Vince Russo | |
---|---|
Birth name | Vincent James Russo |
Born | Long Island, New York, U.S. | January 24, 1961
Spouse(s) |
Amy Russo (m. 1983) |
Children | 3 |
Website | russosbrand |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Vic Venom Vicious Vincent Vince Russo Mr. Wrestling III The Powers That Be |
Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1] |
Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg)[1] |
Trained by | Johnny Rodz |
Debut | 1992 |
Retired | 2014 |
Vincent James Russo (born January 24, 1961) is an American professional wrestling writer, booker and pundit. He is notable for his tenures with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in creative roles.[2] He also occasionally made appearances as an on-screen authority figure, and professional wrestler, in WCW and TNA.
Russo's writing style often blurred the lines between reality and fiction, while also favoring elements such as shock twists, grand moments and larger-than-life characters over in-ring action, which made him a controversial figure amongst certain wrestling fans. Russo was part of the WWF's creative department during the widely acclaimed Attitude Era, during which the company achieved record high television ratings.
During a self-booked in-ring career in WCW, Russo became a one-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion,[3] and scored televised singles victories over future WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair and Booker T (the latter to win his world title).
[Russo] devaluing the title by putting it on himself.