Wrestling eras (wm spoiler- as if you CAN avoid them)

[FourFifty]

So I was asked a question tonight.
Is The Undertaker the only wrestler to hold a major title in the last three eras?
The simple answer is "yes."

But my question is when did each era start? I just want to double check my numbers here.

He won the WWF title from Hulk Hogan in '91 and Sid in March of '97, which covers the federation years.
In May of '99 he beat Steve Austin to cover the additude era.

In 2002 he beat Hogan for the WWE title... What the hell time period was 2002? All due respect to the talent that was around but what "era" was that?

Last year at Mania he beat Dancin' Dave, and this year at Mania he beat Edge to cover this era.

So I'm pretty much asking for a small time line because I know I'll be asked this tomorrow by the same people.


Speaking of which, who was the first WWF champion? Not the Capital Wrestling or WWWF champion... When did the WWWF become the WWF?

[Destor]

Bob Backlund was the first WWF champion. ('79)

[Loose Cannon]

I wouldn't say that because 2002-now is an era for me. It's called the brutal aftermath of the buyout era. Then Hogan claims that honor as well.

[Hanso Amore]

Golden Age 84-91

New Generation 92-96

Attitude 97-2001

Current Era 2002 (Post Invasion/Bouyout which ended the attitude era) until now.

I dont know what to call this era.

[dablackguy]

Golden Age 84-91

New Generation 92-96

Attitude 97-2001

Current Era 2002 (Post Invasion/Bouyout which ended the attitude era) until now.

The Garbage Era.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I like to think of this as the "Forced Star" era. I'm not just saying that to be negative, it just seems the best way to describe things. John Cena, Batista, Randy Orton, Bobby Lashley, Brock Lesnar and Rey Mysterio were all pushed fast and hard. The fans' selections in Matt Hardy and Christian were often ignored.

Not sure where I'd begin it, though. 2001/early 2002 seems like just the dying days of the Attitude era, where it tried to hang on. The brand split seems to be a defining moment of the new era. As well as Brock Lesnar winning the WWE Championship and Batista and John Cena with their title wins at WrestleMania 21.

[Jeritron]

The way I see it this era started at like Wrestlemania 21. The era before that was 2002-2004. And of course before that it was attitude, new generation, and the old school golden age.

[Jeritron]

Even though the "golden age" era of Hogan and Savage and what not in the 80s and 90s really is broken into 2 parts.

I believe the time period circa Wrestlemania 1-4 to be far different than Wrestlemania 6-9. I think it's clear to see the differences. Wrestlemania 5 was a turning point when things became a lot less old school and a lot more entertainment oriented and colorful for the saturday morning crowd. The advent of characters like Warrior and Macho Man began, even Hogan became more colorful, while some of the dingy lit NWA style guys began to die out. This was the era WCW would later continue on with, while WWE moved in a new direction.

The new generation started at WM10.
Attitude at WM14.

[Hanso Amore]

True. When the NWA started fading in 87-88ish, the WWE started changing too. Soon all the cooky characters started popping up.

[Fox]

The Hogan Era Begins: 85 - 91 (WWF dominated by Hulk Hogan, also Macho Man, DiBiase, Andre and others)

The New Wave and Hogan: 92 - 96 (Hogan still dominates WWF and then WCW, but begins to lose support as fans turn to wrestlers like Ric Flair, Sting, Steve Austin, Undertaker, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels for better wrestling.)

The War/Attitude Era: 97 - November 2001 (The Monday Night Wars reign supreme on cable, Austin, Rock, Goldberg, the nWo, DX and other angles highly popular.)

Get the F-Out Era: 2002 - 2004 (Triple H dominates the main event scene, Austin wrestles his last match in early 03, and Rock in 04. Underneath our noses, the new generation is being groomed.)

The New Breed Era: 2005 - Present (Started prior to and leading up to WrestleMania 21, in which Batista and John Cena won the big titles and Randy Orton nearly defeated The Undertaker.)


That's my best appraisal.

[Xero]

The way I see it this era started at like Wrestlemania 21. The era before that was 2002-2004. And of course before that it was attitude, new generation, and the old school golden age.

:y:

[NeanderCarl]

1984 - 1992: What The World Is Watching
1993 - 1996: New Generation
1997 - 2001: Attitude
2002 - 2005: Ruthless Aggression
2006 - Present: The Power Is Back

Just going by the company taglines.