Joe's 411: Finally, the WWE Has Gone Back to PG-13! (Somewhat)

According to many reports, the WWE creative team has not been happy with PG programming.

This is obvious to most of us, because a great storyline is far overdue.

I was a fan of the Undertaker/Shawn Michaels storyline, and while it didn't have universal appeal, I felt it was the only great storyline from beginning to end since the WWE went PG. You could also throw the Hardy Brothers storyline in there, but many were unhappy with its conclusion.

The WWE creative team realizes that they need to get back to edgier programming...just not back to what we saw in the 90s or early 2000s. With this in mind, they have been slowly sneaking things into recent shows.

The company's official position is that they are PG and staying that way, but if creative can prove that this will be better, we may see that change.

The word "lesbian" has been spoken twice before 10 p.m. in recent weeks and they did the Divas Bikini match on RAW this past week, as well as the spot with Santino Marella and the Trish Stratus action figure.

While this can fit into PG programming, the fact that this has gotten as far as it has is significant. We have not seen anything like this since the WWE was PG-13.

Those on the creative team say they want to push it more, but don't have a green light from higher-ups yet. However, if they can continue to sneak material in, they can slowly go back to PG-13.

There is an idea that if the guest host gimmick for RAW is still going on in late August, The Godfather will appear as the special host for the Aug. 24 RAW in Las Vegas.

This would be the beginning of the PG-13 programming comeback, naturally.  

I see Godfather being there in Las Vegas, but will he be back with his old gimmick? Only time will tell.

However, we do need to realize that the shift back to PG-13 is not set in stone, and creative could have been reprimanded for what they snuck in.

I personally have no problem with the WWE going back to PG-13, but improving their storylines in PG isn't impossible. Language, bra-and-panties matches, and oozing blood are not needed to have a great show.

"Creative" is a key word here. This is what this "team" is called. "Creative" means new ideas, and revolutionary, never before seen material...the kind of fresh material the WWE is starved for. 

What they may not realize is, you don't have to be "PG-13" to do this.  As long as it is entertaining, people will want to watch, regardless of rating.