The Russo Diaries

SpaceNinja3030 · January 12, 2012

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<div id="imgwrap0sec0" class="" style="clear: both; position: relative; padding: 5px; border: 1px solid transparent;"><div id="imgcont0sec0" style="padding: 5px; text-align: center; font-size: 1.8em;"><img id="standaloneimg0sec0" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcToGjHR5tXyLesTMIZ7S9aOayGxJSprU6j5uJYwf3kBDW4Ymwx4"></div></div><div id="fixedtextblock0sec0" class="" style="clear: both; position: relative; padding: 5px; margin: 5px 0pt; height: auto; border: 1px solid transparent;"> <div id="fixedtext0sec0" class="" style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; display: block;"><div style="text-align: center;">The Russo Diaries</div></div> </div><div id="fixedtextblock1sec0" class="" style="clear: both; position: relative; padding: 5px; margin: 5px 0pt; height: auto; border: 1px solid transparent;"> <div id="fixedtext1sec0" class="" style="font-size: 16px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; display: block;"><div>

Screw professional wrestling. Screw WWE, WCW and TNA. Most of all, screw Vince McMahon.

That’s what you’re expecting right? The bitter and twisted rants of a bitter and twisted former employee? Well guess what, idiots? Professional wrestling made me a very rich man. WWE, WCW and TNA gave me the chance to live out my dreams, and as for Vince; Vince took a chance on me and for that I am forever grateful.

So if you want to hear a nobody pissing on all the good will they were ever given, go read a Bret Hart book, or watch a Billy Gunn shoot video. If you want the unbiased and gods honest truth about life behind the curtain then stick around. You might just learn something.

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SpaceNinja3030 · January 12, 2012

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People talk about “The Attitude Era” as if it’s an easily definable concept. But what the hell is “Attitude?” Is “Attitude,” when Mike Tyson punched out Shawn Michaels? Is it Bret Hart getting screwed in Montréal? Is it Steve Austin coining the phrase “Austin 3:16?” Or is it even Marty Jannetty getting super kicked through a window?

Truth is, “Attitude” has been a part of professional wrestling for a lot longer than most people realise. It started before we knew what it was. It started before we knew how to make it draw! Pioneers like Jake Roberts, Roddy Piper, even Brian Pillman were doing it before it was cool. People say Attitude is dead, but how the hell else do you describe guys like CM Punk, The Miz or even R-Truth?

So forgive me if I don’t prescribe to most peoples theories about how and when “Attitude” started. All I know is that I was with the WWF through the most controversial, highest grossing and most balls to the wall fun time in its history.

When business started to really pick up, when everything started to really click into place, I started making notes. Detailed notes. Hell, I was already writing most of the show so it wasn’t much of a stretch to add my own personal thoughts and feelings. I started my diary at the beginning of February 1998, a time when the world was beginning to “get” what we were doing.

And so I present them to you in full, with further abridged notes I’ve added in hindsight. This was the most exciting and most creative time in my life and I am proud to be able to share it with you.

First of all, a little context. We were only two weeks away from In Your House: No Way Out Of Texas, only eight away from WrestleMania 14. Shawn Michaels was the World Champ and was all set to defend against Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania with special enforcer Mike Tyson pretty much in his corner. The Rock held the IC strap and was embroiled in a feud with Ken Shamrock. The Outlawz were the tag champs and had dominated LOD (how many tag teams can say that??!) and were starting to do the same with their new opponents Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie (Mick Foley and Terry Funk respectively.) Kane seemed to have finally rid the WWF of his brother The Undertaker after setting a casket with him inside it on fire! Owen Hart was being hounded by Triple H and Chyna, but Owen was giving back as much as he was getting. Jeff Jarrett was parading around as The NWA champion under the tutelage of Jim Cornette and had already made several enemies.

There were only two Monday Night Raws left before our February PPV and there was still a hell of a lot up in the air. There was a lot of work still to be done.

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SpaceNinja3030 · January 13, 2012

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The first Raw In February was filmed in Hawaii at the Lahaina Civic Center.

