Crediting OP and thread proposal to El Rise

The correct definition for Rated M for Manly is "a work that is heavily dependent on things, situations, or actions that are stereotypically masculine, in order to appeal to a predominantly male audience".

Here are the results of Sandbox.Rated M For Manly Wick Check:

Correct: 11/54 (20.37%)
Misuse: 21/54 (38.89%)
Sink Hole: 9/54 (16.67%)
ZCE: 12/54 (22.22%)
Unclear usage: 1/54 (1.85%)

Most instances of misuse boil down to "this character has stereotypically masculine traits", which doesn't fit the definition above. Some misused examples and sinkholes include gushing (which is subjective) or negative interpretation (e.g. this character is bad/unlikable due to his machismo). Lastly, misused character examples have considerable overlap with at least one trope in the Men Are Tough and Masculinity Tropes indices.

With that being said, the description in the main page of Rated M for Manly clearly states that it has to be about a work (e.g. film, anime, etc.), not a character, not a song, and not a fictional culture (unless the work's main premise is at least one of those three). Here are some potential solutions:

1. Cleanup for misuse, sinkholes, and ZCEs.
2. Trim gushing.
3. New trope or super-trope (e.g. Gender-Inverted Girly Girl).
4. Trope rename that better shows the requirement of a work heavily dependent on stereotypically masculine things.

1. Bleach.Tropes O To R: Bleach is a shounen that relies heavily on some of the classic formulae of the genre. It's heavily focused on fighting with character development and revelation occurring through the old-fashioned belief that only through fighting can men truly get to know each other and only when facing death can a man's personality truly be revealed. However, the excessively macho 11th division take the samurai fighting traditions to such excess they're used for both serious storytelling and parody. For example, Ikkaku would rather die than leave his captain's side for another division, but he can also pop his dislocated shoulder back into place with nothing more than a muscle flex.
2. Creator.Spike TV: Spike (formerly and commonly Spike TV) was a Viacom-owned network that was dedicated to every single male interest possible, as you might've been able to tell by its edgy name. It was basically the Rated M for Manly Network, though some may say they lampshaded this often enough to venture into Testosterone Poisoning and invariably into Unfortunate Implications. Correct pothole
3. Deconstruction.Literature: Njal's Saga deconstructs the Rated M for Manly Scandinavian male ideal. The men in the story are quick to resort to Disproportionate Retribution over perceived affronts to each others' manhoods and their feuding leads to a Vicious Cycle of offence, destruction and prolonged bloodshed. For example, at one point a hard-won legal settlement breaks down because a beardless man is offended by a silk garment sent as a gift; it's not even clear if the sender actually intended to slight him. It is made clear throughout that much of the death and destruction in the story could have been avoided if these viking men weren't so pathetically thin-skinned and lacking in self-control. This example is Older Than Print. The work features characters doing stereotypically masculine things. Correct pothole.
4. Film.Aliens: Smack-talking badass Space Marines packing a shitload of badass weaponry to hunt down badass aliens... hell, even the adorable little girl is badass.
5. Film.Jaws: Specially the third act, which is about three manly guys hunting a deadly beast, while also doing other manly things such as drinking and comparing scars.
6. Film.Venom 2018: Action scenes involving SWAT teams, private security contractors, and a giant beefy, deep voiced alien with no shortage of black comedy one-liners. Outside the action scenes, you have what amounts to two buds talking about how to deal with guy stuff.
7. Franchise.Mortal Kombat: It's a fighting game with as much blood as possible, and many bonafide badasses, including some manly women.
8. GrandTheftAutoV.General Tropes: GTA V is considered the biggest selling game of all time, and is arguably the most puerile and adult. It would have one of if not the record for language, the game and community encourages you to be the worst type of player you can be, and it glamorizes being such an immoral and criminal psychopath (in-game).
9. Hitman.Tropes M To Z: This is a series about a genetically-engineered assassin violently killing arms dealers and drug barons whilst wearing awesome suits and toting big guns.
10. Main.World Of Badass: In the World of Badass, every character is a badass. Even the daintiest girly-girl will be a butt-kicking Girly Bruiser. Even the scrawniest of nerds will be a Badass Bookworm. Far from dying first, the black dude will be the guy you least want to mess with. And you should probably just steer clear of gay people altogether. Even that adorable dog might be tough as nails. May or may not be Rated M for Manly, after all badassery comes in many shapes, personalities and sizes. Oh, and expect a few or everyone to have an Awesome Mc Cool Name. A work with this setting is likely to be this trope. Correct pothole.
11. Manga.Record Of Ragnarok: Back-to-back brutal death fights? Check. The strongest both above and under the heavens? Check. Compelling backstories and intense action? Check.

