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The Attitude Era is fondly remembered as one of the most influential periods in the history of professional wrestling.
Just as it had when Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Roddy Piper, and many others spearheaded a major mainstream revolution back in the 1980s with the advent of WrestleMania, the Attitude Era thrust wrestling back into the popular culture spotlight in America and across the world.
Led by the incomparable Stone Cold Steve Austin and the People's Champion The Rock, for the most part, the Attitude Era was, for many, what the world needed at that time.
The Attitude Era: Chaos and mayhem personified
Said to have run from around late-1997 to just past the millennium, the era created stars and household names, produced incredible, standout moments, and plenty of havoc and mayhem.
The influence of the Attitude Era was so huge that, decades after it was consigned to history, fans still remember it with incredible sentiment and feeling. After all, it was the era that got millions of fans hooked in WWE - even if they're now no longer regular viewers of the product. Whether it was what the Superstars said or did - or indeed how they said or did it - it is probably the one era that has stood the test of time better than any other.
But how do we measure that? In my view, it's the fact that Attitude Era fans can still be dragged back into their wrestling prime with a few timely reminders. Here is a small collection of the tell-tale signs that you watched a little too much wrestling in the Attitude Era.
#5. WWE wasn't even WWE
Chances are, if you were an Attitude Era fan, you'd turn on today's wrestling product and immediately be thrown. After all, what on earth is WWE?
Hit play on the YouTube video above and, if you were a fan of WWE during the late 1990s, you'll know exactlly what you're watching. Otherwise, it may be a mystery.
WWE gets the F out in 2002
What was the WWF became WWE - Entertainment replacing Federation in 2002, largely due to a dispute between tthe wrestling giant and the World Wildlife Fund over who would effectively own that initialism. In the end, wildlife won out and WWE had to change.
In fact, in 2011, WWE ceased using the company name World Wrestling Entertainment altogether, except for legal reasons, instead opting to simply be known as WWE. The move was said to be to reflect their growing desires to offer an all-rounded product rather than one focused purely on wrestling.
#4. Signs, signs everywhere
One major sign that you grew up watching the Attitude Era in WWE was... well, the signs!
If you look at crowds at WWE shows in the present day (with an exception for the empty arena era of 2020, at least), you may notice many things about the audience members in attendance. Chances are, though, the first thing that leaps to your attention is thousands and thousands of signs and banners.
Back in the day, however, the signs were pretty much all you ever saw!
The Attitude Era - the peak of fan signs
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the internet now more readily available in most homes and with society being gripped by a new wave of freedom of expression - where wrestling is concerned - stationary providers started doing big business! All thanks to the Attitude Era.
Back then, the most important thing to remember when attending a wrestling show was your sign - whether it was a joke, a message to someone watching or your support of your favourite Superstar, it was an absolute must.
#3. The Hardcore Championship
20 years on from the Attitude Era, if you tune in to WWE programming today, and you'll see wrestlers scrambling everywhere to claim the 24/7 title.
With its champion at risk of being lynched and pinned anywhere, any time - so long as the opportunist going for gold has a referee to hand - the 24/7 championship is one of the more unique offerings of WWE's programming.
The concept is nothing strange or new to anyone who grew up in the Attitude Era, however. Back then, they had the Hardcore Championship.
The Attitude Era's craziest title - the Hardcore championship
It was precisely the same principle as the 24/7 gold - the titleholder could be beaten anywhere and at any time, but the Hardcore Championship offered, shall we say, a little more physicality.
From steel chairs, to pipes, to ladders and fire extinguishers, everything was legal in a Hardcore title match. The championship revolutionalised that level and style of offence and wrestling that had previously barely existed.
Mick Foley, The Big Bossman and Crash Holly were all among the famous names to have held the title.
#2. Light Heavyweights
One of the popular championships of the Attitude Era was the Light Heavyweight title - one that showcased the amazing talent of high flyers.
The NXT Cruiserweight Championship is now a staple part of WWE television on the yellow brand in 2020 but, back in 1997, we were introduced to the Light Heavyweight title - designed to combat the WCW's popular Cruiserweight division.
The Attitude Era's answer to the WCW Cruiserweights
The youngster tasked with spearheading WWE's charge in that regard during the Attitude Era was Taka Michinoku. Taka made his debut in July 1997 and come the end of that year, was celebrating being the company's first-ever Light Heavyweight Champion after beating Devon Storm, Aguila, and Brian Christopher to win a tournament for the title. The finale took place on pay-per-view, too, granting Taka a massive audience.
Sadly, the Light Heavyweight Championship was decidedly short-lived. Before long, WWE introduced the Cruiserweight title of its own where the Light Heavyweight gold once proudly held a place.
#1. Women rule, but not in the ring
The Attitude Era boasted some of the most tenacious and memorable female characters in WWE history.
But while the likes of Sable and Debra stole their fair share of headlines, it would be fair to say that the Attitude Era wasn't necessarily remembered for the in-ring action from its women.
Fearless women in the WWE Attitude Era
Indeed, we probably now take for granted the likes of Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Sasha Banks and countless others main eventing RAW, SmackDown, WrestleMania and many other shows and events. Back then, this was rarely the case.
Don't misunderstand - there was a women's championship for much of the Attitude Era and some of the matches for it were truly memorable. What was more frequent and familiar, however, was the female stars of the day being used in storylines and scenes rather than actual wrestling matches.
Sable getting her own back on Marc Mero, for instance, was one of the sweetest Attitude Era moments of all but, sadly for those of us who love seeing the women equal and surpass the men in the ring, the Attitude Era presented far fewer chances for them to do so.
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