Vince Russo’s presence in Juggalo Championship Wrestling has sparked plenty of debate, but a new take is pushing back against the usual criticism — and it’s coming from Dave Meltzer.
While discussing Russo’s creative influence in JCW on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer made it clear that the former WWE and WCW writer’s approach isn’t completely out of place in today’s wrestling landscape. Instead, he pointed to the unique position JCW occupies and why Russo’s chaotic style may actually benefit the promotion.
Rather than trying to compete directly with major companies like WWE or AEW, JCW thrives by doing things differently and grabbing attention in its own lane. That environment, according to Meltzer, plays directly into Russo’s strengths.
“I actually don’t think Russo is bad for a small promotion that’s trying to be different and get attention. That kind of crash TV, anything-can-happen style… in that environment, it can work.”
The key factor here is scale. JCW isn’t operating under the same expectations as larger promotions, which allows for more unpredictability and experimentation without the pressure of long-term structure. Meltzer explained that Russo’s style fits because JCW is focused on carving out its own identity rather than following the blueprint of bigger companies.
“You’re not trying to be WWE, you’re not trying to be AEW… you’re trying to carve out your own niche and get people talking. In that sense, what he does fits.”
However, that doesn’t mean Russo’s approach would succeed everywhere. Meltzer made it clear that the same creative philosophy would likely fall apart in a more structured environment like WWE’s developmental system.
“If he was doing that in NXT, it would be absolutely terrible. It would not work in a system like that at all.”
At that level, consistency and long-term storytelling take priority — something that clashes with Russo’s reputation for fast-paced, shock-driven booking.
“At that level, you need direction, you need cohesion… you can’t just do random stuff for shock value every week.”
This perspective paints a different picture of Russo’s current run. Instead of being a mismatch, his style may actually be aligned with JCW’s goals — creating unpredictable content that stands out in a crowded wrestling landscape.
Whether that approach leads to long-term growth or short-term attention remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Russo’s influence is once again part of the conversation in professional wrestling.
Do you think Vince Russo’s creative style actually works in JCW, or is it only a matter of time before it backfires? Drop your thoughts below and let us know.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.