Is John Cena the cause of the PG era in WWE?

[dwith]

This is how I see it IMO, and my opinion only, that John Cena huge popularity with the younger fans because of his clean cut, baby face persona. His merchandise sell's like mad to the younger generation seemingly. No tattoo's or facial hair, and he preaches ethics like Hogan did.

I have not seen anyone else to this day look, or work the younger generation of fan's like Cena.

I think Vince seen something in Cena, and merchandise sales and decided to push everything towards the younger fans.

I'm just waiting for him to start having his wrestler's cover up or remove certain tattoo's.

So what are your thought's on this topic??

 

[Hulk Hogan's Brother]

Before the usual guys come up and start rambling about how WWE PG is a not new thing and it was the norm rather than the exception which the attitude era was, do you even know that Cena was hardly a PG character prior to maineventing?

Cena was a rapper whose raps were considered a bit extreme even for TV-14. His biggest fans were the older male audience who would often finish off his raps for him. If you still do not get how extreme Cena was let me quote one of Cena's famous raps against Kenzo Suzuki.

And that will leave Hiroko and me in the right place

I don't do makeup girl but I can help you with the white face

His raps used to be full of dick jokes and what not. Then tell me please what does a guy like that stand to gain if WWE turns PG?

The reason WWE turned to PG ratings because it had always been PG before the attitude era and the attitude era had outlived its purpose. There was another era after attitude and before PG which is called the ruthless aggression era which had Brock Lesnar as its main face. It was not able to garner similar ratings as AE which was a clear sign that the interest in wrestling was dwindling. So Mcmahon just changed the product to appeal to a fanbase that would always watch wrestling ie the kids. Plus it has done wonders for WWE's image in the eyes of the public. It is no longer seen as a form of "trash entertainment".

I loved the AE but its not coming back for some time. Cena's clean cut character is a result of the PG era and not its cause

 

[justinsayne]

Jesus fucking Christ, seriously dude you can not honestly beleive that bullshit, just cause Cena is the face of the "PG era" does not mean he is the cause of it, Vince McMahon and common fucking sense are the cause of the "PG era" it just makes sense from a business stand point to target a younger, broader audience, the more people that watch the show the more money you bring in, also WWE's biggest competition right now is UFC, UFC has a lock on the older audience, the same older audience that used to watch WWE back during the AE, the same audience that figures "why should I watch "scripted fighting and storylines" when I can get the real thing from UFC", WWE has lost those fans for the most part, however they can still grab the attention and imaginations of new younger fans, and their piggy banks

BTW the "PG era" is not really all that bad, IDK about you but I never became a wrestling fan because I loved seeing guys slicing their heads open with razor blades everytime they got clocked with a chair, or because WWE had wrestlers cut promos where they made dick, poop, and fart jokes all the damn time

 

[hatehabsforever]

No, John Cena is not the cause of the PG era in WWE. Contrary to the belief amongst some people in the IWC, John Cena is not to blame for anything and everything which is supposedly wrong in WWE. He's not the cause of global warming or the reason why it rained yesterday. People like to blame Cena for everything, and unfairly so.

The PG era was inevitable. Whether you like it or not, it was coming. And don't be surprised if TNA eventually follows suit. The Attitude Era had run its course, and the PG Era was going to be ushered in regardless of John Cena or anyone else.

Now I would suggest that his career has benefited from the PG Era. With his clean-cut, good-goody character, he is ideally suited to be the face of a company with a PG rating. Had the Attitude era remained in place, with its associated violence, language, sexuality, and edginess, I'm not certain that the John Cena we see today, and have been seeing for the last few years, would be where he is now. If a character like the one he portrays had to compete against the likes of a Stone Cold or a Rock-like character, who could push the limits a little bit more, Cena may or may not be the face of the WWE of today. But to suggest that he is the cause of the PG Era, that simply is not accurate. More IWC attacks upon Cena, nothing more than this.

 

[dwith]

Before the usual guys come up and start rambling about how WWE PG is a not new thing and it was the norm rather than the exception which the attitude era was, do you even know that Cena was hardly a PG character prior to maineventing?

Cena was a rapper whose raps were considered a bit extreme even for TV-14. His biggest fans were the older male audience who would often finish off his raps for him. If you still do not get how extreme Cena was let me quote one of Cena's famous raps against Kenzo Suzuki.

And that will leave Hiroko and me in the right place

I don't do makeup girl but I can help you with the white face

His raps used to be full of dick jokes and what not. Then tell me please what does a guy like that stand to gain if WWE turns PG?

