TNA News: Russo’s Booking, Velvet Sky, Women’s Show and More
Posted by Larry Csonka on 02.12.2008
Some news to kick off the day!
- Right now Vince Russo is responsible for 90% or so of the TV writing, with Dutch Mantel working on other aspects of the show as well as the women's division.
- Velvet Sky currently has her photo in promotional material for a PPV entitled "Wet Wrestling: Naughty School Girl Food Fight." This was filmed in 2006.
- While there have been mentions of the women possibly getting their own show, nothing is for sure. They have done the best quarter hour numbers on most shows, but many fear that there isn't enough depth to carry a show of their own.
- Many in TNA are anxious to see the Against All Odds buyrate, since the company has been doing record viewership for the last few weeks.
I am a huge TNA fan. With that said, Vince Russo and Dutch Mantel are to TNA what Isaiah Thomas and James Dolen are to the N.Y. Knicks...CANCER!
Posted By: Joey Blaze (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Russo? Mantel? Give Cornette and Heyman booking power. Between the two of them, and TNA's talented roster, there's no way they could fail.
Posted By: hobo_bebop (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Heyman? good luck finding the guy...i'm actually fearing what the ppv number is going to be. i wasn't at all excited about this ppv and literally had to psyche myself into ordering it. i don't regret ordering it at all as i was entertained, but i'm just one individual. i don't see how they'd expect anything drastically higher than they've already been doing.
Posted By: bighustle (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 12:33 AM
"There's no way they could fail"
Just like ECW and Smoky Mountain!
Posted By: Guest#9563 (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 12:37 AM
What the...? I thought D'Amore was in charge of the Women's division? Did they give him the ax or something?
Posted By: m8 (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 01:08 AM
"There's no way they could fail"
"Just like ECW and Smoky Mountain!"
To be fair, ECW and SMW did not have the financial resources that TNA has. Although you could not have Heyman and Cornette on the same booking team, they would not agree on anything. Two totally different booking styles.
Posted By: Stinky (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 02:11 AM
2 differences between ECW, SMW & TNA is ECW and Smoky Mountain never had major corporate financial backing or a world class CONTRACTED roster. Fire Russo & Mantel then drive a truck full of money upto Heyman's front door, bring back Raven and keep Cornette and let them have full control of the on-screen stuff. Sure as hell it can't be any worse than Russo's shit.
Posted By: G3KKO (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 02:17 AM
Just confirms what most of us already know- I mean who else can book pole matches? Really get Heyman or Cornette in with majority power, Jarret t and Mantell can stay with minority booking power-but without Russo no way TNA is going to get rid of stupid gimmick matches and Sports Entertainment finishes to otherwise good bouts
Posted By: Rankin (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 02:29 AM
well tna still had those finishes before Russo even came back.
And besides writing and producing the shows is a lot different to actually booking them. and you can't argue with russo doing 90 of the writing of the actual show since he has the most experience at it.
and as far as we know d'amore is still booking the women's division. when it stops being good, then we can assume jarrett, mantel and russo are working on it.
Posted By: Daz (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 03:05 AM
So if Dutch Mantell is working with the Womens division (and D'amore I am sure is the one who gets a lot of the say) shows that Mantell isn't as much of a douche we all think he is. Sure it may be by association with D'amore, but still.
Posted By: Travis (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 03:17 AM
If Mantel is booking the women's division, then he clearly isn't half-bad, as it's the only thing worth watching TNA for anymore.
Posted By: KX (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 03:45 AM
The only way Heyman and Cornette would ever co-exist would be with a strong moderator or 2 on the committee. That isn't Russo. I don't knoe enough about Mantell to comment, but D'Amore could play the role, by all acounts he's a fairly mild guy. Throw in Jeff Jarrett and you MIGHT be able to get two of the best creative minds in pro wrestling to work together.
If there's one person Heyman and Cornette dislike more than each other, it's Vincent Kennedy Mcmahon.
