Before I start, I would like to thank Sulayman and Anthony Hammett for helping me with this article.
On Jan. 11, 1993, pro wrestling fans were introduced to a new show on cable television called Monday Night Raw.
Raw was broadcast live on USA Network. It was something new, unique, and exciting.
It was created by Vince McMahon. His intentions were to make the WWE easier to watch and follow on television.
His plan was a success and Raw has been WWE’s flagship show ever since. Raw has been home to some amazing matches and memories.
From Mankind winning the WWF Championship to The Rock and Mankind’s “This is Your Life” segment and Stone Cold driving a beer truck and a Zamboni to the ring; all these memories were a significant part of RAW continuously dominating the competition.
If not for Raw, the WWE would be out of business.
On Sept. 4, 1995, WCW launched its new Monday night show on TNT called Monday Night Nitro. It aired one hour before RAW and ran for 3 hours and by doing so, WCW was legitimate competition for the WWE.
During late 1995 and all the way up to 1998, the two shows battled for ratings. This battle for superior ratings between the two shows became known as the “Monday Night Wars.”
For 84 continuous weeks, Nitro received better ratings than Raw and for numerous reasons.
Eric Bischoff would give away results of Raw’s matches and since Raw would be live one week and it would air taped the next week, this would make some fans unconcerned about the show.
They figured there was no need to watch Raw because they already knew the outcome of the matches.
WCW also had edgier storylines and they had the New World Order, known as the nWo.
Since WCW was achieving better ratings, the WWE and Raw became an edgier and more violent show. WWE’s new style and era became known as the Attitude Era. The Attitude Era helped increase Raw’s ratings.
In 1999 WWE added SmackDown as another weekly TV show, but everyone knew Raw was still the flagship show of the company.
Then, in 2001 after years of battling, the WWE bought WCW and the WWE became the only major pro wrestling company left in America.
This cemented Raw’s place as the best pro wrestling show because it was WWE’s best show.
After the WWE bought WCW it had an excess of talent, so the WWE decided to separate the rosters.
Some superstars were sent to Raw and others to SmackDown. Once the wrestlers were put on a show that was the only show they wrestled on.
Even after dividing the talent onto two shows, everyone knew Raw was still the flagship of the company.
Superstars, and even the commentators, would rather be on Raw. In the 2008 WWE Draft Jim Ross, Raw’s lead commentator at the time was drafted to SmackDown in the 2008 WWE Draft Lottery.
He was really upset that he was going to be leaving Raw and was very mad because he thought of it as a downgrade. He was also upset that management had not told him he was going to switching shows.
Superstars look at it like this; if you have made it to Raw, then you have made it to the top.
Raw has also always seemed to be the main focus of the McMahons. Raw has also been the main focus in most Pay-Per-Views since the brand extension.
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