WWF 1996 Review - The Dark Before the Dawn of the Attitude Era

[@StunnedByWrestling]

Hi guys, thanks for checking out the video. Here's my review of the WWF in 1995 in case you missed it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHyyh6Vjm6msf6s

[@Appetite4Rose]

I really enjoyed your 95 & 96 year review videos and I will watch your 98 one now, but please make a 97 year review one too... I really enjoy your different, more realistic, perspective

[@mikeabel7577]

I'm not sure how anyone could consider 1996 worse than 1994 or 1995. The WWF was objectively worse in almost every way imaginable in 1995 than it was in 1996. Losing Hall and Nash hurt the company but Austin and Sid were so over that I hardly noticed. HBK, Bret, Austin, Sid, Taker, and Mankind put on some seriously great matches in 1996.

[@seantaft3853]

The problem was in 1996, the company had to find the pieces that would lead to the top. While in-ring and storyline-wise, 1996 was better than 1995, the problem was that the WWF was still bleeding out money AND THEN WCW launched the nWo and completely left anything WWF was doing in the dust.

[@mikeabel7577]

@seantaft3853 That's a garbage take. The NWO forced Vince and the WWF to change course and 1997 was arguably the best year WWF ever had. Storyline wise and especially the in-ring product absolutely took off. Vince was hardly "left in the dust".

[@coreychristian2312]

Strongly agree

[@guyincognito143]

@@mikeabel7577 you just don't understand business.

[@NateTheGnat]

i would say 96 was way better than 95, but it was probably not as good as 94. 94 was a pretty good year for WWF... and the Russo-fication of the WWF started in late 96 with Fake Razor and Fake Diesel. Also Vader was really handled terribly in 1996 WWF... Ahmed Johnson proved to be a joke, and the roster was as thin as you could possibly get. TL Hopper? Who? Salvatore Sincere? Freddy Joe Floyd? The Executioner? Does anyone remember them? In 96 we did get Mankind, Steve Austin, the Rock... but they were still in their infancy. The match quality in 96 was also better overall than the Attitude Era or 95. Bret Hart vs Austin in 1996 was an amazing match.

[@jonedepth9164]

Shawn's battles against the big guys and PPV defences were all pretty great this year. Two all-timer feuds began this year with Bret vs Austin and Taker vs Mankind. Austin's reactions were getting bigger throughout the year, Bret was starting to show heel tendencies, we hadn't really seen the level of violence Taker and Mankind brought in a WWF ring. Taker was no longer a zombie and being forced to work with complete bums. Sid was motivated and organically became the most over guy on the card. As patchy as the midcard was (it was for much of the 90's) unmotivated Owen and Bulldog were still better than the hellscape the tag division had been, Vince had chilled on the the awful lower to mid card ridiculous gimmicks, Mero and HHH were solid midcard hands. Goldust might've been too much too soon, but there was a reason him and his shock-value were a mid card constant during much of the Attitude Era. Despite having to compete with sudden big losses, Hogan turning heel in WCW, and backstage morale being low, the product was still drastically better than 94/95, and the lower to mid card was no worse than 97, especially as the awful "gang wars" hadn't started yet.

[@chris_m986]

You got this wrong, 95 was awful year, 96 was a godsend compared to 95

[@dwaynejpeterkin]

So u saying fake razor Ramon and diesel are great

[@chris_m986]

@@dwaynejpeterkin No, i didnt say that did i? I said 96 was a greats year compared to 95... Am i wrong?

[@gregorsamsa2271]

1996 turned out to be actually a more positive year. Mankind (Foley), Sid and Vader were good additions. But it really started well, when the Stone Cold gimmick came into existence. His feud with Bret, who after his return felt more fresh than ever before, was of course the highlight. Also, The Rock debuted as Rocky Maivia at the end of the very same year. Even though 1997 is perhaps the beginning of the Attitude Era, all the foundations were laid in the previous year already, as much WWF still was struggling. In 1995, they absolutely hit the rock bottom, but in 96 it slightly started to get better. Even if it wasn't clear at first.

