Should you nonetheless wanted proof that WWE is keen to not solely transfer on from Vince McMahon however to create a product that the previous chairman would not have allowed to occur beneath his watch, then WrestleMania 40 was it. Branded as the start of a brand new period, although it wasn’t specified that the explanation for that new period is as a result of McMahon is now gone, there have been plenty of pointers the WWE we see shifting ahead can be not like something we’ve seen earlier than, and that can even embody just a few Vince-created phrases being left up to now.
It is Not Sports activities Leisure Anymore
McMahon infamously would not let sure phrases and phrases be utilized in WWE, notably on TV. Hospitals are medical services, belts are championships, and the most important and most weird one in all all, do not you dare name what we do wrestling. Regardless of the second W in WWE standing for wrestling, McMahon did not like what his staff did being known as wrestling. That is why he got here up with the time period sports activities leisure, however that may now be a time period we now not hear all that usually.
When Cody Rhodes beat Roman Reigns for the Undisputed Title on WrestleMania Sunday, many followers famous Corey Graves proudly declaring “Professional wrestling is again”. This seemingly wasn’t an accident, neither is it one thing Graves would have been cursed out for over his headset like he might need been up to now. Actually, in accordance with Ibou of WrestlePurists, professional wrestling truly being known as professional wrestling in WWE is one thing we’ll doubtless be listening to extra of shifting ahead.
Transferring On From Vince McMahon
Whether or not you agree with it or not, the choice to create the time period sports activities leisure was one which made sense. The objective was to set WWE other than what its rivals have been doing, and from what professional wrestling had been up to now. It is also an correct description as professional wrestling is a singular mix of sport and leisure. The error McMahon made was pretending WWE wasn’t professional wrestling. Each phrases can exist in the identical area with out the necessity to punish somebody for utilizing one over the opposite, and maybe that is what’s going to occur in WWE to any extent further fairly than sports activities leisure being left behind for good.
That mentioned, because the lawsuit in opposition to McMahon continues, during which the previous chairman is accused of some heinous acts, it is evident WWE is keen to distance itself from the outdated boss as a lot as doable. I do not recall McMahon being proven in any footage throughout WrestleMania weekend, even in packages wanting again within the 40-year historical past of the occasion he created.