4. WWE Becomes TV-PG
Date: July 28th, 2008 WWE goes through different "eras" every so often, but one of the more controversial ones is the "TV-PG Era", which began on July 28th, 2008 with an episode of Monday Night Raw. The night's main event saw John Cena and Batista teaming up to face JBL and Kane. World Champion CM Punk faced William Regal in a very nice match. Mike Adamle was revealed to be the new General Manager of Raw. All in all, it was a pretty normal episode, and you probably didn't notice anything different, but there was that TV-PG rating at the beginning, and we've had it ever since. While some clamor for more Attitude Era-like programming with an edgier feel to it, others are accepting of the TV-PG rating, knowing that WWE is catering to a younger audience these days, and that the rating opens the doors to more sponsors coming on board. Everyone reading these words has either participated in a debate about TV-PG VS TV-14, or has witnessed one in some way, shape, or form. It's an argument that will not end for as long as TV-PG is around, and chances are, even after it goes away, people will still be talking about it. As we approach six full years of PG programming, we do see the differences. John Cena, as the company's top guy, has had his material toned down and his merchandise made more kid-friendly. Blood? Don't even think about seeing matches that purposely involve buckets of blood like we've seen in the past. Through the years, it has become a much more noticeable shift, allowing the company to expand to other areas, and helping to get them the finances possible to start things like the WWE Network. It was an interesting and ballsy decision, no matter which way you look at it, and it's something that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon, whether you like it or not.