In a recent episode of The Wrestling Outlaws, former WCW writer and on-screen talent, Vince Russo, shared his insights on the demise of World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The four-part WCW documentary series, Who Killed WCW?, recently aired on VICE TV, and it has once again brought the topic of WCW’s downfall to the forefront.
Russo, who worked as a co-head writer alongside Ed Ferrara from October 1999 to October 2000, believes that WCW’s removal from television was largely due to the decision made by television executive Jamie Kellner. Kellner, the former Chairman and CEO of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., played a significant role in pulling the plug on WCW, according to Russo.
The 63-year-old also shared his thoughts on the impact of the AOL merger and the lack of interest from executives in the professional wrestling business. The merger of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., and Time Warner, Inc., in 1996, followed by AOL’s acquisition of Time Warner in 2001, ultimately led to a change in the company’s priorities. Russo stated that the new executives viewed wrestling as an embarrassment and did not want to be involved in the wrestling business.
Vince Russo (ViaTwitter)
However, ratings during Russo’s time as co-head writer with Ferrara show an increase in viewership, suggesting that the decline of WCW could not be attributed solely to the outlandish storyline ideas that Russo is often criticized for. Instead, the lack of executive interest in wrestling and the AOL merger might have played a more significant role in WCW’s downfall.
In the documentary series, the first episode focused on Eric Bischoff’s rise from commentator to executive and the impact of Hulk Hogan’s arrival, the nWo (New World Order), and the infamous Hogan vs. Sting match at Starrcade 1997.
Russo’s perspective on WCW’s demise sheds light on the behind-the-scenes factors that ultimately led to WCW’s removal from television. While some still hold Russo accountable for WCW’s downfall, it’s clear that the situation is far more complex than it appears
