10 Things WWE Did Better Before RAW

Before RAW came along and killed squash programming, it required much less effort to get interested in pay-per-view matches than it does today.

When a major card came around in those days, most matches already had the built-in appeal of seeing an original contest. The idea was to boost their superstars on Superstars (heh) then match them up at house shows and PPV's.

Now that matches between superstars are the standard on regular TV, more booking is needed to make them worth watching on a Sunday.

Main events have always had stories behind them, but now every match that isn't a battle royal needs some tangible build-up to be (barely) worth ten minutes.

Compare this with, say, Wrestlemania VI, which was a 14-bout showcase of just about the entire roster, only half of which was backed by an angle. Even an expedited garbage match went over fine, because nothing was squandered.

More odds-and-end matches, less booking… less bad booking. It was an underrated luxury.