10 WWE Attitude Era Moments You Totally Don't Remember

1. The OTHER Time An Attitude Era Wrestler Was Made To Go Through Something On TV

Freddie Blassie Attitude
WWE

The Attitude Era 'benefits" from the curve against which it was rated and the fact that the human brain can only remember so much. The WWF was so rampantly awful that you've forgotten how bad it was at its worst because the memories of their being even more rampantly awful are far more vivid.

You'll remember, distinctly, the vile business with Road Warrior Hawk, who, in a grim ratings grab, was forced to live out the very real trauma he was experiencing at the time on live television. Incidentally, Vince Russo "benefits" from his harebrained gimmick match creations, swerve turns and constant pole matches. His real legacy shouldn't be as a moron, but rather a deeply unpleasant human being.

Dustin Rhodes went through a horrendous time in the late 1990s; a bloated shadow of the incredible wrestler that had almost literally burst on the scene years prior, he was estranged or close to it from family both blood and law, and was suffering from substance abuse issues.

The Attitude Era being the Attitude Era, he was booked to work through his issues with his father by impersonating him. Every other problem in his life was fictionalised, too.

Attitude Era fans being Attitude Era fans, when Rhodes poured his heart out on live TV, he was pelted with disgusting homophobic slurs.

 
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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!