Customer Reviews

Rope Opera: How WCW Killed Vince Russo

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I was really looking forward to this book, an insider's version of what went on with the failed WCW/Russo experiment. Russo does what a lot of saved people do, throw his religion in the mix, which would have been fine if this were billed as a religious book, but it wasn't. People are going to buy this book for the wrestling stuff, not so much for his religious beliefs. I was hoping for more names named, actual backstage stories, why he wrote certain angles and if he now thinks they were successful. The only in depth angles we were filled in on were the David Arquette and Bash at the Beach controversies. If the whole book would have been like those chapters, then I would have thought more highly of the book, but in it's current form, it was not worth the money I paid for it.

I do have to say going into this book I loved the title of it. Was this a good book yes did it fulfill my expectations on what it was going to be like not that much. Don't get me wrong this was a very good book but there are certain things that make this book annoying. I will say this is an easy read for anyone. Yes it is around 250 pages or more but you never feel like it really is taking a long time to read. The one problem in my opinion with this book is there are too many chapters in the book. For being less than 300 pages there is no way there should have been 52 chapters in this book. I don't think this is Vince's fault but whoever was publishing this book should have thought on what it would look like when people bought the book. The one thing I will say is it covers all different aspects of Vince Russo's life. This did not just talk about his time in wrestling but it also went to talk about his family and how God help him become a stronger and different person. Now don't get me wrong as far as religion goes I am not one to judge because I don't go to church but they way this book is written at times by Vince Russo it seems like he is shoving views of God down are throat. He is not bad about it but when he talks about how much he changed in life and saying it is only because of god he sounds kind of phony. I say this because if you are truly going to change in life it needs to be more than just about god you as a person have to change as well. He does not even mention his wife in helping him change that much. He does give her a lot of credit to her and his kids in this book which is nice to hear. Another thing that is disturbing and once again this is his opinion it sounds like he was trying to justify how bad WCW got once he got there. Like there always seemed to be an excuse for the storylines that were going on. I will say the fall of WCW does not all lay on the shoulders of Vince Russo but in my opinion most of it does. It does seem a little weird that almost 99% of people attribute a lot of WCW''s fall to Vince Russo but yet him and probably some other people don't feel it is truly their fault. It just sounds fake. Overall this book is a solid book I am going to go with a 3/5 and a mild recommendation to pick up this book. I bought this book for $20 if you could get it between $10-$15 that is a much better buy. Not an Awesome book but not awful by any means.

I reviewed Vince's first book a while back (unfavorably) and this current book is more of the same. The book is 1/3 wrestling related and 2/3 Vince Russo talking about Vince Russo. The church-y content has been ramped down a bit, which is nice (this is supposed to be a wrestling autobiography, btw). I just get annoyed as Vince rambles on and on and on about any thought that entered his head as he was "writing". He jams a bajillion pop-culture references into this book, this gets old after chapter 2. There's a wrestling chapter, then 2 or 3 chapters about how he's bored, or his love for fantasy baseball, or his pals growing up, or how....

If this were a book about Vince Russo and WCW only, it would be a pamphlet. He's incredibly self absorbed, and I don't care enough about the guy to read 250 pages about him.

This book isn't worth your time or $.

Oh and by the way, I'll save you from having to read this book Everything about the failure of WCW... not his fault. He was sweet and considerate to everyone there, but all the backstage politics and management interfered with his 5 star ideas. "Boo hoo, it's not my fault!" Anything he does take blame for, he gives the most insincere apology you can imaging (of course followed by "it really wasn't my fault!"

Vince Russo's Rope Opera finally sheds light on what exactly occurred during his time in WCW through his eyes. The book took 3 years to write and in my opinion was a plus since you are able to see how Russo's mindset changes about wrestling, the drama that occurs in it and just life itself. With reading you learn of the politics and drama that consumed WCW when Russo entered as well as the serious injury he received for jumping into the ring leading to the serious consequences he endured, you see how exactly the title came to be. The book as follows Russo in a personal sense as he undergoes trying to get past all the bad memories and problems that carry with him after WCW and through TNA. The book seems to be a form a therapy for him as well as the chapters move on, as the book isn't only a wrestling book, as he speaks about his personal and family life as well. He is able to tell his side of what occurred at Bash at the Beach, something that always comes up in interviews or conversations but now having written it, there is hope that it will finally be the end of the constant questioning. Years have passed, its time to move on, there's no need to have it continue pressing on. Wrestling is to be enjoyed but not obsessed at. The last entry in the book is Russo working with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan in TNA ten years after Bash. Instead of letting the past persuade the future, Vince looks at it as a new opportunity, as he noted the interaction between he and Bischoff have been a positive one. If Russo can work with Bischoff and Hogan successfully to bring TNA to a higher and better product, he would view it as a "significant achievement." I'm looking forward to the possible third book. Overall the book was a very good read, I enjoyed the way it was written in a journal like structure. To the many that are curious about all the debate and drama regarding what occurred within WCW, you've all heard one side it's only fair to read the other side.

