WWE Attitude Era Allegedly Started With Surprising Birthday Gift To Vince McMahon

Vince McMahon brought forward the most successful era in WWE’s history, The Attitude Era.

To this day, fans still speak enthusiastically about the rise of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and others who led the company through that era.

While Vince McMahon led the creative direction of the era, it actually started with Vince Russo.

Former WWE head writer’s gift promoted Vince McMahon to start ‘The Attitude Era’

During a conversation with Jonathan Coachman, Vince Russo revealed exactly what gift to Vince McMahon led them to pursue that creative direction.

Coach, I am going to tell you a story you don’t even know. Do you want to know how The Attitude Era officially started? Coach, true story. Me and Vince [McMahon], just the two of us were writing TV. Coach, it was Vince’s birthday the day we were writing TV. I had to bring him something, right? Coach, what on God’s green earth do you buy Vince McMahon? Coach, I got him a t-shirt. This is pre-Attitude Era. Here’s what the t-shirt said, ‘Don’t give me any of your attitude. I have enough of my own’. That was the official start of The Attitude Era.

The modern era is very different from The Attitude Era, but fans have been thoroughly appreciative of Triple H’s ability of long-term storytelling.