How long will it last?

[ExtremeSwagga93]

No Era lasts forever, that's a fact, they all come and end eventually. The Rock and Wrestling Era, The Attitude Era and anything in between (most of which I missed or don't remember much of due to my age by the way). Now we're entering a new era, an era of wrestling in the WWE that might be more controversial than then the antics in the Attitude Era.

The Family Friendly Era.

Now it really isn't much of a surprise as to why the WWE is going in this direction, you don't have to study economics to know kids = $ in all areas of marketing. Vince knows this an is gonna cash in on it in these hard economic times. Kids will buy the toys (which I do by the way I have like 300 hundred of them), the T-shirts, and the Hornswoggle hats. >_>

It's not a mystery as to who is leading this Era, John Cena is arguably the most G-Rated guy on the roster, and there isn't anything wrong with that, I mean there aren't many positive role models in the media today, and I guess if WWE wants to go kid friendly it'll make sense to put a good role model at the top of the company.

Now my question is this: How long will it last? Going back to what I said earlier this kid friendly era of WWE which is being ushered in with changing Finisher and PPV names to fit the more family friendly front, is not liked by all. Some find the new product a bit corny, and those who don't will eventually. It's already been discussed whether or not it will chase some fans away and its been proven so especially those who were die hard attitude era fans.

I guess the simple answer would be that the Kid Friendly Era will last until it doesn't profit anymore, which could be a while. As long as kids beg their moms for Jeff hardy wristbands and want to dance with Hornswoggle at events, it'll continue IMO.

Discuss.

 

[klunderbunker]

It's almost impossible to guess. The first one of these, the Hogan run, can be debated about when it ended. He came back in WCW and was the exact same character and it worked for awhile all over again. You could say it was 10 years all around. Attitude Era, yet again there's no way of really saying when it begins and ends. I'd say it starts with WM 13 and ends at WM 17. As for this era it's been going for awhile and will likely go on for a few years until these fans grow up and get sick of it. Wrestling is a long cycle that will eventually repeat itself. With the shorter attention span fans today have though, I'd say no more than 4 years which is definitely the high end of the spectrum.

 

[Zeitgeist]

It's hard to guess, as already mentioned it's just a matter of profit, and I don't see the young kid market disappearing any time soon. Even back in the Attitude era when it wasn't aimed at kids, they ate it up. I should know, I remember D-X crotch chops taking place at catholic grade school.

But hopefully at some point they get back to the adult oriented stuff or at least meet somewhere in the middle. Not that things need to be completely stupid and off-the-wall, I don't mind focusing on the wrestling most of all, but just to spice up the backstage segments.

We'll see I guess. I wonder if they decided to scoop up the young audience because MMA/UFC started to attract most of the adult audience away from sports entertainment.

 

[Kyphael]

I find it kind of dumb that WWE needs to be kid-oriented ALL around considering it has THREE (supposed) different shows composed of different rosters. Why can't RAW, the flagship show continue to be kid-oriented with Cena and Mysterio at the helm while SmackDown, which happens to have The Rated R Superstar be adult-oriented? Ten ECW can be the freak show and on-air development territory it already is.

Seriously, if WWE is going PG, I don't know why both its major shows have to be the same way. What makes them apart? Their colors? Pfft. If you want PG, that's fine, but like I said, provide some diversity, please. If at least to justify a brand split if nothing else. That way maybe they would rake an even bigger fanbase. You got the kids watching RAW and the young adults/adults tuning in to SmackDown for the sex and vulgarity. With PPV's, keep it toned down to the wrestling, like find a balance. It can work out. Vince McMahon just can't chew gum and walk at the same time. If something is a certain way, it has to be like that all around to him.

 

[jmudbake]

Well, if anything Smackdown needs to be the kid oriented show, because of the network its on. If you remember, even through the Attitude era when Smackdown was on, RAW had the shock and awe, and Smackdown had the kids stuff. Its all varied anymore I guess. Both RAW and Smackdown have PG stuff, and some pretty iffy stuff, such as Edge committing adultery or Randy Orton attempting to literally kick a woman when she's down. But then again, even in the attitude era, not all of it was adult oriented. Although it was pretty close.

 

[RendarSelin]

The Family Friendly Era of WWE will continue as long as it is financially benefitial. If WWE gets ratings, ticket sales, PPV sales, and merchandise sales, it will continue. With the economy doing this bad, I expect at least PPV sales to drop with this decision...the 18-35 year old males are a majority of the PPV buyers, not the family of 4 whose kids have school the next morning (not to mention bills). The male (mostly either college students or bachelors) will more than likely choose to purchase the more adult oriented UFC PPV over the family-friendly WWE PPV. WWE needs to be careful with this...while they can gain the family viewers on USA, we may see the 18-35 male demograph move to UFC or TNA on Spike TV.

TNA, however, can profit heavily from this "era" of WWE. I don't see this happening, since TNA has shown they don't know how to advertise outside of Spike TV...

