Did you like attitude era Better with Russo or after?
- Thread starter K.Y.R.I.E
- Start date
interesting question
as i thought 1997-98 were the GOAT periods
Russo lost his mind in 99 and his career fell off a cliff ever since
as i thought 1997-98 were the GOAT periods
Russo lost his mind in 99 and his career fell off a cliff ever since
that's how i feel too. The shows were structured and less of the out of control feel it had when russo was there but the overall product was better
Russo had some great moments don't get me wrong but i just enjoyed the show more week to week after he went to wcw
norfwestdc
All Star
I just rewatched some of the Attitude Era; Raw in 98, and 99 were Terrible. 2000 and 2001 were the best eras of the Attitude Era. There was more structure and character interactions
Saysumthinfunnymike
VOTE!!!
2000-01 was better than 98/99 story wise but 1997 was the GOAT year.. HitGOAT effect
Lefty Gunz
Superstar
2000 was my favorite year so after
Yeap, 2000’s the best era
Kurt Angle rise, main event Rock, McMahon Helmsley era, tag team wrestling booming with the Hardyz, E&C, Dudleys etc. midcard eith Jericho, Benoit etc. hardcore belt being defended 24/7
So much fire
Kurt Angle rise, main event Rock, McMahon Helmsley era, tag team wrestling booming with the Hardyz, E&C, Dudleys etc. midcard eith Jericho, Benoit etc. hardcore belt being defended 24/7
So much fire
XannyWarbucks
Superstar
1997 was amazing, but Russo wasn't "head writer" until the end of the year. Midcard was horrendous, but the Main Event carried it.
1998 was a great year. Main Event carried again, but the midcard stepped up, more gimmicks were introduced, but they weren't crazy.
1999 was objectively terrible but the company was so popular people didn't care. Rock was midcard for like half the year for some reason, despite getting the loudest reactions after Austin. HHH's initial push is some of the worst television that I could remember seeing. Even at this time, I was flipping back to WCW more, and they fukking had Rodman and Savage cursing at each other. Midcard just threw whatever wacky gimmick they can.
2000 was an amazing year and overall the best balance between wrestling and an engaging product.
I have love for 1997 though, I think 1997 has a slight edge because it was just 100% fukkery and could never be mimicked. You had Bret and Shawn's shyt leaking on to the show, Austin come up, Taker/Kane stuff, Mankind promos, HHH coming up, Rock, in the late half of 97 was coming to his own, product was still a bit grounded in reality. Like 1997 shows feel nothing like a 1999 product, because it was still being shot like it was 1993-1996, despite being different from those years.
But rant's aside, to answer the initial question. I think it was better without him. 1998 is his full year, and while a fun year all around, he peaked with Survivor Series 1998. That was pretty much his magnum opus and after that you could see everything fall apart. WM 15 has to be one of the most forgettable shows of all time, because Russo didn't give a shyt about anything but TV. Even in 1998, you could tell other people were helping him with promote PPVs and shyt because most of those PPVs were stronger than anything that came in 1999.
1998 was a great year. Main Event carried again, but the midcard stepped up, more gimmicks were introduced, but they weren't crazy.
1999 was objectively terrible but the company was so popular people didn't care. Rock was midcard for like half the year for some reason, despite getting the loudest reactions after Austin. HHH's initial push is some of the worst television that I could remember seeing. Even at this time, I was flipping back to WCW more, and they fukking had Rodman and Savage cursing at each other. Midcard just threw whatever wacky gimmick they can.
2000 was an amazing year and overall the best balance between wrestling and an engaging product.
I have love for 1997 though, I think 1997 has a slight edge because it was just 100% fukkery and could never be mimicked. You had Bret and Shawn's shyt leaking on to the show, Austin come up, Taker/Kane stuff, Mankind promos, HHH coming up, Rock, in the late half of 97 was coming to his own, product was still a bit grounded in reality. Like 1997 shows feel nothing like a 1999 product, because it was still being shot like it was 1993-1996, despite being different from those years.
But rant's aside, to answer the initial question. I think it was better without him. 1998 is his full year, and while a fun year all around, he peaked with Survivor Series 1998. That was pretty much his magnum opus and after that you could see everything fall apart. WM 15 has to be one of the most forgettable shows of all time, because Russo didn't give a shyt about anything but TV. Even in 1998, you could tell other people were helping him with promote PPVs and shyt because most of those PPVs were stronger than anything that came in 1999.
Lurk Angle
All Star
1998 was a good year because McMahon kept russo on a leash and him and pat Patterson along with others had alot to do with that year
1999 was
expecially wm 15 which was russomania
When he left late 1999 was some of the best wrestling I seen so
1999 was
expecially wm 15 which was russomaniaWhen he left late 1999 was some of the best wrestling I seen so
Preferred the '99 - '01 stint. As a kid, there was a tonal shift and it makes sense. Still felt "edgy" but wasn't quite as cartoonish. The beef felt more real to me and so did the characters. At the same time, it didn't take itself too seriously like the RA era did at times imo. Rock was the focal point at this time w/ Steve in & out with the neck injury and I always preferred him to Steve so that plays a part for me too.
WWE was phenomenal in 97 & 00.
It was very good/great in 98.
99 though
Russo lost his damn mind that year.
Russo didn't lose his mind, that was always him; he was just heavily filtered for a while, and also around nothing but old school wrestlers and office dudes who knew what they were doing
i just also read he didnt do most of the writing in 97, so im not giving him props for anything that year