Fans are being "gouged" financially by WWE, ex-writer says (Exclusive)

WWE has broken several revenue records in 2024. However, according to the company's former head writer, Vince Russo, the success of the last few months is not good news for fans.

Since replacing Vince McMahon as WWE's creative figurehead in 2022, Triple H has answered questions from reporters at premium live event press conferences. The WWE Chief Content Officer often discusses the financial side of the business, including gate receipts.

Speaking to host Dr. Chris Featherstone, Russo said on Sportskeeda Wrestling's Writing With Russo that tickets are overpriced:

"For as long as I've been following wrestling, I never saw a fanbase gouged the way these people are being gouged, bro. It is [borderline criminal], it really is, bro. Listen, man, I'm all for entertainment dollars, Chris, and I know you are too, but, bro, you gotta have a budget, man, because if you don't have a budget, that's how you're gonna start getting into financial problems. You need to put money aside for entertainment." [19:14 – 19:50]

Watch the video above to hear Russo's thoughts on SmackDown moving from two to three hours in 2025.

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Vince Russo refuses to replicate WWE's approach

Although inflation has risen significantly in the last decade, Vince Russo has not increased the subscription price of his podcast business since it launched.

The 63-year-old added that he does not want to "gouge" money from fans in the same way he believes WWE is doing:

"My philosophy is, bro, we've been doing Russo's Brand for 10 years," Russo said. "Bro, for 10 years it's $4.95 a month. And I always hear, bro, people tell me, 'Vince, you should raise prices. Inflation, inflation, inflation, inflation.' And I'm like, 'Yeah, bro, you're right, inflation,' and everybody's paying more money for everything. I don't wanna be part of the problem. There's no money tree in the back for people to pick, bro. So if everybody is being gouged for more money, I wanna be the last person." [20:31 – 21:09]

Russo also addressed speculation about the Royal Rumble potentially becoming a two-night event every year.

What are your thoughts on Vince Russo's comments? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

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Please credit Sportskeeda Wrestling's Writing With Russo and embed the video if you use quotes from this article.