CM Punk interview -- Talks TV PG and Michael Cole

[Cronant]

articles.redeyechicago.com/2011-12-21/sports/30543698_1_punk-rocks-mma-attitude-era

He thinks PG is here to stay and it should stay. And he thinks Cole is great at what he does, and its never been done like that before, but someone like JR is needed for balance commentary wise.

A lot of past fans who have stopped watching the product since the PG rating are calling for the TV-14 rating to return. You toe the line really well with your promos, but do you think the "Attitude Era" needs to return?

I don't think the WWE is going to go anything but PG. I don't see the need for the TV-14 rating because that was the past and we are opening new doors to fans across the world. Swearing to just swear isn't entertaining to me whatever you're watching. There are some things I get away with, but at the same time I have to remember it is a family-orientated show. I think the product in general is a lot better when we have to police ourselves, knowing that families are out there watching and listening to every word. The so-called "Attitude Era" is not needed in this day in age of sports entertainment.

Currently the broadcasters for the majority of your matches are Michael Cole on play-by-play while Jerry Lawler is the color commentator. With Cole's heel persona being used during matches, do you feel former broadcaster Jim Ross should be brought back?

The thing with Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler is that they are missing exactly that, the straight play-by-play guy. Lawler is there for color, and Michael Cole is there to be the antagonist. So basically you have two color guys there and nobody really calling the match. With Jim Ross, he focuses on the play-by-play and brings that game-day feel when he begins to explain the action in the ring. I would love to have Jim Ross call all my matches, but that's not a slight at Michael Cole, more of personal preference.

I think Michael Cole would be a great manager but at the same time he's awesome at what does. But that's what is so good about it; he does something that hasn't been done before. It's different, and things are changing, and he's pushing the envelope. He gets people to talk about his antics, and that's always a good thing. He knows how to get the most of the situation without being physical.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

As has been stated many times, PG isn't a bad thing. The Hulkamania era was PG as well. What's holding them back is the booking and characters are far less entertaining than they were back then.

[FailedGimmick]

I agree with Punk about Michael Cole. If he wasn't good at what he does, moments like Zack Ryder and Daniel Bryan shoving their newly won championship gold in his face wouldn't be so satisfying.

[rapidfire187]

The only thing from the TV-14 era that I miss is blood. It's a really effective tool to sell a beat down, and it also helps sell that a particular match was brutal. I can live without it, but I do hope they bring it back at some point, at least for rare occasions.

[BigWill]

Why is it that everytime someone talks about PG ending, the topic of bringing back the Attitude Era always comes up, like it has to be one or the other. Did the years from 2002-2007 not exist?

[The Portable Stove]

Dec 23, 2011 12:13:18 GMT -5 BigWill said:

Why is it that everytime someone talks about PG ending, the topic of bringing back the Attitude Era always comes up, like it has to be one or the other. Did the years from 2002-2007 not exist?

This. To me, PG doesn't just cut back on swearing and language and content issues. It ends the Evolution or Brock Lesnar styled beatdowns that makes a heel a heel that you WANT to see get their just desserts.

Also seriously, WWE really should start a resurgence in managers with Cole finally getting to be the Miz's overly excited overly agitated overly annoying manager.

[allenfan69]

I agree with him 100% on the swearing. So many people fall into the trap of thinking that something is "edgy" or somehow enhanced by cursing in the promos. You can have angles and characters that are awesome and never have one curse word spoken.

Too many times, swearing is a crutch by the writers and/or wrestlers. Once in a while, it adds something to the mix. But most of the time, it's like a strong spice in cooking...a little goes a very long way.

[chazraps]

Dec 23, 2011 12:46:00 GMT -5 allenfan69 said:

I agree with him 100% on the swearing. So many people fall into the trap of thinking that something is "edgy" or somehow enhanced by cursing in the promos. You can have angles and characters that are awesome and never have one curse word spoken.

Too many times, swearing is a crutch by the writers and/or wrestlers. Once in a while, it adds something to the mix. But most of the time, it's like a strong spice in cooking...a little goes a very long way.

Agreed. If you've ever heard Randy Orton swear, you would know he's the least convincing swear-er there ever was. Him shoehorning "Ass" and "son of a bitch" into his promos 2004-2007 really muffled them. I think he's benefitted the most from PG Restrictions.

[The Doctor]

My big problem with Cole is that he doesn't put over anything but himself enough. He just continues to niggle when he should just shut up for 30 seconds.
Raw this monday had a good example of what I'm talking about. When Zack Ryder said he rang up his dad and he said "WOO WOO WOO" Michael Cole just talked over the crowd saying "You know it!". It's a little thing, but he does it a lot. Ruining little moments by just saying something for no reason. I want to see the wrestlers plying their trade not Cole trying to steal every little moment.

I'm not saying anything new, I know. But I just think Cole needs some tweaking more than anything. I like heel commentators, but there is an art to it.

