The New Era (2016 – )
CM Punk's pipebomb promo in 2011
Shane McMahon's return in 2016
Within the rigid confines of a morally correct, sales minded PG Era product, it would ideally take someone with the reputation of an outsider to usher in change, if any at all. WWE had become a stagnant cesspool in its most recent form, chiefly due to a complacency that assured returns generate. It had become routine, bland and a massive drag that was forced down viewers’ throats twice a week. Terrible booking, lackluster segments, and a thin roster had stamped all the life out of a thriving, breathing product. John Cena’s exaggerated heroism, which failed to impress anyone over twelve, instead acted as a foil to hardened, edgy characters such as CM Punk who were deemed rightful heirs of the main title.
Trending
On the June 27, 2011 edition of Raw, Punk delivered a historic promo that went on to create considerable furore for a period. Though it was a worked shoot, the promo was presented to be accidental and unscripted and therefore, allowing Punk to air his grievances about the current state of things, without WWE so much as batting an eyelid. Walking up to the ramp armed with a microphone, Punk seated himself in the centre of the platform and went on a rant about how inefficient things are behind the walls of the stage. Intensity oozed from every word he spat out as the Straight Edge Society founder went on a rant, denouncing the hierarchisation of talent behind the scenes and the numerous backstage politics that every WWE performer had to make himself privy to. From “kissing Vince’s ass” to a jab at USA Network to even calling out Stephanie and Triple H (“ idiotic daughter and doofus son-in-law), Punk scandalized the entire audience within the span of eight-odd minutes. It was riveting because the WWE, particularly in the PG Era, had persisted on a clean reputation and to allow an insider’s perspective, that too not a very positive one, to be aired on live television was unexpected. It was a trump move by the company which, under the guise of an expose, brought the product back to its moorings and made Punk either every fan’s idol or a killjoy.
Five years after this incident, WWE had made ample progress concerning characters and storylines. It had become at least somewhat engaging. However, a major overhaul occurred with the surprise appearance of Shane McMahon on an episode of Monday Night Raw, one month before Wrestlemania 32. With most of its top card Superstars out due to injury, the show felt desperately and hastily tailored. Having been absent for eight long years, he returned as the prodigal son out to redeem a sinking company from its inept management. An Attitude Era star known for his fearlessness inside the ring, he was admired by fans for pushing his body to the most extreme of circumstances in order to fill a spot. The Universe asserted its faith in Shane’s ability to bring entertainment back to WWE by a thunderous chant, which would only be rivaled during his insane leap off a steel cell at Wrestlemania 32. Riding high on the nostalgia of old timers and pleasant admiration of the new, Shane signaled a major shift in the flow of WWE booking. It was evident that the PG Era had seen its dog days and a new time had come. Since a handful of callups to the main roster from WWE’s developmental NXT and the eventual brand split in 2016,audiences have revelled at the sight of actual talent and mature content return to the show.
