It feels different watching WWE right now

[The Naitch]

Basically, it's catered towards kids now and I feel out of place watching WWE.

After watching the 3 hour King of The Ring, it really feels like the future is now in the WWE. The old guard/regime is totally out of the picture, Triple H/Taker/Rock/Austin/HBK/Flair/Angle are all gone. Even with Randy Orton missing that week, it felt odd not seeing the familiar faces on WWE TV. The only remains left from the old guard it seems like is the W scratch logo, the red and black colors, and Michael Cole.

Also, the constant references to the WWE Universe (a new concept which wasn't used during the old regime)

The crowd is basically all kids and their parents

It's changed so much, it kinda makes me feel out of place watching WWE right now. It feels like the second generation of the 80's golden years, since it's pretty much a kids show right now. Feels odd. I can't describe it. It's like me trying to watch cartoons, in the sense that it's not meant for me I'm too old for that, yinno? The old formula of the early late 99's-2000's is out the door. It seems official now.

Also, Punk on commentary is the best thing going right now.

Things are evolving at a faster pace. Superstars are getting the World Title in half the time than it used to. (Sheamus, Punk, Swagger, Miz). I heard the TV executives wanted things to progress faster, whereas Vince would want something to pan out for a longer stretch.

I guess, if you wanna see the familiar faces you're used to watching in pro wrestling, the only alternative you have is watching TNA. There are your familiar faces from the old guard still left (Edge, Kane, Big Show, Rey Mysterio) which is probably the reason why I like to watch Smackdown!

Anyone else feel out of place watching WWE right now?

[jskinnyg]

Punk on commentary helps quite a bit cause u r right, he is awesome!

I find it hard to watch sometimes, but at the same time, I also find it refreshing to see starts like Punk, The Miz, Morrison, Sheamus, etc. paving the way of the future WWE...

You can't go back, and things always F***ing change... Sometimes good, sometimes shitty (TNA)... I try to watch as much as I can and I find that I can stomach WWE more so than TNA because they try to live in the past so badly... I watch TNA for the younger guys, not the has beens...

[Jeritron]

Do you feel out of place? Has the WWE changed?

I'm unclear on those points

[Jeritron]

Honestly, I would say it seems you feel out of place because you're dialed into the attitude era. Nothing more.
Youtube it, but don't expect it to return.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Raw has been on fire lately, and I also really enjoyed last week's Smackdown. I don't really care what wrestlers are there, as long as they're entertaining.

[Xero]

Do you feel out of place playing video games, something still heavily dominated by a younger demographic? Or watching a movie that's technically a kids movie?

It's really no different. WWE is family entertainment at this point. "Something for everyone". I don't see a problem with it.

And people need to stop living in the past. Yes, the past was great, but it was not going to last forever. Wrestlers get older, they retire. It's the nature of the business. If you're stuck in the past and can't find anything good about current wrestlers who weren't around when you loved it, you should probably stop watching or accept the fact that within 5 years, more than likely, none of those people will be there, or VERY few.

Also, you've posted the same basic thread at least once before, maybe twice. Stop that.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Nobody's called anybody a Roody Poo in YEARS, and it makes me feel out of place. Maybe it's time for me to shine my wrestling fandom up real nice, turn it sideways, and stick it straight up my candy ass. :(

[Anybody Thrilla]

Do you feel out of place? Do you not know? Well, maybe your ass better call somebody.

[Xero]

Some people who grew up on the 80s stuff loathed the 90s stuff.

The same thing is happening here. Your heroes are changing (ala Hogan 80s to 90s) or leaving. It's on a bigger scale here because there was a MUCH bigger audience in the Attitude Era than the 90s, but it's still not different.

There's also MORE wrestling than you could ask for out there now than ever. Don't like WWE? Watch TNA. Don't like TNA? Go online and find an indy promotion, which includes every style you could want. You can watch 100 times more wrestling now than you could 10 years ago, even if you were in the tape trading scene.

But if you're not willing to accept anything BUT your favorites from your favorite era, then you're not a fan of the business. You're a fan of what you grew up on. Which is fine. There's no problem with that.

