Vince Russo Talks Problems With TNA Hiring Hulk Hogan And Eric Bischoff, WWE And TNA Differences

After runs with WWE, WCW and TNA, creative writer Vince Russo remains one of the most controversial figures in professional wrestling. He spoke with WrestleTalk TV about his most recent run in TNA, and the issues he faced working there.

Vince Russo started off by saying that the Hulk Hogan-Eric Bischoff era "alls totally on the shoulders of Dixie Carter." Russo wasn't told about the negotiations with Hogan and Bischoff

Russo claims he was trying to take TNA in a new direction after being asked to write the program by Dixie Carter after the Jarrett/Karen Angle/Kurt Angle situation exploded. He had previously been writing for Jeff Jarrett.

Russo hoped to build younger talent even though Dixie Carter brought in bigger names, because TNA didn't have much money. According to Russo, he was building towards a new, fresher direction because TNA couldn't afford to pay a lot of the people Carter would bring in to the company. He mentioned AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, Eric Young and Samoa Joe as some of his top talents.

"It was pitched to me that (my) job doesn't change. Eric was going to be in charge of creative for things involving Hulk, because you have to remember Hulk had creative control," Russo said. Bischoff suddenly became a part of the creative team, which consisted of Russo, Bischoff, Conway and Ed Ferrara.

Russo claimed Bischoff essentially said that TNA didn't exist before he and Hogan got there. He called the new direction a "sharp left" from what they had previously done.

Russo said he thinks Hogan & Bischoff were a bad thing for TNA. He doesn't think they killed TNA, because they really thought they were going to turn the company around.

"They came from WCW, where they had an endless bank account," Russo said. Due to the outrageous contracts of both new talents, TNA was strapped financially.

"Eric and Hulk didn't know TNA, but they worked as hard as anybody. In order to afford them, money had to come from elsewhere and other departments. Now you don't have money to promote, advertise and brand. It's a catch 22. What's the point of having these guys if you can't promote that they were there?" Russo said.

You can see the full WrestleTalk TV segment above.