WWE television is back to being rated TV-14 in cable listings after almost exactly 14 years as a PG product, but anyone hoping for a return to the way things were during The Attitude Era is going to be disappointed.
Despite the rating change, WWE has remained largely the same in recent weeks. You might be able to pick out a few minor things that show the move away from the PG era, but they are few and far between.
What WWE needs to do now is decide how it wants to use the looser restrictions of this new rating in its programming. Being on cable gives Raw and NXT a bit more leeway, but SmackDown will likely remain similar to Raw in terms of content.
Now that we are back to TV-14 content, let's look at how WWE can lean into it without going too far.
One of the main reasons any show or movie receives a certain rating is for its use of language. More specifically, we are talking about curse words.
The Attitude Era saw the Superstars of WWE swear a lot more often, but even back then, limitations were in place. Other than occasionally hearing it said during a match, the F-word was almost never uttered on camera.
Even "s--t" was used sparingly if at all back then. We have actually heard that used more in recent years on WWE television than we ever did during The Attitude Era.
But it's not just the big curse words WWE needs to limit. Sexually suggestive terms also need to be handled carefully, especially during the weekly shows when management knows a lot of kids are watching.
The only reason these words carry any weight is that they are only used to emphasize something important. If Superstars just start saying anything they want, those words will lose all impact.
By only using these words once in a while, WWE can continue to keep a family-friendly product while still appealing to people who want a more mature product at the same time. It's a fine line to walk, but it's not impossible.
Sex appeal has been part of the product for decades.
However, that does not mean it should be the primary focus of anyone's character unless that is something they want to do on their own. There was once a time when promoters would ask certain talents to use their physical appearance to sell tickets, but that should no longer be the case.
Talents should be given more agency in how they are used in this way.
With WWE returning to TV-14 ratings, some fans fear that we will return to women being featured more for how their bodies look than for their athletic ability.
Thankfully, it appears that WWE has little to no interest in that for the most part. While characters like Mandy Rose and Toxic Attraction use their looks as part of their gimmick, they are still portrayed as dangerous heels who will stop at nothing to keep gold around their waists.
They mostly rely on classic cheating techniques in the ring while using their appearance to draw heat during promos. It's a well-tested formula to get the fans to boo. It worked for Rick Rude and it works for Rose, too.
Something WWE has gone back and forth on over the years is the use of blood. The early '90s was a largely bloodless time before The Attitude Era kicked in later in the decade and turned WWE into a crimson mess for a handful of years.
With any form of entertainment that portrays violence, the use of blood is often a determining factor in how things are rated for theaters and television. Even if a movie has no curse words and no nudity, the level of violence can get it up to an R-rating quickly.
Movies from Marvel might show anywhere from a few to hundreds of deaths on screen, but the limited use of blood is what allows them to keep the PG-13 ratings for the majority of projects. Pro wrestling is no different.
AEW has been TV-14 from the start and has often featured blood in matches, whether on purpose or accidental. Some fans who have grown used to WWE's limited use of blood are turned off by this and are hoping WWE does not start to use it more.
On the other hand, some people feel like the use of blood enhances the experience because it allows you to lose yourself in the fictional violence easier if it appears more realistic.
The other factor to consider, and this is more important than anything else, is the safety of the talent. They should have a say over anything that puts their body at risk.
It might take some time, but if WWE can find the right balance between adult language, adult themes and violence, it can push the boundaries of the TV-14 rating without alienating the younger audience it has built over the past several years. It won't be easy, but it's not impossible either.
How do you think WWE can use the TV-14 rating to its advantage without losing its family appeal?
