this. I felt like Hannibal Lector when he was strapped in and had his mouth wired shut. SpikeTV is a horrible partner. Why TNA would ever want to partner with Spike is beyond me unless there were no other options. If SpikeTV were the only option to stay on television then I would understand it. They are a horrible partner, they know nothing about the wrestling business. The way they advertised and marketed the program over the years was absolutely atrocious.

I can tell you this from a position where I worked with the USA network. I worked directly with Bonnie Hammer. She was the female version of Vince McMahon. She knew what she was doing. When you had Bonnie Hammer at USA and Vince McMahon, the sky was the limit. If TNA signs another deal with SpikeTV great for them. It will move along for another two years and everyone will work but the product will not grow on SpikeTV. My hope for TNA is that a new network comes along and embraces TNA and gives them the time and investment to help grow the product. I can’t say this enough. TNA ON SPIKE TV WILL NEVER GROW!