WWE Monday Night Raw: Will the Program Go Another 1,000 Episodes?

As episode 1,000 of Raw draws near, one has to wonder how long Vince McMahon can keep this up. 

Though it will look vastly different, WWE will likely still be producing Raw through episode 2,000 and beyond. 

As it did through the '90s, before and after the Attitude Era, after great tragedy and constant roster upheaval, WWE should continue to persevere and push on with its premier program. 

Come 2030, we may find ourselves celebrating episode 2,000 of Raw. 

What follows are three reasons why this will likely be the case.

Fanbase

Fans who grew up on the early seasons of Raw are getting older and having kids.  Many of the kids watching Raw now will age with an affection for the program. 

When episode 2,000 rolls around, those kids may be sitting their little ones down in front of their TV with them.  Kofi Kingston, Daniel Bryan and Tyson Kidd may be returning as legends by that time. 

Wrestling fans are among the most cynical of fans, but also the most loyal.

It is a sport that tragedies and steroid scandals couldn't destroy.  Wrestling fans bare through the bad times in hopes of seeing the next wave of greatness.

While they gripe about their favorite star not getting pushed or seeing too much John Cena, WWE's most bitter fans still find reasons to watch the show. 

There will always be a wrestler someone can root for.  There will always be the chance that the next episode could be a classic. 

And even at its lowest points (ratings wise), Raw still remains king of the wrestling world. 

Lack of Competition

Raw has so much of a head start now both in terms of money and fanbase that it isn't going to see serious competition from another wrestling company. 

The longer the show stays on the air, the more prestige it builds, the more history it can draw from.

With TNA struggling and Ring of Honor not in a financial position to go national, WWE will continue to be the foremost wrestling company in the world. 

That means that even with down years here and there, Raw will be for many fans the most important source of weekly wrestling. 

There will always be the diehards who seek out alternative wrestling like ROH or Japanese promotions, but WWE Raw has a stranglehold on the casual fans. 

Ability to Adapt

One of WWE's strengths has always been how well its down shifting with the times.  The Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection came at just the right moment.

WWE could have kept that style going through the '90s, but instead evolved along with its fans and delivered the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Eras.    

New stars are born.  Wrestling styles change.

WWE (Raw in particular) has been at the heart of those changes and should continue to do so. 

It's hard to imagine what Raw will look like in 18-plus years.  Even young guys like Damien Sandow will be in their late 40s.  We will be in the midst of a different era, the show barely recognizable from the days in the Grand Ballroom at Manhattan Center Studios.

Wherever pro wrestling is headed, whoever ends up being the new face of the sport, Raw will provide the launch pad.