The reason WWE turned to PG ratings because it had always been PG before the attitude era and the attitude era had outlived its purpose. There was another era after attitude and before PG which is called the ruthless aggression era which had Brock Lesnar as its main face. It was not able to garner similar ratings as AE which was a clear sign that the interest in wrestling was dwindling. So Mcmahon just changed the product to appeal to a fanbase that would always watch wrestling ie the kids. Plus it has done wonders for WWE's image in the eyes of the public. It is no longer seen as a form of "trash entertainment".

I loved the AE but its not coming back for some time. Cena's clean cut character is a result of the PG era and not its cause

Yes I have watched him since he first started in WWE on smackdown... But not since the last couple of years has he really come into this new persona, and he alway's is clean cut, shaving, smiling, and has been a massive face to the people, and like Hulk Hogan back in the day preached his ethic's and kid's weren't afraid of his appearance..

 

[Dwayne_Jason]

Jesus fucking christ. Y'know something, maybe I'll humour you: Indeed, Cena's the reason for PG because Vince clearly does not have a good knowledge of wrestling nor is he a good business man so maybe Cena, a fucking wrestler told his boss, the megalomaniac, what to do. Because as we all know McMahon never tried to go PG and the golden days of wrestling was not Hulk Hogan taking it mainstream. Why Hulk was just a jobber!

Seriously, if Cena had that sense they woulda just retired him and put him in as one of the CEO's.

 

[rge2010]

I am a firm believer WWE went PG due to the way UFC has exploded the last few years.

WWE targetted a new, wider audience because fans were leaving to watch UFC..Brock was to blame for that. Kids dont watch UFC, its too violent, so WWE makes a product kids can watch. Smart move IMO.

People say UFC and WWE are like Apples and Oranges and they arent competition. OF COURSE THEY ARE COMPETITION! There is only so much a sucka will spend on PPV's a month.

Anyway, the PG era doesnt bother me. If they decide to take the shackles off the performers then there still isnt any need for swearing, flipping the bird...its been done zzz. Blood, yeh, in moderations I suppose. I dont wanna watch Edge/Lita, HHH/Vick crap though.

 

[vampirek]

PG era? What the hell is a PG era? anyone who even says that hasn't got a damn clue. Lets look at the facts

1. WCW is PG at the start of the NWO (Just throwing in that unique one)
2. WWF was always PG up to the Attitude Era (therefore its competely stupid to refer this to the PG era. Austin, DX, The Nation, heel Bret were all creations in the PG WWF.
3. Smackdown, you know that show shown Fridays and was shown on Thursday during the Attitude Era has always been PG.

So please do tell me how this is a PG era? If anything its back to the way it was and always has been. It goes to show once again people haven't got a clue what PG means.... and yes the PG rating has nothing to do with the blood ban, chair shots to the head, the terrible storylines, the titles losing mean etc etc.

Now on to this Cena argument, you really do have to be a idiot if you think Cena is the cause of the WWE going back to PG. It was always going to happen, with or without Cena. Cena is portrayed like the Anti-Christ of wrestling. Yet in reality Cena is nothing more than what Austin, Hogan etc were before. Vince, despite what people may say knows this business better than anyone. He managed to changed a foul mouthed rapper into his next big thing. When Cena was coming through, WWE lost a lot of its big names (Rock, Austin, Lesnar) and Vince needed a new icon. As much I find Cena boring and overdone, the man has done well. To blame him for anything is quite frankly stupid, the man simply is doing what he loves, he never comes out and criticises the product.

So to get this clear and hope even just one person actually gets it through their head. The PG rating is not a fault, Cena isn't at fault for the PG rating and neither are the fault of why the product is stale. Its down to poor booking, poor planning, poor use of talent, poor use of ideas, lack of ideas. However it only takes one good spark to get things going again. Yes, everybody has their opinion but none of them will change the product because that would just be too easy. It'll happen one day that another Bischoff, Russo, Heyman, Vince etc will come along and find the answer and make it work.

 

[GameOver]

Can't believe people still debate this. You know WWE is a publicly traded company? has been for along time? "The Immortal" John Cena is a character, you know that right?
he's just the face of WWE PG, he is not the reason. Money is the main reason

Advertisers, Shareholders, Networks, Sponsors all want WWE the "public traded" company to pump out "family" entertainment, not mature adult related material like they were, if they don't comply, they stand to lose deals with the big money companies. Additionly they can get the crappy celebrities to make appearances and not feel oh wait i don't want to be involved in a rassling show with all that sex and voilence.

Also goes full circle back to the 80's Hogan era, where the whole family could go along and there'd be something for everyone. It just seems really watered down cause everyone was use to extreme voilence and language and people are decencitized to it so anything less seems really weak.

