7 Reasons Why WWE's Attitude Era Was Actually Over-Rated
6. There Was Very Little Wrestling
Quick, name three great Raw matches from 1997-2001 off the top of your head. Well wait. Hard to do, isnt it? Thats because the Attitude Era took the focus off of wrestling and made it about moments. Steve Austin driving a beer truck and spraying down the Corporation. Triple H drugging Stephanie McMahon and marrying her in Las Vegas. This is Your Life starring Mankind and The Rock. These are all big events that transpired that are synonymous with the Attitude Era, which honestly became part of the problem when youre running a professional wrestling organization and not a televised soap opera. In the pro wrestling recipe drama and scandal are two big ingredients that make it work, but the core element of the formula is actual wrestling, and that was deemphasized during the Attitude Era. What makes wrestling unique from other scripted television is the sport aspect of sports entertainment. WWE really is in its own category when it comes to televised programs, but when you dedicate 20 minutes to a non-wrestling confrontation between a boss and his employee while giving an actual wrestling match 4 minutes between commercials, how does that make your program any different than the bevy of other dramas out there? Im not saying the Attitude Era didnt have great wrestling matches, but providing quality wrestling definitely wasnt the focus of the company at the time. While wrestling is currently on an upswing when it comes to WWE television, we still have 20 minute contract signings that ultimately lead to nothing instead of high-caliber matches that could mean something. And thats all because of the Attitude Era.
Andrew is a self-proclaimed humorist/facepuncher, and is one of the last of his kind. He was dragged from the debris in war-torn Poland and plays a piano most beautifully. In closing, he likes pickles. Follow him on Twitter @TheAEJohnson