1. Characters.Black Clover Yami Sukehiro: Yami's a muscled Magic Knight captain in a tank top who smokes and uses his katana with dark magic. He's always urging his squad members to get stronger and surpass their limits. Yami's manliness is one of the reasons Magna respects him so much. Context is about a character, not about a work.
2. Characters.Crazy Ex Girlfriend Main Characters: He tries very, very hard to give off this vibe but he just comes across as overcompensating and it's clear none of the other characters see him as being very impressive or have much respect for him. A character tries to give off a "manly" vibe, nothing about a work
3. Characters.Danganronpa 2 Male Students: A muscle-bound manly man who isn't afraid to fight, lead or cry. The character in question is "manly", nothing about the work.
4. Characters.DCEU Aquaman: What with the beard, Barbarian Longhair and gung-ho attitude in battle. He also has a fair amount of shirtless scenes that show off his Heroic Build and tattoos. Context is about a character, not about a work.
5. Characters.Elden Ring Godfrey: Easily the manliest of the demigods, and likely one of the manliest characters in Fromsoft's entire history, rivalled only by General Radahn and Lord Isshin. Not only is he a barbarian king and mighty warrior who attained demigodhood through strength alone, he was also a wise and fair ruler and loving father to his children. Also, that spirit lion you were expecting to join him in battle? That was put there to hold him back, and when he gets serious he rips it apart with his bare hands and starts attacking you unarmed, shirtless, and drenched in its blood. And he is more dangerous like that than he was fully armored and wielding a gigantic axe. And despite being an utterly merciless adversary, he's a genuinely honorable fighter who views you as a Worthy Opponent. The character in question is "manly", nothing about the work.
6. Characters.Fate Stay Night Humans: His reputation for being a super-ripped Church Militant who uses shortswords as Wolverine Claws and has a habit of not giving a fuck even when he has every reason to makes fans deem him as this, with nicknames like "Kotomanly" to boot. The character in question is "manly", nothing about the work.
   Commenter on a Type-Moon Forum: Kotomine's end in both Fate and Unlimited Blade Works are great because they create an atmosphere where you begin to underestimate him. Then Heaven's Feel happens and how amazing he is creates a state of perpetual arousal whenever he is on screen.
7. Characters.Game Of Thrones House Clegane: Grizzled, scarred, bearded, foul-mouthed, chauvinistic and above all badass. Entry is about how one character acts/behaves, nothing about the work.
8. Characters.Kingdom Hearts Terra: Possibly the manliest playable character, who uses rock and darkness powers, wields a giant Claymore of a keyblade. Being a young adult as opposed to an early-to-mid teen (like every other protagonist besides Aqua) definitely helps. And he would also later be possessed into becoming Xehanort himself, who would then be separated into Ansem and Xemnas, two other examples of this trope. Characters are "manly", nothing about the work.
9. Characters.Metroid Samus Aran: Samus is a very notable subversion of this trope due to her gender, which is one reason behind her fame and popularity. A 6-foot-tall armored space-faring Bounty Hunter with a huge Arm Cannon who goes killing aliens and blowing up planets is inherently one of the manliest concepts one can think of, but Samus being a woman shows that this type of impressive badassery isn't inherently tied to gender, machismo or stereotypical masculinity in general. Parodied by Random Encounters in this video. Context is about a character, not about a work.
10. Characters.My Hero Academia Endeavor: Bulky, tall, stoic and a fearsome fighter, he makes a classic way of representing aggressive masculinity. This character represents masculinity, nothing about the work.
11. Characters.Star Wars Kylo Ren: Defied. This is what Kylo Ren tries to be; Darth Vader was very manly and fearsome, and Kylo tries to copy his imposing manner and deep voice. However, Kylo's true personality is childish and decidedly unmanly, and he just comes across as if he's trying too hard. A character is "manly", nothing about the work. Also, misuse of Defied Trope.
12. Characters.The Boys 2019 Soldier Boy: As a product of his times, Soldier Boy mocks anything that doesn't live up to his standard of masculinity, such as dads wearing a baby sling. Entry is about how one character acts/behaves, nothing about the work.
13. Characters.The Legend Of Zelda Ganon Ganondorf: In contrast to the cute, youthful Link, Ganondorf is huge, muscular, intimidating, powerful and all-around extremely manly. Even his boar demon and Calamity forms haven't lost everything in this respect. A character is "manly", nothing about the work.
14. ComicBook.Chick Tracts: "The Sissy?" delivers the typical Chick message in a tough, machismo-heavy kind of way. Context is only limited to one chapter rather than the entire work
15. Creator.Friedrich Nietzsche: His ideal character, and philosophy emphasized personal strength, self-reliance, Determinator tendencies, Magnificent Bastardry, and generally being the pinnacle of physical and mental fortitude. An ideal character has stereotypically masculine beliefs, nothing about a work
16. Recap.Cobra Kai S 4 E 2 First Learn Stand: In contrast to Miyagi Do's thoughtful Wax On, Wax Off approach, Johnny's Eagle Fang instruction is outright Training from Hell. Context is about method of training. Nothing about the work.
17. Recap.Parks And Recreation S 03 E 01: The Swanson Pyramid of Greatness is a pretty macho way of living. Some people's way of living is "macho". Nothing about the work.
18. SelfDemonstrating.Draven: Ooh yes, Draven is definitely the manliest champion there is, look at those damages, look at these muscles! Not even that Braum hold a candle on Draaaven! The character is "manly", nothing about the work he is in.
19. Series.Empire: The reason for Lucious' homophobia. He isn't morally against it, as proven by his positive reaction to Tiana being bi, but is ashamed and embarrassed that his son is "another man's bitch." Even when Jamal comes out at Lucious' white party to a thunderous applause and positive news hype the next day and Cookie spells it out to Lucious that nobody has a problem with it, he is still too set in his ways to accept it. A character is homophobic. Completely different from what the trope is about.
20. Series.House Of Cards US: True to Viktor Petrov's status as an Expy for Vladimir Putin, there's a lot of references to his macho activities. An interesting one involves Hector Mendoza being a fan of John Wayne, to which Petrov smirks and says, "Hmm—when men were men, huh?" Context about "macho activities" is unclear. Entry is about one character being macho, nothing about the work.
21. WesternAnimation.Teen Titans Go: "Man Person" is all about this. After Cyborg mentions how Beast Boy upped his "man factor" by getting a scar over his eye, they both end up going to extreme lengths to be as manly as possible. Context is only limited to one episode rather than the entire work