[@dnice2000]

Came here to say this...thank you

[@Slick_Rick859]

96 was just building it up then 97 hit and WWF went crazy and brought in the attitude era. Stone cold and the rock feud was awesome. IMO attitude era was the best. 🐐 if wrestling was like it was I would prolly be watching it still. I wish they didn’t kill WCW because WWE would have to step it up cause they would still have competition. I miss the good ol days of wrestling.

[@perry3770]

I started watching WWF in 1996 as a kid because of Stone Cold, I feel like this was the turn around year where things started to get real good especially when Stone Cold feuded with Bret Hart

[@atheistapostate7019]

I started watching in 1986 during Hogan being the goat. It was a great time BUT once the 80’s ended so did the whole attitude of the decade and the cartoonish approach with old. We were entering the generation of grunge, nu metal, edgier rap bands, tv shows pushing boundaries… the WWF was stale for the first half of the 90’s

[@atheistapostate7019]

@@user-jt2fw5wk7z not sure I get your point… Hogan, stale in the early 90’s, Macho Man, stale in the early 90’s. 3/4 of the WWF stale in the early 90’s. Many who went stale on the WWF revived their careers in WCW, and some of them Vince was an idiot and released, like Bam Bam Bigalow. Vince wanted his big muscles cartoon world when the wrestling fans wanted something more edgy like WCW was doing, and started the Monday Night Wars, in which they killed WWF until the Attitude Era kicked in finally and the stale product over

[@MichaelMoochie88Scott]

Yep yap

[@michaeljohnson5365]

The parking lot fight between Goldust v Roddy Piper was the highlight of 1996

[@ajk]

No love for Michaels and Mankind at Mind Games?

[@KylePrime_1986]

BTW Diesel turning tweener after losing the title was when WWF finally got the Diesel character right had he stayed he and shawn could have had a much longer and interesting feud. Had that been the Diesel that held the title he would have done a lot better

[@RolfWrenWalsh]

I became a wrestling fan in January 1996. I watched Nitro on January 1, 1996 because I couldn't find anything good to watch that night. I had never even heard of WCW. A couple weeks later, I was hooked to this day. I lived, breathed, and bled WCW from 1996 to 2001 (and still to to this day). WWF 1996 is my favorite year of WWF purely for nostalgia. Same with WCW. I was an absolute wrestling junkie that year. Look up "Herald to Adventure". In hindsight yes, 1996 was a blah year for WWE, but with my nostalgia glasses on, it was the best ever. Especially for WCW. WCW FOR LIFE!!!!

[@mikehunt4986]

1996 was the Warrior's third run in the WWF, not his second.

[@ChristopherJohn4389]

Correct

[@chrishollister80]

One could be forgiven why this mistake could be made. He was so infrequent that most hadn't even noticed he had even left in mid 96

[@mikehunt4986]

@@chrishollister80 Agree to disagree. If you're making a video about the Ultimate Warrior I think that the amount of runs he had in the WWF is a detail that should not be overlooked.

[@chrishollister80]

@@mikehunt4986 the includes a point about him, it isn't about him..

[@romero329]

I thought 96 was a step up from 95

[@aymdabes123]

96 is just 95 but with Stone Cold

[@Gaminglife-sf1oz]

From isaac yankem to fake diseal? I don't think that's a step up

[@drue_tube9357]

Agreed, it just felt like when Nash and Hall went to WCW things kinda went left.

[@KINGMONKEY1989]

Am I the only one who misses Mantaur ? 😂😂😂

[@mikeroagreschen5350]

Agreed.

[@T.Maximus]

There's definitely been worse that wasn't a bad year

[@saturnstar718]

I don't know what anyone else feels, but 96 WWF was awesome to me.

[@Gbpackers911]

Agreed!! it was the era I grew up with

[@saturnstar718]

@@Gbpackers911 LOL, yup. I was 14 at the time.

[@badass6300]

I don't know why, but I loved 1996, it had many memorable matches and it was a transition year, there was just something special about 1996. 1996 was like a grounded attitude era, maybe that's why and there were so many unique characters back then.

