20 Things You Learn Watching WWE Since 1997

In 2008, WWE changed all programming from being rated TV-14 to being rated TV-PG. That marked a major shift for the company, pretty much ending lingerie matches, blood (though blading had been banned a few months earlier), sexual content, and most strong language. The change came when WWE decided to court Mattel for a lucrative sponsorship.

In the ensuing years, fans have lamented the sanitized nature of the product, with some longtime watchers believing that the only way to recapture the anything-can-happen nature of the late '90s would be to ditch the so-called "PG Era." Truth be told, though, the company had fallen down a hole of staleness long before the change, and bringing back storylines focusing on rape and miscarriages aren't going to make Raw or Smackdown any better.

Yes, PG has brought some childish elements with it - stuff with Hornswoggle, for instance - but that's the fault of the writers, not the medium. Some of the greatest matches in company history - including the amazing CM Punk-John Cena feud and encounter - happened under the auspices of PG and didn't feel hurt by it. There is a way to run a great wrestling promotion under PG guidelines, even if WWE hasn't figured out how yet.