[bigslimjj]

WWEPG should now be the call letters.They came out with a Kids magazine for god sakes.Nick Jr. and disney have kids magazines.It just seems like they aren't even trying anymore. TNA is recycling old stars,ideas,etc. i don't mind that if the stars they use can contribute.Hogan has been a name only in that company.No epic matches,no "OMG that's The Hulkster baby!" promos. I think the problem is the same one that we had ten years ago.WWE knows how to market.Bischoff,Hogan,Russo,etc. don't.With the face recognition advantage that TNA has right now they should be crushing WWE,billion dollar budget or not. Hogan,Flair,Sting(kinda),Anderson,Angle,The hardy's and more are very well known.TNA has a limp dick attitude when it comes to things-"It might work,it might not.Either way let's not write it with some sense." WWE has a more corporate attitude then they ever have-"Mattel says that's too racy for kids,we need to cut it out...or "make sure you mention The Universe at least ten times on this broadcast.They come off like this.... WWE= Mcdonalds TNA=Big Jim's burger shack off of Route 90.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Bring back Naked Mideon

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Naitch should stick to what he does best; ask questions he already knows the answers to in the Q+A section.

[James Steele]

ABT is on fire in this thread.

Also, I don't feel out of place in this "era" of WWE but I have been watching religiously since I was 5 years old, and have pretty much seen everything there is to see. And, with the advent of the internet I can miss a RAW or SD! here and there and catch it later.

I personally think that the WWE has been going in a better direction slowly and steadily for awhile now. As a wrestling fan, I am excited about the new stars and their growth. I work at a high school, and it will blow my mind when there are high school kids who haven't seen The Rock wrestle or remember Triple H before Evolution. I think WWE is building toward something special because all these young guys will be around awhile.

[Xero]

Naitch should stick to what he does best; ask questions he already knows the answers to in the Q+A section.

Is KOTR a shoot?

[XL]

Naitch feels "out of place" because he hasn't watched since 2005 (based on all of the questions he has asked).

We've all become accustomed to life without Rock, Austin, etc and have learned to accept the new guys. Naitch on the other hand has jumped straight back in after a long absence Stands to reason he feels "out of place" cos he doesn't recognise 75% of the guys on the roster. Nothing to do with the PG rating.

[XL]

Or, his post was just a long way of saying: "The Attitude Era was the bestest".

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don't feel out of place, but things have definitely felt more different recently. It's not just the lack of top guys, but that the new guys feel like permanent fixtures. Triple H has gone out of his way to make Sheamus, now a two-time WWE Champion and King of the Ring, who is also being used to help make John Morrison by making it look like Morrison can beat him when they are on even ground.

Daniel Bryan is being heavily featured, and he's possibly one of the best pure wrestlers the WWE has ever had. So it's not all bad. The Miz has also worked harder than most to get to where he has in the seven years it's taken him. You can say guys win the World Title way too soon; but with the entire lockerroom AND the entire fanbase against the guy, I don't think it can be denied how hard he has worked to the point where the company feels safe putting their World Title on him.

Sometimes the lines obviously aimed to manipulate kiddies feels like an insult to the intelligence, but the whole business can be that sometimes. While I don't believe that boom-cycles are cyclical; I do believe that the marketing plan of the WWE will change when John Cena's marketability dims a little bit, and the kids buying into the product have gotten a bit older.

[Next Big Thing]

The WWE product is different and at times frustrating to watch, but change is inevitable. Once you realize that PG isn't going anywhere, the Rock isn't coming back for one match and we've seen the last of scantily clad divas in bra and panties matches, it's easier to enjoy the current incarnation a little more.

[XL]

Do we even want scantily clad divas in Bra and Panties "matches"?

[Testicle]

I wouldn't say I feel anymore out of place than I normally do watching WWE. But I understand your point that the WWE has drastically changed over the last year.

[Testicle]

Do we even want scantily clad divas in Bra and Panties "matches"?

:wave:

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Do we even want scantily clad divas in Bra and Panties "matches"?

I'd rather just watch porn if I want to see hot chicks.

[Calamondin]

I don't know why people keep acting like this "pg" era is going to be around forever, it isn't. The WWE is going to change eventually, like it always has.

Personally, the only thing that really feels different for me are the lack of familiar faces. If I had stopped watching this time last year, only to tune in now, I'd be completely at loss.

I don't miss the stuff like bra & panties. That stuff was always uncomfortable for me to watch, and I'm glad it's gone. My main complaint with this "era" has been the same complaint that's been in every other "era" -- the completely unrealistic and stupid angles. Hornswoggle's magic door, Vince's limo exploding, HHH humping a fake corpse, Mae Young giving birth to a hand, ect.

[Loose Cannon]

have loved Raw this year. it's been awesome imo.

[Juan]

I feel like you've done this thread before, Naitch.

