Why PG WWE Can't Work Long Term

Viewing this blog post is likely hazardous for someone who feels that the programming on television should always be child friendly.  It's an unfortunate state of affairs when you can't even have the kind of programming quality and separation that we used to have before the days of the internet, cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices.  Because you see, a lot of parents simply allow their technology to raise their kids.  They don't have a concept of proper parenting, and they lose sight of what really matters: Your kids should be watching certain types of programming.  You should (or may) watch other types of programming.  The two are oil and water.





There are programs that mix in the middle, or at least there used to be.  I would watch "Murder, She Wrote" or "The Law and Harry McGraw" or "Matlock" or "The Andy Griffith Show" or "I Love Lucy" or "Three's Company" all the time when my parents would watch it - why? Because they were safe and I actually learned something from the shows.  It was a nice respite from random cartoon foolishness.

But there was always a cutoff where I needed to (A) go study, (B) go to bed or (C) get out of the room.  It was during these times that you'd have classics such as that midnight running 900 ad promoting naughty things that you weren't supposed to watch, or scrambled PPV channels that still gave you the inappropriate audio.  Maybe it was something simple, like wrestling.

Huh?

That's right...wrestling used to be in what was referred to kindly as the "Prime Time" slot.  Meaning, it was not for kids.  It was in these days before wCw that WWF really shined, because they understood that they needed to appeal to all audiences, not just families, not just kids, not just men and not just females.  There were prime time shows, Saturday shows, even cartoons of the wrestlers for the kids.  You had the "grownups" programming and the "younger people" programming, all WWF-related, with memorable characters.  You had Randy Savage on the Slim Jim commercials.  You had Hulk Hogan walking the streets with kids and telling them to pray and eat vitamins.  You had Dusty Rhodes dancing with kids in the ring after matches.  You had a kid yelling at Bret, on his way to arena, and him handing sunglasses to kids in the crowd.  All of this was appealing to ALL audiences, not just one.

It has been suggested that the WWE is in trouble.  I think they are, but not for the reasons people think.  It's not that they need to use full-on sexuality all the time.  It's not a booking issue.  It's an identity crisis.

WWE currently sees itself as an "entertainment conglomerate" - the "wrestling" aspect is secondary to their desire to appeal to a wide audience with movies, music, social media, and news.  What they fail to realize is that they could mix the best of both and end up in a much better position than they are today.  In the early 2K and the late 90's there was a groundswell of up and coming talent that WWF was able to bend and condition to be stars even to people outside that never watched the programming.  But in their quest for cash during the Monday Night Wars, they began to rely too heavily on these guys, and leaned too far towards the idea that a "face" should always come out on top or a "heel" should always come out on top.  This is despite a televised diatribe from Vince talking about blurring the lines between "good and bad" and focusing more on the action.  They haven't done that since the so-called "Ruthless Aggression Era" but I'll come back to that in a moment.

Most of the biggest stars in WWF and WWE weren't main eventers; they were Intercontinental Champions, United States Champions, Tag Team Champions, and Hardcore Champions.  Of those, the greater majority were either fired, quit or got injured and had to leave.  In the Heavyweight Championship title picture there are a very select few that WWE has given the rub to, and of the ones that succeeded, most have died or are no longer active in WWE.  It would behoove WWE to sit down and analyze what made each of the most successful ones get over back when they were top stars, and use that same methodology to create new talent.  They've done it before - Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit showed up from wCw as "The Radicalz" and didn't do much, but they then pushed the envelope and got elevated to the stars they became.  Hell, Jeff Hardy started out as a no-name tag team member and went on to become one of the most noted stars in the industry.  It means WWE can do it if they really wanted to, with just about anyone on the current roster (except Hornswoggle, perhaps).

