Vince Russo blasts "greedy" WWE SmackDown decision (Exclusive)
Vince Russo was WWE's head writer when RAW regularly drew high ratings as a two-hour show in the late 1990s. As RAW prepares to move to Netflix in 2025, the veteran writer gave his thoughts on WWE making a major change to SmackDown.
On September 13, SmackDown returned to the USA Network as part of a five-year deal with the American television station. WrestleVotes reported on Backstage Pass that the two-hour show will extend to three hours when the USA Network loses RAW to Netflix.
Russo said on Sportskeeda Wrestling's Writing With Russo that the decision sums up how WWE prioritizes revenue over fan enjoyment:
"Bro, I swear to God, this company, it was greedy before, but now with Endeavor [UFC and WWE's owner], I don't know, bro, if it's because they gotta make up the money they paid for UFC, I don't know if it's because they gotta make up the money they paid for the WWE. I don't know what it is, but this company is getting so freaking greedy now, bro." [4:31 – 4:53]
Russo also responded negatively to the news that Saturday Night's Main Event is returning on NBC on December 14:
"Increasing ticket prices, now adding another hour to SmackDown, not to mention the Saturday Night Main Event. Bro, who's watching all this wrestling? I mean, seriously. You got Monday Night Football, you got Thursday Night Football, you got Sunday Night Football. I don't watch all those football games. I'll watch bits and pieces, but I'm not gonna sit down and watch three three-hour football [games]." [4:55 – 5:25]
Watch the video above to hear Russo's take on the Royal Rumble possibly becoming a two-night event every year.
Vince Russo gives life advice to WWE fans
Die-hard wrestling fans often watch 10+ hours of live weekly content to keep up to date with match outcomes and storyline developments. Wrestling companies also produce several hours of videos on social media platforms throughout the week.
Vince Russo believes fans should focus on themselves and put a limit on the amount of wrestling they consume:
"You know, bro, sometimes I'll wake up at two in the morning, at three in the morning, and I'll just start writing or I'll just start creating. I will really start doing something productive. To sit there in front of a TV and watch endless hours of wrestling, my God, people, do something with your life. I'm begging you, bro." [5:41 – 6:04]
Russo worked for several promotions as a wrestling writer, including TNA, WCW, and WWE. He also won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship during his days as an on-screen personality.
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Please credit Sportskeeda Wrestling's Writing With Russo and embed the video if you use quotes from this article.