We ran a cold opening (action before the title credits) with DX arriving at the arena. Michael Cole tried to get a word with them, but Chyna pushed him away. DX looked a lot more serious than they have in previous weeks.

As we cut inside the arena, various crowd shots are followed by introductions from Lawler and Ross. They hype a European title match between Owen Hart and Dlo Brown, A special announcement from Sunny, and the main event; Triple H and The New Age Outlawz versus Cactus Jack, Chainsaw Charlie and Steve Austin.

The DX music is piped in and they make their way to the ring, still stoney faced. (There had been a lot of pretty extreme violence over the last couple weeks, we needed to get over how serious the situation was becoming.) Shawn Michaels goes straight for a mic and addresses Austin. He says Austin has proved he is a bad ass, but Shawn has seen it all before. He’s beaten bigger and badder men than Austin, and his attitude doesn’t impress DX. He says Austin can do whatever he wants whenever he wants, but DX will always upstage him. Shawn says Austin reminds him of Daffy Duck, always trying to prove he’s better than Bugs Bunny, but always falling short. (My line.)

This of course brings out Austin who takes exception. Austin grabs a mic and asks if Shawn really just compared him to Daffy Duck? Austin says that when Daffy Duck hits Bugs with an anvil, Bugs gets right back up, but when Austin smashes Shawn in the face with a chair, he’ll make sure he puts him down for good!

As the two men go head to head, Vince McMahon makes an appearance on the ramp. Vince says enough is enough. He says he’s sick of all the unsanctioned aggression occurring on his show. If it’s not Shawn and Austin, it’s Hunter and Owen or The Outlawz and Cactus and Chainsaw! Vince says (quite frankly) he doesn’t care if they all kill each other, but they’re not going to do it in his ring. If they want to take things to the extreme, they can do it at No Way Out Of Texas in a Texas Street Fight! But if anything happens to ruin his main event tonight, he’s washing his hands of all eight men and they’ll all be fired!

Phinias Godwinn and Savio Vega vs Steve Blackman and Bob Holly.

This match would be the first the “Odd Couple” tag team tournament. We needed some new tag teams so we just started throwing together random combinations of guys who weren’t up to much. I think most people were pretty sick of all the gimmicky teams we had at the time. The blackjacks, The Headbangers, The Godwinns…they were all teams built on common interests. We needed some unlikely duos to fit in with the new direction we were going. Godwinn and Savio won a short match pretty handily.

The Rock comes to the ring with Kama. He tells Ken Shamrock to get his ass out to the ring. Shamrock obliges and stands toe to toe with The Nation. Rock tells Shamrock that he will never achieve the level of greatness of The Rock. He can chase him and his Intercontinental title all year long! Shamrock thinks he can intimidate the entire roster, but Rock isn’t scared. Rock tells Shamrock to go backstage and find himself a partner, Because he and Kama both want a piece of him at No Way Out! Rock says when he finds a partner stupid enough to get in the ring with them, he wants Shamrock to pass on a message. The Rock leans back and slaps Shamrock right across the face!

Shamrock is enraged and wildly swings at Rocky who ducks out of the way and out of the ring. Kama and Rock make their way backstage as Shamrock screams in the ring.

We cut backstage where Jim Cornette is seen with Vince McMahon. Cornette is telling Vince that he should postpone Jeff Jarretts NWA title defence because it deserves to be seen on PPV, not thrown away to these ingrates in Hawaii. Vince says if Jarrett truly is a great champion, he will defend his title any place, any time.

Jeff Jarrett vs Blackjack Bradshaw

God did I hate the whole NWA stable. I really didn’t see the point in bringing that relic onto our show. Most of the new audience we were reaching didn’t have a clue what the NWA was! They didn’t care about heritage or tradition. Don’t get me wrong, Jarrett was a great asset, and Cornette was an amazing heel manager when he wasn’t being an asshole. Bradshaw put in a good show until Windham interfered causing the DQ.

Sunny makes her way to the ring. She tells the audience that she’s heard that there’s a little show down south that claims to have the hottest women in professional wrestling. She’s sick and tired of hearing about those dirty skanks who call themselves Nitro girls. Next week, she’s going to showcase just how hot the women of the WWF can be. “You’ve all heard of Girls Gone Wild? Well get ready for Girls Gone RAW!”

