7 WWE Angles That Felt Plucked From A Different Time

So a certain portion of the fanbase is still miffed about the transition into TV-PG that occurred in WWE 9 years ago. A big reason why is that Hell in a Cell, a staple of the Attitude and Ruthless Agression eras, has been de-fanged in order to fit the content guidelines. Now without blood and extreme use of weapons, what was once seen as the ultimate feud-ender in WWE is just a big, airy cage match that features “safe” weapons such as kendo sticks and garbage cans, but not very much in the way of brutality.

Which is not to say all PG cell matches are bad, but when you look at classics such as Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker or Batista vs. Triple H, it’s clear something has been lost in the translation from extreme violence to “family-friendly” entertainment.

This is not, of course, a proclamation that WWE should return to TV-14, which is never going to happen, and frankly, there’s a lot from that era which has been left in the dust for a good reason. But in an era where being a good wrestler is more important than causing acts of incredible violence, Hell in a Cell stands as this archaic shell of itself that has no modern relevance. It’s only kept around because of brand value, nostalgia factor, and the desire for sports entertainment to feature spectacle.

But with the standards against blood and extremity, WWE should seek other forms of spectacle that don’t stand in the shadow of bloody, brutal predecessors from a bygone era.