Ever since WWE officially became a PG product in 2008, many fans have been clamoring for it to become “edgier” again.
Part of this surrounds the use of blood. Prior to 2008, wrestlers in the company would often end up bleeding during high-profile matches, even going as far as introducing a “First Blood” match that could only be won by cutting your opponent open.
Nick Khan addresses possibility of blood in WWE
Speaking to Lightshed Partners, WWE CEO Nick Khan was asked if blood could return to the product in light of the company’s acquisition by Endeavor.
According to Khan, it is a possibility for the third hour of Raw as they are looking at “tweaking” the content that goes on that part of the show.
“Look, when we’re specifically talking about the 10 to 11 hour on Raw, we’re specifically talking to NBCU and ourselves about what we do with that moving forward.
“We ask, what do we do if we tweak this, that 10 to 11 hour, it is basic cable, it’s not broadcast, as you know.
“We think that NBCU would be supportive, but we’re not on a final conclusion on that.”
At WrestleMania 39, the issue of blood came to the fore during the Hell in a Cell bout between Edge and Finn Balor.
At one point in the match, Edge threw a ladder at Balor, resulting in The Prince being badly cut. The action was paused while he was attended to by medics at ringside.
Khan praised Balor for being able to take staples in the middle of a match and being able to get right back to it.
“At that moment, I was very close to ringside and to see him take staples in the middle of the action and to jump up and take up the cage like that, it’s such a performance.”
Afterwards, Balor needed 14 staples to close the wound properly and later revealed that even getting to the match was touch and go as he had suffered a torn calf only three weeks prior.
H/T to SEScoops for the above transcription.