Vince McMahon's decision to go with TNN was important, but for all the wrong reasons, so it was just as important when he then went back to USA in 2005. The October 3 2005 episode was the start of a new era, and it also happened to be the first ever experimentation with a three hour run time. On this occasion, it was a great success, with a star studded show and matches like Kurt Angle versus Shawn Michaels in a 30 minute Ironman. Matt Hardy versus Edge also featured in a ladder bout. Most memorably, Stone Cold Steve Austin gave stunners to the entire McMahon family. But what really stands this episode out in its importance, is the fact it really was a homecoming for WWE. It put them back in an environment to build a new era upon, popping a 5.6 rating in the process.
