Reality Check: Speaking In Defense of the "Reality Era"

CM Punk, the leader of a new generation

When I posted my last Great Debate article, many of you began to comment on how different today's landscape is from the Attitude Era and noted that most of today's stars couldn't hack it back then.  That may be true, but one thing that always irks me is the fact that people seem to think that is the fault of the talent and not the fans themselves. 



If you truly feel as if wrestling's stars of today aren't as good, then don't watch.  But for a lot of people, these comments are born more out of bias then actual fact.  Yes, the 90s were awesome, but if you ask any of the old NWA "golden age" fans, they will tell you that the ECW influenced hardcore style that birthed the Attitude Era was garbage and that it ruined professional wrestling.  I for one, actually enjoy wrestling from every period for different reasons.  Yes, today's stars may not be as edgy as those of the late 90s, but does that really make them any less special?  I don't believe that.  CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, Cody Rhodes, The Miz, Wade Barrett, Antonio Cesaro, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, AJ Lee, Paige, Kassius Ohno, Seth Rollins, Richie Steamboat, Big E Langston, Ryback and Damien Sandow are all special talents that have earned a full endorsement from me.  Wyatt, Paige and Ambrose in particular, have all carved a very unique niche for themselves and I do believe that they will have a greater impact than the rest of the pack (save for Punk and Ryback) if they are allowed to be themselves.  Do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with any of the names you don't recognize and try to have more of an open mind for the future because talent wise, it looks as if it may be brighter than ever.  Today's wrestling isn't getting worse, but perhaps we are as fans.  Today's wrestling fans are more critical of the product than those who don't even watch it.  I miss the days when the people who ridiculed my love for the WWE, weren't the people sitting NEXT TO ME at a goddamn show.  It baffles me.  It's people like that that are the reason I started this blog to begin with nearly a year ago.  So before you decide to call your buddies and complain about John Cena's 1,000th victory, realize that you may very well be ruining someone else's experience.  And that's something that shouldn't be welcome in any era.