Family-Oriented/PG Rated WWE?

[Luke Flywalker]

Okay, I’ve been one of the head honchos in this online bashing of WWE for their family-oriented product and their intentional toning down. From reports that it’s because of Linda’s potential position in politics, to new booking/creative teams, to Vince’s genuine will to create a show that appeals to children that parents can feel comfortable with those kids watching.

Yes, there have been many a sign to indicate that the WWE have toned down their product, none of us can argue with that. But I’ve noticed most people bring it up and complain in times when WWE is being just as edgy as they were at most points in the past. In the lead up to WrestleMania, we watched Chris Jericho verbally abuse legends, and beat down these “defenseless†old men. We watched Mizorrison in some pretty rude and raunchy segments (though not really anything compared to the golden age of grotesque in the WWE). We watched Orton attack the McMahons, hell he even physically attacked Stephanie.

Language is still toned down, but that’s not overly important. It would be nice to catch some graphic language once in a while, perhaps in the later hour of Raw, but I’m fine either way to be honest.

Also, I’d like to make notice of the Matt Hardy attacks on Jeff, the constant bashing of the death of his dog in the house-fire, being run off the road with his girlfriend, being tossed down a flight of stairs.

Now recently (and maybe it is solely because of Extreme Rules, building and coming down from the high of [some] edgy material) we’ve been seeing some really graphic stuff (on Raw, I haven’t been majorly keeping up with Smackdown or the other shows lately). Randy Orton was busted open, and while I believe the reports say that was accidental, the WWE reserves the right to black and white the broadcast, or even halt the scene and interfere with other means to carry the segment. We also see Randy punting guys in the head trying to “end their careers†and even “break†a man’s arm in the middle of the ring in the opening segment.

We’ve seen a lot of quality chair action as of late as well, and I think if you were going to just calm the ER atmosphere, you wouldn’t include a chair in 3 segments the following night. Oh, and Triple H has been wielding his trusty sidekick sledgehammer recently.

So what do you think? Is WWE generating their program for children and families only, or are they doing a decent job mixing it up? Why do you feel it’s not up to your standards if you’re bashing ‘em for it?

 

[MikeRaw]

No need to pretend they aren't. If you think this is close to how it was, even 4 years ago, you're kidding yourself. There's no language, and pretty much no graphic violence or blood (On PPV there is, but not the weekly shows), no sexuality, and only a few 'mature storylines'.
I was fine with it for a while, but I can't lie, it's getting lame now. I dont want swearing, violence, and sex just for the sake of it, but at a time with so much of the same old shit, and alot of boring crap, as well as alot of top stars out, they need something to spice things up, and I think they need a bit more edge back. Again, while I like the swearing, violence, blood, bikini contests, etc, I can't stress enough that I'm not one that wants it just for the hell of it. I realise WWE goes in cycles. But right now, the PG-WWE is wearing a little thin, and there's not much good in WWE as of now. A change back to soem edgier content would be appreciated.

 

[UndertakerTheGreat]

Personally I think the idea is ridiculous. Wrestling still represents fighting. Unless Orton, and Batista come out in Barney costumes, and settle their matters via Muppet Puppet Shows , and cake bake offs, or simply hugging, and making up, WWE still implies violence. WWE can't change the product's base nature no matter what. Fighting is fighting PERIOD. Kids have been watching WWE for decades with little ill effect. It's like I said before it's up to parents to make the decision, and parents who like wrestling will let their kids watch it, parents who have an issue with violent programming will still ban WWE from their kids' lives because the guys are still beating the crap out of each other graphic or not.It's condescending to us adults, and WWE just can't hook every kid in the world. They gotta stop trying to think they can make everybody like them...it won't happen. Meanwhile their watery product is getting irritating to the loyal fans they DO have.

 

[Luke Flywalker]

Mike, I wasn't implying that they're not, but to me, it feels like they're at least pursuing a path close to an edgier product, maybe testing the waters to see what fans best react to. Like I said, I noticed a lot of complaining happening when the shit was edgier than usual, but people are rather quiet about it when it doesn't happen.

Like you said though, they need to put some edge :shifty: back into the mix and go a bit further, but like I asked, could it be fine to keep it toned down in the first hour of Raw and make it a bit edgier in the second hour (it's what they did in the beginning of the attitude years)?

 

[MikeRaw]

Like you said though, they need to put some edge back into the mix and go a bit further, but like I asked, could it be fine to keep it toned down in the first hour of Raw and make it a bit edgier in the second hour (it's what they did in the beginning of the attitude years)?

They didn't really do that. The show had two different hours, and each had it's own name, true, but the whole product was edgier. Even the first hour was 10x edgier than the current two hours combined.
To answer your question though, I don't think they should, or would, do that. The first hour is IMO more important in terms of needing edgieness. The "big promo" that sets up the night is almost always at the start of the show, and that's the part that needs more edginess. Most of the promos come in the first hour, and again, it's the promos that need edginess, so I don't see how it could be done. Besides, to me, it just needs to be one or the other. I wouldn't really like this 1 hour for kids, 1 hour for older adults, shit.

 

[noumenon]

The sad thing is that they picked such a horrible time to go into this whole PG mindset. WWE right now has such a gritty batch of guys on their hands to carry the company that would really do well to be involved in some really Attitude Era'ish story lines.

 

[aceofspades7778]

I love how linda McMahon wants this PG rated WWE when last week on raw the Legacy savagely destoryed Batista and broke his arm over a steel chair in the middle of the ring lol it doesnt make any sense to me

 

[the dark knight]

just because its pg doesn't mean it has to be barney and friends. look at how many PG13 horror/action movies we have...

edit-

im not saying i like teh PG13 shit, btw.

 

[bikinifan1]

I don't think you can put the monkey back in the can so to speak, they have made their reputation over decades, changing now is just confusing to everyone.

 

[Quintastic One]

Wrestling is cyclical. In the 80's, early 90's they were heavily kid oriented. That lent to a huge boom in the 80's a downfall in the mid 90's so they reverted their image to the Attitude Era to match the generation of kids who grew up in the 80's.

Now that things are dropping off again, they are recreating the fanbase, because the fans of 20 years ago that made them so much money have all lost interest for the most part. So they are recreating a new age of kid friendly programming like the 80's. Give it ten years, and you'll have a new Attitude Era to match when those kids become teens. And you'll see another business/ratings boom.

 

[chessarmy]

The PG movement has its pros and cons, I think now that there is a limit to the violence and overall edginess to the product, we've been exposed to less stupid angles (old women giving birth to hands, sex with dead bodies). However, the PG rating restricts blood, the use of the words "bitch" and "ass" and it just makes the product stale. Look at TNA, they don't go over the top with their edginess, yet they still have blood and some swearing. Its the perfect blend, WWE needs to do that