• Randy Orton.  Orton rose to fame as the "Legend Killer".  He got over because of how violent he was towards various legends, from the moment he infamously spit in the face of Harley Race to that time he tossed Mick Foley down a flight of stairs, to the RKO on Hogan.  He was a smooth talking, good looking guy that seemed tailor made as a top tier heel.  Most remember him gently undressing Divas in the ring (only to later drop a picture-perfect RKO on Stacy Keibler), punt kicking people in the head including various members of the Nexus and the Corre, and his extensive feud with Wade Barrett.  Most also remember the time he performed a picture-perfect RKO on Steph, as well as a brutal DDT on the same.  These non-PG activities were what got Orton over in the first place.  As long as he can't do these things, he remains boring.  It just isn't in him to work in a PG world.
• John Cena.  Cena rose to face as the guy who stepped up to Kurt Angle when nobody else would, but more importantly, he went from a no-name nobody that had a strange haircut, to the Halloween that would change his life forever, where he dressed like Vanilla Ice and cut raps in front of people backstage.  Most thought this was a one-time thing, until Cena went full throttle with throwback jerseys, thick chains and some VERY non-PG raps on the likes of Lesnar, Taker, Eddie, and Kurt.  It wasn't the rapping, it was the effectiveness of what he was saying in the promos.  You believed this guy was some white-boy rapper that could flow and destroy people on the mic, but more importantly, he was able to back up what he was saying in the ring.  He was dangerous, but funny.  Even as a heel, he said the right things, went int the ring and got the job done.  As a face, he was even funnier, but over time (and I blame his feud with HHH) he lost a lot of that steam as WWE headed towards PG.  I know Cena does a lot for Make-A-Wish and other charity events.  He still can, as long as WWE presses the idea that they're just characters playing a role.  He can still be an ambassador for WWE.
• The Rock.  So much can be said about The Rock's rise to fame, which started with a very non-PG "Nation of Domination" after being drafted from a high flying "Flex Kavana" gimmick that wasn't going anywhere.  But everything Rock did was designed to entertain an adult audience.  He cut mean promos, he had vicious licks on people, constant innuendo and flirting (especially with Lilian Garcia), and an inappropriate tongue.  But he was exciting to watch in the ring, whether he was taunting Ric Flair's strut, getting on the commentary mic in the middle of the match or using a microphone while refereeing, there was never a dull moment with the man.  As seen when he came back to feud with Cena, the PG era doesn't work for him.  That's why he was allowed to deviate from the script slightly (only to end up having WWE get in trouble over some of his and Cena's gay inference comments).  But he was never the same since.
• HBK/HHH.  I lump these two guys together because while Shawn Michaels was a decent talent after going solo, he was still largely unnoticed until he and HHH formed Degeneration X.  It can be argued that the timing of the group coincided rather closely with the nWo in wCw, but regardless of the reasoning, Degeneration X was one of the best things to happen in WWE.  It gave them the breath of fresh air needed to succeed at a time ratings were beginning to fall rapidly.  Reforming DX in the PG era felt like a joke - two old men trying to fill a gimmick that had no gas.
• The Undertaker.  For the most part, the Deadman was above the table.  However, the very essence of what he used to do for the gimmick during the Attitude Era in particular made him stand out more than he does today.  Granted, he's hurt frequently and not able to have as many matches as he used to have, but there was definitely a time this man was putting asses in seats.  From putting opponents in body bags to burying them alive - fully - to striking people with lightning, the awe is lost now with him, and it's unfortunate since he really didn't do much that was "inappropriate", except during the American Badass era.  Even then he was still pretty much just a highlight of the show.
• Edge.  The whole point behind the Rated R Superstar was the fact that he could do what he wanted, when he wanted, but it was a joke to have him show up in PG WWE given everything that made him stand out was no longer applicable.  No more spearing Mick Foley into a flaming table.  No more beating down John Cena in the ECW ballroom.  No more live sex shows with Lita on the programming where she was legit topless.  No more pins where he's simulating sex on a Diva after beating her in the ring.  No...his best days are long since gone.
• Jericho.  While Y2J can still get the crowd on their feet just because he's one of the most entertaining in past and present WWE, he's still a pale shadow of his former self.  I remember clearly the last day we saw Ken Shamrock: Jericho had the Liontamer applied back in the parking lot, very painful looking.  I remember when Jericho and Christian (who is later to come) were in a match against Trish and Lita, a REAL match, with intergender contact, where the outcome was really putting Trish and Lita over as valid wrestling talent rather than models.  I remember also the comedy, such as when he pissed in Regal's tea.  So many legendary memories, never again seen.
• Christian.  To be fair, Christian leaving to TNA when he did was untimely, because he was allegedly on his way to a major push.  In truth when he came back to WWECW, he did get a major push, only to end up jobbing the title to Zeke Jackson (who hasn't been seen since) after a successful run with that belt.  When he went to Smackdown his title reigns were tainted by an inability to beat Orton clean.  Christian was instrumental during the Ruthless Aggression Era and the Attitude Era though as one-half of one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history, and providing many comedy moments with Cena and Austin.  Now, if he is on the programming at all, he's jobbing.  He was last seen in a successful match against the Shield yet hasn't held gold in ages.
• Rey Mysterio.  Everyone I hope remembers the three-way antagonism between Kurt, Rey and Orton years ago.  It was after Eddie died.  Rey Mysterio won the title.  Everyone said that the only reason Rey was given the belt was because of Eddie; Orton alluded to this in his promos and did so in an excellent way (this was the Ruthless Aggression Era, BTW).  Kurt would speak up about Rey's entitlement, but in truth he wanted the title as well, and Orton was playing mind games.  But the promos were hitting home perfectly.  Rey was a charity case, the WWE felt sorry for him.  Many people questioned a non-heavyweight holding the belt.  But his feuds during this time against Orton, Kurt, JBL and even Chavo Guerrero were the stuff of legends; though the pinnacle had to be his feud with Batista, and Batista's now legendary "EDDIE'S DEAD!" statement.  Never again.
• Big Show.  Debuted as part of an acquisition from wCw.  One of his first feuds was an alignment with Shane McMahon and a feud with the Rock, which didn't really do either man a favor, but he peaked with his feud against Floyd Mayweather.  Despite people's misgivings about the match, it was the perfect way to promote both names.    Unfortunately, Show is quite entertaining but has not really done much of significant note in the ring besides his Smackdown match with Brock Lesnar (a NON PPV!!).
• Mark Henry.  His introduction was at the peak of the Attitude Era as part of the Nation of Domination's second iteration.  Before that he was a happy, bubbly face that didn't have a clue.  Later, after leaving the Nation, it was "Sexual Chocolate" that would define him.  Everything about his gimmicks during this time were rooted in a non-PG world.  His current Hall of Pain gimmick, were it to be in a non-PG world, would likely result in pretty much everyone getting destroyed, and for the most part it has been so, but unfortunately he still gets jobbed out by Cena, the PG favorite
• JBL.  Now retired.  But when he was active, during the Ruthless Aggression Era, the man was dominant.  He did things that were unthinkable: doing the Nazi march at a house show, chucking a trash can at Hornswoggle at full speed during a PPV, going hunting for illegals near the border, and prior to the gimmick, drinking beer and having strip poker with Trish and Ron Simmons.  There was simply no flaw to how he was brought up, period.  Now, he rants.  PG rants, mind you.
• Booker T.  Retired (basically).  But back when wCw was purchased, at the pinnacle of the Ruthless Aggression Era, Booker T was a highlight of RAW along with Shane O'Mac.  He certainly wasn't PG, not at all.  His stints with Goldust, Rock, Austin, Shane, Vince and even Cody Rhodes were entertaining.  Unfortunately, he came to WWE a little too late to be made full use of.
• CM Punk.  Punk debuted in WWECW, also near the end of the Ruthless Aggression Era, and because of the "extreme" nature of the show at that time, fit right in with the likes of RVD and Sabu.  He seemed a perfect fit for the show that was supposed to be a more exciting show than RAW or Smackdown (and it was at times).  He played the perfect opposite to Elijah Burke in the New Breed, and the teased paring with Kelly Kelly made for good television.  The Straight Edge Society was edgy and controversial for the time, and used real-life issues to enhance the character and the promos.  Very few can forget this feud with Jeff Hardy, and the fact that Punk aired Hardy's drug issues openly.  As a multi-time champion, Punk has stood out among the rest.  His popularity hit a peak with the "Pipebomb", where he cut a scathing promo on Vince, Cena, HHH, and Steph.  In fact, the only time Punk hasn't been boring is when he's either dropping  pipebombs or in the past when he wasn't gridlocked by PG.  His character belongs in a non-PG world.

