The WORST Wrestling Moment Every Year (1989 - 2025)
18. 2008 - JBL Is Poopy
In 2008, WWE entered a new era. Well, not really - the format and structure of the shows was identical - but the content was no longer designed to cause offence. Mostly.
The easiest way of putting it is thus: in the Ruthless Aggression Era, WWE produced stuff that no longer thrilled edgelord teenagers, and in the PG Era, WWE produced stuff that wouldn’t even amuse children.
A lot of older fans bemoaned the shift in direction without realising that they only got into WWE because it was once suitable for them as young children. It wasn’t WWE’s responsibility to age alongside a bunch of ‘90s kids. Still, there’s a way to create something with universal appeal that doesn’t make you want to treat wrestling fandom like some depraved kink that you must hide from your loved ones. This contrast was felt most during the rebooted John Cena Vs. JBL rivalry.
Their form together was mixed in the Ruthless Aggression years. Their WrestleMania 21 match was meant to be important, but it was a nothing-happening TV match masquerading as Cena’s main event breakthrough. Their blood-soaked I Quit match at Judgment Day 2005 was one of the most intense and gripping matches of Cena’s career.
By 2008, Cena, more interested in other bodily fluids, daubed “JBL is poopy” on the heel’s signature limo. It is almost guaranteed that Vince woke up that morning and found the word hilarious, and that his terrified writing staff had to pretend that they agreed. Vince is often compared to a small child, but even they have higher standards than that.