1. WWF Shotgun Saturday Night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V97uYoTwrUY Most may remember Shotgun Saturday Night as being the late-night alternative to WWF Superstars during its syndicated run from January 4th, 1997 through August 21st, 1999; however, during the first six weeks of its existence, it was something else entirely, and something today's older fans of WWE might appreciate. The Attitude Era had not yet begun, and the World Wrestling Federation was still feeling its way through The New Generation as they faced off against WCW's edgier product featuring the New World Order and the growing popularity of ECW. Going for a more "adult" approach of their own, the WWF took their shows to various nightclubs around the United States, filming live before those in attendance with a smaller ring. In the debut episode (seen above, at 26:32 in), Goldust's valet Marlena even interferes on her charge's behalf by removing her top to distract his opponent, The Sultan (she was wearing pasties, just so you know). People keep calling for a return to The Attitude Era, but short of another WCW rising to challenge WWE, it's just not likely to happen- they have no reason to turn away the sponsors and Mattel partnerships they now have. However, if they offered their older fans something a bit edgier in an exclusively late-night time slot as they did with Shotgun Saturday Night? Perhaps that would be a way to make everyone happy, including some Superstars who might thrive in such an environment. Also, if
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin fighting Terry Funk into a beer tap in Texas and
The Undertaker Tombstoning Triple H on an escalator in Penn Station are any indication, there is plenty of fun to be had with their surroundings, too... once the kids are tucked away in bed, of course. Those are the eight shows- or at least their formats- revived for a new era in World Wrestling Entertainment. The WWE Network has a lot of hours to fill and a lot of underutilized talent, and they should definitely make the most of it. But which of these ideas would you like to see brought back? Or perhaps you know of a WWE program not shown here which had a distinctive feature which set it apart from all the others? Either way, tell us in the comments!