Taka Michinoku vs Brian Christopher

Taka wins, same old flippy floppy crap. Next.

Backstage, Goldust is arguing with Sable. Goldust claims that he is a far better valet than Sable, and that Marc Mero is enjoying all the benefits he brings to the table. Sable says that the two of them are sick in the head! Mero walks past and tells Goldust to follow him to the ring and tells Sable to sit this one out.

Vader and Ahmed Johnson vs Marc Mero and Farooq

Another match in the Odd Couple Tournament. Kane tries to interfere but Vader is ready and waiting for him! Vader has been built as the first guy apart from Taker who can actually compete with Kane. Vader turns the interference to his benefit, sending the charging Kane flying into Marc Mero. Vader rolls Mero up in the confusion and gets the victory.

After the match, Kama rushes the ring as he and Farooq double team Ahmed Johnson. They brawl to the back leaving Vader in the ring with Kane. They brawl for a little bit before Kane gets Vader up for tombstone piledriver!

Owen Hart vs D’Lo Brown (European Title Match)

D’Lo comes out alone due to the rest of the nation being tied up with Ahmed. Owen is all business here, ending things early with The Sharpshooter. The bell rings but Owen won’t release the hold! Owen has a crazed look on his face and has the hold locked in for a good couple minutes. Eventually officials manage to break the hold but Owen has lost it. (Owen needed to look unpredictable here to add to the danger of the street fight. He pulled it off pretty well!)

We cut backstage where Cactus and Chainsaw cut a promo on DX and The Outlawz. Cactus says that he’s proud of Owen for embracing the madness he feels every day. He can’t wait to step into the thick Texas air with his trusty barbed wire baseball bat in hand! Austin walks by but doesn’t stop to chat! He marches towards the ring as Cactus and Chainsaw follow on.

Steve Austin, Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie vs Triple H and The New Age Outlawz.

Vince comes to the announce booth to keep an eye on all six guys, as security stand on the ramp to try and stop any interference. Austin proves he is an absolute star in this match. The crowd are absolutely electric every time he steps foot in the ring. Chyna is seen in the crowd behind Vince McMahon. Vince turns to confront Chyna, warning her not to get involved in the match. As he turns, one of the security guards breaks ranks and enters the ring! He reveals himself to be Shawn Michaels! Shawn Superkicks Charlie and scarpers from the ring, shouting at somebody to cover him. Hunter goes for the cover but Austin breaks it up.

Things begin to break down, eventually, Austin hits Road Dogg with The Stunner and picks up the victory as Charlie and Cactus guard the ring!

Final Thoughts

Overall, a pretty decent show. Not the blow away night it could have been (The Hawaii crowd are pretty traditional, they didn’t really go for much of the modern stuff.) but we built towards No Way Out and Wrestlemania nicely. Austin is so over right now, the crowd are itching to see him.

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SpaceNinja3030 · January 17, 2012

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Battle of the Texans

The next Raw emanated from Texas and we were less than a week from No Way Out. We needed a good go home show to really sell the PPV. The show started with a recap of the mayhem from last week, with a lot of emphasis on the Superkick that Shawn gave to Terry Funk.

As we cut into the arena and the pyros are popping, JR and Lawler hype the main event, a singles match between Funk and Michaels. (They hyped it as the first ever meeting between two Texas legends. It’s also worth noting that they billed him as Funk and not Chainsaw Charlie, even though he hadn’t been addressed as such yet on TV.)

This brings Funk (still dressed as Chainsaw Charlie) and Cactus Jack to the ring. Jack talks, saying Michaels shouldn’t have got involved in the match. He says Chainsaw wasn’t quite knocked out by the Superkick. In fact, Michaels might have actually knocked some sense into him. Chainsaw says Michaels has been in dire need of a Texas style ass whoopin for a long time…but Chainsaw Charlie isn’t the man to give it to him. Chainsaw removes the stocking from his head and says Terry Funk is the man to give it to him!

Funk then says that he wants a one on one match with no interference, but he knows that impossible with DX and The Outlawz involved. So he proposes that, in honour of the deceased Chainsaw Charlie, they make their match a Lumberjack match.

