9 Ways WWE Raw Broke GOOD Ratings Records 20 Years Ago

8. Raw's First Ever 6.0+ Show - March 1st 1999

Raw beer bash
WWE

Using WWE Network thumbnails as a metric - and really, with so much stuff happening in these episodes of Raw, it's as good a measure as any - it's easy to see why Kane was such a success with Knox County voter-base - 'The Big Red Machine' and Big Numbers go hand-in-singularly-gloved-hand.

The Undertaker's burned brother kicked off March 1999 still in the Corporate employ, having to battle and batter Steve Austin here just to remain in work. It's silly as sh*t, but much of the product was, and as the 6.3 rating - for one week only the highest-rated edition of the show ever - reflected, it was working.

A main event between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Kane was booked in typically-frantic opening segment that reduced the need to channel hop with a decaying WCW on the other side. Elsewhere, several WrestleMania programmes were furthered, as Shane McMahon got in X-Pac's business, Ivory furthered her intent to take out Debra and her Tag Team Champions Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett, whilst The Big Show's awkward start to life in reality and kayfabe continued with a mixed night running interference for Vince McMahon's Corporation.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett