Who benefits most if WWE switches to PG-14

[The HEEL JuiceLee]

I think its safe to say that the majority of the IWC would prefer if WWE went back to a PG-14 format, myself included. I have read reports than many backstage officials & the majority of the roster are in favor of a switch, also in favor are the creative writers, as they feel the PG era restricts there creagivity.

So my question is what wrestlers ( male or female, both Main & NXT rosters ) would most benefit from the switch, & tell me why.

 

[Just Do It]

Hard to say if anybody benefits because of that shift. Orton swearing going to make him more popular? Doubt it. But maybe a new generation could get behind him a little more? I think the bigger question is what fanbase would they LOSE. Not to mentions sponsorships and goodwill with a lot of companies. Some of my fondest memories of WWE are from the PG era of 1991 -1996. Good writing and good performances don't need to be PG14.

 

[rbv13]

It has been stated many times when this topic comes up. The PG rating is not the issue. It is the complete lack of intriguing character development, flawed logic and extremely weak story telling. Cartoon Network presents more compelling programming, most of which presents adult undertones because they understand what the PG rating actually means. Shifting to PG-14 will change nothing. Sure a couple of nerds will pop a woody over some foul language and the return of “puppies” but it will be the same basic garbage at its core.

 

[TheICChampion]

I find it so hilarious when I keep hearing people say they want things to get edgier and more mature but when WWE gives them what they want they act all offended "Oh, how could they do something like this?" and so forth. If you want mature content, then if you get it don't go crying about how it was much better when it was PG. Besides, the only reason and the only time WWE ever went beyond marketing to kids was when WCW were kicking their asses on a weekly basis and they were desperate. Vince has always been about the kiddies. Who can blame him? They're the only ones who don't constantly bash his product.

 

[rmp0012002]

With the say USA has over the product and the shareholders I think it's out of their control, even though it's their company. I would prefer a more real life adult show but they're kind of in a box.

 

[BillAlfonsos_Whistle]

It actually wouldn't change a lot as far as projecting who is going to rise to the top.
Rollins and Bray have both made it work in PG. By bumping it to PG-14 they would just have a broader approach and be able to introduce more lewd and inflammatory ways of getting themselves over.

I think a guy like Ambrose would clearly benefit the most as his Stone Cold rip-off persona and anti-establishment thing would be much better suited for PG-14.

 

[Soulblazed]

It actually wouldn't change a lot as far as projecting who is going to rise to the top.
Rollins and Bray have both made it work in PG. By bumping it to PG-14 they would just have a broader approach and be able to introduce more lewd and inflammatory ways of getting themselves over.

I think a guy like Ambrose would clearly benefit the most as his Stone Cold rip-off persona and anti-establishment thing would be much better suited for PG-14.

I'll elaborate on your point here..WWE going to PG-14 would be great for Ambrose because he could use more of his CZW style, which is something that in my opinion is long overdue for him. It'll show WWE fans who've never seen Ambrose as John Moxley what Ambrose is truly capable of doing.

Now about Bray Wyatt-He would benefit the most out of any wrestler on the roster if the WWE changed to PG-14 because then he could finally wrestle a style which suits him. Wyatt's character is a demented, violent, maniacal, morbid backwoods cult leader, yet ironically, he wrestles "normal, WWE-style" matches which don't really accentuate how deranged his character truly is. IF WWE switches to PG-14, then Wyatt won't be restricted, instead, he could truly "snap" on his opponents..What I'm getting at is that most of Wyatt's matches would degenerate into brutal "fights" where he'll ignore all WWE "rules", brawling with his opponent all over the arena, to the stage/ramp/crowd/backstage/even outside of the venue. Wyatt could also use a crescent wrench as a signature weapon..He could make his opponents bleed and rake the crescent wrench across his opponent's skull while laughing maniacally, for instance. He could also give his opponent Sister Abagail face-first onto the crescent wrench. Some of Wyatt's "brawls" with his opponents should end with his opponents being stretchered out of the arena, as well.

 

[bioshock]

To the guys saying PG isn't the problem is kind of true, but flip that coin and you can say that if WWE was PG-14 like it use to be, it gives them that many more options. I mean lets get down to the brass tax. Take movies for example. What would Dumb and Dumber be if it was PG instead of PG-13? What would the Spiderman, Iron Man, Captain America, Fast and Furious movies ect.. all be like if they were PG instead of PG-13? They get so many more options on whats allowed and what isnt and it doesn't mean just because its PG-14 that it has to be all blood, near nudity, and swearing. They can do it when they need to and keep it clean when they want.

In the end it just gives everyone more options.

 

[AceofSpades]

I'd say Dean Ambrose would benefit the most. Also, Rollins and Reigns not too far behind.

I think there is a good balance between the current product and the other extreme The Attitude Era.

 

[zephyrs]

It has been stated many times when this topic comes up. The PG rating is not the issue. It is the complete lack of intriguing character development, flawed logic and extremely weak story telling. Cartoon Network presents more compelling programming, most of which presents adult undertones because they understand what the PG rating actually means. Shifting to PG-14 will change nothing. Sure a couple of nerds will pop a woody over some foul language and the return of “puppies” but it will be the same basic garbage at its core.

I couldn't agree more. Interesting characters and compelling, cohesive storylines can be crafted within a PG format. Blaming WWE's inability to do so on their not having a PG-14 rating is a cop out.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I find it so hilarious when I keep hearing people say they want things to get edgier and more mature but when WWE gives them what they want they act all offended "Oh, how could they do something like this?" and so forth. If you want mature content, then if you get it don't go crying about how it was much better when it was PG.

True.

Whenever WWE has gone a more controversial route over the past several years, look at the response it's gotten. When Jack Swagger & Zeb Colter were making waves in WWE 2 years ago, fans were taking to Twitter and Facebook accusing WWE of promoting racism. Politicians and pundits on the evening news were criticizing WWE for poking fun at the Tea Party Movement and exploiting racial tensions.

During the same time period, when CM Punk was in the midst of his feud with The Undertaker, a good number fans & dirt sheet writers accused WWE of exploiting Paul Heyman's death and showing utter disdain to his memory even though his two grown sons gave WWE their blessings and said that their dad would've been thrilled to have such a big role in this particular feud.

Remember in late 2012 when Punk & Heyman "mocked" Jerry Lawler's heart attack on the night he returned to commentary? Fans took to social media and dirt sheet writers took to their blogs raging as if they were personally mocking their loved ones who'd died of heart attacks, whipped 'em out and pissed on their graves. Lawler himself gave his blessings to do the angle several weeks prior.

While I personally haven't been overly fond of the product as a whole for the past several months, I do believe that some fans, dirt sheet writers and industry insiders apply a double standard to WWE. If TNA or ROH employed such storylines, many would be calling them edgy, daring or gutsy, yet WWE is called tasteless or exploitative.

Over the weekend, there were stories of WWE possibly dedicating Raw to or at least having an "In Memory Of" graphic at the beginning of the show to Perry Aguayo, Jr., who died this weekend at an AAA event during a tag team match featuring Rey Mysterio. They ultimately decided not to as, according to reports, they feared that it'd be misinterpreted as an attempt to capitalize on the tragedy and unintentionally draw negative attention to Mysterio. Unfortunately, their fears were probably well justified because so many people automatically suspect WWE of foul play of some sort whenever they do something altruistic. Apparently, it's a sign of respect when/if someone else does it but WWE is this big, evil corporation so they have to have some sort of ulterior motive.

 

[FromGlasgow]

pg-14 doesn't equal ratings, The mid 80s to early 90s in the WWF were getting higher TV ratings than any other time while the NWA which was a bit edgier at the time was losing in the ratings to the WWF, Personally I would prefer the actual product to improve rather than just get edgier on the other hand the attitude era wasn't something I would have wanted to sit and watch with my kids. I would actually like it if a company like TNA got a little edgier and gave fans more of an alternative rather than a cheap copy of the WWE.

