Does a Professional Wrestling show have to be "Rated M" to be good?

I think that a more adult theme would allow the WWE to better expand what they can do, but by no means does it guarantee that the WWE will be better. Hardcore matches, blood, skimpy clothing, that doesn't always guarantee a good show.

Besides, the WWE doesn't even fully target kids. It's merely toned down from the horrendously adult-themed Attitude Era, which offended a lot of people in its pure vulgarity. It doesn't help the company when they've got decency watchdogs on their back because you wanted to go back to the Attitude Era.

Wrestling has always been a show for all ages, with different parts of the show appealing to different age groups. Hornswoggle is not fully a kids' gimmick, heck the guy was first called the "Little Bastard." He's meant to entertain everybody, to be a happy, comedic part of the company. Unfortunately, if it even seems happy or childish, some fans will say that it's for kids. I'll bet that when Colt Cabana comes up somebody will say he only appeals to kids.

More adult themes would allow the WWE a larger range of options in terms of storylines and characters, but they shouldn't fully shut out kids from programming. Most of the people saying WWE shouldn't target kids probably started watching WWE as kids themselves. And if something appeals to kids, that doesn't always mean bad. Some things that appeal to kids can still be wonderful for adults. It doesn't always have to be gritty and vulgar and disgusting.

I think you're referring to all those fans of the Attitude Era who come on here everyday wishing that Stone Cold would be run over, or that Triple H would bash Mick Foley over the head with a sledgehammer so he could land on a bunch of thumbtacks in the ring.

I'm not really one to talk, lol, because to be honest that is what I preferred. I loved the Attitude Era, and if I could have it my way I'd bring it back, the matches, the women, the storylines, the swearing and all sorts. But an adult orientated show doesn't necessarily mean that the product is better. The product is better if more people are watching it, hence the battle for ratings.

WCW and WWE battled their asses off for ratings. Parts of the WWE today are targeted towards adults and some are targeted towards kids. The incest storyline for example, between Katie Lea and Paul Burchill, that isn't exactly kid friendly now is it? Or what about when Vickie called the undertaker an SOB at Judgement Day, that isn't kid friendly.

Yes, the WWE has toned down from the brutality that it once used to provide fans with. Seeing Batista busted open last night was the first time I saw blood since the pathetic mouth bleed JBL had at ONS.

To be precise, I don't think an adult orientated show is always better. Majority of the time, it is, but there are storylines from the classic Attitude Era that offended people. Remember Mark Henry and Mae Young? Perfect Example...

I don't get it either. WWE went global in the 80's with the birth of Hulkamania, and expanded even more when Ultimate Warrior came on the scene. To be honest, that proves mine and your point. WWE doesn't need to be fully adult orientated, although it can help. WWE needs to be the best product, and be balanced. Ratings = Money.

In all honesty, the "Attitude/Sports entertainment" era is the only one that is truly different than thee others in terms of appealing to a certain type of audience. Although the earlier ages prior to 84 or so weren't trying to bring in the young audience, they certainly were not trying to appeal exclusively to an older audience. In all honesty, if it wasn't for the Old ECW, the WWE, and to some extent the always more "mature" but still all age appropriate NWA/WCW would have stayed the way they were, trying to be everything to everyone. ECW did push the boundaries of Pro Wrestling stories and action to levels not previously seen in the US, and many of the young Hulk Hogan fans of the past became ECW fans instead of Duke the Dumpster Fans. If it had been the 80's, this wouldn't have been a big deal. However, the accessibility of ECW via tape trading, Internet, and cable forced WWE and WCW to change in order to try and win back the coveted young male market. Thus, the Attitude Era was born. Now that there is no real competition in North America for WWE, they can go back to the more PG rated fare and bring in young fans that will remain fans for life. Unless there is a major upstart promotion that can do what ECW did, this won't change. To be honest, I don't see it happening. ROH on HDnet will attract some of the purist, and TNA has a small but devoted following,but WWE is a juggernaut that can't be stopped at this point. This is especially true since they now have a legitimate development programwhere they can hoard the kind of up and coming talent that ECW used to have and WCW even used to their advantage for a few years.

