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[Sephzilla]

Back on topic, lets take a moment to recognize the true MVP of the Attitude Era

I'm gonna steal this post from WrassleGAF

Foley's best work is as the original Mankind character, but he's still instrumental in getting alot of the Attitude Era going.

Austin/McMahon? Foley kept that going.

The rise of The Rock? Shit everyone talks about Taker but where would The Rock have gone without the Foley feud

HHH? Pretty much the best part of the whole Mcmahon/Helmsley thing was Foley.

So many important things in the Attitude Era went through Mick Foley in some way. He's arguably more important to the success of this era than even Austin

 

[Paracelsus]

Rose tinted goggles: the thread. while there were some legendary matches and characters to come out of the era, for sure, it was packaged in a misogynistic, homophobic and ignorant culture. it didnt really hit me how bad it was until i revisted a lot of this era about 3 years ago after a 11-12 year hiatus from the product

You totally love the ruthless aggression era then.

 

[Heroman]

Back on topic, lets take a moment to recognize the true MVP of the Attitude Era

I'm gonna steal this post from WrassleGAF



So many important things in the Attitude Era went through Mick Foley in some way. He's arguably more important to the success of this era than even Austin

Austin was the MVP.

 

[excelsiorlef]

I can have an opinion about something you can have an opinion about something, it's all subjective. But do you know what the one thing is that it's not subjective? It's the numbers and the numbers support Vince Russo, and shows he has been the most successful writer in wrestling history.


Men lie women lie numbers don't

He killed a company during the biggest wrestling boom.

Numbers don't lie.

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

CHOPPY CHOPPY YOUR PEE PEE!

 

[BadAss2961]

"Sporadically" is probably the best way to watch the Attitiude Era. Nearly everything not involving Vince, Austin, Rock or Foley has aged like milk.

Hardys, Dudleys, Edge & Christian rivalry kills all this shit they've got going on now.

 

[The Hamburglar]

You totally love the ruthless aggression era then.

One thing I've learned about the attitude era is that people love to tell others how awful it was. Question is then if it was so awful has the product improved? Most fans will say no as it sucks now.

 

[KingV]

One thing I've learned about the attitude era is that people love to tell others how awful it was. Question is then if it was so awful has the product improved? Most fans will say no as it sucks now.

Product now is terrible. I'll watch raw every couple of months and then turn it off. It's just not entertaining anymore.

Attitude era had a lot of dumb shit, but it was fun. The only big storyline I can say I absolutely disliked from attitude era was the Corporate Ministry.

 

[Sephzilla]

One thing I've learned about the attitude era is that people love to tell others how awful it was. Question is then if it was so awful has the product improved? Most fans will say no as it sucks now.

The product of today is honestly too different to compare to the attitude era. And they're flawed for different reasons. The current era is definitely worse than the Attitude Era though.

 

[SomewhatGroovy]

You totally love the ruthless aggression era then.

I skipped it. I stopped watching back in 2001, I believe. Wrestlemania 31 was the first time I turned it back on since.

 

[sans_pants]

The WWF Attitude Era has mostly aged pretty terribly outside of the Austin/Bret and the main event scene.

who cares? do people really watch 2+ hours straight of wrestling when they sit down to watch old stuff?


i put on attitude era and skip pretty much every match and go straight for the promos

 

[sans_pants]

Rose tinted goggles: the thread. while there were some legendary matches and characters to come out of the era, for sure, it was packaged in a misogynistic, homophobic and ignorant culture. it didnt really hit me how bad it was until i revisted a lot of this era about 3 years ago after a 11-12 year hiatus from the product

thats part of the charm tho. like whoa wtf were people thinking in the late 90s? how did this get on tv?

 

[Heroman]

One thing I've learned about the attitude era is that people love to tell others how awful it was. Question is then if it was so awful has the product improved? Most fans will say no as it sucks now.

Oh it terrible by today standard but that doesn't matter it wasn't made for today it made for that time period in which it draw greatly.

 

[Thriftweed]

I subbed to the Network for Wrestlemania 30 and started watching Raw at the end of 1997. Now approaching SummerSlam 2002. It's been a fun ride so far, although the Invasion angle during 2001 still sucks.

It'd be great if they finally got round to adding Heat/Shotgun/Velocity etc..

 

[Hippopuncher12]

I have been thinking about subbing to that wwe replay thing just for this very same thing. Really want to watch 97-02ish maybe. The only time I gave a shit about wrestling.

Edit: Just signed up for my free month, it begins tonight!

