Big WWE change prevents stars from getting feedback like The Rock and Steve Austin, ex-writer says (Exclusive)

The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin are widely viewed as two of WWE's all-time greats. Vince Russo, a WWE writer in the late 1990s, believes up-and-coming stars will struggle to gain the same experience as the wrestling icons.

In past generations, WWE talents shared car journeys with co-workers after shows. Nowadays, that rarely happens due to the company drastically reducing its live event schedule to focus on television programming.

Russo appeared on Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Outlaws with host Dr. Chris Featherstone and EC3. The veteran writer used Austin and The Rock as examples to explain how current stars' promos would improve if they traveled with other wrestlers.

"You're talking about reps at house shows," Russo stated. "Bro, we're not even talking about the car rides. Do you think back in the day when these guys were in the car for four hours, you don't think they were bouncing promos off of each other? Bro, I know they were. Bro, I know Austin and Rock, it was 24/7 because as soon as they saw me, bro, they would bounce it off of me, and I knew traveling on the road these guys constantly getting the approval from each other." [10:52 – 11:25]

In the video above, Russo also reacted to WWE's decision to let Carlito and other experienced wrestlers leave.

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EC3 addresses WWE's training methods

Emerging stars hone their craft at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Coaches at the training facility teach the next generation of wrestlers how to perform at the highest level. They also help younger talents understand wrestling psychology by watching matches together at "skull sessions."

EC3 trained at the Performance Center in 2018 and 2019 during his second run with WWE. According to the 42-year-old, wrestlers would learn more if they still traveled in cars with veterans.

"The car rides is one of the biggest parts of a wrestler's education, to be able to get in there with a vet or a couple and just drive them, and, you know, just talking, the discords and the conversation brought about so many realizations and changes and perspectives that, if that's lost too, you can only get so much from popping into the PC for a skull session, they would call them, watching some matches and talking about it," EC3 said. [11:50 – 12:24]

The former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion also gave his honest opinion on fans' reaction to the latest roster cuts.

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