What is Vince Russo up to now?

[Izzy]

With Jarrett gone Vince Russo runs TNA...we're getting our first look at what Russo-NA looks like...

The creative team currently consists of Vince Russo and Matt Conway. If you've ever wondered what kind of input Jeff Jarrett and Vince Russo have on the shows, this week and next week's shows are the last two from the most recent set of tapings which were described as "unfiltered Russo." Opinions on the shows vary within the company, but either way, it's now clear what a Vince Russo-booked show without Jarrett is like.

Another twist in the story which people within the company are following, is the fact that the last two weeks of Russo-booked television without Jarrett both drew 1.3 ratings -- slightly above the company's average. The last time the company drew two 1.3 ratings in a row was during the build up to the Lockdown PPV

Now, the last two weeks Impacts havent seemed that different to me - but the Eric Young swerve was genius and World Elite is another master stroke

...but this week we're apparently getting a riot which is being praised for its OMFGWTFROFLCOPTER-ness

I await eagerly...

[Evolution]

Who was it who booked the first half of 2006? Scott D'Amore?

[Hammy]

Who was it who booked the first half of 2006? Scott D'Amore?

Pretty sure and he's coming baaack

- Multiple sources are reporting that former TNA agent Scott D’Amore will be returning to the company soon. D’Amore left TNA back in 2008 and is expected to take over recently-released agent Savio Vega’s job of working with the Knockouts division.

 

Winner!

[Rankin]

Scott D'Amore is excellent, I always thought he was vastly underated by TNA. Hopefully he can unthrone Russo as main booker eventually!

[Hammy]

Bit of Russo gossip...

Source: The PWTorch.com Newsletter

Regarding the company’s mission to create new stars, TNA President Dixie Carter is currently telling employees that they may have to take a step backwards before they can move forward. As previously reported, company sources say Russo is “on a mission” to make lesser-known talent more popular than ever before. Dixie Carter has identified Matt Morgan, Hernandez and AJ Styles as her top favorites in the company.

Russo is not considered to be on thin ice due to the slumping ratings. Carter is said to realize that the TV networks are airing first run material again and that college football is running opposite iMPACT on Thursday nights. She believes that reason — along with the increased presence of lesser-known talent on iMPACT — is a fair explanation for the ratings slump.

While it may appear that Dixie is completely behind Russo, there was talk within TNA that she would be willing to fire him had her recent negotiations with Hulk Hogan led to him signing a contract. Hogan apparently still will not work with Russo, and one story making the rounds is that he wanted Kevin Sullivan and Kevin Nash to be the bookers if he was to join TNA. The deal obviously never went through and it appears that talks between the two sides are finished.

[D]

Love hearing the new star talk

Seeing AJ get the belt was awesome and hopefully Hernandez gets a big Main Event Run cause he is truly special and not just cause I have him in the game but I've been saying it for years.

[Hammy]

It is a good theory to.

I mean how long was The Rock, Austin and D-X on RAW before the ratings started to turn around, you can't just put new talent on tv and then give up because ratings slip a bit.

[Izzy]

TNA is bringing in new stars - you cant say its old WWE/WCW guys dominating the show - perhaps 6 months back, but right now they have new champions springing up all around

[Hammy]

Jason Powell of ProWrestling.net is reporting that several TNA stars, including AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels, are currently frustrated with the creative direction in which Vince Russo is booking both them and the company in general.

Additionally, the report states that Frankie Kazarian, who is currently working as Suicide, actually asked for his release from TNA at the last round of Impact tapings and it was granted by the company. However, both Styles and Daniels reportedly helped smooth things over between TNA and Kazarian, and the terms of the release were never finalized.

It's also being said that Vince Russo recently approached AJ Styles and was upset with him because he learned from Dixie Carter that Styles had recommended that TNA staff a wrestler on the creative team. Russo apparently blew up when he heard of the suggestion from Styles, and that fueled Styles to continue complaining that he has been booked as a weak champion by the creative team.

It should be noted that the frustration shared amongst the aforementioned TNA talents came prior to the announcement that Hulk Hogan had signed with TNA and does not appear to have anything to do with him being on board with the company. This is an issue of guys like Styles, Daniels and Kazarian having little faith in Vince Russo as TNA's head of creative.

[Izzy]

I font think Suicide is booked badly - just that he's dull

his moves are dull (bring more heavyweight than x division style) and he has no character

Kaz was a great wrestler with some amazing moves

if I were Russo I'd reveal Suicide is a crazed Kaz and play on that - we could get Kaz back and keep Suicide too