 

[Host Samurai]

The only area in that the Attitude Era has aged is it's 90'sness Howard Stern shock tv schtick. The booking, pacing, matches and main storylines are still great and shows just how corporate and robotic the current product is.

 

[Archaix]

The attitude era killed teenage me's interest in wrestling. I hated what WWF was doing and then WCW started doing the same shit. I didn't look back for 15 years when random chance put me into a position to watch the first Daniel Bryan Royal Rumble Hijacking.

Having watched too much since then, I can say at least the Attitude era was interesting even if it was mostly bad.

 

[MontyBrown]

Years ago I downloaded every RAW, Smackdown and PPV from 97-05. Still making my way through it all. I'm at the end of 2000 now.

There's some bad shit but also fucking incredible stuff.

It was genuinely a great product. It's not all nostalgia.

Wrestling will never be great again. Right time, right place, right talent.

 

[Heroman]

Years ago I downloaded every RAW, Smackdown and PPV from 97-05. Still making my way through it all. I'm at the end of 2000 now.

There's some bad shit but also fucking incredible stuff.

It was genuinely a great product. It's not all nostalgia.

Wrestling will never be great again. Right time, right place, right talent.

Eh, that era of wwe wasn't even the best Wrestling of that time period.

 

[pbayne]

Attitude era had a lot of dumb shit, but it was fun. The only big storyline I can say I absolutely disliked from attitude era was the Corporate Ministry.

But the higher power tho

 

[AcademicSaucer]

I liked the Too Cool dance

 

[MontyBrown]

Eh, that era of wwe wasn't even the best Wrestling of that time period.

Sure it was. I'm 26 and started watching when I was 3. I'd say

88 - 96 was good but a bit too corny
97 - 05 was the peak of the business
06 - current is an abortion

 

[Heroman]

Sure it was. I'm 26 and started watching when I was 3. I'd say

88 - 96 was good but a bit too corny
97 - 05 was the peak of the business
06 - current is an abortion

Look up 90s Japan and get back to me. In terms of a single year 84 is probably the best all over the world.

 

[Bruce Springsteen]

He killed a company during the biggest wrestling boom.

Numbers don't lie.

WCW was doing really well when he arrived right?

You're bringing some great insight into this thread

 

[vatstep]

INDEED

 

[mreddie]

For those wondering about how batshit this Era was to newbies, go listen to the Attitude Era podcast.

Their first episode is WM 14 and they sound a bit off but as they dig deeper, it gets more enjoyable, also includes the Brawl for All and THE XFL!!!

 

[Etrian Oddity]

WCW was doing really well when he arrived right?

You're bringing some great insight into this thread

It definitely was doing better than when he took over, yup!

Your boner for this hack is baffling.

He didn't even learn from his mistake in bringing in washed-up old guys to main event in WCW, he is so oblivious that he did it again in TNA. He killed two federations with the same terrible booking decisions.

 

[excelsiorlef]

WCW was doing really well when he arrived right?

You're bringing some great insight into this thread

Did he save it?

He still had a pretty good roster.

What about TNA? Also had a pretty good roster

 

[Bruce Springsteen]

It definitely was doing better than when he took over, yup!

Your boner for this hack is baffling.

So the head writer during the peak success of pro wrasslin is a hack, I'd love to be a hack like him

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

I always felt like the Attitude Era had a couple of phases. Depending on the champion and roster.
It felt like the 2000-2001 era of the Attitude Era is where they hit the peak with talent in the fours years.

 

[Host Samurai]

Sure it was. I'm 26 and started watching when I was 3. I'd say

88 - 96 was good but a bit too corny
97 - 05 was the peak of the business
06 - current is an abortion

96 was one of the craziest years. From the start of the year you can see the seeds being planted for the boom and it was epic. Than from May into Dec we saw the formation of the NwO and the rise of Austin, Mankinds debut and an ECW invasion. 96 was dope.

Also I do see that Attitude Era broken up in phases.

1) 96/97 - Rise of Austin and the start of a more serious product
2) 98/99 - Austin vs McMahan era, The Rock coming into his own etc
3) 2000/01 - HHH & The Rock are main eventing, Jericho and The Radicals arrive, Kurt Angle debuts. You can see the seeds of the modern era planted in this era

2002 - Ruthless Aggression

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

96 was one of the craziest years. From the start of the year you can see the seeds being planted for the boom and it was epic. Than from May into Dec we saw the formation of the NwO and the rise of Austin, Mankinds debut and an ECW invasion. 96 was dope.

It's crazy how much stuff went down in that year that influences wrestling today.

 

[gutter_trash]

 

[Bruce Springsteen]

One of my favorite matches, watched it recently and it's still incredible

 

[mreddie]

Technically, not Attitude Era.

