A Rundown Of All 7 WWE Eras

There aren’t too many forms of entertainment more successful than WWE and, four decades after its inception, it’s still as popular as ever. Part of the reason why the franchise has been successful for so long is that the brains behind the operation never let things become stale. They’re always looking for ways to stay fresh and to bring in new fans. Though there are threads that unite every successive year of WWE, you can also divide them into different ‘eras’ which have their own narratives, themes, and superstars. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at all seven of the recognized eras.

The New Era

We’re currently in what is imaginatively referred to as “The New Era.” This began in 2016, following the decision to split Raw and Smackdown, which are both now their own shows. Fans didn’t like that decision, nor some of the weak plotlines. But there have been upsides, too. This era is very much in the modern age. Today, fans can get behind-the-scenes footage on YouTube, make online bets about the outcome of matches, and tune into dozens of WWE-related podcasts. Such high fan engagement means a bright future for the WWE!

The Reality Era

The Reality Era didn’t last too long. Running from 2014 to 2016, it’s the shortest of all the eras. This period saw the rise of storylines, a feature which, in part, was driven by the fans. WWE insight showed that fans wanted Daniel Bryan to rise to the top, and thus that’s exactly what happened. There was also the rise of superstars such as Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, and The Shield. It was a popular era, which makes it all the stranger that WWE pulled the plug so soon.

The PG Era

The PG Era, which ran from 2008 to 2011, is defined by the name. WWE made a conscious effort to make its product more ‘PG’ in an attempt to lure families into watching its shows, with great success. Some fans didn’t like the shift, however, believing that WWE had turned its back on its roots. John Cena ruled this era, and there were plenty of iconic matches, most notably Cena’s battles against The Edge, Umaga, and Batista.

The Ruthless Aggression Era

The Ruthless Aggression era ran from 2002 to 2008 and featured many iconic wrestlers in their prime. The Undertaker and Triple H were involved in multiple storylines, while the roster of wrestlers also included fan-favorites such as Edge and Chris Jericho. It’s generally thought of as a vintage WWE period that many fans look back on with fondness.

The Attitude Era

Is The Attitude Era the best of the lot? Many fans think so, and it’s certainly hard to argue against that view. This era saw WWE’s most famous and celebrated wrestlers doing their thing. On any given week, you could find The Rock, Stone Cold Stone Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker and Mick Foley, not to mention countless others, doing battle. The storylines got a little whacky at times, but with so many famous faces on show, fans could put up with them.

The New Generation Era

The New Generation Era took place from 1993 to 1997 and is credited with bringing WWE into the new age. With Hulk Hogan and others at the end of their careers, this era saw the rise of stars such as Shawn Michaels, Diesel, and Bret Hart. The quality of the matches went up significantly during this period, too.

The Golden Era

The Golden Era took place from 1982 to 1993. With Vince McMahon at the helm and global superstar The Hulk on the roster, WWE was able to catapult towards success. Though this was a deeply important era for WWE and for wrestling in general, it still very much has a feeling of “the beginning.” There were few headline events or matches, and so it’s better to think of the Golden Era as the genesis for everything that came later.