9 Ways WWE Raw Broke GOOD Ratings Records 20 Years Ago

5. Raw's First Ever 7.0+ Match - 17th May 1999

Cracking a 7.0+ for the first time in May after the aforementioned run of other record breakers, a casket clash between The Rock and The Undertaker was a worthy match to claim yet another success for a company gradually becoming the golden goose of cable television.

As reported by the Wrestling Observer, the brutal brawl between 'The Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment' and 'The Deadman' pulled a whopping 7.3 for that measured segment of the show. Other segments had topped the 7.0 mark Observer scribe Dave Meltzer noted that this was particularly impressive considering the fact that WCW were still trying to counter-programme on the other side and matches often resulted in lower retention.

Typically for the time, things descended into chaos after the bell. After winning with the help of Triple H, Undertaker gave way to 'The Game' as he smashed the coffin to bits with a sledgehammer whilst The Rock was still trapped inside. Atypically for the time, Hunter actually looked like a main eventer for an incredibly hot second. At least his moment was witnessed by a record-setting number.

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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