Keith Watanabe * NET 2.0

http://www.stormwrestling.com/020207.html There really isn't much said here that wrestling fans on the Internet haven't said about Russo here. But I think it's important to point out that when both wrestlers and fans alike share the same viewpoint, some action needs to occur. As it has been mentioned multiple times before, Russo is a failure as a head booker and writer. While he may offer insight in developing a storyline or character, he should not be the focal point in writing for TV week-to-week. Instead, his position should be reduced to a pure consultant position that makes suggestions on improving characters for the undercard (where most people were complaining for the lack of personalities). The thing I don't understand is how he got his job back. Okay, maybe I do to a degree. But I remember the fans voting him off of TNA once before. What does that tell the management? Having him in a limited role as he proves himself would be a better decision at this point. But the key for him is to prove himself. The ratings have no improved significantly since his arrival, therefore one can easily assume that his format is just maintaining status quo. The whole idea of having a good booker is to improve the product, reach out and expand, to work with the sales and marketing departments in growing the company. Russo fails to achieve any of this. Now, he probably will take credit for the ~1.0 ratings, but there's no key formula, no killer idea that has propelled them above this area. The timeslot, combined with a few recognizable names (like Kurt Angle) are more likely factors for this, along with people's desires to move away from "Sports Entertaining" and find an alternative for their wrestling addiction. Yet without the focus on the keyword "wrestling", fans will be alienated and little growth will be shown. I do like the character development for some people. It does work to a degree. But it shouldn't be the sole emphasis. At the end of the day, people watch a product for the wrestling. You have to return the focus to that since that is the expectations. I don't know if Russo understands this concept. I think he works in a well and tries to convince himself rather than others that his writing is effective. If TNA were to replace Russo, here are the conditions for having a head writer/booker for success: - Someone who is impartial (i.e. not a mark for individual talent). - Someone who understands that a key objective is to get talent, not their own form of writing and agenda, over. - Someone who understands how to connect the dots in a storyline without insulting the viewers' intelligence. - Someone who appreciates wrestling itself for what it is. - Someone who realizes that complexity in wrestling should, for the most part, be left out. If I were to be writing up a job description, these elements would be the core requirements. The one thing I fear is that once someone like Russo damages a company like TNA, the company won't be able to recover for a long while.