In a recent episode of Legion of Raw, former WWE writer Vince Russo joined host Dr. Chris Featherstone to share his views on current wrestling storylines, focusing on Drew McIntyre’s defeat to Cody Rhodes at WrestlePalooza for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Russo expressed frustration with the emphasis on clean finishes in matches, questioning their impact on wrestlers’ relevance in the industry. He said,
“I’m looking at this Wrestlepalooza and I’m like, ‘Okay, Cena gets destroyed by Brock. Great for Brock, what did that do for Cena?’ Then we get to the main, Cody over Drew. Great for Cody, what does that do [for Drew]? Just this obsession with clean finishes in fake wrestling matches. This is why, bro, nobody’s over. How many times are you going to beat Drew McIntyre until he means absolutely nothing, bro?”
—Vince Russo, former WWE writer
Russo Questions Stephanie Vaquer’s Ability to Headline
Russo also commented on Stephanie Vaquer’s position as a champion, focusing on her promo skills as a critical factor for success at the top level. Reflecting on the standards during his tenure, he doubted that Vaquer could have reached championship status without strong mic abilities. He remarked,
“You talk about Stephanie Vaquer, whatever her freaking name is. I just wrote a note about her. It’s just funny, bro, because depending on how far you got pushed or how far up the ladder you climbed, a big part of that is being able to cut a promo. That is non-existent today. I swear to God. The fact that the belt is on this woman and the way she delivers and cuts a promo. Like, there’s no way when I was working, she would have ever got to that level not having the ability to cut a promo.”
—Vince Russo, former WWE writer
The Impact of Wrestling Storyline Decisions on Audience Engagement
Russo’s critiques highlight ongoing debates about wrestling storytelling and performer presentation, especially regarding audience reception and the importance of promo abilities. His analysis suggests that repeated match outcomes without meaningful narrative progression reduce interest and diminish wrestlers’ significance. This perspective raises questions about how current WWE booking strategies might affect future fan engagement and the careers of featured athletes like Drew McIntyre and Stephanie Vaquer.