 

[gutter_trash]

One of my favorite matches, watched it recently and it's still incredible

the flow, the pacing and the psychology in this match is so damn fun

 

[Host Samurai]

It's crazy how much stuff went down in that year that influences wrestling today.

Probably the most unpredictable year in WWE history.

 

[Anth0ny]

Probably the most unpredictable year in WWE history.

That was 97 for wwe

For WCW and wwe? Definitely 96

 

[Bruce Springsteen]

the flow, the pacing and the psychology in this match is so damn fun

I heard Shane on Austin's podcast recently and he broke the match down, it's worth a listen

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

Probably the most unpredictable year in WWE history.

Indeed it is. We also had Sting turned into Crow Sting in 1996 too.

 

[Etrian Oddity]

So the head writer during the peak success of pro wrasslin is a hack, I'd love to be a hack like him

Who also three generation-defining guys -- who made themselves because they stood up to the booking and got themselves over with their own persona -- and the GoAT announcer calling the product, and McMahon putting a huge filter on Russo so his shenanigans would barely be contained and not tank the product like he did in WCW and TNA.


The only good thing Russo did was he'd tolerate the boys ad-libbing and not being spoon-fed lines and scripts like today's bookers do.

 

[Sibersk Esto]

Look, if you want to give Russo some credit, here's a look at

Vince Russo producing Foley's 1st appearance as Dude Love

Standing out in the crowd to gauge crowd reaction? Yes, that's good work.

 

[BFIB]

Brets run from SS '95 through the iron man match, then putting Austin on the big stage, the perfected heel turn, all the way up to Montreal is incredible. His entire package from in ring, to promos etc was the best run I've seen.

Sunny days indeed.

 

[Lothar]

Look, if you want to give Russo some credit, here's a look at

Vince Russo producing Foley's 1st appearance as Dude Love

Standing out in the crowd to gauge crowd reaction? Yes, that's good work.

If anyone wants to be honest, they should be able to put aside the hyperbole and admit that Russo did listen to the people. Anyone can think he's a piece of shit person, or that he's dumb, but he listened, and largely gave the people what they wanted.

If Russo is writing in 2000, there's no way he makes Jericho wait unit the end of 2001 to get a world title and doesn't capitalize on his hot hot face run. There's no way he keeps Benoit and Guerrero in the midcard for years. There's no way he squanders RVD and Booker T and Christian in 2005. So many people who weren't used to their potential would have been used better.

 

[DeathyBoy]

If anyone wants to be honest, they should be able to put aside the hyperbole and admit that Russo did listen to the people. Anyone can think he's a piece of shit person, or that he's dumb, but he listened, and largely gave the people what they wanted.

If Russo is writing in 2000, there's no way he makes Jericho wait unit the end of 2001 to get a world title and doesn't capitalize on his hot hot face run. There's no way he keeps Benoit and Guerrero in the midcard for years. There's no way he squanders RVD and Booker T and Christian in 2005. So many people who weren't used to their potential would have been used better.

I guarantee you that even at Russo's peak, he couldn't tell McMahon who would be world champ.

 

[Haunted]

when current wrestling is so bad people make an OT and want to talk about wrestling 20 years ago instead

 

[sinkfla87]

when current wrestling is so bad people make an OT and want to talk about wrestling 20 years ago instead

LMAO. I was going to say I grew up on this shit. I've watched the wrestling my stepson watches now and I can only think "What the fuck is this?!".

 

[mxgt]

seeing mae young's puppies at the 2000 royal rumble when I was 11 years old still gives me nightmares to this day

 

[Machina]

Tabllles, ladderrrs and chaiiiiirrrrs!

 

[TarpitCarnivore]

96 was one of the craziest years. From the start of the year you can see the seeds being planted for the boom and it was epic. Than from May into Dec we saw the formation of the NwO and the rise of Austin, Mankinds debut and an ECW invasion. 96 was dope.

Also I do see that Attitude Era broken up in phases.

1) 96/97 - Rise of Austin and the start of a more serious product
2) 98/99 - Austin vs McMahan era, The Rock coming into his own etc
3) 2000/01 - HHH & The Rock are main eventing, Jericho and The Radicals arrive, Kurt Angle debuts. You can see the seeds of the modern era planted in this era

2002 - Ruthless Aggression

A lot of people like to give 96/97 to Attitude Era, but I honestly still consider them as part of the New Generation. I say this because if you go by the speech alone that means the Era didn't begin until 1997. I mostly feel this way though because the seeds really begin some time in later 95 as Shawn & Brett begin to really come into their shape.