Vince then makes his way to the ring. He says that maybe Shawn did knock some sense into Funk because that’s not a bad idea. He officially makes tonight’s main event a Lumberjack match. Funk and Cactus seem pleased with the outcome and make their way backstage, leaving Vince alone.

Vince says that people have been asking him if the Odd Couple Tag Tournament is random or predetermined. Vince says the tournament is drawn completely at random, and to prove it, he invites members of the live audience to draw names. We then see Sgt Slaughter in the crowd who asks various audience members to participate. The names drawn out are Taka Michinoku and Thrasher vs Prince Albert and Kurrgan.

Vince seems happy with this, but says we need one more match tonight, so asks Slaughter to do it again. This time, the participants are Kama and Ken Shamrock vs The Rock and Kane! Vince thanks the audience and tells them that the first match will be up next. (Of course, all the audience members were plants, but you already knew that right?)

TAKA and Thrasher vs Prince Albert and Kurrgan

(The crowd crapped all over Albert and Kurrgan in this one. I have a feeling Albert might be able to win over a few of the haters, but the writings on the wall for Kurrgan. Saying that, they won the match, so I guess Kurrgan will be sticking around for at least a couple more weeks!

After that short match, we cut backstage to The Nation of Dominations locker room. The Rock and Kama are clearly delighted about their match later tonight. They say that Shamrock is getting taken out for good tonight! Farooq seems preoccupied though, and tells The Nation that he has something he has to do.

Farooq has made his way out to the ring. He grabs a mic and addresses Owen Hart. He tells Hart that what he did last week to D’Lo Brown has got his full attention. When you take out one member of The Nation, you better have enough in the tank to take out all members of The Nation. He calls Owen out to face him in a match, right here, right now.

Farooq vs Owen Hart

Hart comes to the ring, clearly accepting Farooqs challenge. The two talented men put on a decent back and forth match, which Owen Hart wins with the Sharpshooter. As we saw last week, Owen again refuses to release the hold, causing several officials to rush to the ring to try and help. Farooq is screaming in pain for a good couple of minutes before the hold is finally released. (The commentators did a great job here of getting over the fact that the Sharpshooter is an incredibly dangerous submission move and that if it’s applied in the street fight there will be no officials trying to break it. Owen seems like a real loose cannon at this point.)

As Owen is escorted backstage by the officials, he runs into Triple H and Chyna in the hallway. Hunter mocks Owen, telling him that if he has any sense, he’ll stay away from ringside for the lumberjack match, and he’ll stay off the streets of Texas on Sunday. Owen tries to grab hold of Hunter but the officials are still restraining him. Hunter and Chyna casually walk off screen.

Meanwhile, in The Nation locker room, Farooqs leg is being treated by medical staff. He asks The Nation why they didn’t come to his aid, when in walks Kane! The Nation are silent as Kane just stands and stares. The Rock approaches and nervously smiles. He asks Kane how he’s doing but gets no response. Rocky extends his hand to Kane, Kane simply looks at him and leaves the room.

Cactus Jack and Terry Funk are in the interview area. Michael Cole asks who the Lumberjacks are going to be tonight. Cactus says that of course he will be there to help his good friend. He then invites anybody who has ever had a problem with Shawn Michaels or DX to come down to ringside and join him.

Vader Vs Marc Mero

Mero is again accompanied by Goldust who is dressed up as Judy Garland. Vader is all business and looks to end things early. Goldust has other ideas though and tries to interfere. Vader sees him coming and hits him with a huge clothesline. Vader then Vaderbombs Mero to pick up the three count.

As Goldust tries to explain to Mero what happened, Sable makes her way to the ring wearing a black robe. Mero asks her what the hell she’s doing out here. This brings out Sunny who tells Mero he’s about to witness the first ever “Girls Gone Raw” bikini contest. Mero is furious and tells Sable that there’s no way he’s going to let her compete. Mero and Goldust drag Sable backstage as Sunny protests.

