The True Lurid Story Of Free WWE UK Pay-Per-Views

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In 1991, Channel 4 presented its first 'Banned Season' - a selection of films and documentaries previously outlawed by various regulators. This proved unwise.

The long-running 'Eurotrash' was an irreverent magazine-format look at mainland lowbrow culture complete, more often than not, with excessive cleavage and innuendo. 'The Word' is tame, in retrospect, but at the time shocked and appalled Little England by platforming homophobia and tacitly encouraging shock-merchants to perform sans clothes. The soap operas Channel 4 optioned were far grabbier than those shown on the BBC and ITV. In a sense, Channel 4 and the WWF were a perfect fit - and yet the Rumble was too much.

Channel 4 didn't conduct due diligence. The pay-per-view offerings were a bonus; the real money was to be made through its weekly broadcast of a weird, exposition-heavy version of 'Heat' intended for younger daytime viewers. C4 expected the bulging pecs of the golden years, and were instead confronted by sagging tiddies.

Madison Square Garden officials were equally appalled, but the WWF actually slapped an N for Nudity rating on the event. Had Mae Young actually got 'em out for the lads, Vince McMahon would have fallen afoul of New York City and New York State morality laws. Officials released a statement claiming to have been "disturbed" by the Mae Young stunt. Channel 4 meanwhile made the immediate decision not to renew the deal and fulfil through gritted teeth the two-year contractual obligation.

Vince McMahon, in effect, failed to establish an enormous sets-per-home advantage because he has a childish sense of humour.

CONT'D...(5 of 6)

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!