Here at The Raw Files, we're going to retrospectively review some of the most important moments in the history of WWE's flagship television output. From it's beginnings at the Manhattan Center through the Monday Night Wars all the way through to the pomp and circumstance of the 25th anniversary celebratory episode from January 2018. There'll also be some bonus instalments along the way too.
They say there's no better place to start than the beginning so let's turn the clock back and begin our journey.
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It's Monday January 11th 1993 and we're live from the Manhattan Center in New York. Sean Mooney greets us outside the building and informs us that a short while ago it was a 'mob scene' out on the street. Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan makes his first appearance of the evening and attempts to gain entry to the show. Mooney tells him that he can't even purchase a ticket as the event is a complete sell-out. As Heenan continues to remonstrate, we get the first airing of the Monday Night Raw theme tune.
Vince runs down the card and promises the Steiner Brothers in tag team action and an exclusive interview with Razor Ramon while Bartlett can't contain his excitement for Koko B. Ware vs Yokozuma (sic). It's then time for our first match of the evening.
Koko B. Ware vs Yokozuna (with Mr. Fuji)
Kok comes to the ring first to a moderate pop before everyone's favourite Samoan sumo wrestler Yokozuna makes his entrance accompanied by Mr. Fuji and a couple of geisha girls.
We have an extended stare down between the two competitors before our first lock-up which results in Koko being thrown to the floor. The same thing happens before Koko hits a pair of dropkicks which slightly wobbles Yokozuna but an attempt at a third one results in Yoko throwing him face first into the top rope.
Yokozuna then hits a leg drop on Koko before throwing him into the corner, attacking him butt first to set him up for a Banzai drop. The crowd pops as Yoko ascends to the second rope to hit his finisher, Vince implores with Koko to get to his feet but he can't hear him as Yokozuna completes the drop to get the pinfall win at 3.45. As Yoko poses in the ring, we get a replay of the Banzai drop which takes us into a break.
Back from break and we're greeted by a woman in a leotard walking round the ring holding a Monday Night Raw card before we're taken into a pre-taped promo in which Bobby Heenan talks down Mr Perfect before hyping up the upcoming debut of Narcissus at the Royal Rumble in two weeks time. According to Heenan, comparing Narcissus to Mr Perfect is like comparing ice cream to horse manure and that his new charge is so far beyond Perfect it's like he's from another galaxy. The promo closes with Heenan promising that when he unveils Narcissus at the Rumble, Perfect will think he's from another world.
The Steiner Brothers vs The Executioners (Barry Hardy and Duane Gill)
At the end of the promo we get the sound of the Steiner Brothers theme song as we prepare for the second bout of the evening between Rick and Scott and The Executioners.
Bartlett asks the name of the brother in headgear and as the match begins, Doink The Clown appears in the crowd causing mischief amongst the fans.
Scott then works Executioner A to the ground and tags in Rick. 'The Dog Faced Gremlin' hits some stiff looking punches in the corner before throwing Executioner A into the ropes whilst Bartlett has one word for Steiner 'electrolysis' which draws another Vince laugh.
After Executioner A is thrown out of the ring, the jobber team attempt to regroup but it fails as Scott cracks their heads together. Executioner A gets a minor hope spot as he comes off the ropes to attack Rick but is caught and eats a scoop slam for his troubles. Scott then tags in and hits a lovely looking belly-to-belly suplex before Executioner B tags in. He receives a kick to the gut before getting nailed by Scott's double underhook piledriver. Rick ascends the ropes to assist his brother in hitting the Steiner DDT before nailing the other Executioner while Scott gets the pinfall at exactly three minutes.
We're back outside the venue with Sean Mooney as a 'woman' claiming to be Rob Bartlett's aunt is attempting to gain access to the show, the 'woman' is quickly rumbled as Bobby Heenan in drag and as we're promised the next segment will be the interview with Razor Ramon, we cut to another break.
Back from break and Vince is in the ring with Razor Ramon who is dressed in a rather snazzy looking shirt.
'The Bad Guy' claims that he was 'born ready' for his WWF title match with Bret Hart at the Royal Rumble and that the golden opportunity has 'Razor Ramon' written all over it. Razor then acknowledges that it took Bret eight and a half years to get to where he is but it's only taken him eight and a half months to become 'numero uno'.
When questioned by Vince about his attack on Owen Hart during the previous Saturday's episode of WWF Mania, Ramon quips that 'it was fun squashing him like a cockroach' and that there isn't anything Bret could do about it 'not because he wants to do anything about it' but that he can't, nor will he be able to do anything about Razor taking his 'precious gold'.
The interview ends with Razor throwing his toothpick at Vince and we cut to another break.
Max Moon vs Shawn Michaels (c)
Intercontinental Championship Match
Our third match of the evening comes in the shape of an I-C title match between Max Moon (portrayed here by Paul Diamond rather than Konnan) and champion Shawn Michaels with the winner slated to defend the belt at the Royal Rumble against HBK's former partner Marty Jannetty.
The first tie-up of the match results in HBK hitting a nice armdrag on Moon and there's a nice display of athleticism between the two men as we get a sequence of the competitors reversing each other's attempts at moves.