To be completely honest this Y/A wrestling section sucks. Seems to me 90% of the people on here are the ones who are unhappy with anything and everything the WWE is doing. Vince is going to do whats good for business. If he has to go to the younger crowd than thats what he is going to do. I have no problem whatsoever with what is going on right now in the wwe. People are still stuck in the 80's and 90's. The Attitude era is gone as well and people need to get over it. You can't compare then to now. It's a different world out there. Some of the things WWF used to do would not be "acceptable" in todays society. You can't please everyone all the time, and you especially can't please 90% of the people here on Y/A.

No you don't have to have a Mature rating to be good.

Just my two cents

*Starred*

No,it doesn't.And it shouldn't either.I love it either way.I don't care whether it's adult themed or family friendly.I'm entertained because I enjoy it and not just want adult themed angles or segments.I don't need a guy bleeding,a girl in no clothes to be entertained.I mean you see just the hardcore people complaining.They'd rather watch an edge,lita show then a family friendly program.I mean I don't mind an adult themed show or a family friendly one either.I love both.They are both entertaining.But an adult themed show isn't exactly media friendly or family friendly and it certainly won't attract new viewers or even keep viewers besides hardcore people.I mean a star doesn't have to bleed or be in an extreme match or a sex themed angle for it to be entertaining.I mean even if the segments are family friendly,that doesn't mean they aren't entertaining.I mean it's just the hardcore type fans that complain that want to see people getting busted open,divas stripping,and so on.The WWE targets all audiences,young and old.I mean does a segment have to have a diva stripping or disrobing or something really violent happening or cursing or bleeding for it to be entertaining.The WWE entertains all audiences and is meant for all audiences not just the hardcore type.I have no problem with kids watching the WWE.I don't know why anyone else should either.I'm all for seeing the divas,but I don't mind the family friendly segments either.I mean I don't watch the WWE like it was an adult show.I mean if I wanted that I could watch an adult show.I want entertainment.The WWE does that.They offer just about everything.I mean I don't need a superstar to get injured or bleed or risk their body or be thought of less because of what they are doing to be entertained.I mean I understand all the guys want to see the divas.I do too.But,that isn't the only reason why I enjoy WWE.I enjoy it becasue it's entertaining not just because a diva is taking off her clothes or someone's bleeding.It's mostly the hardcore type people that are complaining.I mean damn.Does a show have to be restricted to adults to be entertaining.No,it doesn't.If the WWE wanted to focus on adults,and only the guys,they wouldn't even have a show.It wouldn't be on USA,.It would be on max,or hbo.The WWE is trying to be family friendly,and media friendly,and to entertain all audiences.They aren't just trying to entertain hardcore type fans.They entertain all audiences.The WWE caters to all audiences and not just the violent,hardcore guy.So,no it does not have to be rated M to be entertaining.It isn't now and it shouldn't be.

I'd watch it either way. I don't get these people who cry about how kid-friendly WWE is now. Compare it to the 80s and early 90s and you will see a major difference. It's not a problem for me if they leave out all the cussing and sexual content, just keep the wrestling good and I'll continue to tune in.

They are currently cashing on the teenage demographic with all of their muscle bound caricatures of how a wrestler should look like. All of the T4A guys know better. This is why his ratings suck right now..he is focusing in on the casual viewer instead of catering to the real long time wrestling fans who just want to see a great wrestling match!!!! Wrestling is all but dead except for in the indy promotions.

It depends on your views of what good is and what not, if you need it to be mature to enjoy it then yes. Do you think otherwise of kids shows, because they are kids shows you cant enjoy? I´m old and i love children programs or cartoons, they are funny, not like mature stuff full of violence or whatever. I do like mature programs also, but it all depends on the kind of entertainment you want in a specific moment. What Im trying to say is that the rating does not determine the quality of the product.

For me I don't care what wrestling show is rated. I just watch it for entertainment. Probably because people are still living in the past when they really need to think about the future.The wwe draft was good last night and it was rated PG so does it really matter how its rated?

i can see both sides of the debate too, currently, i am on the side who wants more mature programming.

my basis for my opinion, as that with all these little kid oriented gimmicks, like hornswaggle for example, i just don't find wrestling as entertaining anymore. i suppose its becasue i have two little brothers and probably hate little kids stuff far more than someone who grew up alone.

i understand the need to have family appropriate television, but you cannot baby up everything. parents need to take on some responsibility. if your kids wind up watching something that isnt appropriate for them, its not the television show's fault for simply being there, its your fault for not being responsible.