Ever since the TV-PG era began in late 2008, WWE TV Programming as a rule mainly consisted of wrestling matches and comedy bits as the WWE wanted to create a more family-friendly image after the so-called “Attitude Era” of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s.
During that time, we were treated to kid-appeal babyfaces like John Cena and Rey Mysterio to backstage segments with Teddy Long and several Superstars to most of the Divas being models-turned-wrestlers.
However, since the summer of 2014, things have started to change regarding WWE TV Programming as even though Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn were still pretty much in command, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon have started to gain more power backstage.
It all started back in the spring of 2012 when Triple H revamped WWE’s developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling into NXT Wrestling. While FCW featured mainly segments that mirrored RAW and SmackDown, the NXT products focused more on wrestling and less comedy.
Although big and bulky men such as Baron Corbin and Mojo Rawley were regularly featured, it also featured smaller high-flyers such as Neville, Finn Balor and Sami Zayn. It also hired more talented female wrestlers such as Charlotte, Paige and Sasha Banks.
As a result of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon getting more backstage power as of late, WWE TV Programming such as RAW and SmackDown started to change noticeably as newer talents such as Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Cesaro, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens, A.J. Styles and Sami Zayn have been featured in main feuds. In addition, WWE’s female talents which have been known as Divas, are no longer used as eye candy (other than Maryse). By contrast, comedy talents have been pretty much phased out in recent months.
Which brings me to the releases of Hornswoggle and El Torito. Rumor has it is that they were seen as “Kevin Dunn Guys” due to Dunn being a huge fan of comedy gimmicks. However, Hornswoggle and El Torito’s TV time had been reduced due to Triple H not being a fan of midget wrestling (rumor has it that it was Triple H who nixed Adam Rose’s Bunny gimmick). Santino Marella’s TV time was also reduced due to Triple H.
Triple H had at one time was also very high on Damien Sandow, however Triple H had rumored to have cooled off on Sandow which may have led to Sandow’s release. Cameron’s TV days were numbered due to the rise of Charlotte, Paige, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and incoming NXT talents Bayley and Asuka.
As they always say, out with the old and in with the new as Triple H’s newfound attitude had theoretically changed the WWE landscape in the last couple of years and will continue to do so in the very near future.
