Cody Rhodes bleeding is a sign of WWE turning up the heat

WWE is primarily a PG promotion, but since The Rock has returned to the company's programming, it has occasionally sauntered into more mature territory. However, things were taken a step further during Monday's RAW episode. 

When The Rock jumped Cody Rhodes backstage, he "split" The American Nightmare open. Visuals of Rhodes bleeding from the head began circling social media. The stage for WrestleMania had just gotten bigger. In terms of raising the stakes and creating excitement, WWE's decision to have the segment was a masterpiece. 

There was something more symbolic at play. As a PG promotion, WWE rarely features blood on TV. It's not part of their core offering. Instead, they generate excitement via long-term storytelling. Yet, with The Rock back in the fold, we're witnessing a throwback to the attitude era. And with it comes one of the most compelling angles wrestling has ever seen. 

When speaking on his 83 Weeks podcast, Eric Bischoff admitted he wasn't a fan of the bleeding in the segment, but he understood the moment's significance.

"I didn’t like it," Bischoff said. "...And I am absolutely in the minority on this...We haven’t seen blood in WWE for a long time. So, I guess it mattered. The part of me that liked it was it was a throwback to old school. It’s like the way it used to be done. That part of me likes that, a traditional way of getting heat. The fact that there was blood all over the weight belt that Cody’s Mama or Mama Cody, whatever it was, Mama Rhodes. That was a nice touch to bring Cody’s mom into this. I’d like to see her face when this is going on.”