I picked up this book with a very open mind. Of course I was well aware that many fans held him in very low esteem and blamed him for the death of WCW. I had heard and read lots of stories about Russo and his inability to write a coherent television show, but I also know that in the wrestling industry, burying an out of favor guy, can become quite popular. I was very curious to hear Vince Russo's side of the story.

Vince Russo's side of the story is that he really was to blame for WCW final years. Russo not only takes credit for WCW (David Arquette- WCW Champion), but rather than admitting it was a bad idea in hindsight, Russo defends it as a success. It's moments like these that only embolden his critics. Russo still tries to take credit for the successful "WWF Attitude Era". Even though any honest person would certainly credit him as having a hand in it, the reality is Vince McMahon and WWF talent were the driving force behind the success as evidenced by their continued success long after he was gone, WCW's descent into non-existence, and TNA's current product.

One need only to read this book, which reads as the creative...disjointed, illogical, scatological ramblings of somebody with attention deficit disorder, to understand that he is a writer that could only achieve success when heavily edited...something that would have helped greatly in this book. It strikes me that Russo could pitch you 20 creative ideas in as many minutes...the problem is only one (if any) would be of any value.

Throughout the book, I kept waiting to see some metamorphosis. Having discovered a renewed faith in God, I was really expecting Russo to exhibit some of the humility that I mentioned as lacking above. It never comes. What we get instead is the inclusion of a treatise for a television show called Rope Opera that Russo created during his hiatus from WCW. I've never read anything quite as sophomoric, crass, and utterly unreadable/unwatchable. No mature adult (or immature for that matter) would think this a good idea...but Russo thinks it's brilliant and beams like a proud father.

I really hope Vince Russo has a happy life. He's a father and husband and does not deserve the venom often directed at him. He's just a man trying to make a living and I for one hope he is very successful...as long as he stays far away from wrestling or any other creative endeavor.

I'd wager that Vince Russo is someone who likes to hear himself talk, because in ROPE OPERA: HOW WCW KILLED VINCE RUSSO he shows that he likes to ramble on in the written word. I was looking forward to more in-depth stories that name names. The religious beliefs I found weren't all that distracting and gave a nice view of who Russo the man is.

Well, even 1 star is way too high of a rating for this dillusional piece of work. Russo is known as "The Kiss Of Death" in the wrestling world, and in fact, IT IS ALL HIS FAULT!!! This book is worse than his so-called "writing" for TV wrestling. It's inconceivable that he even has a job in the business, but he is still destroying everything he touches in TNA.

Vince Russo transcends wrestling. When this man becomes part of a writing team, the shows are looked at under harsh scrutiny. I was in the business, and let me tell you, no one has it harder than the booker (I was never lucky enough to work with an actual writer. It truly is the most thankless job one can have, and no one behind the curtain is ever happy. Grumblings about spots and programs go on and on, and everyone second guesses you. Add to this the criticism you get from fans and it can truly become a harsh labor instead of a labor of love.

I'm biased towards Vince Russo.His writing has always entertained me, and I always knew the minute he was not involved in the show based upon the direction the show took. WWE went from being 'must -see' for me in late 99 to 'what happened, why is it not as good'. I phoned an older friend and asked him why the shows were bad. He explained that the dirt sheets were reporting that Vince Russo and Ed Ferarra(sp?) had left for WCW, and that things were about to get interesting. I made sure to watch WCW programming after this point. October 18-January 22 was the best, most entertaining presentation of Nitro I had ever seen. Vince Russo had proven himself to me at least.

The book goes into detail about this time period, why such a great thing ended in January, and why the second run with Bischoff and beyond was such a living nightmare for Mr. Russo. He tells his side of the story about everything, from accidentally being trapped in Ric Flair's figure 4 for several minutes to what exactly happened at Bash at the Beach with Hulk Hogan. Detail for detail, it describes just how, indeed, WCW killed Vince Russo.

Then we get to journey through the aftermath of his WCW career, which led to a brief return to WWE, to the founding of TNA. We get to understand like never before what it is like to be a former employee of Vince Mcmahon, and we get to see what it is like to work with Jeff and Jerry Jarrett. The chronicles of TNA go all the way through to the end of 2009, including details of Vince's meetings with Hogan and Bischoff.

More importantly, this book is the first adequate portrayal of a christian relating to others in a manner they can understand. He explains Jesus in the same terms as he explained Steve Austin many years ago. That is in terms a wrestling fan can understand. Do not be fooled, this book is written to where you can not skip these essays, because they are meshed and intertwined with the wrestling stories. Truth is, once you start reading these testimonials you will not want to stop. Your heart will open up to this concept, and maybe you will find the peace and glory that Vince Russo was able to find.