1. ASongOfIceAndFire.Tropes A To D: Deliberate Values Dissonance: Victarion murdered his wife with his bare hands, causing some readers to see it as a Moral Event Horizon. The culture of the ironborn is Rated M for Manly; Asskicking Leads to Leadership all the way. Victarion considers his actions perfectly moral, and places the blame totally on Euron for defiling his wife. Context focuses on a fictional culture. Nothing about the entire work
2. BecomingTheMask.Real Life: The same goes for Robert E. Howard, who got a lot of his ambiance for his rugged action-packed stories from the oil drillers, boxers, sailors and other Rated M for Manly Men he emulated. Some people are "manly", nothing about a work.
3. ComicBook.The Eye Of Mongombo: Lantern Jaw of Justice: Even as a duck, Cliff sports a manly chin. Nothing about the work.
4. Funny.Terrible Writing Advice: Alpha Heroes: When describing the typical "alpha hero" as a "compulsive blackmailing stalker with control issues, a short temper, and equipped with near-unlimited resources at his disposal", J.P. has to pause and check his script to make sure he didn't get the episode mixed up with one on supervillains. Context focuses on a character archetype rather than a work
5. Funny.The Iliad: Menelaus beating Paris up with his bare hands, while the latter still has his sword. Nothing about the work
6. Laconic.Carpet Of Virility: A hairy chest, either meant to create a sense of disgust or masculine awe. A physical trait makes a character look masculine. Nothing about a work.
7. Main.Nineties Anti Hero: Male N.A.H.s are easy to identify: ridiculously muscled, and often wear lots of pouches or bandoliers. There's a good chance he's either middle aged with lots of long, grey hair and beard stubble, or scars, but either way, he's likely to be Rated M for Manly incarnate. He also probably has at least one eye that looks fake, injured, or diseased and he carries a ludicrously oversized gun or sword which no mortal could possibly carry. A character archetype is "manly", nothing about a work.
8. Main.Noble Male Roguish Male: Berserk: Guts is an ultra-manly and uncivilized Byronic Hero and Griffith is a sophisticated and manipulative Cultured Badass. Guts is very much the Roguish Male in most things, including not being interested in sex or romance (at least, until he meets Casca). Griffith, on the other hand, shows what a Noble Male is capable of until he goes bad. And it is horrific. A character is "manly".
9. YMMV.Mulan: Misaimed Fandom: There's strong irony in the fact that a movie about a woman trying to break gender roles in the name of protecting her father produced a song (I'll Make A Man Out of You) that ended up becoming the most popular and remembered song of the movie. A song is "manly", nothing about the work.

