5 Unpopular decisions Vince McMahon took that helped WWE

#1. Vince McMahon's decision to make WWE PG

Was Linda McMahon behind WWE's move to PG ratings?

Vince McMahon's decision to turn WWE into a PG product again paid off big. The PG Era began in 2008 and has surpassed the length of the Attitude Era (1997-2002) and the Ruthless Aggression Era (2002-2008) combined. WWE's decision to move to an edgier, adult product was made out of desperation as the company was falling behind their biggest competitors WCW.

Tied in with the timing of The Montreal Screwjob, the Attitude Era took WWE to new heights, with record-breaking ratings and incredible success on an international mainstream level.

The timing of WWE's move to PG was an interesting one. It was in 2009 that Linda McMahon began her campaign to run for U.S. Senator. Some believe that the move to PG coincided with her eventual political campaign.

WWE made a big shift by banning chair shots, bleeding, and excessive violence. Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon justified the move as one to establish a younger audience - something that WWE was always looking for.

From a financial perspective, the gamble paid off. WWE may not be an edgy product anymore, but it's made them more profitable than ever - even during the COVID-19 pandemic.