Sunny (also in a robe) says she’s sorry that Sable wont be competing tonight, but she always has a backup plan. She welcomes out to the ring two women who we are going to be seeing a lot more of very soon. Dawn and Tori. (Dawn Marie and Terri Powers respectively.) Sunny asks Lawler to be the host of the bikini contest, to which he quickly agrees. Lawler asks the fans who they liked best, and Sunny is voted the victor.

Meanwhile, backstage, Michael Cole catches up to Steve Austin. Cole asks Austin if he’s planning on coming to ringside to be a lumberjack. Austin says no because he could give a rats ass about Funk or Michaels and that’s all he’s got to say about that.

The Rock and Kane vs Kama and Ken Shamrock

Kane seems very reluctant to be involved. Kama also refuses to tag into the match, telling Shamrock he’s on his own. Kane and The Rock work over Shamrock, actually showing some sort of teamwork. That is until the arena lights start to flicker uncontrollably. Kane looks up to the lights and is clearly spooked. He decides that he’s had enough and makes his way backstage. The distraction is enough to allow Shamrock to take advantage. Shamrock looks for the anklelock, but Kama hits him from behind! The ref has no option but to throw the match out.

Backstage, Cole is with DX. He asks Shawn if he is ready to face Funk. Shawn says he knows that Terry Funk is a legend, but he’s a washed up, broken down one. He promises to take Funk out back and put him down for good!

Shawn Michaels vs Terry Funk

The Lumberjacks for Michaels are HHH, Chyna, The New Age Outlawz, Jeff Jarrett and Savio Vega. Funk has Cactus, Owen Hart, The Road Warriors and Ahmed Johnson in his corner. The match is a standard Lumberjack match with a big time match feel. The hot crowd is torn down the middle here, and pop big for both guys. The Lumberjacks keep the action in the ring, and a mass ringside brawl is teased on several occasions. Eventually, Shawn is able to Superkick Funk out of nowhere and pick up the pinfall victory.

After the match, Cactus tries to enter the ring and help Funk up, but Hunter has other ideas. He gets in Cactus’ face, which brings in Owen Hart to even the odds.Vince McMahon sends security officers in riot gear to the ring to stop things escalating. The security enter the ring and keep the factions apart.

One of the guards goes over to Michaels to calm him down. He removes his riot helmet….and reveals himself to be Steve Austin! Austin stunners Michaels and escapes from the ring before security can stop him! The show ends with Austin on the ramp flipping the bird to everybody in the ring.

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SpaceNinja3030 · January 17, 2012

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Pre PPV Thoughts

Well, we have our card. The main events been built pretty well. I feel we’ve got over how dangerous the match can be, Owens been more and more vicious, Austin is attacking everything that moves, Michaels is doing everything he can to get the upper hand…there’s so many storylines going into this match.

Shawn has been trying to pull his usual crap though, telling everybody who will listen that he’s injured and that he wants out of the street fight. Not sure if Vince is going to call his bluff on it but he needs to. Shawn’s a great talent, but if he ran off to WCW it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Vader vs Kane should be a good brawl. Vaders been kept nice and strong in the build up and Kane needs somebody to feud with now Undertakers out of the picture.

The Rock and Kama vs Ahmed Johnson and Ken Shamrock has also built nicely. All four guys have seemingly legitimate beef with each other. Shamrock still wants the IC title, and a win here would set up a rematch at Wrestlemania possibly. Rock and Kama just want to take him out!

Bradshaw vs Windham hasn’t really had any TV time to develop which is a shame as both guys should be pretty over with the crowd. Probably my fault for not being totally behind the whole NWA thing.

Marc Mero vs Steve Blackman is a late unadvertised addition, as is The Headbangers vs The Godwinns. The tag match will probably go on first, with Mero vs Blackman slotted in during the show. If nothing else, Sable should get involved!

So theres the full card, can’t wait till Sunday!

Steve Austin, Owen Hart, Cactus Jack and Terry Funk vs Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Billy Gunn and Road Dogg in a Texas Streetfight

The Rock and Kama vs Ken Shamrock and Ahmed Johnson

Vader vs Kane

Marc Mero vs Steve Blackman

Bradshaw vs Barry Windham

The Headbangers vs The Godwinns

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