WWE had been copping a lot of flak by the media to it's image due to what it was pumping out each week and the seedy side of wrestling, now it's steering back towards the "good" things the company does.

Lastly obviously it also had something to do with Linda McMahon's run in politics.

Least thats my take

 

[wwefan4lyfe]

SERIOUSLY PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO STOP BLAMING CENA FOR THE WWE GOING PG,CENA IS ONLY 1 MAN AND THE WWE IS NOT GOING TO GO PG JUST BECAUSE OF 1 MAN......WWE WENT PG BECAUSE VINCE MCMAHON WAS TRYING TO PROJECT A GOOD IMAGE FOR THE WWE BECAUSE LINDA MCMAHON WAS RUNNING FOR SENATE AND HE DIDNT WANT ALL THE BACKLASH FROM THE CRITICS AND MEDIA WHILE SHE WAS RUNNING FOR SENATE,I MEAN CAN U IMAGINE HOW THE MEDIA WOULD HAVE WENT AFTER THE MCMAHONS IF WHILE LINDA WAS RUNNING FOR SENATE THE WWE WAS STILL LETTING THIER SUPERSTARS CUSS OR BUST EACH OTHER OPEN OR HAVING THIER DIVAS GOING AROUND SCANTILY CLAD WEARING BARELY ANYTHING,SO REALLY STOP TRYING TO BLAME CENA FOR THE WWE GOING PG..HELL CENA IMO BECAME FAMOUS WHEN HE STARTED HIS WHOLE RAP GIMMICK AND START DOING ALL HIS CONTROVERSIAL RAPS THAT HE DID AND SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT CENA WOULD LOVE TO DO ONE OF THOSE RAPS AGAIN BUT HE CANT BECAUSE WWE MANAGEMENT WONT ALLOW HIM BECAUSE OF WWE BEING PG BUT I GUARANTEE IF WWE WENT BACK TO BEING "ATTITUDE" LIKE IT WAS BEFORE NOW THAT LINDA MCMAHON LOST THE SENATE RACE U WILL SEE CENA BUST OUT ONE OF HIS FAMOUS RAPS AGAIN

 

[Shakin' Abe]

Other that all the CAPS...pretty good post. Yes, with Linda running for Senate, Vince had to tone everything down. The only problem is, with Linda losing and TNA not running away with any ratings, Vince may not see any need to change back to a worthy product.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I wouldn't put this on John Cena or anybody. WWE has big sponsors with their family programming. They signed with Mattell toys and are allowed to get more sponsors for television programming. Family material always sells more whether it is in video games or movies. Cena is probably for the PG era like a lot of wrestlers with him. I'm sure they have no complaints wrestling rather than being thrown through barb wire or wearing skimpy bikinis. WWE is a public company and the shareholders are probably the only reason why they are PG. Along with the change of the times.

 

[supersrc]

http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/art...-into-pg-rating-for-wwe-beef-with-orton-83595

That is a link to an interview with cena who states he was "outspoken" to vince and others about going pg. I think he is very responsible others may dissagree but I think this link at east proves he was influencial or supportive of the idea.

While on the subject of pg no one else has benafited more from the pg rating then cena, if anything the rating has held others back, like MVP Orton Kennedy (before getting fired) even the "rated r superstar" all characters that had to hold back on the mic.

 

[ABMorales787]

If John Cena is the reason why WWE turned their programming PG, then by all means make him president. He's running programs, why not the rest of the company? Really. Next people are gonna say Undertaker put Smackdown on SyFy because it fits his character. Gimme a break. A lot of things drove the programs to become PG. The networks wanted cleaner programs, McMahon wanted steadier income and rise in merch and WWE wanted mainstream acceptance.

 

[mrbrownstone]

No Cena is not to blame (I use the word loosely as saying blame would imply there is something wrong with PG) for the PG era, common fucking sense is.

Let me put it to you this way, this thread is basically bashing the PG era right and I would assume you would also want an attitude era (or at least TV 14) comeback. Well imagine if the attitude era was still alive today and the last 12 years of WWE programming had been nothing but Blood, Swearing, Beer, Sex and Brawling as opposed to wrestling, would that still be entertaining 12 years later? I very much doubt it. That is one of the reasons that WWE decided to go PG, to give the fans something different while still providing good and in recent times very good TV. Then when TV-14 does come back (and I have every confidence that it eventually will, just not anytime soon) it will seem fresh and interesting once again, that is one of the reasons the Attitude Era seemed so good in the first place. I am not saying this is the only reason as there is also the safety of wrestlers, merchandise sales, a more mainstream product etc. but this is certainly one of them.

