Calling Vince Russo’s version of TNA history “revisionist” was never going to end quietly.
After hearing that someone who appeared on Dark Side of the Ring allegedly dismissed the story told in his new book, Total Non-Stop Agony: The Rise and Fall of TNA, Russo fired back with a lengthy response on Twitter, arguing that if he was rewriting history, he wouldn’t have willingly walked away from one of the best-paying jobs of his career with absolutely nothing waiting for him on the other side.
“I heard somebody who appeared on the ‘DSOTR’ alluded that my story—which you can read in my new book, ‘Total Non-Stop Agony: The Rise and Fall of TNA’ is… ‘Revisionist History’? Really? I ‘Changed’ History? Rewrote it? Made it up? Is that why I left a six-figure job with nothing lined up once I left? Not knowing how I was going to support my family? No Plan B? Nothing.”
For Russo, that’s the part people either ignore or conveniently forget. He says nobody abandons a six-figure paycheck, risks their family’s financial security and walks into the unknown just to invent a story years later. He says he left because staying had become impossible.
“I walked away from a well paying job—that literally thousands would have killed for—with some thinking I was crazy and despite Dixie Carter trying to talk me out of it… WHY? It’s simple—it became UNBEARABLE. It was an environment that I could no longer exist in. With Politicians I could no longer work with… or, even look at. It was affecting my health—physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”
Then the post took an even sharper turn. Without naming the person from Dark Side of the Ring, Russo unloaded on what he described as the political culture that existed around TNA, accusing certain people of refusing to accept responsibility for anything that happened while convincing themselves they were never part of the problem.
“And, for those who will never look themselves in the mirror because their arrogance and ego won’t allow it—that’s why you’re WHO YOU ARE. There is No Blame on yourself—you had nothing to do with anything. I guess you were just there for ‘Taco Tuesday’. Right. Carny BS, man, that’s all it is, that’s all it ever will be.”
Just as fans were left wondering who he was talking about, Russo drew a line in the sand. Whoever his comments were aimed at, he insisted they were not directed at Dixie Carter or Jeff Jarrett.
“And, just to be perfectly clear I AM NOT talking about @TNADixie or @RealJeffJarrett.”
Russo pointed to his current run with Juggalo Championship Wrestling as proof that the environment—not wrestling itself—was always the issue. He praised JCW owner Joe Bruce, better known as Violent J, for building a workplace without the backstage politics that he says ultimately drove him away from TNA.
“There’s a reason I am currently working at @jcwlunacy for the best part of a year with no issues, no accusations, no politicians, no finger pointing, no power plays and NO BS. It all has to do with working for and with an honest, stand-up, good hearted human being in Joe Bruce (Violent J). J never has been and never will be ONE OF THEM. You know why—because he WORKS HARD and has a GOD-GIVEN TALENT. He never had to play any Political Game to get ahead. He EARNED it—he didn’t TALK HIS WAY into it. WHOOP-WHOOP.”
Russo never revealed which Dark Side of the Ring guest allegedly labeled his account “revisionist history,” but he made one thing abundantly clear: he has no intention of backing away from his version of TNA’s history—and anyone who thinks he walked away from a six-figure job for no reason is missing the point entirely.
Do you think Vince Russo’s account of his TNA departure deserves more credit, or do you believe the truth lies elsewhere? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
