8 Times WWE Hit The 'Reset' Button

In the days that followed 24 June 2007, not just WWE but the entire wrestling world sought to redefine itself, as it continued grasping for answers in the wake of the industry's most infamous scandal.

Though the wrestling business had contracted and contended with a murky reputation since its inception, it had hitherto been bullish in the face of criticism - a fact recapitulated when Vince McMahon walked free after the '93 steroid trial. The Chris Benoit murder-suicide was a wake-up call. Suddenly, the eyes of the entire mainstream media were on WWE, as they sought to make the company in some way culpable for the tragedy which had befallen it.

Whether justified or mere sensationalism, it didn't matter; WWE could no longer deny the industry's horrible history. Despite issuing statements designed to absolve their responsibility, the promotion nevertheless introduced a number of re-active measures which would ensure no blame could be laid at their door should a similar situation ever arise. The Wellness Policy was doubled down, and within the year the promotion had shifted entirely to PG, determined to rehabilitate its shattered reputation.

In the short term, and somewhat less substantially, WWE were also forced to immediately scrap an ongoing angle revolving around the 'murder' of Vince McMahon's on-screen character. From July 2007 forth, the product would almost never feature the themes of ultra-violence and death again.