 

[Abrar_619]

Well to be Honest JOHN CENA is not at all responsible for this PG era in WWE ... I mean its not cena who does the things .. its the creative team,Vince and WWE that orders him to do all these stuff .. n he gets paid to do that so y on earth he wouldn't do that. But I bet the time Vince decide to turn him as a heel .. Its gonna be a BYE BYE PG Era ...
.
.
so Lets hope that he turns heel as soon as possible, maybe in Survivor series .. lets hope for the best

 

[CuddleBuns84]

Okay, let's get rid of this PG era crap. Let's quit calling this the PG era, let's call it what it really is. The Sponsorship era.

Everything that the WWE does, has the intent to make money, gain viewers, with a clean cut image. They had the kiddie stuff back in the 80s with Hogan, and cartoon like characters. But didn't have the backing from companies like they do now. So much money comes through them, especially in high dollar amounts. One of the reason is, is sponsorships. Only way to get sponsorships is being a family friendly organization. Not endorsements like MMA and other entities, but sponsorships.

Everyday I hear on this website how Cena is this cause for everything back in the wrestling world. So no, he isn't the cause of this era of wrestling. This era which I'm not calling PG anymore because it's pissing me off.

A little off topic, but let's call this something else. I know I said Sponsorship, but, I had other ideas. Such as:

Scripted Promo Era

Corporate Era

The Business Era

Family Orientated Era

The Safety Era

The Awareness Era

The Classy Era.

So many better titles, then PG. Why does a rating have to be this dictator of the Era. It's just an indicator of the content of the programming. It simple says "Hey, this program doesn't have big tits or gore." or "Hey, this program shouldn't be to harsh of entertainment." That's all it is. I haven't heard Cena or Vince say "This Pg-Era, is the greatest Era ever! Damn it"

The cause of the PG-era had several factors. Not John Cena. John Cena, Jericho, Edge, HHH, The Big Show, Kane, Undertaker, and the list goes on, changed their promos from raunchy to clean-cut. They made the changes, cause that's how the business goes.

Here's the Factors that gave us this clean-cut organization of wrestling:

The Benoit Tragedy: A horrible moment for professional Wrestling on both sides. WWE had to change it's policies for the health of the employees, and the world once again thought, Wrestlers were muscle men with tiny brains, wanting to kill.

The MMA boom: Now, we can say that MMA is hurting professional wrestling, but it's killing boxing. That's just an opinion of mine, but love to have a debate over it. MMA became the new NASCAR. More of sport then Wrestling, and something you can market and gamble on. Pro Wrestling, was just entertainment.

Activist Groups: Before Linda ran for Senate, the WWE always got crap from someone. They would get sued by shitty parents, and the WWE had to deal with them. They would get blamed by anyone for anything. Because it was violent or kids thought it was cool. After too many of those, you want to change your wagons.

The Internet: With the internet blasting the info, or signing before it happens, the WWE really couldn't do that big surprise debut anymore. We all know if the Rock worked a Raw, it would be posted all over the media. No stopping it. The Internet is a great tool, except for the action packed entertainment known as pro wrestling. Really took that edge away.

Competition: With a bunch of small little minor league promotions, no other major company to provide a decent product, the WWE doesn't have to try experiments or intense programming to gain audience members. When you had three decent size companies, one would always try something new each week to gain viewers. The WWE had great promos, with words you wouldn't hear, unless you had to pay to see a movie. WCW had a power struggle with the nWo. ECW had matches with such violent outcomes, and amazing moves, it just made your mind go insane. With one show with the dominant power it has, why try to shoot for intense programming, when you can keep your sponsors happy, and your wrestlers safe, and still.... Make some good money.

Last but not least....

Decent Business: When I was 14, I loved the Rock calling me a candy-ass, and I loved Austin giving someone the bird. It was amazing! Sable posing for play-boy. It was just fun. Then you had the nitro girls. The audience was much more mature, but the adolescence loved it. Well, as time goes on, people left wrestling. I got more into football, and basketball. I got older, and so did a lot more people. People that were fans. The older audience left, so they had to carter to the new clients. If I drive a Jeep, I can't worry how Honda's cruise control works. They just had to get their new market, and live the older fans behind. That's the nature of the beast.

I knew I took more space then needed, but let the rating go. I mean, I show a PG move just the other day, and I was happy, and entertained. I saw a rated R movie the next, and it was just crap. Let's quit having this PG rating be the head of this era. We need to allow the content to be the cause of the era.

