Attitude

[Guest Human Fly]

With all that has gone on in the last few years, the Attitude Era of the WWF has slowly but surely died. Here are my reasons.

 

- The beginning of Attitude was also the start of a major wrestling boom (the NWO really started it) but Stone Cold and company blasted it into the stratosphere. That boom is now over, ratings are declining and more an more fans are leaving. On this board it seems like every day someone else is like "I've stopped watching, it's worse then '94".

 

- Stone Cold leaving. The leader of Attitude and everything it represented was Stone Cold. If he is gone, then who is the most recogizable wrestler of the company? To the casual fan, probably Hulk Hogan. The only reason Hulk is popular as he is, is that his wave of nostalgia popularity has not gone out. It has nothing to do with Attitude.

 

- Rock In Hollywood. Another one of the WWF's biggest draws hasn't been around much lately. When Austin was injured, it was the Rock who was put into the spotlight of the WWF. Achieving in ways Austin didn't the Rock has found him self at a crossroads in his career. Concentrate on Hollywood and try and become the next big action star? Or does he make time for the WWF? Even if time is made for the WWF with each movie, how long will he be around two months, three months?

 

- Going Public. Now the WWF was responsible to it's Stockholders as well as itself. This brought intense media scrutiny headed by the PTC which drove away many advertisers and dragged the WWF's name into practically everything that was immoral in today's society. As a result the product became tamer and objectional characters, phrases, and concepts were either eliminated or toned down. Making the WWF's Attitude a little more PC.

 

- The purchase of WCW. Attitude came about as a way to compete with, and eventually put out of business, WCW. When WCW was bought by the WWF, the company changed. It was almost like the WWF rested on it's laurels because they knew they had a surefire huge angle. For whatever reasons, be it laziness, or Vince McMahons bravado, the Invasion angle was terrible. This was the first of many "Can't miss" angles that bombed.

 

- The Split. With WCW eliminated once again the WWF now had a glut of performers. Too many. Without the split Raw and Smackdown would be dominated by the same wrestlers, not justifying all of the wrestlers under contract. Many of those wrestlers who were being wasted were wrestlers that could be very valuable to would be #2 promotions (XWF, WWA, NWA - TNA). With the split put into effect these wrestlers were being put to use, and a major change as implemented. This change was so drastic it seemed like a new era was beginning.

 

- Lack Of Competition. With no #2 group the WWF has become stale and listless. What made Attitude so innovative and fresh was, for the most part, there was WCW and ECW to provide competition. Before there were 3 national groups, now there is one (possibly 2 with NWA - TNA). With the WWF obtaining their American monopoly wrestlers began to get lower contracts, and morale began to sink. The same main eventers were entrenched at the top like moss on a pond.

 

- The Name Change. Gone was the most recognizable brand name in wrestling history. To refer to the WWF as WWE still seems awkward. Combined with the events outlined above WWE and the WWF seem like two different companies. New shows were brought in, and the old ways were pushed away even further.

 

- Older Wrestlers Brought in. Maybe one of the most telling signs of the decay of Attitude is the Old Guard making it's return. A sign that maybe perhaps Attitude wasn't good enough to get it done anymore. Some names that were thought to never return to the WWF(E) have been brought back, to mixed results. Hulk Hogan. Ric Flair. HBK. Kevin Nash. Scott Hall. Mr. Perfect. Prominent roles were given to most. Prominent roles are still retained by 3. I don't know what Ric Flair role will be coming up so I left him out. Including him 4 have prominent roles. The other 2 were fired with Hall currently in a prominent role, and Mr. Perfect jobbing to everyone. Many current stars were angered by this influx of old talent (particularly the NWO) and that might have been what put the wheels in motion for Austin's departure.

 

- New Wrestlers being brought in. For all of the Old Stars being brought in, several new wrestlers and Developmental wrestlers are being brought in as well. Brock Lesnar, Rico, The Tough Enough winners, Jamie Knoble, Randy Orton, etc. are being brought up with more to come. WWE talks about new wrestlers being elevated every week, but will it happen? In a few years Hogan, Nash, HBK, Flair, Austin (for sure), Rock (probably), Undertaker and several others will be gone. These New Stars and the leftover stars from Attitude will be counted on to grab the torch and carry on.

 

With everything is combined the WWF(E) has surely entered into a new era. Just like the New Generation turned into Attitude, Attitude has turned into ??????  (maybe Desire.) I started this topic and stuff just kept coming to my mind. Does anyone think that Attitude is still alive and well and that eras are not being transferred? Does anyone think that I left anything out? I'm curious to what people think about this transitional (or maybe not) time.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

You are just realizing this? Attitude was really over by the end of 1999. The WWF was still strong, but Attitude was over.

[Guest kurtangledoesnotsuck]

Wrestling, and particularly the WWE, have become too life like. I think that people miss the gimmicks and humour. I'm not talking about the gobbeldygooker here, but at least make the business different from your standard soap-opera. Bring back the wrestling, bring back the humour, bring back the wrestling shows of old. Peace Out.

[Guest Risk]

Best.  Post.  Ever.  I think "Desire" is attempting to combine old school WWF with "Attitude" with the stars of tomorrow being thrown into the mix.  Frankly, those three concepts don't seem to mix well.

[Guest The Vanilla Midget]

At the moment with all the aging talent, WWE "retire" is probably a more apt moniker than "desire".  imo tho, attitude ended after wrestlemania x-7.  that show featured a match between the 2 biggest stars of the era, the rising stars (angle/benoit) and the best (imo) gimmick match they came up with during the period (tlc, HIAC was earlier era).  injuries and stuff last year meant a new direction needed to be taken, but it wasnt, and look where we are now.