Vince Russo didnt hold back when asked why hes never worked with AEW.
Speaking on the January 23, 2026 episode of the Mic Check podcast, Russo laid out his reasoningand it comes down to one simple rule: if a promoters footing the bill, theyre going to call the shots.
He went on to say that over the years, countless promoters have approached him to write for their showsbut almost none of them actually wanted to hand over full creative control.
Russo then specifically called out Tony Khan and Triple H, describing both as wrestling marks more interested in booking what they enjoy rather than what the audience actually wants. That, according to Russo, is where both promotions are getting it wrong.
Instead, Russo argued that datanot personal tasteshould be the only guiding principle behind wrestling creative. He believes most wrestling shows today suffer because theyre not built around analytics or audience feedback. And his solution? Its straightforward.
Love him or hate him, Vince Russo continues to stir the potand hes clearly not interested in playing nice with todays biggest wrestling executives.
Do you agree with Vince Russo that ratings should dictate everything in wrestling? Do you think he should join AEW one day despite his stance? Sound off in the comments below.
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