10 WWE Gimmicks That Pushed The PG Era To Its Limits

6. CM Punk (Jesus Wannabe)

CM Punk Intervention Promo 2010
WWE.com

This entry almost belonged solely to Jeff Hardy, because it was he who raised the ire of CM Punk in 2009 and facilitated Punk's change from straight edge babyface to preacher with a God complex. After all, it was Jeff's much-publicised problems with drugs and alcohol that formed the basis for Punk's arrogant promos.

Think about that: a top babyface in the PG Era was touted as a drug addict, and it was explained away by announcers as the behaviour of a "charismatic enigma".

Still, it was Punk who brought Hardy's issues up on television, and it was he who chastised him for leading a lifestyle so reliant on prescription medication. Meanwhile, young fans in the audience looked on confused by what Punk was talking about, and must have later wondered why he was pouring alcohol away by the bottle in-ring.

Punk's outspoken hate of Hardy's life choices or habits wouldn't have been so shocking pre-PG, but they stood out when WWE were promoting such a family-friendly product.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.