Vince Russo pitched "great ideas" to ex-WWE star before his release (Exclusive)

Vince Russo worked as a head writer for TNA Wrestling, WCW, and WWE during his three decades in the wrestling business. The 63-year-old recently recalled how he collaborated with Elijah, formerly known as Elias, on WWE storyline ideas.

Elias worked for WWE between 2014 and 2023. The four-time 24/7 Champion was best known for his musical performances and feuds with high-profile names such as John Cena and Roman Reigns.

Russo appeared on Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Outlaws with host Dr. Chris Featherstone and NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion EC3. He said the ideas he shared with Elias were unlikely to make it to television due to the number of people in WWE's creative team:

"I was talking to Elijah when he was working for the WWE and I pitched him some great ideas," Russo said. "We collaborated. Now, when he had to go back and pass those ideas through God knows how many different people, they're all in a power play, bro. They've gotta prove their position by cr***ing on you and cr***ing on their idea because they know better. I would not want to be a talent, bro, trying to get an idea past creative today. That sounds like a nightmare to me, bro." [8:21 – 8:58]

Watch the video above to hear Russo's take on WWE nixing a romance idea involving Paige and Shelton Benjamin.

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How Vince Russo wrote WWE shows

In the late 1990s, Ed Ferrara and Vince Russo were WWE's co-head writers when RAW regularly drew the highest ratings in the show's history. They wrote scripts together before pitching ideas to WWE's then-Chairman Vince McMahon, who ultimately had the final say.

Russo believes it was easy for wrestlers to get ideas approved in those days compared to today:

"Bro, back then during the Attitude Era a talent came to me with an idea. Period, end of story. If I thought it was a good idea, then I'd pitch that idea to Vince. If I thought it had remnants of a good idea, I would try to add to it, but they came to me." [7:38 – 8:01]

In October 1999, Ferrara and Russo left WWE to join WCW. The latter made the decision after McMahon advised him to prioritize work and hire a nanny to look after his children.

What do you make of Vince Russo's remarks? Hit the discuss button and let us know.

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