6. R-Rated > PG-Rated
It would not be fair to ignore the more adult approach that Vince Russo brought to the WWF with the instigation of the Attitude Era. But while these storylines were more violent, they were also still outrageous; recall absurd storylines like Bryan Pillman pulling a gun on Stone Cold Steve Austin, sexually suggestive vignettes involving the likes of D-Generation-X, insane swerves, and unexpected turns. More than its overt focus on young adult viewers over children, the show was consistently surprising, and for many, is considered the best and most inventive era of the federation. That the product in recent years has pulled towards a PG market, or as many online jokingly refer to it, G-rated, is disappointing, not because it is silly and aimed, as John Cena said just last week, at 9 year olds, but because it boxes itself in, and denies the opportunity to be edgy, even violent, when the opportunity calls for it. Even the strictly cartoonish days of the 80s WWF had its share of ominous storylines; Jake the Snake having Randy Savage be bitten by a snake in-ring, a politically current storyline involving Sgt. Slaughter as an Iraqi sympathiser, and the frequent use of blood (admittedly usually spewing from Ric Flair). It is all about tone, and knowing when to switch between goofy silly and outrageous silly. That is something the current writers not only seem unable of, but are seemingly discouraged, even prohibited from doing.