the New Generation, etc. that were the themes of World Wrestling Entertainment over the years.

In the 90s, the famed Attitude Era helped WWE win the Monday Night Wars, but what came next helped the company evolve and get a lot younger. The Ruthless Aggression Era - which occurred from 2002 to 2008 - attempted to keep the company's momentum going. While it fell short of its predecessor, Ruthless Aggression did represent a turning of the page as Ohio Valley Wrestling's famed Class of 2002 began popping up on the main roster. That included John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Dave Bautista, Randy Orton, Shelton Benjamin, and Victoria - all of whom had a huge impact during their time in the ring.

In hindsight, the Ruthless Aggression Era had a mix of both good and bad moments that make it memorable. Viewing it now, almost 20 years later, gives us a clearer perspective of both the pros and cons of this pivotal time in WWE History.

9 The Brand Split

Suddenly, the Red and Blue Brands Were Separate

In what has always been considered a controversial decision on WWE's part, RAW and Smackdown went from simply being different programs to being islands unto themselves. They were labeled as the red brand and the blue brand, and the promotion formed a second world championship.

While the idea of a company having two figureheads and treating the two shows as if they were separate bothered some traditionalists, it fortified the roster. Looking back, the brand split allowed more talent to get weekly airtime, as well as change shows if their act got stale. It also introduced the WWE Lottery, where stars could be taken from the blue side and brought to the red side - and vice versa.

At the time, it was hard to justify splitting the company right down the middle. But in the end, it turned out to be a blessing for WWE. They took full advantage of their hours of programming to forge two successful rosters at the same time.

8 The In-Ring Action Improved

WWE Superstars Focused on Wrestling Over Gimmicks

There's no doubt about it: World Wrestling Entertainment produced some of the very best in-ring performers the industry has ever seen. The fast-paced and high-impact moves of wrestlers like Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, and Randy Orton looked very different from the slower, plodding fighters of the 80s and much of the 90s.

The sweet science of working a professional wrestling match was taken to a whole new level during the Angle-Lesnar feud, which provided the fans with a look at the future. The two mega-athletes were the prototypes of what WWE would later become - a stocked cabinet of stars who could match their athleticism with anyone on the planet.

7 The Oversaturation of Programming

The Chinks in WWE's Armor Were Beginning to Show

Between adding ECW as a third brand and trying to capitalize on their domination of the pro wrestling market, WWE kept producing more programming during the Ruthless Aggression Era. That watered down the product, along with stretching fans' wallets thinner and thinner.

Perhaps nothing illustrates this more than the re-launch of the Great American Bash as an extra pay-per-view event. It fizzled, as did many of WWE's other attempts to add events to the wrestling calendar. Being the only show in town, the promotion had to try and outdo itself every time out, and that was beginning to become more and more difficult. It was just a little too much WWE, all the time, and it started a trend where fans were more choosy about their wrestling purchases.

6 John Cena Carried the Banner, For Better or Worse

Big Match John Was Over-Exposed During the Era

No wrestler better defines this time than John Cena. He kicked off the Era by declaring to Kurt Angle that he had 'ruthless aggression', before slapping him and giving the Olympic hero one hell of a challenge. Once the kid arrived on the scene, it wasn't long before Vince McMahon tabbed him as his next franchise player.

For years, 'Super Cena' was the poster child of the Ruthless Aggression Era, and he received the biggest babyface push in the promotion since Hulk Hogan in the mid-1980s. And just like The Hulkster, his role as the unbeatable good guy began to wear thin.

As the years went by, Cena's constant push began to wear on the fans. Early on, he was adored, but by the end of this period, he had been so overexposed that he was starting to hear boos. That trend would extend well into the 2010s before even the fans who disliked him gave him his flowers.

5 The ECW Re-Boot Was Extremely Awful

It Never Captured the Magic of Its Namesake

While this subject has been beaten to death, it's still a part of the Ruthless Aggression era, so it must be mentioned here. While the original incarnation of Extreme Championship Wrestling was innovative, its later version in WWE was NOT.

Hoping to capitalize on the success of their One-Night Stand pay-per-views and a bit of Extreme nostalgia, World Wrestling Entertainment launched a new version of ECW in 2006. Unfortunately, they never re-captured the same rough edge and hardcore style of the little company from Philly. WWE's version of ECW floundered around for a few years and was eventually discontinued in 2010.

4 A Little Too Much Triple H

The Game Dominated WWE Television at the Time

Triple H had a literal stranglehold on WWE programming during the Ruthless Aggression Era. It wasn't uncommon for him to kick off an episode of RAW - walking to the ring with his title belt - then talk for 20–25 minutes before any action began. It was a formula that began to wear on the fans over time. Not helping the matter at all was the fact that wrestling fans knew that he was married to the boss' daughter. That family connection drew the ire of the WWE Universe, especially as he continued to stay on top at all times.

Looking back, however, Triple H's so-called Reign of Terror also had a lot of great moments at this time. He wanted to fashion himself into a 21st-century version of Ric Flair. And in many ways, he did. He played an amazing villain during Ruthless Aggression, which was likely fueled by the WWE Universe's real-life resentment toward him.

3 The Spinner Belt Was Pretty Silly-Looking

The Cartoonish Look Tarnished the Title

An absolute eyesore, the spinner belt, along with all its varieties and incarnations, is a black eye on the era. Yes, it was a way to elevate John Cena by giving him a championship that was unique to him and his persona. But at the same time, it looked ridiculous when someone else was carrying it. (And don't even get me started when it comes to Edge's Rated-R version, which was even worse.)

Not much more to add to this one, other than that the travesty of a title looked silly then, and it's downright farcical when you view it through the lens of 2025. It was almost cartoonish. Luckily, the championships carried by WWE today are befitting of the amazing athletes who carry them.

2 The Women's Division Was Better Than It Is ed

Groundbreaking Performers Emerged During The Era

While today's Women's Division is one of the most important parts of WWE programming, it wasn't always that way. The early 2000s saw the company veer away from traditional wrestling towards more of the 'Divas' style of performing. But that didn't stop some very important figures from bursting onto the scene.

Most notably, Mickie James, Gail Kim, and Victoria all helped shape this point in WWE's history. Each of them could rightfully be enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame someday. Along with the newcomers, Attitude Era holdovers Lita and Trish Stratus also rose to the occasion. So, while it's true that this time eventually led to bikini models fighting in Jell-O and evening gown matches, there was a sliver of time when the ladies had the chance to shine.

1 The Class of 2002

There Will Never Be a Crop of Young Stars Like It Again

They have been mentioned quite often as part of the Ruthless Aggression Era already, and for good reason. The collection of stars that emerged from developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling, has shaped the WWE for the 21st Century. Most of them are still actively involved in wrestling, 23 years later.

It's highly likely that all the performers involved will eventually be named to the WWE Hall of Fame, or could at least be mentioned in the discussion. Superstars like Cena, Lesnar, Orton, and Batista were main event stars and headlined nearly all the company's events for two decades. Their legacy is unmatched.