 

[Un-Bo-Lievable Jeff]

To the guys saying PG isn't the problem is kind of true, but flip that coin and you can say that if WWE was PG-14 like it use to be, it gives them that many more options. I mean lets get down to the brass tax. Take movies for example. What would Dumb and Dumber be if it was PG instead of PG-13? What would the Spiderman, Iron Man, Captain America, Fast and Furious movies ect.. all be like if they were PG instead of PG-13? They get so many more options on whats allowed and what isnt and it doesn't mean just because its PG-14 that it has to be all blood, near nudity, and swearing. They can do it when they need to and keep it clean when they want.

In the end it just gives everyone more options.

The difference with movies though is that the rating is not classed before hand. A movie is made and then it is rated accordingly. They don't make a movie for a specific rating.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

OF course they make movies to a rating. Look at the furore over PG13 Die Hard...

Deadpool is being made right now as PG-13 when the fans actually want Hard R... but they can't make the money from that, they have to go as broad as possible.

Vince only ever went TV-14 out of desperation... he won't want to go back there himself, but if he is stepping down etc, I could see it being part of the changeover to Hunter... who has a better grasp of that rating than the child marketing Vince has always excelled in.

 

[kumarjtk]

wwe move on to next gen stars. instead of creating new stars they recreate next cena randy and taker. tv14 or pg are not a problem. they don't have enough creative. ambrose don't benefit any era. if they bring back whc title then he benefit more.

 

[Mustang Sally]

.... I could see it being part of the changeover to Hunter... who has a better grasp of that rating than the child marketing Vince has always excelled in.

And that will be a highly interesting shift in more ways than one, won't it? Triple H, as a wrestler, may have entirely different notions about how effective it might be to let wrestlers talk the way they really would in the situations they face every time they take to the ring......and how they would really behave while backstage.

Remember the first time we watched Bret Hart (of all people) say "bullshit" on Raw....and Sycho Sid answer in kind? I thought it was terrific; a touch of realism in demonstrating how people in a violent profession (kayfabe) would really behave......and the foul language was a part of what proved to be representative of the wave that took WWE from the brink of extinction in the Monday Night Wars.

Plainly, Vince McMahon wants to market to the kids....and despite the way I feel about it, it's probably the best strategy. I presume Vince McMahon knows better than I do.

Still, the bad language and adult situations came at a time when more people got interested in pro wrestling than anyone could have thought possible. For awhile, pro wrestling became the "in" thing to watch, drawing tons of non-wrestling fans who were interested only in following the trends.....and of course they disappeared when the next popular mass movement captured their attention. Would it be good to return to that stuff?

Okay, Vince McMahon never will, but when he retires, it will be mighty interesting to see what Mrs. & Mrs. Levesque decide to do.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

Although I would favour a move back to the more violent, edgy Attitude Era style booking, I can understand why WWE haven't done this- they'd lose alot of money from sponsorships, advertising and alot of their viewing audience are kids, so they'd be alienating alot of their current audience in the hopes of gaining back some of the older lapsed fans.

While I appreciate the argument that "PG doesn't automatically equal shit", and the belief that good writing/performances can compensate for the lower rating, I truly think that a PG child-friendly rating limits what the performers and writers are able to do. The matches are tamer, there's less scope for shocking, violent moments and let's be honest- the whole point of wrestling is two guys FIGHTING, trying to injure the other to keep him down for 3 seconds. It's not a a child-friendly concept, no matter how they sugarcoat it with "superhero, kiddie friendly characters". It's two guys looking like they are beating each other up. It's violent at it's core.

The characters are able to become deeper and do things at PG14 that they currently aren't able to do, the beat downs are more realistic, the matches more exciting, language used is more realistic as what would be said in real-life situations...it's just better.

I think alot of guys would benefit from a shift to a PG-14 rating, especially Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt. Undertaker was really able to widen his character and become a lot darker during the Attiude Era and Wyatt would really be able to do the same with more of a free reign in his promos, and we'd probably see some specific gimmick matches to support his character. And we all know of Ambrose's Hardcore past as John Moxley, he'd be right at home.

 

[laodaron]

Going TV-14 would ruin professional wrestling. It nearly did the in the 2002-2009 era, as that is known to be some of the worst the WWE has ever produced. Punjab prison matches, botched blading, sexual content for the sake of trying to shock the masses have all gone away. Morning shock radio is dying. Shock TV is dying. It's not about saying dick and fart on TV anymore, and that's a blessing.

