WWE has been flirting with the PG limitations since the Road To WrestleMania 40 kicked off at the 2024 Royal Rumble pay-per-view event, and WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque shared his thoughts on the matter.
WWE has been testing its PG rating with certain elements like The Rock using obscene language in promos and making Cody Rhodes bleed on RAW.
During a recent appearance on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast, Triple H revealed the strategy for skirting with the PG boundaries. He said,
“The Rock says something, given his position and disruptor, and the guy coming in from the outside, it’s believable that he has that leeway and doesn’t care. And he can do those things, and it’s shocking because it is not been that way. Cody gets busted open the other day; it’s shocking, especially in the right scenario; it’s powerful. It meant a lot.”
He continued, “If that happens all the time, who cares? So, it is not a shift of philosophy; it’s just when it is needed, pull the trigger. But the discipline is only pulling the trigger when it really means something.”
The Rock and Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on night one of WrestleMania 40, which makes tonight’s Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match between Reigns and Rhodes a Bloodline Rules match.
WWE’s Triple H Discusses Pushing the Boundaries of PG Rating
In recent years, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has been known for its family-friendly programming, adhering to a PG rating. However, as the Road to WrestleMania 40 began at the 2024 Royal Rumble, the company has been testing the boundaries of this rating. WWE Chief Creative Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, recently shared his thoughts on this matter during an appearance on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast.
Triple H acknowledged that WWE has been pushing the limits of its PG rating by incorporating certain elements into its programming. For example, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been using obscene language in his promos, and Cody Rhodes was made to bleed during a recent episode of RAW. These instances have sparked controversy among fans and raised questions about WWE’s commitment to its PG rating.
During the podcast, Triple H explained the strategy behind these boundary-pushing moments. He emphasized that when a disruptive force like The Rock comes in from the outside and uses explicit language, it is believable and shocking because it deviates from the norm. Similarly, when Cody Rhodes bleeds in the right scenario, it carries significant impact and meaning.
Triple H clarified that these instances do not represent a shift in WWE’s philosophy but rather a strategic decision to pull the trigger when it truly matters. He emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline and only pushing the boundaries when it serves a purpose.
The recent match between The Rock and Roman Reigns against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 exemplifies WWE’s approach to testing the PG rating. The outcome of the match has led to tonight’s Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match between Reigns and Rhodes being labeled as a Bloodline Rules match, indicating a more intense and potentially violent encounter.
While some fans appreciate WWE’s willingness to push the boundaries of its PG rating, others have expressed concerns about the potential impact on younger viewers. WWE has always been known for its larger-than-life characters and dramatic storylines, but striking the right balance between entertainment and appropriateness for all audiences can be challenging.
As WWE continues to navigate the delicate line between maintaining a PG rating and incorporating edgier elements, it remains to be seen how fans will respond and whether this experimentation will have a lasting impact on the company’s programming. For now, it seems that WWE is willing to take calculated risks to create memorable moments and keep its audience engaged.