I wrote a few posts back that a new Era was beginning in World Wrestling Entertainment. Starting with the lead up to Wrestlemania 28, WWE began it’s transition, with Wrestlemania 28 being the dawn of the new Era in WWE. I thought the new Era was a “Rise of the Indies” type of Era, but I wasn’t looking at the big picture.
It is a “Rise of the Indies” Era, but it’s definitely much more. Aspects that were normally more hidden from the main WWE Universe (contract talks, injuries, etc.), are becoming the focal points of many of the main WWE storylines. In the past, injuries and contracts were mentioned but not heavily and openly discussed on the main program. The only other time I remember seeing this type of atmosphere was in WCW during the Monday Night Wars. That was when performers openly would talk about their contract or their opponent’s contract nearing an end, or a performer faking a major injury in order to set up an angle (storyline) later on.
Another major element it seems like the WWE is manipulating are leaked and backstage news reports. In the past, you could read a story about how creative was intending to do this storyline, a performer is now in hot water, or this person decided to re sign with the company. However, today it seems like the company is trying to manipulate those reports (Brock Lesnar Extreme Rules blow up possibly a work), thereby making it hard to distinguish what’s real and what’s business.
With all that in mind, I believe a writer at Bleacherreport.com has correctly dubbed this, the “Reality Era”. The WWE is trying to be real or at least push the idea that there is a fine line between reality and what goes on in that ring. That the company is a business and there are a lot of backstage pieces that go into making each show work. It is pro wrestling but if anything, to the people involved this is there everyday Reality.
