2. 'Attitude' Had Lost Magic Touch
The 'Attitude Era' is largely considered one of the most creative periods in pro wrestling history. Not only did several of the best characters emerge during that time, WWF programming became must-see television. Something cool was happening each and every week, keeping viewers glued to their screens and making the WWF a hot topic in pop culture. By 2001, a lot of that magic had been lost. The promotion didn't really seem sure what to do next, because they had pushed the envelope so far. Eventually, they'd go even further in 2002, with angles such as 'Hot Lesbian Action', gay weddings and 'Katie Vick' failing to hit the mark. The problems started before then however, which 2001 proves. The previous format of short matches, exciting storylines and unpredictability had grown stale. As a consequence, the product as a whole just didn't seem all that fresh or enticing. Things would worsen the following year, but 2001 was the beginning of the end for the 'Attitude Era'. Whilst 2000 had been crammed with excitement, 2001 was ominously flat creatively.