The Secret History Of WWE’s Ruthless Aggression Era | Wrestling Timelines

March 25, 2002 - Brand Split Announcement

Much has changed in the months before WWE finally, officially proceeds with the brand extension. On Raw, a draft takes place, which comes into effect the following week. The roster is not divided between WWF and WCW brands, because WCW is dead. The WWF triumphantly killed it. A year after purchasing that promotion, Vince McMahon decides that it’s a better idea to promote two WWE brands. And you wonder why your favourite indie guy doesn’t get the rocket strapped to him.

This, at least, actually distinguishes ‘Ruthless Aggression’ as its own thing. The WWF has used split rosters, in order to play two or more towns on the same night, but this was never reflected in the onscreen product.

It’s a hopelessly naive idea. WWE has far more bodies than stars. SmackDown is a critical and commercial success - albeit short-lived - but Raw is excruciating. A babyface Bubba Ray Dudley push; Triple H commencing his Reign of Terror; General Manager Eric Bischoff making the controversial tactics of old a new, in-canon choice to generate interest: it is a diabolical TV programme. The brand split is depressingly removed from Nitro Vs. Raw in 1997.

April 25, 2002 - Randy Orton Debuts

Randy Orton makes his debut.

He doesn’t have a gimmick, really. The introduction is framed in much the same way as fellow third-generation wrestler Rocky Maivia at Survivor Series 1996. Here’s a kid with a major pedigree in the business looking to make his own name, etc.

The difference is that, if only for a night, Maivia looked the part as a babyface. He was corny, but enthusiastic. He had not learned to harness his presence and charisma into a cool package, but he obviously had it. With Orton, it is unmistakably clear that he is a natural heel.

Tanned, handsome, almost impossibly at ease with himself, it’s just as easy to resent him. He smirks as he makes his way to the ring, showing no interest in firing the fans up or appealing to them. In the ring, he’s very good mechanically from the start - a prodigy with a ceiling that he can only lower onto himself with a bad, unprofessional attitude and the knowledge that he is so innately good that he doesn’t have to put forward the maximum effort.

Predictably, his hard-launch as a babyface two years later fails miserably - not that Triple H helps him much.

Orton, alongside fellow OVW Class of 2002 member Batista, will join Evolution. Ultimately - and “ultimately” is the key word - the faction is a success. Led by Triple H, the stable is aptly-named. Ric Flair is the wily, legendary veteran. Triple H is the present heir to Flair’s throne, the workrate genius superstar, although his tedious match catalogue and the declining business undermines that presentation. Orton and Batista are the men chosen to continue the lineage, although, in a story perfect for its happenstance as much as anything else, Orton is meant to be the one to take it. He fails, initially, but gets there as a heel. Batista is the man who gets there as a top babyface.

Evolution exists to build two new headliners. It succeeds to a massively successful effect, but the actual experience of watching it is boring, outside of the Triple H Vs. Batista programme. It is through Evolution that the pejorative term “opening talk segment” enters the pro wrestling lexicon. This, and “20 minute Triple H promo”.

“20 minutes” is an exaggeration, but does not feel like it. WWE TV is stilted, drab, formulaic. Exposition often replaces plotting and dynamic angles.