1. Advertising.Orangina: The male-themed commercials, especially the bear.
2. Anime.Highlander The Search For Vengeance: As to be expected from Highlander.
3. Fanfic.Doki Doki Literature Club Loops: Discussed in Chapter 11.7, complete with making up a manly cereal commercial.
4. Film.Prince Of Persia The Sands Of Time: Along with bringing in the badass protagonist from the games, the movie ups the manliness with the Hassanssins and Seso, evil and dangerous. How?
5. Film.The Delta Force: The theme music alone and the fact that it stars Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin is what sells it.
6. Literature.Casca The Eternal Mercenary: *blank*
7. Literature.Moby Dick: Ahab might be crazy, but he's manly as hell.
8. Main.Rated M For Manly: Vinland Saga. It's about vikings. It'll put hair on your chest.
9. Music.Waking The Cadaver: Aimed for this later as their lyrical theme, mostly of the Unstoppable Rage variety.
10. RickAndMorty.Tropes Q To Z: Alien Invasion Tomato Monster Mexican Armada Brothers Who Are Just Regular Brothers Running In A Van From An Asteroid And All Sorts Of Things: The Movie. (Or, just Two Brothers.) The sequel Three Brothers, though never shown, likely matches or exceeds the manliness level of the original. How?
11. TeamFortress2.Tropes Q To Z: The Saxton Hale comics parody the "Man's Life" magazine from the forties.
12. Webcomic.Axe Cop: Commented out

1. Analysis.Girl Show Ghetto: Despite Rated M for Manly being deeply entrenched in gaming culture, research has shown it's actually the opposite: while boys largely don't care about whether the main character of the game is male or female, girls do and would prefer to play as a fellow female; the logical choice in terms of reaching the greatest number of players, then, would be a game about an Action Girl, but such things are the exception rather than the rule. Does the pothole refer to how real life people have "masculine" beliefs, or how a majority of games appeal to a predominantly male audience?