Personally, I kind of hope WWE does move to be more "family friendly" since I have a 2 week old son who I can expose to WWE at an earlier age without much arguments from the Mrs...lol

 

[avi01]

Well, if it`s a commercial success..they`ll stick with it.
I personally hope it doesn`t stay for long...I really don`t like it.
But WWE has literally no competition...unless something new really rise up (won`t happen)...I guess they`ll stick with that for long.
It`s been a looong time (couple of years already) since I`ve been satisfied with WWE programming tbh...whether it`s Raw, Smack Down or PPVs. But I`m am excited about the upcoming wrestlemania....I`m hoping they can actually bounce back.

 

[dd23beatlesfan1]

This is a really good question.

I think the length of this "era" (if it ends up even deserving to be termed as "an era") will come down one of two things (or perhaps both).

The first thing will depend on the trends of society. The Attitude Era was a result of how society turned in the '90s. The '90s was the "alternative" decade, a decade where Gen-X came to prominence in the world over the Baby-Boom generation, where everything that was "underground" in previous decades became mainstream. This took place in music with "Alternative Rock" and Rap taking over music, with films that were made in a more independent style become smash hits, ala "Pulp Fiction" and "The Usual Suspects." And it took place in wrestling, in particular with the creation of ECW. Paul Heyman's description of ECW in the ECW DVD is pretty spot on when looking at it from the perspective of the relationship between pro wrestling and societal trends and culture. The WWF actually was quite late in "getting with the times" as has been well documented. Society in general grew up, matured, became more of a bitter and violent and disgruntled society throughout the '90s. That's why anti-heroes became popular in wrestling. Goody-two shoe, say your prayers, cookie-cutter heroes like Hulk Hogan and Bob Backlund, and to a degree Bret Hart, just didn't represent fans and the type of fans that were growing up and came of age in the '90s. That's where Stone Cold and the Rock came in. They were the new type of heroes for fans growing up and coming of age in the '90s. Gen-X was well on it's way to becoming the current generation during the early '90s (hence the rise of Nirvana and grunge/alternative music), and ECW in wrestling represented that change of the guard. That's why the WWF languished during the mid '90s, because it just wasn't representative of the times. (and also the steroid scandals and just a lack of stars which were seperate problems).

The Hulk Hogan era in the '80s was also a product of it's time. The '80s as a decade were all about flash, glam, and flaunting the good life. Hence why Ric Flair personified the '80s so well. Hulk Hogan did as well. The culture of the '80s was all about being big, bold, flashy, and larger than life. Hulk Hogan fit the bill.

When you go even further back in wrestling history, wrestling still based it's characters and storylines off of what was happening in the world. Hence why every German and Japanese heel got over monstrously from World War II on, all the way to the '80s. Wrestling has always reflected culture.

And that's what's happening today. People in general have become more conservative and not as wild and bold and against the norm like it was in the '90s. With Bush and a conservative government in charge throughout most of this decade (and no I'm not trying to turn this into an anti-Bush post, just stating my observations), times have pretty much went back to how it used to be, with our culture being more conservative and old-fashioned in many ways. For example, if Janet Jackson had gotten her shirt ripped off at the Super Bowl in 1998 or 1999, there probably wouldn't have been quite as much of a controversy over it as there was when it happened a few years ago (don't remember the specific year). Gen-X has grown up into adults, and now Gen-Y is the prominent generation. WWE is probably trying to appeal to this generation and the generation coming up afterwards (who are kids currently), by going back to a more family-friendly, less racy approach. Hence why you don't see shows like Jerry Springer and 1998-circa WWF on national TV anymore. Entertainment and American culture just isn't as edgy as it was in the '90s.

So the question is, how long will this particular approach or "era" last? It depends on when our culture goes through a change. When it happens, WWE will move away from this current approach and go with whatever's happening in the world. To stay relevant and popular and profitible.


The 2nd thing that will decide how long this era lasts, has to do with the young fans watching. Many fans of the attitude era were teenagers or young adults. Any of these fans that grew up as fans, grew up in the '80s as kids. It's a natural progression. When we were 5 years old, Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant, and the Junkyard Dog were larger than life superheroes. They were like comic book characters that we wanted to be. We were kids. That makes sense. Well by 1996-1997, anyone that was 5 years old from 1984-1989 were either entering their teenager years or were already in them and heading towards adulthood. The only fans watching in the mid '90s were longtime fans that stuck around (due to the down period of the WWF), and many of those fans were now teenagers. Doink the Clown, Kwang the Ninja, Issac Yankem D.D.S., and Duke "The Dumpster" Drose wasn't really compelling television that teenage and young adult fans could identify with. Hence the rise of ECW, and the turn in shift that the WWF went in 1997 which brought forth the Attitude Era. Kid fans of the Hogan era were grown up and wanted a more mature content.


It's likely that we are in the beginning stages of a new version of this phase and progression. The time we are in now is the equivalent of the Hogan period in the mid '80s. Except for John Cena is not near the mainstream star that Hulk Hogan was, and wrestilng as a whole is not in a major boom period. But it could happen, who knows. WWE is probably in the process of trying to form a new generation of fans, a new generation of kids that will grow up watching wrestling. Many of these kids now that idolize Rey Mysterio, John Cena, Jeff Hardy, (like we idolized Hulk Hogan, the Ultimate Warrior, and Randy Savage (when he was a good guy)) will be teenagers in a decade from now. And perhaps the WWE will be ready to move the product in a new direction to cater to this audience.