And yes, there are even more stories about Fruity and pop, along with portrayals of Vince's sons and daughter. They are woven into the book seamlessly, and everything builds towards where he was and why he did what he did at the time the wrestling stories take place. Truly a brilliant piece of work.

Do yourself a favor and pick this up. If you are a fan, it will be a wonderful trip down memory lane. If you hate Vince Russo and think of him as a curse to wrestling, you really need to read this book. Russo's story will let you see that he is a regular joe doing a job to the best of his ability, and even understand why things happened the way they did.

He is the man, the myth, the legend. From Vic Venom to"The Powers That Be" to Mr. Wrestling III. Vince Russo has been called a lot of things and is known worldwide. Whether you love him, hate him or have no clue who he is you get more than just a dose of what it's like to be inside the mind of one of the greatest writers/bookers of all time. While many fans have placed the blame on him for failed storylines and botched business maneuvers, Vince Russo continues to show just how he is one of the brightest minds and most revered names in the business today.

While everyone is rightly entitled to their opinion, good, bad, right or wrong, Vince Russo has never shied away from being himself. Something that many people often ask or ponder is about the daily lives of wrestling stars. What is even more fascinating to myself and millions of others is what makes these men. Two words can sum up that question: Vince Russo. Day after day, year after year Vince has put every ounce of energy and the love of the business forth to bring the best entertainment that money can buy. When I opened up "Rope Opera" I was fascinated to dive right into the personal life of one of the most hated, or loved, people in the business today. From the statements of his children to the agonizing details of his most strenuous days in wrestling, Vince Russo is not only immortalized, but, humanized. Not only do we get to read about the ins and outs of his daily life, work habits and personal surroundings, we also get a great insight into Vince Russo, the Father and loving Husband.

A great look into something that very few in and out of the wrestling world have ever had the pleasure of seeing first hand.

The thing that I enjoyed most about the book is the style in which it is written. Rather than being a start to finish story, it's a collaboration. From the happenings as a child, to stories about and from his children to dealing with the everyday, never ending struggles of a professional writer. Vince takes us through the ups and downs and pulls no punches in his side of the story. Far from your typical "kayfabe" or ghost-written autobiography, Vince fills us in on all of the details that we have so desperately wanted to know throughout his rise, "fall" and re-emergence in the wrestling industry.

As with always with Vince, many will either love or absolutely hate this book. Personally I found it fascinating on many levels. When I first heard of the book, immediately I knew I would be reading it. As I skimmed through the pages when it first arrived I knew I would be in for a treat. Not being a "man of faith" myself, I was concerned that I would be reading chapter after chapter (spread out of course) about his re-birth and his religious views. I was about as wrong as one could be in that assumption. When spoken about, Vince is very intelligent and articulate in his thoughts. Not only does he respect his faith, but he also respects his readers in not carrying on or getting on a soap box about it.

From the beginning of the book, which entailed his exit from the then WWF, we get to hear about how he had the opportunity to take over the writing/booking of the WWF's biggest rival, WCW. While always staying true to his personal beliefs Vince gives us a rare look at how exactly "WCW Killed Vince Russo." My favorite chapter, as it was also one of the most memorable "shoots" in wrestling history was the chapter about Bash At The Beach 2000. Finally after much debate between many wrestling fans across the world, Vince Russo finally sets the story straight. I highly encourage buying the book, if not for this chapter alone. You get a captivating look at not only what transpired behind the scenes that night, but also the fallout that would follow.

From his exit at WWF to his entire TNA career, nothing is untouched. His highly talked about exit from TNA and his shocking return, Vince brings us all along for the ride. The book not only took three years to write, but to show it's recency, it culminates with the arrival of Hulk Hogan to TNA. The final installment in the book, a diary entry from November 5th, 2009 (two days before my birthday), Russo speaks about having made amends with Eric Bischoff and his impending meeting with Hulk Hogan. I won't reveal too much, but it is definitely worth the wait, as in the end of the story, it's only the beginning to another.

As I mentioned before, love him or hate him, Vince Russo lays it all on the line and tells "his side of the story." The book is a smooth and very enjoyable read and I definitely recommend it to anyone who has the chance to pick it up or buy it. Once you finally put this book down, you truly will know why and "How WCW Killed Vince Russo."

This book was a great follow-up to his previous book, FORGIVEN. Through the years I have grown numb to professional wrestling. I was a big WCW guy. The death of WCW is covered here, but more is the perspective on how that came about through Russo's eyes. There are a million opinions on the death of WCW and this book gives yet another perspective on that. I also, being a Christian, enjoyed how his faith played into the overall arc of his story. I think this book is full of things that a lot of wrestling books lack and that is regret. I recommend it!