Post by rapidfire187 on Aug 18, 2009 17:28:11 GMT -5
I've noticed a lot of people talking about how WWE seems to be going against their PG image as of late. CM Punk talking about Jeff Hardy's drug use, the return of DX (and cock jokes), and a few other things here and there. Honestly, I don't see any of that stuff as a sign of WWE returning to their crude ways of the past. However, it did get me thinking, and I believe that we may only be a year or two away from another "attitude era".
I'm thinking back to around 2002 when there were lots of internet reports saying that Vince was trying to get the wrestlers to tone it down in the ring. Basically, the in ring stuff was getting crazier and crazier, and harder to top that by 2001 there was at least one big hardcore moment on every show it seemed. Apparently wrestlers were getting injured more than normal (I disagree, but I'll save that for later) and the idea was to take the wrestling back to the basics.
Now in 2009, wrestling in WWE is about as basic as it gets. Most matches are bore-fests compared to what was happening 9 years ago. As a result, anything that is better than the normal "story driven" style is automatically given **** it seems. We're getting great matches on Smackdown no doubt, but compare those matches to what we were seeing on a regular basis back in 2000 and it looks like the wrestlers are holding back. However, we've been seeing the return of a lot of gimmick matches, and this year has already had a lot of huge bumps take place on PPV.
WWE is finally able to put on good to great matches on a regular basis, and be safe at the same time. Looks like their plan worked in that area.
Now with RAW being the storyline driven show, I'm beginning to think that the same process may be taking place soon. Even before WWE started the whole PG thing, the shows were getting a little more family friendly. By now when we watch RAW, we're not expecting to see anything sexual, hear any curse words (worse than damn or ass), and we don't expect to see blood. So if WWE keeps this up for a little while longer, what do you think the reaction would be if WWE started giving us blood, boobs, and curse words again?
You can already see how it's happening on RAW. HBK superkicking a girl off screen last week was the most controversial thing on the show. People were making threads about how it's not kid friendly for an old lady to say "suck it". By the rest of the show looking tame, it makes DX look really cool even though they're not doing anything that bad. Just imagine what the response would be if we got another Stone Cold-esque character that came out, drank beer, and had to have things bleeped out during his promos.
Maybe I'm just looking too far into things, but I really don't believe that WWE is just trying to cater to kids because they think that's going to make them more money. Kids like things that aren't suitable for their age and WWE knows it.
I'm thinking back to around 2002 when there were lots of internet reports saying that Vince was trying to get the wrestlers to tone it down in the ring. Basically, the in ring stuff was getting crazier and crazier, and harder to top that by 2001 there was at least one big hardcore moment on every show it seemed. Apparently wrestlers were getting injured more than normal (I disagree, but I'll save that for later) and the idea was to take the wrestling back to the basics.
Now in 2009, wrestling in WWE is about as basic as it gets. Most matches are bore-fests compared to what was happening 9 years ago. As a result, anything that is better than the normal "story driven" style is automatically given **** it seems. We're getting great matches on Smackdown no doubt, but compare those matches to what we were seeing on a regular basis back in 2000 and it looks like the wrestlers are holding back. However, we've been seeing the return of a lot of gimmick matches, and this year has already had a lot of huge bumps take place on PPV.
WWE is finally able to put on good to great matches on a regular basis, and be safe at the same time. Looks like their plan worked in that area.
Now with RAW being the storyline driven show, I'm beginning to think that the same process may be taking place soon. Even before WWE started the whole PG thing, the shows were getting a little more family friendly. By now when we watch RAW, we're not expecting to see anything sexual, hear any curse words (worse than damn or ass), and we don't expect to see blood. So if WWE keeps this up for a little while longer, what do you think the reaction would be if WWE started giving us blood, boobs, and curse words again?
You can already see how it's happening on RAW. HBK superkicking a girl off screen last week was the most controversial thing on the show. People were making threads about how it's not kid friendly for an old lady to say "suck it". By the rest of the show looking tame, it makes DX look really cool even though they're not doing anything that bad. Just imagine what the response would be if we got another Stone Cold-esque character that came out, drank beer, and had to have things bleeped out during his promos.
Maybe I'm just looking too far into things, but I really don't believe that WWE is just trying to cater to kids because they think that's going to make them more money. Kids like things that aren't suitable for their age and WWE knows it.