This could be an absolute repeat of what happened in the WWF from 1984-2001.


So how long will this era last? It will either depend on the changes of our society that take place in the future. And/or it will depend on when the current kids becoming interested in the product grow up into teenagers or young adults and are tired of the product they watched as kids (the current product).

Only time will tell.

 

[Criss Hardy]

they've changed both of Cenas finishers names.
the STFU was changed to STF and the FU was changed to the Throwback

 

[ad21k]

Very good post, I love the phrase 'family-friendly era'

It is true though, I posted in the Shane v Orton match thread about how this new PG product will affect not just TV but PPV matches too. Especially since you would think that they would want to make that match as brutal as possible to further Orton's push.

This era if you will is defiantly dependent on Cena. He is the face of the new WWE product- espcially since his character has morals 'family friendly' if you will. I'm not sure we are really in an Era though I think it is still more of a transitional stage for WWE, and I a not sure WWE even knows which path it wants to take in the future. While recently they have been leaning towards a family friendly product, it is still very much targeting a variety of audiences. I think WWE rather than moving its porduct significantly is making minor adjustments in order to gain as much viewers as possible in the short-term, and I don't think they have a long-term plan for which direction they ultimately want to take the product.

 

[RKOFever]

I don't understand how beating the day lights out of another man/women in till they can't rise to a 3 count / 10 count is family friendly? I don't understand how hitting another human in the head with a ladder is family friendly.

This whole Era is pathetic. Me I started watching WWE around survivor series 2005 when Eddie Died. I liked how it was a do what you want type thing. Live Sec Celebrations, Brutal Elimination Chambers. However I don't find it fun when you have your world champion saying that "Jbl is Poopy." I doubt this family friendly bullshit is working since average north american parents could careless about what there 10 year old son is watching. Seriously in Grade 4 my friends were all playing Halo... I say go back to when you were drawing 6.1s if you want to get back on the right track. Not step in the wrong direction.

 

[The Todd]

Wrestling could either stay aimed at kids for a while, or it could keep the audience it has now by getting more and more attitude like each year.

For an example of what I mean, think Harry Potter. First book was a kid book. As was the second. As the series progressed it got more and more adulty, and in the last one there were sex references and a couple of examples of swearing.

Now WWE could do this. They can pick up a target audience and as they age, the product can. These people will have loyalty to the brand and carry on watching it and pass it on to their kids.

 

[just2Cme]

WWE is catering to society and what they can do. To a degree they have to conform to their advertising and televison investors. Edgy and "X-rated" TV isn't in demand right now, espically since no one wants the finger pointed at them for damaging society. With steriods, death, drugs, etc. effecting sports NFL, NBA, Baseball, etc. all have been in PR mode.

Society's adults are more conservative publicly. Any edgy content can be inferred indirectly not explictly. In the late 90's freedom of expression was the rule, nowadays in most sports people were suits. Something of which people did not do in the late 90's.

Just look at the guys that are around that were headliners durhing the attitude era. HHH and HBK are grown now, Jericho is grown now. They're not going to be doing that kind of stuff. This era is here to stay until the "attitude" of society changes.

 

[klunderbunker]

Right now things are going just fine for WWE. The Attitude Era was a very different story because WWF didn't know what was going to happen from day to day. The show was known as Crash TV because it was like a car wreck. The plans were made from day to day and there were next to no long term plans. The company was at war with WCW and was in real trouble for a long time. The Attitude Era and the boom at the end of it was WWF laying it on WCW as hard as they could to ensure that the war ended. Without competition now, there's no need for WWE to rush anything at all. They can take their time and truly build something special here for a long time.

 

[The Catacomb]

I find it kind of dumb that WWE needs to be kid-oriented ALL around considering it has THREE (supposed) different shows composed of different rosters. Why can't RAW, the flagship show continue to be kid-oriented with Cena and Mysterio at the helm while SmackDown, which happens to have The Rated R Superstar be adult-oriented? Ten ECW can be the freak show and on-air development territory it already is.

Seriously, if WWE is going PG, I don't know why both its major shows have to be the same way. What makes them apart? Their colors? Pfft. If you want PG, that's fine, but like I said, provide some diversity, please. If at least to justify a brand split if nothing else. That way maybe they would rake an even bigger fanbase. You got the kids watching RAW and the young adults/adults tuning in to SmackDown for the sex and vulgarity. With PPV's, keep it toned down to the wrestling, like find a balance. It can work out. Vince McMahon just can't chew gum and walk at the same time. If something is a certain way, it has to be like that all around to him.

I agree, but, it should be the other way around. Raw shold be adult orientated aqnd Smackdown should be the kids show. Move Cena and Mysterio to Smackdown and Jeff Hardy and the Undertaker over to Raw. Kids stay up on fridays and watch Smackdown while the younger kids go to bed around 9 on Mondays. I hope the PG era, if it is an era, does not last long at all.