10 Big Misconceptions People Have About WWE's Attitude Era

4. Sex Appeal Played A Major Role in Raw's Success

Anyone watching episodes of Raw or SmackDown from the Attitude Era in current day would almost immediately call into question the idea that sexuality and sex appeal played a major role in the product at that time. Yes, Sable, Debra, Terri Runnels, Trish Stratus and The Kat were all incredibly hot women that often wore very little and always flaunted their assets. Sable, specifically, broke out and became one of the most successful stars of the era thanks to her willingness showcase her superbly crafted body for the masses. But the sexual aspect of WWE programming was extremely limited. Sable and her fellow Divas often appeared in one segment, maybe two depending on if there was another storyline focusing on the female talent but for the most part, it was confined to one very small part of the overall presentation. Playboy covers for Sable and Chyna were major sellers but, outside of the cover being featured on Raw, they were never heavily integrated into the broadcasts. D-Generation X's "Suck It" catchphrase and Val Venis' pornstar gimmick heavily tapped into the sexual aspect of the show but outside of that, it was nowhere near as overtly sexual as it has been heavily criticized for being in the years since those shows aired. It was not until post-WrestleMania X-Seven in 2001 that women began to be exploited for their looks and sex appeal. Trish, Stacy Keibler, Torrie Wilson, Terri and others regularly competed in Bra and Panties matches, Lingerie matches and Mud Wrestling matches that played on the fans' enjoyment of seeing women compete in the smallest amount of clothing possible.