On the latest edition of “Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru,” legendary wrestling manager and commentator Jim Cornette issued a blistering response to recent comments made by his longtime nemesis, Vince Russo. Following Russo’s appearance on Ariel Helwani’s show—where the former WWE writer called Cornette a “goof” and claimed Cornette was “jealous” of him—Cornette dismantled Russo’s current career standing, his history of failed retirements, and his new venture involving “literal clowns.”
The Media Tour and “Jealousy” Claims
The discussion began with co-host Brian Last bringing up Russo’s recent media tour, specifically his interview with Ariel Helwani. Last noted that while Russo insulted Cornette in that interview, he had purportedly said “nice things” about Cornette in a separate interview shortly before.
Cornette explained his general policy regarding Russo, whom he referred to as “shit stain.”
“I have never and don’t intend to listen to that voice, except if I’m tied to a chair and being interrogated,” Cornette said. “I only mock his general public activities and statements about other people… when they are appropriate.”
Cornette theorized that Russo’s fluctuating tone—oscillating between praise and insults—is a calculated manipulation tactic designed to elicit a response and generate publicity.
“He was saying a bunch of nice things about [me] because he wanted me to respond to him,” Cornette explained. “And I didn’t want to respond to him because he’s just groping and grasping and fondling for publicity… and then he goes on a show a week later, ‘Ah, Cornette’s a fucking idiot’… because he’s mad.”
Addressing the specific claim of jealousy, Cornette found the notion laughable, contrasting his own voluntary withdrawal from the wrestling industry with Russo’s continued struggle to find relevance.
“Working for Literal Clowns”
A major point of contention and mockery for Cornette was Russo’s latest business venture. Last and Cornette discussed news that Russo has not only taken a job with Insane Clown Posse’s independent promotion but is also an investor. The promotion in question features wrestlers who perform as clowns.
“He is a 65-year-old man that’s been begging for a job at his former glory business of 30 years ago… that is now resorted to working for a promotion run by literal clowns,” Cornette said. “Actual people who self-identify as clowns are the clowns here… and into the clown show walks my old friend.”
Last added that Russo holds the title of “Cinematic Director” for the organization. This detail provided ample fodder for Cornette, who painted a bleak picture of Russo’s professional trajectory.
“He’s falling down the totem hole,” Cornette quipped. “How much farther down the fucking totem pole can you fall before… it’s not a pole, but it’s a goddamn hole?”
Cornette used this new gig to refute the idea that he should be jealous of Russo. He argued that while they are the same age, their lives have taken drastically different paths over the last decade.
“I’ve almost done better than the grave pissing,” Cornette said, referencing his promise to outlive Russo. “For the past 10 years, I’ve been telling people actively on this forum, I’m done working for anybody. I’m doing my own thing… And yet he is still… so desperately either needs the money or the fucking attention that he will subject himself at a point in time where we’re both about to get the Medicare to fucking going out in these barns and working for these clowns and doing this outlaw wrestling bullshit.”
The “Oral Roberts” of Wrestling
Cornette also took aim at Russo’s history of announcing his retirement or departure from wrestling, only to return shortly after. Cornette compared Russo to televangelist Oral Roberts, who famously told his followers that God would “call him home” if he didn’t raise a certain amount of money.
“Russo has been [saying], ‘I’m gonna retire and quit watching wrestling…’ How many times have we heard that?” Cornette asked. “It’s like, ‘Get me now before I jump off this cliff,’ and nobody’s throwing a net over him.”
Cornette described Russo’s behavior as a desperate “will book for food” campaign, characterizing him as a man who has “cold-called and emailed networks and tried to buddy up to former bosses” to no avail.
Historical Grievances: TNA and WWE
The conversation touched upon the roots of their conflict, specifically dispelling Russo’s narrative that their issues stem from professional jealousy regarding booking positions. Brian Last pointed out that during their time in TNA, Russo was secretly undermining Cornette.
“You’re forgetting the realities of the situation,” Last said, addressing Helwani’s failure to push back on Russo’s claims. “Jim Cornette had a guy… writing emails to Dixie Carter trashing him at the same time that Jim was trying to be a good team player and help out.”
Cornette agreed, noting that his disdain for Russo began long before any specific power struggles over booking. “Our problems started long before anybody chose anybody,” Cornette said. “I was ready to gouge his fucking eyeballs out probably three weeks into fucking working with him.”
They also recounted an incident from their time in WWE (then WWF) regarding a disagreement over a disqualification finish. Last referenced a famous clip of Cornette telling the “DQ Schmee-Q” story. Cornette confirmed that rather than debating the issue face-to-face, Russo went behind his back to Vince McMahon.
“He didn’t react to you. He turned around and ran to Vince McMahon and complained about you,” Last said.
Cornette elaborated on the chain of events: “And then Vince ran to JR [Jim Ross] and told him to come talk to me. And then I told JR what he said. Then JR went back… I never went to any superior officer and told him so-and-so said a rude thing about me. I either addressed it with that person or I didn’t.”
Rejection of the Debate Challenge
During the interview with Helwani, Russo reportedly issued a challenge to debate Cornette, with proceeds going to the Cauliflower Alley Club. Cornette dismissed the offer entirely, mocking Russo’s pronunciation of the charity’s name.
“He didn’t say the Cauliflower Alley Club,” Cornette laughed. “He said, ‘I will send it to Cauliflower Alley’… It was gonna go to an animal welfare fucking thing? The Cauliflowers?”
Cornette made it clear he has no interest in giving Russo a platform or helping him generate revenue, viewing the challenge as just another attempt to siphon attention.
“If you want me to give you some publicity, Vince, at this point, then do something spectacularly stupid and funny and we’ll comment on it,” Cornette said. “But otherwise, I’m not going back and forth. It’s not even fair at this point. I’ll just continue… being the best in the world at the particular thing I do. Again, you can be over there working for the clowns.”
A Legacy of “Two Years”
Cornette concluded his verbal undressing of Russo by contextualizing Russo’s career. He argued that Russo’s entire reputation hangs on a brief, two-year period during the WWE Attitude Era, nearly three decades ago.
“He still thinks in his mind… that he was the glorious one all along because of two fucking years,” Cornette said. “Two years he was, 30 years ago, that he was part of a successful entity with many moving parts… And from then on, everything has been downhill.”
Cornette emphasized that, unlike Russo, he has remained in demand without having to beg for employment. “I’ve made more goddamn appearances for different companies than he has on television in total in the last 20 years,” Cornette stated.
Ultimately, Cornette summed up Russo’s current media blitz as a “rib” and a failure. “It’s a guy who used to work for a successful restaurant chain has now come out with his own shit sandwich,” Cornette said. “All anyone cares about is you responding to him,” Last noted. “No one is talking about the thing he is attempting to promote.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Jim Cornette and Brian Last with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
