By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

TNA writer Vince Russo appeared on WDFN FM in Detroit over the weekend and talked about a number of subjects, including his writing philosophy, being at a burnout point before Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff came to TNA, and responding to criticism.

-- Russo said he wouldn't use the word "burnout," but he felt TNA was at the end of its rope for possible ideas to shake up the product in late 2009 before Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff joined the promotion.

"Burnout isn't the right word, but to be totally honest, before January 4, I really felt like we were getting in a little bit of a rut and I was really starting to feel that," Russo said. "I knew we needed to do something to shake things up and there really wasn't something, in my opinion, from within to shake things up.

"TNA, we're still taking baby steps and the one thing to shake things up wasn't there. That's why January 4 - Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, you want to talk about shaking things up and getting you excited again, there is no question for me personally, that has happened."

-- Russo talked about his writing philosophy and writing every show like it has to top the previous show, which means twists, turns, swerves, and more.

"It's almost impossible (to go easy) because again when you talk about the critics and those obsessed, anyone can go through the motions and go through the same ol', same ol' every single week. They can go write what's expected to happened, what every wrestler is expected to say, that's easy to do," he said. "That's something that I've never done. I want every show to be different. I want there to be swerves. I want a wrestler to say something you didn't expect him to say. I want this week's show to be better than last week's show. When you take that approach, it's very, very difficult. To continually look for new avenues and new ideas and a new way to present the genre, that's what really becomes challenging."

-- Russo also claimed critics of his writing style have built him up as a big personality, while he's just an average guy doing a job that happens to be writing a TV show.

"There's nothing controversial about me at all. I'm an honest guy. I'm a husband, I'm a father. I'm just a regular guy doing a job. It's just the critics that take what we do so seriously and make it life & death that have made me into that person," Russo said. "I almost feel sorry for them for putting such an emphasis on what I do when the reality of it is that all I'm doing is a job like everybody else. It's no different than other jobs I've had in the past. My job right now happens to be head writer for TNA Wrestling. It's those that examine it, turn it upside down, and look at every aspect of every decision. It just amazes me there are some people who have that kind of time on their hands."

Caldwell's Analysis: It's called accountability. When TNA is a national TV property and their head writer has a history of making controversial comments publicly that exposes his philosophy on pro wrestling that history has proven leads to burning out himself, the characters, and the audience, then, yes, his comments need to be examined. Russo playing the "aw shucks" card was pretty silly, as he's been putting himself out there for the last two months making controversial comments about how to present TV wrestling in order to sell his book.

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