Keep it PG, and keep it where kids can keep tuning in.

 

[kadroan]

I think its safe to say that the majority of the IWC would prefer if WWE went back to a PG-14 format, myself included. I have read reports than many backstage officials & the majority of the roster are in favor of a switch, also in favor are the creative writers, as they feel the PG era restricts there creagivity.

So my question is what wrestlers ( male or female, both Main & NXT rosters ) would most benefit from the switch, & tell me why.

I don't think it'll help. The superstars still swear, you got Divas in small outfits, you get blood every now and then. The only difference I could see is you may see Bra and Panties matches come back but other than that, nothing major.

 

[FlairFan2003]

It doesn't help much....the increase in ratings will come from older fans who don't buy action figures, posters, etc, they may buy occasional DVDs but mostly just the "Greatest Hits" collections of past stars or "Best Of...." sets of particular events like "The Best Of SummerSlam" or "The Best Of Starrcade". Those fans mostly stopped watching when WWE was still PG 14 simply because they never connected with the newer stars and the older stars were fading from the scene. I doubt now switching would even bring them back, at least not on its own.

Now you would potentially lose the kids and tween demo that actually powers most of the merchandise sales and fills the arenas, while incurring LOADS of bad press from the media over the overt language and tone of a product that essentially is "kids" TV.

At this point maybe tweaking the "no blood" rule for major PPVs and occasionally allowing a "hell" or "damn" in a promo is about all the edge they could add and actually make the product more realistic and gritty without sacrificing where the money comes from (kids)

 

[FlairFan2003]

Although I would favour a move back to the more violent, edgy Attitude Era style booking, I can understand why WWE haven't done this- they'd lose alot of money from sponsorships, advertising and alot of their viewing audience are kids, so they'd be alienating alot of their current audience in the hopes of gaining back some of the older lapsed fans.

While I appreciate the argument that "PG doesn't automatically equal shit", and the belief that good writing/performances can compensate for the lower rating, I truly think that a PG child-friendly rating limits what the performers and writers are able to do. The matches are tamer, there's less scope for shocking, violent moments and let's be honest- the whole point of wrestling is two guys FIGHTING, trying to injure the other to keep him down for 3 seconds. It's not a a child-friendly concept, no matter how they sugarcoat it with "superhero, kiddie friendly characters". It's two guys looking like they are beating each other up. It's violent at it's core.

The characters are able to become deeper and do things at PG14 that they currently aren't able to do, the beat downs are more realistic, the matches more exciting, language used is more realistic as what would be said in real-life situations...it's just better.

I think alot of guys would benefit from a shift to a PG-14 rating, especially Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt. Undertaker was really able to widen his character and become a lot darker during the Attiude Era and Wyatt would really be able to do the same with more of a free reign in his promos, and we'd probably see some specific gimmick matches to support his character. And we all know of Ambrose's Hardcore past as John Moxley, he'd be right at home.

The biggest boom ever I wresting was powered by kid friendly programming....1980s WWE. And compelling storylines that drew the masses were crafted back then including Hogan's feuds with Andre & Savage, Piper-Hart, Rick Rude-Ultimate Warrior, Warrior-Savage & Warrior Hogan, etc.

You don't have to go TV-14 to have better matches.....while the NWA clearly was producing an edgier product back then the real difference between the companies was match quality, and many of the better NWA matches were regular bouts, yes, they did have WAY more violent cage matches than anything WWE was willing to stage but for the most part they simply relied on a better over all match presentation, which had little to do with the PG 14 rating.

The storyline is what draws fans....better writing creates more interesting characters and draws interest in the matches, and you don't need to fill the product with "shock jock" style vignettes that add nothing to the storylines to boast interest because it will fail.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

I think that longer term, NXT is being positioned as a place where the TV-14 rating can come into play. There is no reason WWE cannot offer both products to the marketplace, a PG WWE roster and a TV-14 alternative. Hell they could even use the WCW branding if they wanted to, it's not like the Network couldn't use the content...