 

[justinsayne]

Just like to throw this out there

WWE Not Dropping PG Programming
Posted by: WrestlingNewsSource.com

WrestlingNewsSource.com has learned via The Wrestling Observer that despite the fact that Linda McMahon lost her bid for the United States Senate this past Tuesday, World Wrestling Entertainment will NOT be dropping their PG programming.

The switch to PG was originally made due to WWE's relationship with Mattel, who currently produces all of the organization's toys. WWE is said to be "very happy" with Mattel, and according to numerous sources, WWE is not expected to do away with their PG initiative anytime soon.

So yeah, as said before, the switch to PG had absolutely nothing to do with Cena what so ever, and had everything to do with merch sales, and attracting a younger audience

 

[Calderownz]

To an extent, any popular wrestler could be blamed. Popular wrestlers sell the most toys and the toy companies are the ones that want a toned-down product.

However, you can't blame any single athlete. Or even the toy company, for that matter. It's about their best interests. Parents don't want their kids to own action figures with violent roles. At least, that's the thinking. I don't agree with it, but it's not Cena's fault.

 

[VinnieSunshine]

Im so TIRED of these PG ERA bullshit threads! I didn't even read what the OP had to say, the title alone told me that! The WWE made the PG ERA because the product was becoming more in tune with families and kids. Vince realized how many kids were there with their kids and decided to bank on that.

The PG ERA is here, its happening GET OVER IT! No person or character caused it to happen. Not John Cena, not Rey Mysterio...NO ONE. The Attitude Era is dead and gone...the time of ECW and hardcore violence is dead and gone! If you dont like what WWE is producing DONT WATCH IT!

 

[Navi]

This is how I see it IMO, and my opinion only, that John Cena huge popularity with the younger fans because of his clean cut, baby face persona. His merchandise sell's like mad to the younger generation seemingly. No tattoo's or facial hair, and he preaches ethics like Hogan did.

I have not seen anyone else to this day look, or work the younger generation of fan's like Cena.

I think Vince seen something in Cena, and merchandise sales and decided to push everything towards the younger fans.

I'm just waiting for him to start having his wrestler's cover up or remove certain tattoo's.

So what are your thought's on this topic??

First of all the WWF/WWE has always been and will always be a PG rated business. When did most of us start watching? Yea that's right when we were kids. It used to be on Saturday afternoons with Mean Gene Okerland and Vince on commentary. There is no way that a TV station would put a show geared to mature audience on at that time. I started watching when I was nine, over 25 years ago.

Anyone who says that it started just because of Linda wanting to run for Senate, doesn't know what they are talking about.

As for the OP about Cena starting the PG era, sir you are a moron. John Cena is a product of the PG era, he didn't start it. Vince McMahon knows what audience to target and he does it well. Since the deal with Mattel he's going after the kids, as they will bug their parents to death to buy the toys.

I don't see him asking wrestlers to cover up kind of tattoo, that's just a ridiculous statement to make.

 

[Saiquan]

This honestly is just a way for everyone to bash on the PG era and to blame Cena for something! Let's all be honest the WWE always goes throw these changes and because most of us started watching in the attitude era and were use to the cussing and sex appeal we complain because the WWE has changed!

THE GOLDEN ERA: Basicallly started by Hogan this are targeted mostly little kids with characters like Hogan, Warrior, and Savage. The gimicky type characters who preached on eating you vitamins and saying your prayers!

THE NEW GENERATION: Vince realized that those kids had become teenager and pre-teens so characters like the Hitman, the Boy Toy, and the Razor were created. These were the guys who were "cool" and had a certain walk and talk to them. Trust me I hate Cena just as much as everyone else on here but I give blame where it is due!

THE ATTITUDE ERA: Of course now those teens are young rebellious adults in the work force and in order to keep the viewers Vince created characters who wipped there bosses ass. I mean who doesn't wish they could just go in and punch there boss and keep there jobs!!? I.e Stone cold and The Rock

Basically what I'm getting at is that pro wrestling goes threw these cycles and we have started over from the beginning. If anything is to blame it's UFC. They've come in and taken all the adult fans with there realistic fighting and commercial performance! Just give it about 5 to 6 years when the eight and nine year olds now are 14 and 15 then the product will be aimed toward them!! But please stop blaming Cena because he just wants to do his job and get his money!

 

[Jack-Hammer]

So this is yet another thread that's little more than another in a very long line of threads designed to piss and moan about the WWE's PG rating. This has gone one better and tossed John Cena into the mix. Two of the IWC's most hated aspects in one thread.

Being PG isn't at all new to wrestling, the PG Era is going to stay for a while, so is John Cena and it's time to get the fuck over it or change the channel.

Thread Closed