The PG rating is honestly killing my enjoyment for WWE....
Join the crowd.
But the only thing I will add is that I do think it's possible for them to come up with a PG product that we can enjoy. It's simply that Vince isn't doing so. He is going in another direction.
For example, a lot of people can refer to this product as a Kiddie Product and what not. But the thing is, if you think about it, other than Hornswoggle running around, how is this product really a Kiddie Product?
The Hogan Era and especially The New Generation Eras were far more Kiddie than the product we see today.
So, I think it is something else beyond the rating. And like I posted in another thread, what I see Vince doing is trying to make his product look like a legitimate sport, when it isn't, and nor will it ever be. He is trying to give this product the look and feel of a real sport, and in doing so, is eliminating the intriguing characters, and essentially not doing the storylines he used to do. Rather no, it is simply all about the competition, and thrill of competing for a title ... as opposed to storylines featuring grudges, and that sort of thing. Again, it's like he wants to make it look like it is a real sport.
People will post, "if you don't like it, don't watch it!" That is the dumbest shit i've ever heard...I want to love the WWE...I don't want to stop watching. It's like breaking up with your girlfriend because your relationship is bad...it hurts to do it. It's not as simple as, "okay, I'm done!"
When some people say this, they are simply trying to call your bluff. They don't think you will really leave.
Other people, however, really could care less if you watch, and are essentially telling you to "Fuck Off".
And that is what you have to do, sadly. I know it's hard to do so. Hell, I've watched for two decades, but I've essentially called their bluff, and have moved on from watching the shows.
The best way to do this, is to do so gradually. You have to come to terms with the fact that Vince is no longer catering to you, and nor is he really catering to fans, in general. Vince is catering to advertisers. And in doing so, he is really testing his fans' patience and their loyalty to his product. My philosophy, though, is why be loyal to someone who isn't going to be loyal to me?
There was a Raw that took place a few years ago, where Vince came out and told the crowd that "I will tell you what you want to see. And you will like it." I have no idea what prompted him to even make a comment like this, but that was undoubtedly the real Vince McMahon coming out, and not just the Mr. McMahon character.
So, he is testing that theory because he believes its true. He thinks he can put on the screen whatever he wants, and you are going to like it, no matter what. This theory partly goes back to the comments Jonathan Coachman made about wrestling fans not really having many other interests in other sports, besides wrestling ... and obviously Vince feels that way, too. So I suppose he figures, "Why cater to the fans, when they're going to watch whatever I give them, and they'll deal with it. So, I am going to start catering to my advertisers, instead."
And for the people that think the PG rating isn't making the product bad, hear me out.
The only reason the WWE was ever successful is because of the 18-34 year old demographic. Sex sells, violence sells, controversy sells.
Yes, yes, and yes. And ratings have proved all of that time, and time, and time again.
What is going on here, and I even had someone on another forum finally admit as such to me, is that the people who argue that "today's product is essentially the greatest thing since sliced bread" ... these people enjoy today's product. They know that ratings, buyrates, and attendance don't support their enjoyment of the product ... so instead of arguing with factual data, they would simply rather dismiss the data and not discuss it.
They enjoy what they see, and they don't want anything at all to change about it. That is where their motivation comes into play.
People who argue that today's product really hasn't changed all that much since the early to mid 2000's .... I have to question whether or not they are blind? This product may look the same in terms of a similar looking set, some familiar faces, and all .... but this product that we see on the TV today is dramatically different from the product that we were given all the way up until around 2005 or 2006. And I have discussed those differences many times.
So where as people that like today's product don't want it to change, and that is what fuels their motivation .... people like us are in the same boat. We don't like today's product. We like how wrestling used to be. BUT, the key difference is that we can support our arguments by pointing to data. They, can not.
As I've said in another thread, the only way to become a true superstar in this business is to start off heel. Every wrestler to ever become a mega star since the early 90's has been a heel first. Prove me wrong. (Oh and Mysterio may be the only exception.) The heels are so watered down now that A. They don't have their own identity (Miz is doing a great job, although he would have been better suited in the WWE a few years ago.) and B. These stupid kids aren't gonna go to the proverbial darkside. They love to cheer the good guy cause he's "their hero."
The characters are watered down, I believe, because Vince wants gimmicks and actual characters to go away. And instead, he wants personalities to take their places. Very similar to how fighters in the UFC, boxing, etc. are. Same mentality with the announcers. The gimmicks are gone. Only the personalities remain. And today's announcers act like real sports announcers of real sports.
He wants the product presented to the audience as if it is a real product. And in doing so, he has unfortunately removed all the Entertainment.
I'm sick of this crap. I started watching the WWF and WCW in 1997 because I loved the violence and girls on the programming. I loved Austin flipping off his boss, DX's antics, Foley laying in the ring a bloody mess. I loved ECW for the incredible action, the tables, the crazy weapons. I loved wrestling just like I enjoyed watching action and horror movies. It was an escape from reality. It was bad ass. Hornswoggle is not bad ass. Vince is not putting Hornswoggle on TV for guys my age, 22. He's putting Hornswoggle on for 8 year old children. I'm not 8 years old. They aren't writing the show for my age anymore. When I was 13 years old, they were writing the show for 22 year olds. Now that I'm 22, they're writing it for 13 year olds.
Vince isn't targeting anyone, though. I disagree that he is targeting this product to children. But by not targeting anyone, this is essentially why the product is as stale and boring as it is.
