WWF 2000: What if Russo hadn’t left?

[StarClout]

Let’s say in an alternate universe, Russo/Ferrara hadn’t left in October 1999. How altered would 2000 have been in terms of pushes/cards/quality? How would WM 2000 and X7 have played out under Russo?

Also how would WCW have fared since Russo never left?

 

[ThisIsLife]

I thought the year 2000 was a more mature product than 1999. With Russo still being there, it may have been more gimmick matches, crazy characters and ridiculous storylines. Luckily, Russo always had others to damper down his crazy ideas in the WWF, unlike his run in WCW.

With WCW and how it would fare, it depends on who took over booking, WCW didn't always have the best of luck in that department. Due to behind the scenes stuff going on with Turner, I couldn't see the company lasting long with or without Russo.

I will always give Russo props for giving all the wrestlers a chance on screen with an interesting storyline (even the ridiculous ones), which carried over I believe for the years of 2000 and 2001 in the WWF.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

I thought the year 2000 was a more mature product than 1999. With Russo still being there, it may have been more gimmick matches, crazy characters and ridiculous storylines. Luckily, Russo always had others to damper down his crazy ideas in the WWF, unlike his run in WCW.

With WCW and how it would fare, it depends on who took over booking, WCW didn't always have the best of luck in that department. Due to behind the scenes stuff going on with Turner, I couldn't see the company lasting long with or without Russo.

I will always give Russo props for giving all the wrestlers a chance on screen with an interesting storyline (even the ridiculous ones), which carried over I believe for the years of 2000 and 2001 in the WWF.

WWF would have been a lot less focused and booked short term with a lot more chaotic angles if Russo stuck around. He was always good at making sure everyone had something to do and had a chance to let a gimmick or their personality shine, but the crash tv style booking can’t stick forever or it’ll burn the crowd out. Creski did such a great job in 2000. I can’t imagine a better job being done. In WCW it really wouldn’t have mattered who was in charge. The network head decided he didn’t want them on the network because he didn’t want pro wrestling. Not much anyone can do to change that.

 

[jackswstd]

They would've gotten burnt out eventually. Working for Vince takes a toll on you unless you're strictly in marketing, corporate arm of the company. WCW was headed towards that iceberg because of the AOL/Time Warner merger anyway, there was no stopping that.

 

[El Cocodrilo]

Probably He Hate Me would have become WWF Champion

 

[Rell84shots]

Look at WCW in 2000, it basically played out like angles that were too bad to make it on WWF tv in the 90s. Wrestlemania X7 is the GOAT mania imo and he probably would've made it like XV.

 

[cozy carl]

X-Pac would've gotten a IC title run

 

[Breh Obama]

Jesus fukking Christ y'all just had to make this thread huh?

 

[Theolodius_Black]

WCW was gonna die with or without him. Inmates ran the asylum for far too long. Cats salaries were ridiculous ie: Lanny Poffo. Even if they reigned in the money and started turning profit, the time Warner deal would've saw them get ousted anyway unfortunately

 

[Groupie For Groupies]

Russo would have booked himself to be the one that ran Austin over.

 

[Rarely-Wrong Liggins]

Heel Pornstar Val Venis in the main event. That was the project he was working on when he left. And I liked where it was going.

 

[Mantis Toboggan M.D.]

Heel Pornstar Val Venis in the main event. That was the project he was working on when he left. And I liked where it was going.

While working the porn star gimmick?

 

[dh86]

Deavors

 

[dh86]

WCW was gonna die with or without him. Inmates ran the asylum for far too long. Cats salaries were ridiculous ie: Lanny Poffo. Even if they reigned in the money and started turning profit, the time Warner deal would've saw them get ousted anyway unfortunately

I think if Russo’s bullshyt never comes to WCW and it’s a normal bad wrestling show, maybe Nitro stays on TNT as WCW is sold

 

[Rarely-Wrong Liggins]

While working the porn star gimmick?

Yep. The heel turn came from him kidnapping Socko and using him as a stuffer to make his junk bigger.