10 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Raw From 2002

5. Shock Tactics Were Never The Answer

Steve Austin Ric Flair
WWE Network

You knew this was coming.

Nobody can talk 2002 WWF/WWE without bringing up Katie Vick or the insulting HLA sh*te. Yes, Raw needed an overhaul in 2001, but doubling down on blatant attempts to irk mainstream media (who hated wrestling and always enjoyed an excuse to bash it) robbed fans of meaningful change.

It's clear from revisiting the August-December period of Raw in '02 that fans were trending towards something else. Raunchy bids to capture imaginations by putting grim subjects like necrophilia on TV were hardly the answer. Neither, mind you, was suggesting that two models pecking each other was "Hot Lesbian Action".

Who needs to see that sort of thing when they're tuning into a wrestling program anyway? Sprinkling on sideshow attractions like Sable, "Divas" etc was one thing, but slapping folks in the face with dirge like this made Raw borderline unwatchable.

Episodes starring Vick, HLA and other shock tactics are embarrassing to revisit.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.