 

[FightOwensFight]

People going back to the 1980's as reference for a "high point" seem to forget what the pop culture landscape was back then. The most popular shows were The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Growing Pains, etc. Those have been replaced with The Blacklist, The Walking Dead, etc. Times change. I don't think anyone is calling for a change back to the most offensive parts of the Attitude ERA where it was "puppies" left and right or HLA.

People talk advertising and all the money WWE would lose. The biggest demographic for advertising is 18-45. How is going to TV-14 going to, in any way, cause those people to turn away? Again, looking at the most popular shows on TV indicates there is plenty of advertising revenue to be had operating above the PG rating.

Also, the 3 hours of Raw allows them to handle this easily. Have the beginning of the show be PG and transition to TV-14 during the 9-10 hour, to coincide with the other shows airing at that time.

To answer the OP though (as I just realized I have been on a bit of a rant), I think it would help a number of people. Wyatt and Ambrose come to mind off the top as their styles/personas lend themselves most easily to "edgier" programming. To be honest, I think it would help pretty much everyone. As I said earlier, I don't think the majority that are in favor of TV-14 are looking for blading and non-stop breast-shots. What people want (I believe) is it to be real and feel more organic. Less scripted. That would help everyone.

 

[FlairFan2003]

People going back to the 1980's as reference for a "high point" seem to forget what the pop culture landscape was back then. The most popular shows were The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Growing Pains, etc. Those have been replaced with The Blacklist, The Walking Dead, etc. Times change. I don't think anyone is calling for a change back to the most offensive parts of the Attitude ERA where it was "puppies" left and right or HLA.

People talk advertising and all the money WWE would lose. The biggest demographic for advertising is 18-45. How is going to TV-14 going to, in any way, cause those people to turn away? Again, looking at the most popular shows on TV indicates there is plenty of advertising revenue to be had operating above the PG rating.

Also, the 3 hours of Raw allows them to handle this easily. Have the beginning of the show be PG and transition to TV-14 during the 9-10 hour, to coincide with the other shows airing at that time.

To answer the OP though (as I just realized I have been on a bit of a rant), I think it would help a number of people. Wyatt and Ambrose come to mind off the top as their styles/personas lend themselves most easily to "edgier" programming. To be honest, I think it would help pretty much everyone. As I said earlier, I don't think the majority that are in favor of TV-14 are looking for blading and non-stop breast-shots. What people want (I believe) is it to be real and feel more organic. Less scripted. That would help everyone.

The biggest demo for wrestling isn't 18-45.....wrestling depends on merchandise and who is buying action figures, 30 year olds ? Who is papering their walls with posters ..... 40 year olds ?

That's like saying making SpongeBob more adult wouldn't hurt them, except all of their success is built on a different demo graphic.

 

[FlairFan2003]

People going back to the 1980's as reference for a "high point" seem to forget what the pop culture landscape was back then. The most popular shows were The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Growing Pains, etc. Those have been replaced with The Blacklist, The Walking Dead, etc. Times change. I don't think anyone is calling for a change back to the most offensive parts of the Attitude ERA where it was "puppies" left and right or HLA.

People talk advertising and all the money WWE would lose. The biggest demographic for advertising is 18-45. How is going to TV-14 going to, in any way, cause those people to turn away? Again, looking at the most popular shows on TV indicates there is plenty of advertising revenue to be had operating above the PG rating.

Also, the 3 hours of Raw allows them to handle this easily. Have the beginning of the show be PG and transition to TV-14 during the 9-10 hour, to coincide with the other shows airing at that time.

To answer the OP though (as I just realized I have been on a bit of a rant), I think it would help a number of people. Wyatt and Ambrose come to mind off the top as their styles/personas lend themselves most easily to "edgier" programming. To be honest, I think it would help pretty much everyone. As I said earlier, I don't think the majority that are in favor of TV-14 are looking for blading and non-stop breast-shots. What people want (I believe) is it to be real and feel more organic. Less scripted. That would help everyone.

Going back to my point about storylines, you neglect the two biggest shows of the 80s....Dallas (clearly #1 for the decade) and Dynasty....while they certainly weren't "kid friendly" by any means they were storyline driven, and they were successful based on the popularity of the storlyines regardless of any involvement of higher rates of violence, sexual content, or innuendo that couldn't be found shows like sitcoms.