[@Slick_Rick859]

I consider 96 attitude era. Wrestling started to change and become more explicit and for mature audiences but kids watched it anyways including myself 😂. Rated R and you know what they say, sex sales. In my opinion attitude era will never be trumped. It will always be the greatest era in wrestling. 🐐

[@TheThird1977]

I'd argue that 1995 was the darkest year, with 1996 being the start of WWE getting their shit back together.

[@mikeroagreschen5350]

1995 was worse. 8 months of Diesel as champion. A lousy Royal Rumble match. A lousy Wrestlemania. Mabel as King of the Ring... Mabel main-eventing Summerslam. 1996 had a decent Wrestlemania. Shawn Michaels as champion for 8 months and having a good feud with Sid. The birth of Stone Cold. Undertaker vs. Mankind. Yeah, give me 1996 over 1995 any day.

[@elleni-41]

Wwf wasn't at a good place in 96.. I met Foley at a modells in the late 90s..i shook his hand n got his autograph..25 years later n I still have his autograph..

[@HudsonValleyVHS]

How they under utilized Vader was the such a waste of talent. Though I cant say 1996 was by the worse year for WWF. Honestly, the Invasion angle was such a waste of (likely) the best storyline opportunity imaginable, I cant help but think about 2001. How badly the WWF wasted DDP's talent that year made Vaders push in 1996 look like Goldberg's winning streak.

[@JoseFlores-xc7wu]

Why was Vader underutilized I got two words for you Shawn Michaels

[@Slick_Rick859]

I think people give Shawn Michaels to much credit I mean he was a great wrestler and entertainer but he was a spoiled brat. Over rated.

[@mbizza8135]

​@@JoseFlores-xc7wuyep yk vince is always gonna make some one be the face of the company them times he only had 3 options taker,Michael's and bret to early for hhh but is this stubbornness from vince is what ruined wwe as for tdy

[@cathaldowdall7467]

Great video , be great if you could do a review of every year from 87-05 . That was there best period Wwf

[@mikehunt4986]

I would start further back, in 1984.

[@LongLiveRockAnRoll]

95 was worse, 96 at least had some redeeming features.

[@montecarlo4294]

Hall and Nash signing with WCW in 1996 and starting the nWo was the best thing that could have happened for WWE as it ushered in the Attitude era

[@have_a_good_day420]

I can confirm this because me and my brother were the biggest Attitude Era fans. But in 1996, we were solely into WCW.

[@markula_4040]

Shawn Michaels entered #1 in the 1995 Royal Rumble, not 1996.

[@mryes413]

You forgot to mention Nation of Domination and Rocky Maivia dammit.

[@fordid42]

Those old promos when SCSA was a true heel at the start were really vicious, and the way he delivered them seemed borderline shoot. We all were starting to get smart to the business, but still... that's how good Austin is.

[@FraserFir-sb4lk]

"Making fun of his southern heritage" Vince McMahon was born in Moore county, North Carolina. Ted Turner is from Cincinnati, Ohio. WTF Vince?

[@Xamry]

Vince transitioned into a northern Connecticut man 😅

[@zt1053]

Shawn Michaels as champ is the primary reason WCW started to win in the ratings.

[@Drew-dy4hc]

I love how McMahon makes fun of people from the south but he was raised by a single mother in a single wide trailer in NC. Daddy ran off and stayed out of his life until his teenage years.

[@troywilson4694]

Maybe that has something to do with it.

[@robertcurran2765]

Growing up, the big debate was Stone Cold vs the Rock. My favorite though, was always Mankind. I was weirdo, and immediately latched onto the character.

[@constablekennedy7705]

The WWE was a Hot Mess at this point. 🕳

[@michaeljohnson5365]

Vince has said that if Undertaker went to WCW then WWE would have finished in 1996

[@LuchadorMasque]

so i was 12 and this was the wwf i fell in love with--maybe this is why i think every wrestler has a gimmick gimmick.

[@dustincongello5802]

the billionaire ted skits were great. especially when huckster and nacho man both had heart attacks during their wrestlemania match

[@DenverJohn]

I started watching wrestling in 1996. To me it's the greatest year ever in WWF/E. I always missed Shawn during the height of attitude era.