He has Hornswoggle for the Kids, but that is the only real character he has that targets little kids. Cena serves as a role model for young and older kids, into their teens. But I don't see WWE aggressively going after Kids, though. Again, I see that you started watching back in 1997, but try to become familiar with The New Generation Era, if you can. If you want to see a product that went after and targeted Kids, that is the Era to watch.
My impression is that today's product:
* Is catered to advertisers, to make them happy, more so than fans, who Vince takes for granted, and assumes is going to watch, no matter what.
* Is then, written for everyone, with no one particular target audience in mind ... hence the PG rating.
* Is trying to make the product resemble a legitimate sport, by watering down all characters and storylines, to make everything seem as realistic as possible. The drawback is that the WW"E" no longer falls back on its characters and storylines for Entertainment.
Rather, he wants all of his audience to be entertained, just by the wrestling action, itself. And I'm sorry, but that isn't good enough for me. I never watched wrestling, just for solely the wrestling, itself. And I'm not about to start doing so, now. That is why Ring of Honor never interested me, either.
The reason is that if I wanted to watch a sport, just for the thrill of the in-ring competition itself, then I am going to watch UFC, which has no Pre-Determined Outcomes, and is not scripted. In other words, IF I want JUST the matches and ONLY the matches, then I am going to watch real fighting, not scripted fighting.
If it's JUST the action that Vince feels should entertain me, then what incentive do I have to watch his product, instead of the real product with no predetermined outcomes?
And when these kids grow up, they are gonna want the same thing from WWE. They'll bail on the product faster then Mr. Kennedy's return.
My theory is that if Vince intends on whatever kids he can bring into his fanbase today, to grow up and still like the same product, I think he is going to fail.
The problem is, like I stated earlier, he isn't really going after and aggressively targeting the Kids, today. So therefore, I don't think he is necessarily going to have a huge bunch of kids today, that will grow up so he can cater to down the road. Which is what he expects.
He just isn't targeting anyone. And that is why the product seems like it is "just there" for anyone.
But he is essentially sending adults away, by no longer offering them programming that matches their interests. And you mention today's fans telling you to "tune out", but that is also what Jim Ross himself said in one of his blogs. He said if you "don't like what you see, but continue to watch anyway, then his best advice is to tune out." And that is what needs to transpire. So yes, they are essentially kicking the adults who where loyal to him through the Attitude Era, to the curb. He doesn't need you anymore, therefore isn't going to cater to you. And according to numerous wrestlers and other office staff that have left the company, that is "vintage McMahon". He uses you up, and then spits you out when he doesn't need you anymore.
There is no such thing as loyalty, with Vince McMahon. Therefore, you need to play by the same rules, and not return that same loyalty he expects from his fanbase.
For the people who say that PG is NOT ruining the programming, I envy you. I really do. I envy that your tastes are synonymous with 8 year old girls. I'm jealous that you think Santino oinking at Vickie is a real knee slapper! I wish I could crack a little smile when that innocent yet rambunctious Hornswoggle dances around the ring with little kids! Oh boy...not again Hornswoggle!
Well, everyone has different tastes. My philosophy is that there are enough people with philosophies like theirs, and enough people with philosophies like yours, that each merits their own product. Vince doesn't want to do that, though. Most likely because he wants all of his shows with the same content ratings.
That way, since it is likely hard enough to attract advertisers to his product, if he gets someone to advertise on Raw, he can go to that exact same advertiser, and try to get them to advertise on Smackdown and ECW, as well. Offer them discounts to do all of his shows, etc. That way, he doesn't have to work quite so hard at reaching out to multiple advertisers, who all have products with different target audiences, in mind. It's easier for Vince, and after all "he thinks you are just going to watch, anyway."
The whole point is the WWE isn't writing for us anymore. It's like listening to your local rock radio station in your car, then all of a sudden the station turns to country music. Do you still listen to the station just because your loyal and you've listen to it for 12 years, or do you tune out and find something that actually strikes your fancy?
I tune out. And I have, as of last week altogether.
If someone has been a fan for a long time, then you have to do a couple things.
First, you have to come to terms that Vince is not writing his shows with you in mind, anymore. He caters to advertisers, first, and expects you to like the product, regardless.
Second, if you are dissatisfied, then you have two choices:
1) Force yourself to watch the product, anyway, and deal with it.
or
2) Gradually start tuning out.
If you watch multiple shows, start tuning out Superstars and ECW, and just watch Raw and Smackdown. Then, after a couple weeks, tune out of either Raw or Smackdown. And if you still aren't happy, just tune out of the last show remaining, that you do watch.
I never watched Superstars, but once I came to terms that Vince has absolutely no intention of altering his business strategy, I began by turning off ECW. Then, a couple weeks later, I turned off Smackdown, as well, and just watched Raw. Then, a couple weeks later, Raw still bored me to tears, so I finally turned off the last show, as of last week.
So, the only thing I do today, is read the Newsboards. Essentially, I'm not missing too much anyway, by reading the daily updates. But, that way, I can finally say that I broke free of watching his shows. And it feels good, I have to say.
But for those that are dissatisfied, don't allow Vince to keep holding you hostage, or feel like you HAVE to be loyal to the product. Vince isn't loyal to you, so you have no reason to be loyal to him. All the man sees are $$$$.
So, you have to start gradually turning off the shows ... then once you turn off the one show you do watch of his, then you can make a choice to either start following TNA, or simply quit wrestling altogether, and start watching UFC or another sport. But that first step is to accept the fact that Vince has zero, and I do mean zero, intention of changing anything about today's product. So the only thing you can do is play the game, and prove the man wrong, by leaving him.
