THIS YEAR WILL MARK THE FIRST TIME IN WWE HISTORY THAT RAW WILL AIR LIVE ON CHRISTMAS DAY AND NEW YEARS DAY.
These are the only two days that WWE hasn’t aired a live episode of Raw. In fact, it’s one of the few “firsts” that still exist for the flagship show that’s been around for nearly 25 years. To commemorate this first, I’ve decided to compile a list of other great firsts in Raw’s history. So, let’s get right into it with our Top 10 Raw Firsts:
10. First February 29th Episode (2016)
Raw had been on the air for over 13 years, aired 1,187 episodes, and had broadcast an episode on every single day on the calendar… except for one. February 29, leap day. Since Raw’s inception in 1993, leap day had never fallen on a Monday (1988 was the last time that happened). While this wasn’t treated as a big deal by WWE, it did mark off the one date that WWE had never aired a Raw. Obviously WWE is making a big deal about having the first live Raw on Christmas Day, but even that day had seen several taped editions air. Having a leap day Raw marked an achievement for WWE that, at the very least, made me feel good as I like order with my numbers, dates, etc. (that’s why I do so many Top 10 lists)
9. First Invasion (ECW; 2/24/97)
While not remembered for being as big of a deal in hindsight, the fact that Vince was willing to acknowledge that other wrestling promotions existed in the United States was a huge deal. ECW was doing things in 1997 that would serve as the template in many ways for what WWE would do in 1998 and beyond with the Attitude Era. This moment was a shot in the arm for WWE, who was struggling to compete with WCW’s red hot Nitro. While it didn’t turn the tide for WWE, the ECW influence would go a long way in helping WWE rise above WCW about a year later.
8. First WCW Title Match (7/2/01)
I never said these moments were necessary “good” moments. This match is hard to watch as the crowd absolutely loathes the fact that the Raw they paid to see turned into Nitro at the main event. But there’s plenty of historical significance and the moment was downright surreal as the show morphed into a WCW product. The apron skirt changed, the commentators changed, the lights in the arena changed, even the little watermark logo changed in the corner of the screen. It was the first time WCW and WWF were in the same place at the same time and represented the official turn from the Monday Night Wars to the next chapter in pro wrestling.
7. First Triple Threat Match (June 23, 1997)
This match type became a staple of wrestling as time moved on. It’s hard to imagine a time before the triple threat existed, but prior to Owen Hart, Goldust, and Triple H facing each other there was no triple threat matches on WWE television. This match showed that WWE was willing to change their style in order to evolve throughout the Monday Night Wars. It was also another example of ECW’s influence on WWE, as they had been doing the triple threat for quite some time prior to this.
6. First Vince McMahon Match (4/13/98)
Prior to the Montreal Screwjob, no one would have ever guessed that Vince McMahon, the “haw haw haw, whatamaneuver!” announcer, would become the biggest heel the company had ever seen. But it happened. And even more unbelievable was the idea that the same Vince McMahon would go on to compete in dozens of high profile matches, many of which actually hold up really well as being entertaining and good. But it happened too. And it started on the 255th episode of Raw as Vince McMahon erased any and all doubt about being a heel who hated Stone Cold Steve Austin by facing him in a WWF Title match. It was the beginning of one of the greatest feuds of all time and one of the most unexpected (yet successful) wrestling debuts WWE had ever seen.
5. First Title Match (3/1/93; WWF Championship)
Raw was still trying to find its identity by the time the first ever title match took place, and it happened to be for the WWF Title itself, as Bret Hart defeated Fatu (better known today as Rikishi) to retain the title and head into WrestleMania IX to face Yokozuna. Don’t waste your time watching the match, though. The in ring stuff was fine, but Rob Bartlett is on commentary pretending to be a fat Elvis through the whole thing and it’s terrible. Nevertheless this match showed that WWE was willing to have title matches on Raw and make it a true flagship show, though it still had Superstars to compete with for that claim at this time.
4. First Title Change (5/17/93; Intercontinental Title)
This goes right along with number 5. As Superstars was being reworked into the B Show, Raw had to take steps to make it the true A Show. On the 17th episode of Raw, Marty Jannetty beat Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship, the first title change for the Monday Night show. What made this an even bigger moment was exactly how Marty got his title match. He came out of the crowd, unannounced, to confront HBK. This moment (and other moments like it around this time) helped separate it from Superstars because it had an air of unpredictability and had storylines play out throughout the entirety of a show as opposed to storylines being confined to their allotted segments.
3. First Women’s Cage Match (11/24/03)
This match was a monumental moment for women’s wrestling and it was in the midst of a “golden age” for women in WWE during the mid 2000s. Victoria and Lita were two excellent workers and they made this match even more special. This match, the women in the match, and the women’s division surrounding them at the time paved the way for the “women’s revolution” we see today. It was an important milestone to reach for both women, especially for that time in WWE. It definitely helped set the stage for the wrestling we see today. More on that with number 2…
2. First Women’s Main Event (12/6/04)
A year after being in the first women’s cage match, Lita main evented Raw with Trish Stratus. This match and it’s position as the main event proved that the women belonged in the spot. The thing that makes women like Trish, Lita, Victoria, etc. so important to women’s wrestling is because the accomplishments they achieved during this time happened alongside the silliness of pillow fights, mud matches, evening gowns, and the like. They were a bright spot during a time that might have been somewhat “dark.” It’s a shame that WWE regressed during the “Diva” era, but at least we’re at a point now where the women are treated seriously. And they wouldn’t be in WWE without the pioneers who tore down barriers for them.
1. First 2 hour episode (2/3/97)
When Raw moved to a 2 hour format, it changed the landscape of wrestling forever. Yes that’s a bold statement, but believe it, it’s true. While the official Raw is War format didn’t debut for a few weeks after this, the move to two hours made Raw not just a competitor to WCW, but eventually a competitor to Monday Night Football. This change to Raw has remained the template for all wrestling shows, even the bloated three hour format we have now. Raw’s willingness to make Raw more than just an infomercial for PPVs but instead “must see” events every single week changed the way we watch wrestling, for better or worse, ever since.
Well, that’s it for our look back on Raw firsts. Did I miss something? Include something you hate? Overlook something with what I put on the list? Yell at me on Twitter or something. No promises that I’ll listen, but hey, that’s how the internet works! Thanks for reading and until next time, stay positive!