The pro wrestling world experienced one of its first real cultural booms in the 1980’s with Hulk Hogan and his partnering cast of cartoon-like characters. His personality and story was simple: he had super-human strength and no one could stop him. He had his Hulkamaniacs for support and when he was in trouble all he had to do was “Hulk up” and the match would soon end with a leg drop. Sure, there were other wrestlers who made their name known during this era, but when someone mentioned wrestling the name Hulk Hogan was close at hand. Wrestling at this time was based primarily around kayfabe, and the public had just found out about its “fakeness.” The industry still had a very strong fan base around the time Hogan left the WWF in the ‘90’s for WCW, but they were in for a very strange surprise.

Whether they knew it or not, the fans were getting bored. And even if they didn’t ask for it, they were going to be given change. WCW was a company that provided an alternative some fans were asking for after the age of Hulkamania. They provided television audiences with surprises, plots twits, and old faces from the competitor company. WCW used old WWF characters in a new light. This is best seen with one of the greatest face turns in history, with that of Hogan joining the nWo. That is a story within itself, but it shows the direction WCW wanted to go. They thrived on controversy and shocker storylines, and the ratings showed that the fans loved it.

WCW also provided the fans with something the WWF never exposed its fans to: the Cruiserweight division. With old faces from the past turning heel, and then back to baby-faces over and over again, the Cruiserweights were the backbone of the company giving the audience thrill-seeking and technically sound wrestlers. Stars like Mysterio, Jericho, and Malenko made their names during this time. Nitro certainly was solid television during its prime.

What was WWF’s reaction? Well, it was to be more shocking and controversial. WCW definitely had a main role in introducing WWF to their Attitude Era. We had DX, Austin, and The Rock leading the pack on RAW. The Monday Night Wars was excellent television. But as the years progressed the fans started getting bored again, even with two rival companies competing for ratings.

Let’s quickly summarize what’s happened so far: There was a huge boom for wrestling in the ‘80’s with Hulk Hogan running the show with no rival companies. After the excitement wined down a few lackluster years went by until WCW flourished, creating two opposing shows every Monday night. So, if the fans were getting bored what was the answer? What was going to keep their interest in their sacred sport? The answer was not so sacred. The answer was something violent. Something “Extreme.”

Suddenly, wrestling wasn’t all about wrestling anymore, in any company. Now, trash cans and chairs were part of the show just as much as submissions and pinfalls. Weapons became characters, blood became desired, and the industry was turned upside-down by a small company of rebels known as ECW. This organization created a revolution that shook wresting to its core. Before you knew it, every company had its own Hardcore Title, and was a focal point of every show. Violence was the popular topic, and generated the revenue WWF was looking for.

To make a long story short: one thing leads to another and Vince McMahon buys out all of his competition and once again finds himself alone in the wrestling world. So, what does he do? Does he continue using Attitude Era wrestlers and hardcore wrestling to keep his fan base? Well, he tries to. But he ultimately goes back to cartoon-based wrestling and finds his new-aged Hulk Hogan in John Cena. Sure, the children love him just like Hogan, but after the ‘90’s and what WCW and ECW brought to the table, childish storylines just wouldn’t cut it anymore. So, during the first of the century and the middle of a new decade wrestling fans were once again begging for a change from the newly named WWE.

The response was a small company of actual wrestlers. It was a place that saw former wrestlers try to re-create their image. But it wasn’t a new-aged WCW. Nor was it an ECW knock-off. It was something different. But, nonetheless, it was the alternative to the predictable and dull wrestler of John Cena.

TNA also used a very similar formula to what WCW used in the ‘90’s. They used popular wrestling names to establish their audience, but then provided the world with something even more different: The X-Division. Much like the Cruiserweights, X-Division wrestlers are the backbone of TNA. They are the main workforce that makes the company thrive.

If we skip ahead to the present time, we don’t exactly have WWE and TNA involved in Monday Night Wars, but TNA definitely has made a name for itself with their storylines and fantastic matches. They are trying to make new stars like Mr. Andersen and AJ Styles the faces of their company, but the fans still seem bored. TNA has noticed this fact and has listened to the fans.

What is the answer to having two wrestling companies on television? It has to be only one thing: More violence, of course!

And so now we have the rebirth of ECW within TNA. Why? Why do the fans ask for this? Is it the nature of wrestling to go through this circle every few decades? Are the fans just trying to hold on to the old days for nostalgic reasons? Whatever the reason, one has to ask what will happen once this notion of violence falls to the background again. Will the WWE introduce a new Attitude Era in response? Will Vince purchase TNA in 10 years and once again provide us with the future Hogan or Cena who has very limited or no wrestling skills? Will we be watching “extreme” wrestling once again in the year 2030 when the fans get bored again? Only time will tell, but all signs point to “yes.” And depending on your opinion, that could be a good thing or a very bad thing.

Wrestling fans have to analyze the products we are given on TV. Sometimes we need to ask for changes even if we don’t want them. Right now we are asking for an ECW reunion, but is that really the best thing? If history proves anything, it’s that it will repeat itself. And all that means is that we will be provided with about 10-15 years of dull and boring wrestling once this era has concluded. It doesn’t matter how many companies exist, wrestling seems connected to this endless circle.

Don’t be Hypnotized.