WWE PG Rating: Is It Just an Era or Is It Here To Stay?

It is no secret that the wrestling industry is not as popular as it once was.  Wrestling is not seen as cool anymore by the mass society. There are many reasons as to why the popularity has declined in professional wrestling in recent years. Most fans blame the family-friendly attitude that WWE has adapted so that they can aim their product at children.  This is otherwise known as the PG era.

When most wrestling fans hear the phrase "PG era," they sigh and become disdained.  What is cool about seeing the villain’s characters becoming toned down to seem less aggressive? How can a heel be a bad guy if the storylines make him look like fast melting ice cream?

WWE is not edgy like it once was. There’s no swearing, beer-drinking, hell raising or blood. Every kid can tell you that humans bleed when they get hurt, so why ban it from the ring? 

Aiming a product which consists of men and women fighting against each other week after week at kids almost seems silly. I am not saying kids should not be allowed to watch wrestling. I do not see the harm in that all. Most fans start watching wrestling when they are a kid. I did. But to aim the product at children does seem silly.

Business wise, it makes perfect sense for Vince to aim his product at children.  Kids are more likely to buy merchandise such as toys and tops. Aiming the product at children makes the company look better to the mass media. Toning down the violence is better for the children. But what about the older audience? And what about when the children grow up?

When I started growing up, I did not stop watching wrestling because I found it entertaining.  I did not find it entertaining because it had swearing or beer drinking. I found it entertaining because I enjoyed watching them wrestle. I wanted to see who would win the rivalry.  It is because of this fans continue to watch wrestling. No one purely watches it to see some guy swear 10 times in an interview. 

The foundation of the company is the wrestling and storylines and that is why, despite fans disdain for the PG era, we still continue to watch it.  So is the PG rating just an era?

Vince is a clever man. Only a fool would keep the PG rating if it starts losing enough business. The only way we will know if the PG rating is a phase or not is if the product stops being PG. Simple.