Sigh, here you all go.
1997 thru 1999 WWF was must watch television, and the ratings said as much. Say what you will about the man himself but he was in the driver's seat during the biggest (and last) wrestling boom. The post 1999 AE was just a toned down and structured Russo blueprint. The same salacious and sleazy angles along with over the top "blood and guts" violence was present in the WWE right up until the PG era. The worst of Russo was discarded such as ridiculous midcard gimmicks (for the most part) while still featuring the midcard in a meaningful way. Without the 1997-99 Russo era, you don't have the "better" post Russo era. The conditions were just right and none of the involved have been able to replicate that magnitude of success to this day.
1997 thru 1999 WWF was must watch television, and the ratings said as much. Say what you will about the man himself but he was in the driver's seat during the biggest (and last) wrestling boom. The post 1999 AE was just a toned down and structured Russo blueprint. The same salacious and sleazy angles along with over the top "blood and guts" violence was present in the WWE right up until the PG era. The worst of Russo was discarded such as ridiculous midcard gimmicks (for the most part) while still featuring the midcard in a meaningful way. Without the 1997-99 Russo era, you don't have the "better" post Russo era. The conditions were just right and none of the involved have been able to replicate that magnitude of success to this day.
