When did wwe pick up the pace?

TL:DR When did WWE start feeling like 2002?

I started with wwe after WM 18 (first draft). Great pacing, smooth, so easy to watch. Individual characters (even lower midcarders) getting more resources for their storylines, not just upper carders, more variety AND most importantly the work rate was fantastic.

But then I decided go back to the roots and watched from 1997 to 1999 and just got burned out.

I don't want to miss out on a lot, but I really want to watch something more like 2002. Where's the sweet spot?