Earlier today, Vince Russo debuted a new column on WZ, which you can check out at this link, and in the article he reveals he thinks the Attitude Era in WWE officially began with the Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mike Tyson story line.
On the latest edition of “Talk is Jericho,” hosted by Chris Jericho, Triple H recalls a meeting between Vince McMahon, Gerald Briscoe, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, in the mid-90’s, during which Hall and Nash expressed frustration with the present WWE situation.
“I remember [Vince] saying, ‘Clearly the company needs a change of direction and momentum and I want opinions.'” said Triple H.
“I started to go out the door and Vince said, ‘Hey, where are you going?’ and I said, ‘This is not my place. I’m going to go…’ and Vince was like, “No, no, no…You’re in it now. Get in here.’
If it were your team—all of you individually make your own, I don’t want anybody looking at anyone else’s paper…what would your team be and what do you think is wrong with the product? Not saying that we’re going to do it; I just want to know what everybody thinks.
In my mind… the first spark of the Attitude Era that I ever saw was in that room. Because the conversation…was based on reality. ‘Why do we have Doink the Clown? Basketball players just wear basketball uniforms…Why can’t we just be wrestlers? Why do we have to be firemen or cops or doctors? What can’t it be just be more real? Let’s stop insulting intelligence and get rid of the camp.’ And Vince was really into the conversation.”
Paglino: Which moment in WWE history do you think sparked the Attitude Era in WWE? Sound off in the comment section below!
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
