10 WWE Attitude Era Moments You Totally Don't Remember
4. The Comedy That Wasn't Incredibly Broad
When you recall the comedic leanings of the Attitude Era, you probably remember funny moments like the bedpan bop, the Rock's hilarious (or wildly problematic) insults, and Kane attempting to work non-gimmicked singles matches.
It was mostly very broad and puerile, which is precisely why it worked so well for the hormonal male teenagers that watched it.
Before everything broadened midway through 1998, and Mr. McMahon started pissing his pants and such, there was a truly artful bent to the comedy that drove the incredible Austin Vs. McMahon programme. On the May 25, 1998 Monday Night RAW, ahead of the Over The Edge pay-per-view, the WWF produced a series of skits designed to frame the WWF as a traditional, wholesome mom n' pop operation that the vile Steve Austin was corrupting with his renegade ways.
Pat Patterson was announced as guest timekeeper, and to portray him as a fair and just man, he was celebrated in a phenomenal video package. The editing here was outstanding and subtle, by Attitude Era standards. Vince, narrating, said that Pat, after retiring in 1984, "achieved equal greatness in the broadcast booth". Footage was then shown of Pat stumbling over some nonsense about apples as a fresh-faced Vince looked on with a "The f*ck is he on about?" expression.
The schmaltzy music, the fake gravitas of the narration, the bold-faced lying: this was as far removed from Naked Mideon as it gets.