Beyond that who's really left?  Chris Benoit died, Eddie died, Umaga died, and WWE is struggling to create stars.  

They've put the belt on Ziggler TWICE but refuse to let him showcase in main events despite his overwhelming talent.  The problem is that his character was initially introduced to be a non-PG character in the Ruthless Aggression Era (an off shoot of Dirk Diggler).

Swagger's held the WHC belt but he jobbed pretty much every single match, despite an exciting run as WWECW champion.  Again, he was introduced at the tail end of the Ruthless Aggression Era and simply became a casualty from the drop of that era.

Then there's Sheamus, who I left out of the list at the top solely because I don't feel he belongs in that list.  Sheamus started at the sunset of Ruthless Aggression Era as a vicious, no-nonsense replacement for Fit Finlay.  He was dominant in WWECW.  His win over John Cena, though a bit suspicious, cemented him in the main event.  Unfortunately, as they always do, WWE felt compelled to turn him face and run him as an unstoppable kid-friendly beast, which essentially made him boring.

Miz, for the same reason as Sheamus is down here, deserves credit for working as hard as he has.  But he came into WWE during the Ruthless Aggression Era as the wrong character.  He was a bubbly "HOO RAH" crowd pleaser, and it wasn't until later that his dominant, violent side shined through with his feud against Cena.  Nevermind the epic that was Miz & Morrison in ECW, one of the best tag teams of the time.  Had we seen that Miz back in the Ruthless Aggression Era, I've got no doubt that he would have been one of the top stars of the time.  He's just too filtered.

R-Truth should have been champion at least once by now.  Some felt he should have beaten Cena during their feud.

Same with Goldust - his feud against Taker showed that he had the chops for the competition.

But the problem is PG WWE.  It hinders the ability to let the stars shine through with their natural abilities which must necessarily be realistic.  Under PG, it's way too difficult to imagine someone like Daniel Bryan selling out an arena the way even basic guys like Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake did years ago, and even though there is an IC division, it will never be as solid as when Rick "The Model" Martel, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Tito Santana, Mr. Perfect, Randy Savage, and Dusty Rhodes were at it.  Everyone is too generic, too unrealistic these days.  Nobody can properly stand out and show the crowd why they deserve to be there.