[@joebloggs5318]

1996 had some rather good stuff going on, most of all the Undertaker and Mankind feud.

[@Honeycomblife]

Great video I feel like I'm watching professional documentary on TV

[@wilfredoesqueda]

Excellent video mate! We need a follow up 97 video

[@KylePrime_1986]

The reaction Sid got in 96 was crazy especially at survivor series 96

[@drewhaueter4502]

Sycho Sid looked like a million bucks with the title on with the leather vest

[@Jayce_Alexander]

Early on HHH looked like a dollar store Las Vegas casino magician.

[@raedvalenzuela5085]

Jeez, I remembered 96 Wwf like it was yesterday. It was what called “weird times” because of how stale and light Wwf was and the fact WCW snatched up the “big names”

[@tomblanchette9441]

That was an awesome year when the Monday Night Wars were about to start. It was the years when Vince the man who virtually monopolized professional wrestling broke a sweat when competing with WCW! From 1996 to 2002 were the most entertaining.

[@christerry1611]

1996 didn't start getting better until the end of the year around Survivor Series

[@saqibakbar2026]

This was when Michaels entered the Royal Rumble while returning from injury. he won it from the number 1 slot in 1995.

[@michaelizzo4125]

If 1996 was the darkest year then 1995 was the toilet bowl year - KOTR - shudder

[@christopherfoley8322]

tell me that in the interview with the warrior when he was without the make up, has short hair and the facial hair, that he doesnt look like Gary Cole(Lumburg from Office Space)

[@Aeis_Kalt]

Glossing over the fact that 1996 was such bad year for them because not only was WCW a threat, but ECW was getting so much attention that they had the potential to eat BOTH companies' lunch.

[@MoneyHoneyBunny]

Darkest definitely isnt 'worst' cause that would be 1995. 1996 was honestly a great year to go back and rewatch with some incredible moments. Sid's success to me was the beginning of the attitude era, and Vince realizing that fans didn't want guys who were vanilla babyfaces like HBK anymore, they wanted the badass bad guy to be the good guy. Stone Cold wouldn't have been what he was without Sycho Sid to lay the groundwork and prove to Vince that a bad guy could be the face vs a good guy.

[@chuckmangione195]

i'm watching all the raws, superstars and PPVs in order starting in 1993. currently in 94, it's definitely a slog to get through these right now. Kwang, and sparky plugg, the head shrinkers, matt hardy is a jobber, mabel, and j-e double f, j-a double r e double t... there are some bright spots with razor, and shawn, even 1-2-3 kid and irs are ok, but i can definitely see it going downhill with the departures of bobby heenan, marty janetty, steiner brothers. Thanks for letting me know i have 2 more years of this /sigh

[@Slick_Rick859]

1 2 3 kid was an awesome gimmick but I think his x pac gimmick was better

[@ericsupermagnificent]

1996 was still a watchable year in my opinion and I rather watch that year than today's WWE.

[@Slick_Rick859]

Me too.

[@trevorolesen5305]

Goldust and Mankind were the beginning of the Attitude era

[@theracereels]

Shawn entered number one in 1995, not 1996. He entered number 18 in 1996, eliminated Diesel and went on to Mania 12.

[@matthewcollins8602]

Vince McMahon was a southerner just like Ted Turner was. Turner was the only reason Eric Bischoff was able to challenge Vince at all.

[@Black-Circle]

superb video

[@Trippeak]

93-95 were far worse, 96 was pretty great in retrospect.

[@marvellis6762]

The genesis of Steve Austin was about to change all that and which lead to the greatest of wrestling times ever in history..... The Attitude Era.

[@MrSniperfox29]

Note the wwf actually mentioned several times that hall and Nash were not diesel and razor

[@TrashBandicoot187]

96 was def my fav year of all time, 97 after that obviously but 1996 WWF was special

[@ericMsmith1000]

As soon as Ahmad Johnson came on the scene is when it was really poppin,,,

[@ConwayKitty]

96 was Actually a awesome year. It was like 95 was the darkest point before the daylight. Then after that WW"F" kept on getting better with each year till about 03 or 04.

