WWE superstar Brock Lesnar made a controversial comment comparing the current era of the company against past versions. Lesnar debuted for WWE all the way back in 2002 as part of the Ruthless Aggression Era. Time away for the UFC led to Brock returning in 2012 and spending the past fourteen years in and out of the company. Fans have debated which eras are better, and Lesnar gave an interesting perspective on how he views the product.
The following Brock quote came during an interview with Barstool Sports:
“I was a shooter, an amateur guy. I had a lot of credentials to my name. Of course, I got tested along the way by the old timers. You have to pay your dues. Back then, you paid your dues, and you had to get your respect.
It’s different now, obviously. Things have gotten a lot softer. There isn’t no more kangaroo courts (“wrestlers court” to police each other backstage). It’s different now, but I go there, I’m the old guy now.”
Lesnar shared insight on how things were done back when he debuted and how much he had to prove with an amateur wrestling background. The future WWE Hall of Famer claimed that he believes things are softer now with the company more image savvy.
What Brock Means By Calling WWE Softer
WWE used to have a wild backstage culture that allowed wrestlers to get away with more than they do today. The 1980s through the 2000s featured wrestlers getting to enforce the culture they desired more than management did.
Things like hazing or backstage fights were actually quite common in past eras. The Miz shared a story about getting banned from using the locker room by another wrestler when he started off. WWE became a publicly traded company in 1999, and things slowly changed over time.
Lesnar still witnessed a lot of the “tougher” times with the locker room expecting new talents to prove themselves in 2002. The 2000s and 2010s led to more changes for WWE to have a professional backstage atmosphere. Wrestlers will get punished by management for crossing the line or trying to “bully” others.
Why Brock’s Point Is Less Valid
Brock works a different schedule than 95% of wrestlers that sees him having fewer dates on a part-time schedule. WWE has paid Lesnar huge money to wrestle less than 10 times most years since he returned back in 2012 after WrestleMania 28.
Reports indicate Brock usually has a private locker room as a perk for his attraction appeal giving him a more favorable contract. Lesnar doesn’t interact with most of the locker room to rate anyone’s toughness. However, he is right about things like Wrestlers’ Court ending and the hazing going away.
WWE doesn’t want to risk losing their status as a major brant in sports and entertainment. Terrible backstage ethics and stories about unprofessional behavior would undermine the effort WWE has made to get accepted by platform like ESPN today. The days of rookies getting tested by veterans will likely never happen again.
Brock Lesnar Calls Out WWE For Getting “Softer” In Recent Years