By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

TNA writer Vince Russo detailed his philosophy on how he wants to write for TNA Impact by tapping into the Attitude Era format rather than presenting a "wrestling show" during an interview on the "Right After Wrestling" radio show on Sirius last night.

"The key is try to write the type of show that the masses are going to watch. By the masses, I mean men, women, children of all age groups," Russo said. "The key is to have a little something for everybody that has comedy, drama, romance, or action. If you can have a part of your show that everybody likes, then that is the key."

Russo also tried to present an argument that a straight "wrestling show" does not appeal to the masses compared to his philosophy of a variety show.

"Starting about 2000, 2001, it went back to 'wrestling' and there's nothing wrong with 'wrestling,' but the problem with that is that if you're going to write strictly a wrestling show, then your audience is a lot smaller because the fanbase for a traditional wrestling show is a lot smaller than a mass audience," Russo said. "So, to me, I don't think anything has changed. I think the key is to get as many eyeballs to watch your show."

Caldwell's Analysis: In these interviews, Russo seems to have a "limited-view" tunnel vision on what "wrestling" entails. "Pro wrestling" by itself will not draw. There's nothing to invest in. TNA simply throwing out a wrestling match with zero build-up will not draw because there's no back-story to why the match is taking place, which has been my frustration with this company for six years. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy that "wrestling" will not draw when the writers don't give "wrestling" any meaning.

"Pro wrestling" with properly built-up wrestling matches where outcomes and consequences matter, well-developed characters, well-drawn-out conflicts, and the announcers selling the audience on the importance of the wrestling ring being the central setting to settle a dispute, conflict, or issue will draw. Russo apparently believes the only way to "draw eyeballs" is to create a variety show where actual wrestling is in the background.

I argue that "pro wrestling" will draw in 2010 if the format and presentation is changed to move away from the current re-hash of the Attitude era to sell the audience on realistic feuds, conflicts, and issues that lead to a match-up inside a wrestling ring where the audience finds out who the better man was on the given night with the bookers being able to manipulate the outcome and the audience to create compelling TV. Russo's only philosophy for the masses is Crash TV. Certain elements of "Crash TV" would certainly add to the TV presentation to enhance the drama, excitement, and speculation on how certain players will be involved in a wrestling match. However, to use a Hoganism, "Crash TV" by itself has "only gotten TNA so far."

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