10 Reasons WWE Raw Is Lucky To Still Be On The Air

In virtually the only low moment from an exillirating month, WWE celebrated 25 years of Monday Night Raw in frustratingly typical fashion.

Expectations were justifiably raised by an incredible guest list headlined by appearances from Stone Cold Steve Austin and D-Generation-X. The latter crew gobbled up time and talent, whilst the former wasn't permitted to utter a single word.

Shawn Michaels inadvertently joked about the discrepancy as he and Triple H rambled on about revolutions and tanks and all the usual, but his ponderous humour hid the cruel truth.

"I used to be the boss of this group but now you're the boss of everything", said 'HBK', as said Chairman-elect smirked along with him and pretended he was still in his prime.

Because 'The Game' really is the next boss, he got as long as he wanted for more of the usual tripe. Meanwhile, one of the central reasons Titan Tower still has water-coolers was shunted off in a rewarding-but-rushed opening segment.

Indeed, the three hour show was as bloated as the DX gabfest itself, but the company can go ahead and keep producing events like this as long as willing fans remain game to spend big on tickets, t-shirts and network subscriptions.

In 2018, Raw is a protected - and apparently quite valuable - entity. It was once little more than a wild dream for WWE's flagship to curry such favour. That it became a hard reality 20 years on from near-oblivion is miraculous in itself.

In case WWE weren't clear enough on commentary on Raw 25, let it be heard again that Monday Night Raw is the most iconic programme in television history.

The proclamation betrayed a topsy turvy quarter century, but at least recent creative mistakes weren't punished by direct competition.

When Eric Bischoff launched WCW Nitro in 1995, Raw was outthought and outfought on a weekly basis. In interviews reflecting on the period, Vince McMahon has feigned innocence over the competitive nature of the broadcasts. But the "I don't want to hurt the other guy" b*llocks he spouts is clearly little more than a wet excuse for the manner in which 'Easy E' landed punch after punch on the Chairman's dimpled chin.

WWE's bottom lines were such that hammerings in the ratings were never really going to put the company out of business, but the constant defeats must have sapped locker rooms and offices alike of morale and confidence. For McMahon and co to rebound during the darkest times deserves praise, with particular plaudits saved for preserving the 'Raw' brand name as a destination for pro wrestling when numbers slipped beyond record lows.