It looks like WWE’s PG Era is over.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the interviews with the Rock and the promo by Paul Heyman at the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame marked the definitive end of WWE’s PG era. However, this does not imply immediate changes to television programming.
Meltzer speculated that any decision regarding such changes would likely occur at the end of the year when WWE’s Raw transitions to Netflix and NXT moves to CW. These decisions will depend on the preferences of the broadcasters and the comfort level of sponsors, and will be made several months from now.
Meltzer noted that the longstanding efforts to maintain a PG rating, underscored by a memo sent weeks earlier emphasizing this policy on platforms like social media and non-TV shows, are no longer being pursued.
Additionally, Meltzer highlighted that Heyman’s speech at the Hall of Fame, which set viewing records on social media, was also a symbolic farewell to ECW by WWE. This homage was particularly poignant given the setting in Philadelphia, known as the spiritual home of ECW. Heyman, chosen by Paul Levesque as his first-ever Hall of Fame pick, devoted significant time to ECW during his speech. This gesture was accentuated by Stephanie McMahon wearing an ECW bonnet in the front row, and ECW legends like Tommy Dreamer, RVD, and The Dudleys being positioned to embrace Heyman as he exited, further acknowledging ECW’s legacy.