[Yami Daimao]

At this point, the PG rating should not be an issue anymore. Ever since you-know-who lost her campaign, they've released the stranglehold they had on the PG rating. It's not incredibly watered down anymore, they have allowed themselves to say words like "ass", and they've allowed accidental blood again by not stopping matches to clean them up. They're currently in the perfect middle ground; not too trashy, violent, or repulsive, but not too limited or kid-friendly to the point where it feels like I'm watching a PBS show. So the whole "PG is ruining WWE!" excuse is completely redundant now, and honestly, utter bullshit.

As for Cole, I can see where Punk is coming from, but he adds nothing to the product and becomes beyond intolerable when he's turned up to 11, which is about 95% of the time. He needs that play-by-play commentator to put him in place when he goes overboard, but no one ever does since Cole is constantly screaming over people, no one is given a chance to.

[Wolf Hurricane]

Dec 23, 2011 12:41:59 GMT -5 The Portable Stove said:

Dec 23, 2011 12:13:18 GMT -5 BigWill said:

Why is it that everytime someone talks about PG ending, the topic of bringing back the Attitude Era always comes up, like it has to be one or the other. Did the years from 2002-2007 not exist?

This. To me, PG doesn't just cut back on swearing and language and content issues. It ends the Evolution or Brock Lesnar styled beatdowns that makes a heel a heel that you WANT to see get their just desserts.

I do agree with this. Beatdowns like that, as well as knockdown drag-out brawls sort of made wrestling, and blood very often adds that exclamation point that makes a scene or makes a feud (like Lesnar wiping Hogan's blood on his chest; instant heel heat).

At the same time, I don't miss the swearing for the sake of swearing. But one thing that should be noted; by removing the swearing by-and-large, when a wrestler actually does swear, it has much more of an impact.

[Burst]

I wonder how much of the no-more-blading is more for health and safety reasons moreso than ratings reasons.

It could be a pragmatic adaption along the same lines as no more chairshots to the head, what with all the new stuff that's come out lately for both concussions and bloodborn conditions, respectively.

'Course that won't stop plenty of fans for arguing against the health and safety of the workers, but that's never stopped them before.

[Cyno]

I like it when blood is used in a meaningful way. I'm not totally against it, but stuff like Ric Flair donning the crimson mask every other week really makes it lose its significance. Nowadays, when someone does a blade job, it's a rare occurrence. So it means that much more, and adds so much more to the psychology of a match.

I really don't have a problem with profanity. I'm one of those people who casually swears since, like, why the f*** not? They're just words. Society's at least starting to get less prudish about such things. I wouldn't be surprised if, ten years from now, you hear "shit" completely uncensored on a network TV sitcom.

[jadison]

Dec 23, 2011 13:47:12 GMT -5 Cyno said:

I like it when blood is used in a meaningful way. I'm not totally against it, but stuff like Ric Flair donning the crimson mask every other week really makes it lose its significance. Nowadays, when someone does a blade job, it's a rare occurrence. So it means that much more, and adds so much more to the psychology of a match.

I really don't have a problem with profanity. I'm one of those people who casually swears since, like, why the f*** not? They're just words. Society's at least starting to get less prudish about such things. I wouldn't be surprised if, ten years from now, you hear "s***" completely uncensored on a network TV sitcom.

There's a line there. When used casually in conversation, profanity doesn't bother me at all. When I'm watching Impact and grown men have to end their threats by calling another grown man "bitch", that's just annoying and lame. I certainly don't miss the "THIS IS FOR EMPHASIS, BITCH!" type swearing, because no non-douchebag speaks that way.

[Brother Nero....Wolfe]

CM=COLE MINER

Cole!
MINER!

[molson5]

The WWE really didn't do that much during the attitude era that would necessitate a PG-14 rating. It's just a label. There's a wide range of stuff they can do with a PG rating that they aren't doing currently. I think they just feel like that label expands its audience, allows it to deal with a wider range of advertisers. Some things are toned down in recent years, obviously, but as many other people have pointed on this board - PG doesn't mean you can't have violence, or sexual situations, or swearing, or even blood.

[BigWill]

Dec 23, 2011 14:53:33 GMT -5 molson5 said:

The WWE really didn't do that much during the attitude era that would necessitate a PG-14 rating. It's just a label. There's a wide range of stuff they can do with a PG rating that they aren't doing currently. I think they just feel like that label expands its audience, allows it to deal with a wider range of advertisers.

I think at the same time the PG rating turns off a lot of former and potential fans. Because even if it's not really the case, a lot of people see a PG rating and immediately think the show's going to be catering mainly to children, and they won't even give it a chance.

[Krimzon]

Dec 23, 2011 12:13:18 GMT -5 BigWill said:

Why is it that everytime someone talks about PG ending, the topic of bringing back the Attitude Era always comes up, like it has to be one or the other. Did the years from 2002-2007 not exist?

To be honest, I wish most of them hadn't.

[crimsonwolf]

Honestly, add Josh Matthews or Scott Stanford, or even Matt Stryker if he ditches the smarky terms to be the straightman PBP end Raw would be set.

[FUNK_US/BRODUS]

nWo vs Sting was PG. That to me nails the "TV14 is needed" argument right in the face.