Vince Russo On Why Spike TV Is A Terrible Network For TNA

Above is a recent interview with Vince Russo from the Pro Wrestling Report.

Here are the highlights, courtesy of TNAInsider.com:

His last run with TNA:

I had been working with them just as a consultant since October (2013) so I was there for the last 10 months. I was told by John Gaburick, I guess he is vice president of talent and creative that he told spike of my involvement in working with TNA in January. so to set the record straight, if John Gaburick is telling the truth and I have no reason doubt him, spike knew about my involvement with TNA going back to January. To say that Spike found out around it right around the time contract negotiations broke down, That is just an untruth.

Lying about doing consulting work 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 thoughts on why he was asked to re-join the company in October 2013 and why it was kept a secret:

When they first signed me on, Eric Bischoff was still very hands on with the product. I thought that they just didn’t want Eric Bischoff to know that Vince Russo was back working on the product in a consulting role. As everyone knows, soon after Eric Bischoff was sent home. Yet the secret still remained. I think that Dixie may have just been afraid about the feedback she would get from the internet community about what their feelings would be to have Vince Russo back working with TNA.

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’

The issues between Spike TV and TNA:

I’ve been holding this back for years and I finally get to say this. I felt like Hannibal Lecter when he was strapped in and had his mouth wired shut. Spike TV is a horrible partner. Why TNA would ever want to partner with Spike is beyond me unless there were no other options. If Spike TV 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 Spike TV great for them. It will move along for another two years and everyone will work but the product will not grow on Spike TV. 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!

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.

Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff coming into TNA:

You know here is the thing. I don’t know. I’m not privy to how much they made. I don’t know how much they affected international markets. I didn’t look into how much business they were able to ascertain with the Hulk Hogan name in other markets. I never looked into that. In terms of the impact they made on a week to week television show, I can say that it just wasn’t there. I don’t think it was realistic that some people thought that the rating was going to go from a 1.4 or whatever it was to a 2.4 or 3.4. It doesn’t work that way. But I also thought it was never going to work from the get-go to be honest with you.