[Jeritron]

Personally I'm excited to see new blood in the top roles. There have been new stars over the years, but they were usually working with vets and being greeted into the existing club.
Now there's just a whole new movement. HHH, Taker and Kane are really the only vets left. Edge, Jericho and Christian are vets, but they seem to lean more comfortably towards the new wave.
I can't believe it, but Cena and Orton are assuming their roles as vets and generals.

Take for instance this past Raw. Sheamus and Morrison were going at it, and had a great match. I didn't for one second feel like I was missing the old days.
Same goes for watching Miz cut his first promo as champion.

Then you have Wade Barrett on a more or less equal level with Cena and Orton, and it's out of nowhere, but doesn't feel forced.

Some may cling to the past and never accept this change, but I'm way into it. I've been waiting for it for years.
When I first started watching again in 2006, I felt a bit like The Naitch. I wanted things to be restored. I think they hit a low in 2007.
But in early 2008, I began to feel a change. It felt like they were turning a new corner and now I really think it's starting to pay off.
The next few years should be really great.

People just need to let go of past eras. They were great, but people age and times change. It can't stay that way.
It's so much better for the scene to evolve than to see favorites cling on past their prime. We all mock and lament how embarassing it is for Hogan and Flair to hang around the way they do.
That's why I think Rock and Austin being gone is a great thing. I'm thrilled that Shawn retired the way he did, and I hope Undertaker and HHH can follow a similar path.
I'm okay with past favorites hanging it up on a high note, even if they do still have a little gas left in the tank.

[Juan]

I couldn't have said it better, Jerry.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Not with your broken ass English.

[Juan]

Vete a la verga.

[Triple Naitch]

Completely agree. It feels different, but in a good way. A huge improvement from the past 3 years.

[CSL]

Vete a la verga.

This made me think of http://stupidcelebrities.net/wp-content/Sofia-Vergara-pics2.jpg

Admittedly it doesn't take a lot nowadays to make me think of http://cdn.guyism.com/wp-content/uploads/sofia-vergara-bikini.jpg

But still.

[HBPunk]

Basically, it's catered towards kids now and I feel out of place watching WWE.

Anyone else feel out of place watching WWE right now?

When i read the title i thought this thread was about how on the last few episodes of raw, we heard 'sluts' and 'bitches', saw cena smashing gabriel's head through a car window, saw a tlc match and two wwe title matches on two consecutive raw's. i had a feeling the shows were getting a bit edgier.

but nooooooooooooooooooooooo, its a fucking thread about some dickface only now realising that wwe is pg and might be aimed at kids! and jesus christ son, you certainly have a way with words. i think it was by the 8th word of your ramble that i realised i was reading a list of completely unprocessed thoughts, you were surely typing down every single word that popped into your head just as soon as it dropped by. anyway, take out your monday night war dvd, hit play and enjoy your childhood one more time

[HBPunk]

This made me think of http://stupidcelebrities.net/wp-content/Sofia-Vergara-pics2.jpg

Admittedly it doesn't take a lot nowadays to make me think of http://cdn.guyism.com/wp-content/uploads/sofia-vergara-bikini.jpg



im gonna jerk off over this now simply as a sign of respect, what a terrific beaner

[thedamndest]

Mad cameltoe.

[Jeritron]

punta

[MoFo]

Its been this way for like 5/6 yrs now wtf are you on about OP?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Do we even want scantily clad divas in Bra and Panties "matches"?

No, but I do wish there was a "Sunny." It's very hard to find a girl like that -- one who adds to whoever she is paired with, and isn't just "there." Someone to give the current young boys watching the WWE their first dose of carnality -- even if it is forbidden in the WWE of today. Some girls come close. Melina when she was with MNM is going back a while, but Maryse is a decent example.

[Next Big Thing]

I don't know why people keep acting like this "pg" era is going to be around forever, it isn't. The WWE is going to change eventually, like it always has.

The Attitude Era was born partially out of necessity in response to the things WCW was doing. Vince acknowledged that he lost touch with the audience and gave the wrestlers more control over how their characters were portrayed.

In this era, I'd say the WWE has reverted back to dictating character direction and depiction and until there is a viable rival to WWE in terms of money, creativity and ratings, I don't think there will be a change because the WWE won't have to change.

[XL]

Indeed.

Nobody has ever been able to explain to me why the Attitude Era wil definately come back. The change will only come if people stop viewing in huge numbers and given that we have continued to watch through some of the shit we've been given the last few years, I doubt that drop off will ever happen.

[Fignuts]

Had no idea any of this was going on. Thanks for writing all that.