5 things that changed the WWE

Seth Rollins is expected to play a huge role in the next era of WWE programming.The WWE has certainly been through several phases, more commonly known as eras. The promotion has grown from the era of career-based or more outlandish gimmicks through the Attitude Era and into the modern, more realistic programming.But what sparked these transformations? There are several contributing factors at play that came from a variety of directions, both internal and external, and they’ve all worked together to bring us the product we see today. Here are the top 5 factors that got us to this point.

#1 The Internet

Zack Ryder carried his digital popularity to a complete gimmick and his own championship belt.

No factor has played as big a role in modern professional wrestling as the Internet has, and perhaps no promotion has been affected by it like the WWE.

For one, the Internet has brought the fans into the process more than ever, as the immediate reaction of the fanbase can be seen in real-time through social media outlets like Twitter. And while rumors and dirt sheets were always available, the connected nature of the digital world allows leaked information to travel faster than ever.

On top of all that, the WWE has created the WWE Network, where fans can watch pay-per-view events and other WWE programming online for a much lower charge than before.

#2 PG rating

Some fans aren’t thrilled about the WWE being so closely tied to children’s programming like Scooby Doo.

As WWE fans are well aware, the days of the Attitude Era’s edgier, more adult-oriented programming are long gone. In the place of those themes are more realistic and family-friendly storylines as the WWE attempts to embrace a TV-PG rating.

Fans may not like this trend, but it’s clearly here to stay.

The appeal of superstars like John Cena to kids and the marketing opportunities afforded because of the rating are irreplaceable on a financial front. Further, some of the stories and actions from the Attitude Era would face much more criticism in a more politically correct society.

#3 Monday Night War

The D-Generation X faction took the Monday Night War very, very literally once.

The Monday Night War is the term for a stretch of the late 1990s when WCW’s Monday Nitro was battling WWF’s Monday Night Raw for television ratings. Of course, the WWF – now WWE – won the war, but the WCW dominated for a while.

That led to the WWF turning to its edgier programming that became known as the Attitude Era, as the defections of stars like Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and others forced the promotion to turn to other talent. Both of those things created stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and Triple H.

#4 Buying competition

Buff Bagwell is one of the performers who represented the WCW on WWE programming.

Sometimes, the biggest factors affecting the on-screen portion of the WWE have been the ongoings behind the scenes. There has been perhaps no bigger example of this than the early 2000s, when Vince McMahon and the WWE purchased competitors WCW and ECW.

That led to a huge influx of new, established talent, more belts and less competition, as well as the Invasion storyline that pitted WCW and ECW transplants against established WWE stars. While there have been pros and cons of those developments, the lasting effect on WWE and pro wrestling, in general, can’t be denied

#5 Montreal Scewjob

The Montreal Screwjob involved Bret Hart “tapping out,” although not really, to his own Sharpshooter finishing maneuver.

Perhaps no event in wrestling history is as infamous as the Montreal Screwjob. Taking place at Survivor Series 1997, the incident involved Shawn Michaels locking then WWF champion Bret Hart – who was leaving for WCW – in his own Sharpshooter submission hold.

Hart didn’t tap out, but the ref called for the bell as though he did at the direction of Vince McMahon.

Prior to that point, McMahon’s status as the real-life boss of the WWF had not been recognized on television. Afterward, the character of Mr. McMahon – the controlling, egotistical heel authority figure – was born, a facet of WWE programming that continues to this d