WOW just spent the last 45 minutes reading through this thread.
I don't know where to start really.
I am going to list the stuff I enjoyed about the attitude era at the time then the things I didn't enjoy at the time.
Then I shall do the same but only as of a fan now and what I think of it.
As over the years my opinions and views have changed quite sporadically, I apologise in advance if this post is long its just to me personally this isn't an open and shut case,
Also its a Saturday night here in the UK and the Weather is rubbish so its not like I have anything better to do
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Things I enjoyed about the Attitude Era at the time are as follows.
It was different whether you are a Pro Wrestling purist or Blood thirsty big fight feel kind of guy the Attitude Era had a bit of everything it wasn't It wasn't ECW lets just kill ourselves crazy but it wasn't 1950s European 2 out of 3 falls Wrestling either.
It had a cacophony of different styles, Flavours and tastes for every viewer it is just sometimes you had to sit through bits you didn't like to see the bits you did.
It was fresh, WWE had finally got rid of the old guard and was focusing on a different style and generation of Professional Wrestler.
Raw always had a mini storyline which seemed to run the duration of the show, So we always had a payoff or climactic finish to the show.
I loved the Gang warfare almost of WWE at times we so many stables and groups you just new that they all couldn't get along under one roof, So you could feel the tension in the air when 2 opposing stables/groups/factions met.
To me anyway the Attitude era embodies the words SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT it was more than Pro Wrestling but still not classed as a movie or drama.
Things I didn't like about the Attitude Era at the time.
I was never a Rock fan and I always felt like what ever he did felt contrived, His rise to the top almost felt more manufactured than what Stone Cold's was.
Whether the fans where behind him or not it always felt like to me that he was going to be number 1 whether we liked it or not.
Austin always felt more organic to me. (just my opinion though)
To much talking. The Attitude Era to me was when talking really took over the show it seemed almost never ending sometimes.
Below the Main eventers match quality was less than impressive.
I don't think we really had a strong mid card until early 2000's
The Who ran over Stone Cold storyline as well
That could have been one of the greatest pieces of storytelling in WWE history but it was just all a bit fpalm I think.
Looking back these days as a fully grown adult and much more aware about the product as a whole my opinions are very different.
I cringe at chair shots to the head now because I have so much more understanding of what damage they can cause, I am glad not every other match is NO DQ this or thumbtacks that.
When I watch Attitude Era Raw's I think yea they are ok but the match quality has not got a patch on what we watch now in 2014.
The Product is so much more crisper, Slick and more Professional in my opinion...
A lot of the segments back then where pretty chaotic and not in the good way that people often say they where.
The Attitude Era had a lot of plus points and the WWE needed it to happen but the Attitude Era wasn't as great as what people say it was a cornerstone a changing of the guard a repointing of direction call it what you will but that's all it was.
That was WWE with its back against the corner having to fight and survive but it did have to end because you cant go at that speed forever otherwise you become sanitised from the product.
Someone being driven through a table or the boss getting hit. Those moments need to be a rarity otherwise we become to used to them and before you know it everyone is trying to have a Mankind VS Undertaker moment and we are left with a depleted injured roster before their time, who have pushed the envelope so much that what ever they do will not be good enough because we have seen it all before.
We all have Nostalgia and rose tinted glasses about periods of times in our lives about everything, I mean I swear blind that Wrestlemania 9 is the greatest of all time.
Even though people unanimously tell me it was one of the worst.
I think its great though because it was the first Wrestlemania I watched.
So it has a lot of memories tied to it for me.
Its the same with the Attitude Era.
I am not saying the Attitude Era isn't great because it was I mean HHH is in my top 3 of all time a guy who was one of the most important parts of that Era.
What I am saying is though that WWE changes and evolves you ask a guy in his 60s what was his favourite era of pro wrestling he will not say The Attitude Era I can assure you...
Its all subjective to your generation specifically.
The Attitude Era was the greatest period for sports entertainment and unpredictability without a shadow of a doubt.
That doesn't mean that it was the greatest period in Pro Wrestling history though.
All because something is more popular doesn't make it better than what was before it.
For those who to this day scream from the rooftops that you want that period of WWE back...
I am afraid I've got some bad news.
Its not the product you want back its your younger self you want back.
Look at ECW they bought it back and it was never the same.
Guys where older, fans had changed, society had changed, the WWE had changed it just was not the same. That was not WWE's fault for not doing this or not doing that it was just not the same as it once was.
You had to be in the moment at that point in society where at that time in the world we where surrounded by an ECW society the same way as at that time we where living in an attitude era. We are not no more though its the next generations turn to mould the product as they see it just as the fans did in the 60s 70s and 80s
Hell I am never going to be a John Cena fan and I do miss a bit of blood from time to time but that does not mean I am going to switch off or not be a WWE fanboy.... I am still a fan and whether its Ruthless Agression, The Attitude Era, WWWF days or this current reality Era.. We will all watch because not one Era is bigger than the WWE.
WWE was successful long before the Attitude Era and has been successful after it.
If we was still in my Era of WWE Yokozuna would be WWE champ and the nearest thing to Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas would be I.R.S :ex:
Least now with the WWE network we can watch any Era of Pro Wrestling we like for just $9.99 :hhh2
Thanks to anyone who reads this.
I know I go on a bit I am just not very good at paraphrasing.
I also like to explain my reasons because I don't like to offend people.
Because I love y'all guys :Frankie
Have a good evening guys and girls.
Catch ya later :bow