Moon hits a pair of armdrags of his own before slamming HBK to the canvas which prompts Vince to speculate that he may be a shade quicker than the champion. Moon presses home his advantage in the match as he slams HBK into a hammerlock before transitioning into a pin attempt which gets a 2, we then cut to another break.
Back from break and HBK whips Moon into the corner and attempts a shoulder attack on his opponent, Moon is wise to it and moves out of the way sending Shawn into the top turnbuckle. Shawn tries another attack in the corner and extinguishes Moon's escape attempt and sends him face first in the top rope. A couple of stomps from Shawn follow this and he then hits Moon with a dropkick.
HBK uses this opportunity to cut a mini-promo down the camera claiming that his face had 'broken many homes'.
The announce team's conversation turns to Mike Tyson which leads Bartlett into doing a rather bad impression of 'The Baddest Man On The Planet' whilst Doink reappears at ringside.
HBK attempts a scoop slam but Moon counters and rolls him up which gets a 2 count. Michaels then attempts a pin of his own but fails and then holds Moon in a reverse chinlock. Shawn then attempts a headscissors but Moon counters it into a slingshot and dumps HBK outside the ring.
Moon dives on Michaels and chucks him back into the ring for a pin, HBK kicks out at 2. Moon then attempts a diving attack on the prone Michaels but he moves out of the way sending Moon to the canvas. Shawn takes a moment to compose himself and hits Sweet Chin Music on his opponent, although as this is the early part of Shawn's singles career, it isn't his finisher.
The finish comes as HBK attempts to hit his Teardrop Suplex finisher on Moon, Max reverses this and goes for a forearm to Shawn's face. Moon misses the forearm and Shawn successfully hits the Teardrop Suplex for the pin at 10.30 to retain the belt. We then cut to another break.
After the break, we're back on the street outside with Mooney stewarding a queue of people purchasing their tickets for next week's episode of Raw. A 'stereotypical' Jewish man attempts to cut through the line claiming that he is Rob Bartlett's uncle. Mooney again rumbles him as Heenan in disguise, this time Heenan says enough is enough and he's heading to the roof (which he pronounces 'ruff').
Following a brief recap of Kamala's babyface turn from the previous weekend's 'Superstars', it's time for our main event of the evening.
Damian Demento vs The Undertaker (with Paul Bearer)
Demento gets the jobber entrance while 'Taker makes his way into the ring accompanied by Paul Bearer.
Demento attempts punches but 'Taker no sells, The Deadman then reverses Demento's attempt at an attack following an Irish whip but instead gets sent face first into the canvas.
Paul Bearer is shown at ringside stroking the urn (not a euphemism) as Undertaker ascends to the top rope and then hits Old School on Demento. After Damian boots Undertaker in the face and hits him with a flying shoulder tackle. Demento sends 'Taker into the ropes but The Phenom hits Damian with a crossbody. As he rises to his feet, The Undertaker signals to Bearer that the end is coming.
Undertaker sets Damian up and hits the Tombstone Piledriver to score the pinfall win at 2.25. As Bearer prevents Undertaker from inflicting further damage on the stricken Demento, we cut to a break.
Back from break and Vince is interviewing Doink The Clown. McMahon addresses the threats made to Doink by Crush regarding making kids cry but Doink simply laughs claiming that as long as he laughs that's all that matters.
Crush then comes to ringside and warns Doink that if he touches anyone else (questionable choice of words) he won't be laughing anymore. The clown fires a water pistol in Crush's face which causes him to chase Doink round the ring.
As Crush's music hits, we're then taken up to the ru..sorry roof of the building as Sean Mooney finally allows Heenan into the building. The joke's on Bobby however as the show is over and the broadcast finishes.
Match Of The Night: Max Moon vs Shawn Michaels
Not only was this the only non-squash match on the card, the two competitors put on a relatively athletic bout that really put over Michaels' in-ring ability. Remember that this is in the early part of his singles career so I think he's still finding his feet on his own here. Max Moon took me by surprise too as he appeared as a more than capable competitor against HBK.
The Verdict
This isn't a bad show, it puts across the formula that's going to become familiar over the early part of Raw's run. The programme had enough recognised stars on the card to maintain viewing interest whilst the skits between Mooney and Heenan provided some comedy. The announce team's attempt to get over the live element of the show probably wasn't needed, especially as they spent the majority of the show's best match talking about something totally irrelevant.
Overall, I'm giving the show 3.5 Executioners out of 5.
That brings our look at the inaugural episode of Monday Night Raw to a close, I hope you have enjoyed our head first plunge into the New Generation Era of WWE.
For more from The Raw Files, please drop us a follow on Twitter @TheRawFiles and feel free to interact with the site. We'll be running regular wrestling discussions and giving you opportunities to contribute to the site too.
In the second instalment of The Raw Files, we're going to turn the clock forward 364 days to January 10th 1994 and take a look at how the show has progressed and celebrate it's First Anniversary on air.
Keep your eyes peeled on the Twitter page for more information and until next time, take care.
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