Jump The Shark Moments

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Originally Posted by Smelly Meatball Might make a small argument that the final episode of WCW Nitro could be an earlier jumping the shark moment for the WWE. What should have been the ushering of a new era ended up being just another McMahon family feud that evolved into the Invasion storyline and Austin's betrayal of the WWE. Austin turning heel being due to the Vince-Austin feud having no real reason to continue once the threat of WCW was gone. Ratings-wise, WWE lost around a third to half of what it had during the Attitude Era within that short period of time and never got it back.

Very valid point, which I kind of alluded to at the end of my post. I think in all actuality, WCW dying and Vince buying it was wrestling as a whole jumping the shark because really, it killed the fun of it all and WWE didn't have to be all that good anymore. But I think the ultimate embodiment of that fact was Austin turning heel like any other wrestler, when in all actuality this guy was the biggest star in history, and one thing he should never had done until there was no other option, maybe years and years down the line, was side with Vince McMahon.

Think about it, it took Hulk Hogan (including his AWA days) from like 1983 or something to 1996 to turn heel, and he only turned heel when he really wasn't over as a face anymore. I know it was a different time and slower moving, but jeez have some integrity Vince! You won't turn John Cena heel, who gets booed out of the building (though I can see where he's coming from), but you'll turn Steve Austin heel only 4 years after he started his face run.