[@Squaredot01]

That WCW run was awesome

[@michaeljohnson5365]

They could have done more with Doink

[@alexanderarce3341]

Dont forget the WWF mentioned other companies on air was a shock mentioned WCW and ECW and imagine the 1995-96 Goldust gimmick in todays WWE?

[@craigbradshaw3597]

Enjoyed your video,you do a great job thank you

[@StunnedByWrestling]

Thank you!

[@yuhaye3986]

I’m currently watching 1996 Raw and I’m only in February but I’ll say it’s not bad, it’s actually very entertaining even with the limited roaster

[@Rob_Thorsman]

Michaels didn't win the 96 Rumble from being the first entry. That was 95. He won the 96 Rumble but was not entrant 1.

[@LuchadorMasque]

i LOVED the ringmaster gimmick ( i was like 10)

[@mikem10481]

I felt in late 96 that WWF were going to turn it around as they had the talent to do so. However, it was the presentation and keeping it in the cartoon era that halted their progress.

[@aymdabes123]

1996 was the start of RAW's 83 week losing streak

[@Mike-ky9jz]

I think 1996 was the beginning of great things....once the fued between Brett Hart and Stone Cold takes off, it was great tv ....I think by the end of '96, WWF was already better than WCW.

[@AusIrishRooBhoy]

I miss being a wee lad, thinking Dudelove, Mankind, Cactus Jack and Mick Foley were all different wrestlers.

[@dsd310580]

WWE only tag the Attitude Era as starting in December 1997 because that’s when they couldn’t get away with being TV-PG anymore and had to go TV-14. Then started saying WWF had attitude. But the edgy content that defined the Attitude Era actually started in early 1996 and continued throughout and throughout 1997 and would last until late 2003. Plus, it wasn’t just about what the WWF were doing at the time, it’s also what ECW were doing in 1996 and what WCW were doing with the NWO, in 1996. And it was just a way of life for those of us who were in our late teens going into young adulthood between those years, 1996-2003. And other TV shows would follow, too, like Jerry Springer and South Park. So WWE don’t own the monopoly on the Attitude Era. And you could say the seeds of the WWF Attitude Era were planted in late 1995 when Goldust debuted and Bret Hart went through a table and Diesel turned heel.

[@m00rtin4]

What about brian pillman??? ahmed johnson and farooq? Or u save that for 1997? Autumn 96 wwf was pretty much the proto attitude era along with 97 before it kicked off after summerslam 97 with dx imo

[@SA-rf8zk]

95 worse late 96 was the start Of the fight back

[@AllUntold]

1995 was by far the worst wwf year.

[@themorningstar2571]

Music was awesome in WWF.. Goldust entrance is memorable

[@GoldSpider55047]

10:58 Vince Slapping him with the truth 💯

[@chuckdeezle88]

Will always be a new generation kid

[@EliasRoy]

I would say 1996 was a somewhat decent year for WWF. Better than 1995 for sure. But yeah, in the world of pro wrestling, most people remember 1996 to be the year of nWo, and Nitro starting to beat RAW for 83 straight weeks until RAW started to get steam around late 1998

[@joshibrahim1537]

Sick channel

[@jbdmb]

Just the impression I get from the wresting KZbin channels is that 1996 wasn't that bad. Kinda like a Rocky first season of an ultimately successful sitcom

[@michaeljohnson5365]

The whole nWo thing really did WCW very watchable

[@sisypheanexistence8955]

True. They just milked it waaaay too long and had no good follow up plan

[@grimreaper7734]

I was bored with the NWO by October that year. I mostly watched WCW for the midcard and the cruiserweights.

[@atheistapostate7019]

Vince should have been looking at the same edgier WCW and realizing the whole comic book, cartoon gimmick was over and time to adapt. Thank god for Austin 3:16

[@johnilbehonest]

I think stone cold vs bret hart that just upped WWF. I know their was loads of shit going on but wen the blood was coming out of stone colds face that just made WWF class and special stuff was happening

[@ComicBooksandVideoGameNerd96]

The year I was born was also WWF darkest year I though it was 95

[@Longlostpuss]

You kinda talked your way out of '96 being the darkest year more and more as you got further and further into the video. It had dark moments, but it also had a big turnaround with the arrival of Mankind and that Sycho Sid run, not to mention the Bret vs Austin feud. 1995 was by far and away the worst year ever for WWF, it wasn't even a contest.

