WWE: Why Monday Night RAW Is Still the Focus of the Company

Eighteen years, 961 episodes.  The longest running weekly episodic program in television history.  Monday Night RAW is the flagship show for WWE.

It is the focus of the company, and it always will be.

It’s very surreal to me, when I really think about it.  I remember watching the first RAW, and seeing the program evolve as the Monday night war with WCW began.  

Man, what a long, strange trip it’s been. 

I have to say, in the midst of it all, when WCW was riding high in the ratings, there was an overall feeling that they were just going to keep killing it every week.  They could not be stopped, and eventually, they were going to run WWE out of business.  

WCW had all the momentum.  WWE could not hang with that, and no matter what they did, it just was not the same.

WCW Monday Nitro was hip, it was cutting edge, and every week was packed with surprises.  They had all the talent, and they were getting more all the time.

A large portion of that talent had jumped ship from WWE, of course, and that was all the more reason to tune in.

Wrestlers who had made their name working for Vince McMahon were now taking that notoriety down south, and they were taking a good bit of fans with them.

The three biggest names were the men who formed the bad boys of wrestling, the nWo—Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.

The strength of the nWo, Sting’s evolution in the Crow gimmick, plus the ascension of Goldberg, put WCW on top of the wrestling world, and for a long time, RAW was not "War."  It was crap.

But, in the middle of it all, something unexpected happened.  Steve Austin uttered the words “Austin 3:16,” and the tide began to turn.

Imagine for a moment, if WWE had not managed to turn the corner on WCW.  What if, every Monday, we were all now tuning into WCW Nitro? How different would the landscape of the business look?

Nitro was the right program at the right time.  WCW creative had everything going for it.  But at the end of the day, Eric Bischoff and company lacked one very crucial element.

They had no vision for the future.

This is where Vince McMahon’s genius is very evident.  He had the ability to see past today, to understand that real longevity is only accomplished through hard work and perseverance, not the consuming obsession with immediate ratings, as was the case with WCW.

He could see tomorrow, which is why we’re talking about RAW right now.

When you think of WWE, you think of Monday Night RAW.  It’s that simple.  The program is the entirety of the company’s image, it is the focal point of everything they are, and everything they want to be.  

Without RAW, WWE is just not the same company.

So, while you’re thinking that Friday Night SmackDown is there, a program that is also very important, let me assure you that yes, I agree with that sentiment.  Granted, at any given time it has been given the moniker of the “B” show, but the truth is it has its strengths and can be as entertaining, if not more so, than its Monday night counterpart.

But an obvious edge that RAW will always have over SmackDown, and the one aspect that continues to keep the program at the forefront of WWE, is the fact that it is broadcast live, where Friday nights are taped.

Fans know almost immediately what’s going to happen on SmackDown, thanks to the Internet.  Spoilers live up to their word, and can potentially ruin any surprises that WWE may have in store, the moment that fans click on the headline to read them.

With RAW, however?  It’s a different story.

“Anything can happen in WWE.”  How often have we heard that tagline?  The real truth is that anything can happen on RAW.

It’s that possibility of spontaneity, the great unknown, that keeps fans tuning in.  What’s going to happen on RAW?  Who might show up?

Yes, the spoilers rear their ugly head, even on Monday nights, speculating that a certain Superstar may be in the building.  Often times the secret is so poorly kept that the crowd already has its signs at the ready for when the cameras go live.

But, how many times have we all tuned in to RAW and are totally shocked by what we see?  How many times have you watched, and stared at whoever is in the room with you, only to get the same reaction?

“Dude, did you see that?”

SmackDown is good, I enjoy watching it as much as the next fan.  And, the idea of a third program still really intrigues me.  Even though their version of ECW was watered down and eventually fell, I would actually be more than open to a new idea if the concept was ever reintroduced.  I’m all about whatever will make the product better.

But, RAW is it.  That’s where it all began for WWE in their dominance of pro wrestling on TV, and that’s where it all stems from today.  RAW is the reason why WWE is still standing and Eric Bischoff constantly feels the need to take cheap shots at WWE fans, and potential TNA fans online, on a near daily basis.

WWE is confident, and it has every right to be.  As long as the focus is on the Monday night program, they will continue to be strong, and flourish into the future.   It’s what they do.  And they do it better than anyone.