Posted By: Chris Lansdell (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 05:58 AM
Really TNA? So you're not lying out of your ass about Russo having next to no creative input anymore then? Wow, I'm stunned to hear that all this complete SHIT is indeed being written by Russo. What a total shock.
Posted By: Col (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 06:27 AM
90%! Well I guess he isn't THAT bad since ive enjoyed some things.
Posted By: Mr1700 (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Amen Hobo Bebop... too bad they won't get Heyman away from whatever cushy deal he has doing his own show.... without, that is, a whole heap of guaranteed money like what brought down WCW.
Regardless, Jim Cornette is more than capable.
However, they have shown that Mantel and Russo are capable. There have been times when they do have flashes of brilliance. Who booked Global impact?
Gimmick matches are good when not overdone.
They just need someone to keep their natural tendencies to go too long on promos and too overboard with too many gimmick matches in check.
So.... considering Heyman is out of the running, would Tod Gordon still be considered a free agent (or am I showing how really old school I am?)
And on a final thought, with Don west leaving, Who wants to get an e-mail campaign together to have TNA go after Joel Gertner? Who's with me!!!!
Posted By: The Phenomonal RJ Styles (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 09:03 AM
"Dutch Mantel working on other aspects of the show as well as the women's division."
OOHHHH! So that's why it's the only good thing in TNA right now...
Posted By: Michelle (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 09:08 AM
This goes out to all the people who said Russo doesnt have that much input on the company.
You'll have to be blind if dont know russo work, now that its offically out there russo is 2-0 WCW and now TNA he cant be stopped destroying wrestling companys he is the real Human Tornado.
Posted By: PrimeTimeJay (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 09:36 AM
In my opinion give full booking power to Jim cornette and Scott D'amore. When D'amore was in charge of booking through 2004-06 they were having the best matches and storylines. Russo and Mantel SUCK! Russo and Mantel should realize they are out of touch of what fan want and what is popular today.
Posted By: JFLYNT (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Remember kids, their excuse will be "Dave Melzer and Wrestling Observer" are not credible sources and continue on with their denials that Russo is writing most of TNA.
Posted By: Crimefighter (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 10:56 AM
i can't wait for the inevitable kurt angle/rhino neck brace on a pole match...you know it is coming...
Posted By: Darth Mortis (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Why let Cornette book? What has he ever contributed? Loser wears diaper matches?
Posted By: Burt Price (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Thank god Russo is still in charge, I can't wait for Angle vs. Cage VIII. Maybe another rat on a pole match. The best wrestler on the roster working the outside enforcer role. We can make AJ Styles wear some kind of funny suit. Angle Family Arbor Day Dinner!? Build up some of our ultra talented x division wrestlers and we can just berried them a few weeks later. More tournaments that make no sense. Man I can't wait, love life russo
Posted By: Kip (Registered) on February 12, 2008 at 12:15 PM
I think it's funny that the only good part of TNA isn't booked by Russo
Posted By: Kent Baker (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 12:15 PM
RJ Styles, I'm pretty sure that if Russo booked there was alot of help from NJPW. Tod Gordon is runnin' his own wrestling business. Pro Wrestling Unplugged. He does some good shit.
Posted By: Rick Landis (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 12:32 PM
Yes, I know I was just at their show last month... good stuff for a shoestring budget, kind of like when ECW was on a shoestring budget and he had co-booking power with Paul Heyman.
That's 1 reason why he should be booking TNA. and reason #2 is - he's not Russo.
Posted By: Phenomonal RJ Styles (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 03:20 PM
I think TNA Wrestling is getting more successful and will be this year.
I agree with fans. Please give Jim Cornette the wheel. He has been in the business for a long time as I remember so well.
Please give the knockouts some more time..
Paul heyman would make a great addition.
The WWE really singled him out of their way.
Please give Jim and Paul a chance too make it work for the business!!
Posted By: Billy jack (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 08:04 PM
Jeez! I would have never noted that Vince Russo had that much influence if I hadn't read this article..... :)
Posted By: Julio Moreno (Guest) on February 12, 2008 at 08:48 PM