[@JoshOtten-k8q]

I think like 93 to 95 were the worst ..silly gimmiks an shit I watched just out of habit I think golddust was the one who started the attitude era cuz he was goin way over the top WWF was more entertaining WCW had the better "wrestlers" Vince became relaxed an complacent an in any business venture or almost anywhere in your life you can't become complacent

[@mayavenuemisfit814]

The WWF in 1996 was absolutely terrible, except for two things. Number one, Steve Austin winning King of the Ring and going on to start a legendary rivalry with Bret Hart. And number two, Undertaker and Mick Foley beginning their own rivalry.

[@nickswettenham1877]

95 was the dark, 96 was the beginning of it all!

[@dallasarnold1803]

Sorry but no, 1996 is *NOT* the darkest year in WWE history. I know WCW dominating the WWF during the Monday Night War that year but still, It was a decent/underrated year. The WWF beginning to fight back against WCW in 1997 to get more mojo and popularity despite losing again. You mean *2007* is the darkest year in WWE history.

[@mikem10481]

I can't compare Royal Rumble 96 to Uncensored in 96.

[@fro-zone2k]

I wouldn't call it dark but more dry.

[@agr7879]

Was still way better back then than it is now

[@Blaze0071]

Which year of the modern era comes close or matches it today?

[@pgaribay14]

2009

[@Gaminglife-sf1oz]

2013, 2014 and 2015

[@michaeljohnson5365]

WWF peaked from 1988-1992 and then downhill very quick

[@sisypheanexistence8955]

To then become incredibly kickass from 97 to 2001. I'm biased though cos i stopped watching in 2001.

[@blurplebear8573]

Incorrect. Their darkest year was when they hired Ron Killings. He's darker than midnight in a black hole.

[@pc8679]

Raw vs Nitro was a special time in pro wrestling

[@hamthemammothhamster839]

1996 maybe a terrible year for WWE. But in no way was it a dark period for the company. You had way worse years. Of course, you had 1995. You also had years like 2004, 2007, which many people consider to be the DARKEST year in company history, 2010, 2015, and late 2017-mid 2022, in which the product was at its worst. 1996 was nowhere near as bad as those periods.

[@dwaynejpeterkin]

How was 2004 dark it was good with Benoît and Eddie as champion plus edge turned heel orton won the title Batista rise to main event which came the following year 04 was great all around with the exception of brock amd Goldberg leaving

[@hamthemammothhamster839]

@@dwaynejpeterkin Yes. That was all good. But the bad outweighed all of that. You had a shit undercard. Some of the worst undercard storylines in company history. You had terrible gimmicks like Kenzo Suzuki, Heidenreich, Snitsky, and Mordechai. Smackdown going to shit. JBL's WWE Title reign was touted as one of the worst world title reigns in company history. And you had a lot of bad PPVs. And that's coming from a product standpoint. Revenue was a problem for WWE as well. The only stars that were doing good business were Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit when they were champions. PPVs weren't drawing well in buyrates. Especically the Smackdown PPVs, considering how bad Smackdown was at the time. Fans were starting to fall out of tune with the product as well because of the transition the company was undergoing. 2004 was considered by many people to be a shitty year for the company for a lot of reasons.

[@dwaynejpeterkin]

@@hamthemammothhamster839 i hear you on the undercard as they were god awful and thankfully were gone in one year not to mention smackdown lost alot that made raw a better show im the main event and mid card however 04 had some good that benefited in the long run a prettt bad year that went good

[@dlracer2]

Golddust was so goddamn good. He's going to go down as the greatest of all time.

[@grimreaper7734]

I HATED Shawn as champion and 1996 still had some truly terrible gimmicks but it did give us Stone Cold Steve Austin.