Vince Russo Quits Wrestling Business
May 19, 2004 9:46:15 GMT -5
Post by JimSteel on May 19, 2004 9:46:15 GMT -5
As Reported by 1 Wrestliing.Com
A Personal Message from Vince Russo:
To all those who have supported me over the years and also those who have opposed me.
Dear Friends,
Living in “our” world which at times is woven together by gossip, half-truths and lies, I wanted to set the record straight on something you are sure to hear about over the next few weeks.
To those in the business--fans, friends and foes, I have a reputation that can be debated until the end of time. There are those who love me and there are those who hate me, I’ve always accepted that. But those who know me truly know my heart. Those who know me understand what I’m all about. The truth is—that’s all that ever really mattered to me. In my journey throughout life, what always mattered most to me was how big the man’s heart. You can talk all you want about baby faces and heels, but beneath that—we’re all human beings--men and women, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. That’s why I always looked for “the heart”.
Believe it or not, I’ve never “hated” anyone in this business—no one. If I felt like I was being mistreated I would always try to put myself in the other guys shoes—why is he doing this?—what’s going through his mind? For whatever reason, my heart would never let me “hate”, I guess it just wasn’t in me. And the truth is—I think I had good cause to feel that way about a lot of people—but something inside just wouldn’t allow it. And, it’s funny, because I HATED the wrestling business. I hated what it did to my life, I hated what it did to my family and I hated what it did to me. If I’m going to come clean here, I’m going to come clean: My tenure at WCW drowned me in a sea of deep depression. For the first time in my life I truly understood why people committed suicide—and that’s a sad commentary. But something pulled me through it—something that at the time I just couldn’t understand.
I jumped for joy when my contract expired at WCW, and I knew TNA would be different—but it wasn’t—it was the wrestling business. A business built on dog-eat-dog, every man for himself and TOTAL, TOTAL paranoia. By the way did I mention the politics?
About 6 months ago I felt that TNA was no different from WCW. As a matter of fact, for the first time I came close to actually hating somebody in the business—and that was my best friend Jeff Jarrett. It was at that point that I was overcome with a feeling that shook, and a voice that shouted, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!!” At that exact moment something changed drastically in my life. I didn’t seek it—I didn’t pursue it—I didn’t ask for it--it just fell on my head like a steel anvil. Suddenly, without warning I became filled with grace. My entire being changed—mentally, physically and most importantly. . . spiritually.
At 43 years-old, I never thought I’d be at this place in my life. I never thought I could be happy not only in the wrestling business, but in life in general. But, I am. I am because after a hellacious 43 year ride I finally realized one thing—it’s not about me—it never was—it’s about the one who created me. Now I’m not going to preach, not now anyway, because I realize that many don’t want to hear it—remember I was one of the many—but I just wanted to share my story because I felt compelled to. . . by that same voice. It is now out of my hands.
I don’t expect many to understand—but in time they will, I believe we all will. It took me 42 years to “get it”, but the point is—I got it. And that’s why starting May 24th I’ll be attending Denver Seminary School. No, it’s not an angle, not a work, but rather the most important thing I will ever do in my life. Where this takes me I have no idea, but again, that is now out of my hands. But, I will tell you this—I can’t wait to get there! If it’s the wrestling business, then so be it. If my story can have a changing effect on one life then it will all be worth it. If it’s not the wrestling business, that’s OK too, I am now here to serve, not be served In closing I would like to end with a lyric from a song I heard just today that just about sums it up for me:
“Maybe Lord, I can show someone else what I’ve been through myself on my way back to you.”
Kris Kristofferson
Why Me?
Thank you for the opportunity,
Vince Russo
A Personal Message from Vince Russo:
To all those who have supported me over the years and also those who have opposed me.
Dear Friends,
Living in “our” world which at times is woven together by gossip, half-truths and lies, I wanted to set the record straight on something you are sure to hear about over the next few weeks.
To those in the business--fans, friends and foes, I have a reputation that can be debated until the end of time. There are those who love me and there are those who hate me, I’ve always accepted that. But those who know me truly know my heart. Those who know me understand what I’m all about. The truth is—that’s all that ever really mattered to me. In my journey throughout life, what always mattered most to me was how big the man’s heart. You can talk all you want about baby faces and heels, but beneath that—we’re all human beings--men and women, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers. That’s why I always looked for “the heart”.
Believe it or not, I’ve never “hated” anyone in this business—no one. If I felt like I was being mistreated I would always try to put myself in the other guys shoes—why is he doing this?—what’s going through his mind? For whatever reason, my heart would never let me “hate”, I guess it just wasn’t in me. And the truth is—I think I had good cause to feel that way about a lot of people—but something inside just wouldn’t allow it. And, it’s funny, because I HATED the wrestling business. I hated what it did to my life, I hated what it did to my family and I hated what it did to me. If I’m going to come clean here, I’m going to come clean: My tenure at WCW drowned me in a sea of deep depression. For the first time in my life I truly understood why people committed suicide—and that’s a sad commentary. But something pulled me through it—something that at the time I just couldn’t understand.
I jumped for joy when my contract expired at WCW, and I knew TNA would be different—but it wasn’t—it was the wrestling business. A business built on dog-eat-dog, every man for himself and TOTAL, TOTAL paranoia. By the way did I mention the politics?
About 6 months ago I felt that TNA was no different from WCW. As a matter of fact, for the first time I came close to actually hating somebody in the business—and that was my best friend Jeff Jarrett. It was at that point that I was overcome with a feeling that shook, and a voice that shouted, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!!” At that exact moment something changed drastically in my life. I didn’t seek it—I didn’t pursue it—I didn’t ask for it--it just fell on my head like a steel anvil. Suddenly, without warning I became filled with grace. My entire being changed—mentally, physically and most importantly. . . spiritually.
At 43 years-old, I never thought I’d be at this place in my life. I never thought I could be happy not only in the wrestling business, but in life in general. But, I am. I am because after a hellacious 43 year ride I finally realized one thing—it’s not about me—it never was—it’s about the one who created me. Now I’m not going to preach, not now anyway, because I realize that many don’t want to hear it—remember I was one of the many—but I just wanted to share my story because I felt compelled to. . . by that same voice. It is now out of my hands.
I don’t expect many to understand—but in time they will, I believe we all will. It took me 42 years to “get it”, but the point is—I got it. And that’s why starting May 24th I’ll be attending Denver Seminary School. No, it’s not an angle, not a work, but rather the most important thing I will ever do in my life. Where this takes me I have no idea, but again, that is now out of my hands. But, I will tell you this—I can’t wait to get there! If it’s the wrestling business, then so be it. If my story can have a changing effect on one life then it will all be worth it. If it’s not the wrestling business, that’s OK too, I am now here to serve, not be served In closing I would like to end with a lyric from a song I heard just today that just about sums it up for me:
“Maybe Lord, I can show someone else what I’ve been through myself on my way back to you.”
Kris Kristofferson
Why Me?
Thank you for the opportunity,
Vince Russo
