10 Things WWE Did Better Before RAW

If there's one overarching part of wrestling that has definitely not been the same since the '80s, it's the illusion of realism.

Kayfabe isn't dead, just exposed. Even if it's all out in the open, it's still the essence of pro wrestling… albeit with an occasional note of self-awareness. Superstars can now break character and make shoot comments when it's suitable, where once upon a time these were cardinal sins.

By the time RAW rolled around, the illusion was making its way out the door for good. It's hard to say there was any real correlation between the two, but the overlap is evident. As 'smarkness' soared, RAW would have to press on without certain classic tricks.

Cartoonish gimmicks (those that took themselves seriously) started failing and disappearing, the sporting nature of matches was downplayed, and the sheer credulity that once enabled fans to swallow the craziest angles plummeted across the board.

This tops the list simply because the central element of wrestling underwent a radical shift that lives on to this day, in concurrence with the birth of the most influential wrestling show ever.