10 Things You Didn't Know About WWE In 1991

9. WWE Experimented With Attitude Much Earlier Than You Thought

Sherri doing a choke
WWE.com

The WWF was - ironically - a squeaky clean fictional outfit that presented nice morality plays with an upstanding hero as the leading man.

That was until that business model failed, and since it was only ever a business model, a slice of Reagan's '80s superman theatre, Vince happened upon a new one (about five years later than broader pop culture and only when Paul Heyman revolutionised the tone of US pro wrestling).

In December 1997, Vince McMahon ushered in the era of Attitude, and for the next three and a half years or so, the WWF was swarming with exposed skin and misogyny.

Incredibly, given that the WWF of 1991 was a parody of the American hero's quest for justice, a premonition of Attitude unfolded on the house show circuit between the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. As the Ultimate Warrior Vs. Sgt. Slaughter series was prolonged, to send the crowd home happy*, Warrior lost, but fans were granted "catharsis" when Sensational Sherri was hung upside down from a steel cage, exposing her bra and panties.

*Dave Meltzer attended one such show and reported that, while the lads loved it, horrified parents dragged their kids - the WWF's target audience - home immediately.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!