"WWE Raw", also called "Monday Night Raw" or "Raw", is a professional wrestling show produced by WWE. It airs live on the USA Network every Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. The show features wrestlers from the Raw brand. "WWE Raw" premiered on January 11, 1993, and is considered one of WWE's two flagship shows, along with "Friday Night SmackDown".
January 11, 1993: Debut of WWE Raw
On January 11, 1993, WWE Raw, also known as Monday Night Raw, made its debut. This marked the beginning of one of WWE's flagship programs.
April 1993: Raw Tapings at Mid-Hudson Civic Center
In April 1993, to manage the financial demands of weekly live shows, WWE began taping several weeks' worth of Raw episodes at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
November 1993: First Raw Taping Outside New York
Breaking new ground, the first episode of WWE Raw produced outside of New York was taped in Bushkill, Pennsylvania, in November 1993.
September 11, 1995: First Head-to-Head Battle
The rivalry between WWE Raw and WCW Nitro intensified on September 11, 1995, when the two shows went head-to-head for the first time.
1995: Raw Begins Airing on The Sports Network (TSN) in Canada
In 1995, Raw started airing on The Sports Network (TSN) in Canada.
1996: WCW Nitro's Ratings Dominance
From mid-1996, fueled by the popularity of the nWo angle, WCW Nitro began a dominant run in the ratings, consistently beating WWE Raw for 84 consecutive weeks.
February 3, 1997: Raw Expands to Two Hours
On February 3, 1997, WWE Raw expanded to a two-hour format, intensifying its competition with WCW Nitro.
March 10, 1997: Raw Broadcast Split
Starting March 10, 1997, Raw was divided into two hour-long segments: "Raw Is War" and "War Zone," each with separate TV ratings.
June 9, 1997: On-Screen Graphics Change
From June 9, 1997, Raw's on-screen graphics reflected the split into "Raw Is War" and "War Zone."
November 24, 1997: "War Zone" Gets Unique Opening
On November 24, 1997, "War Zone" debuted its own opening video, a remix of the standard Raw opening.
1997: Red Ring Ropes and TitanTron Debut
In 1997, WWF switched to red ring ropes and introduced a 70-foot video wall called the "TitanTron."
1997: Raw's Transition to Live Broadcasts
By 1997, WWE Raw gradually shifted towards more frequent live broadcasts, moving away from the taped format used in earlier years.
April 13, 1998: WWF's Victory in Ratings War
The April 13, 1998, episode of WWE Raw Is War, featuring a main event match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon, marked a turning point in the Monday Night War as WWF regained the lead in the ratings battle.
January 4, 1999: Mankind's WWF Championship Win
On January 4, 1999, in a shocking turn of events, Mick Foley, wrestling as Mankind, captured the WWF Championship on Raw Is War. This moment was significant because WCW Nitro announcer Tony Schiavone spoiled the pre-taped result on a live Nitro broadcast, inadvertently driving viewers to switch to Raw Is War to witness the underdog victory.
June 28, 2000: Viacom Secures Deal for WWF Programs
A landmark deal was reached on June 28, 2000, as Viacom secured the rights to broadcast all WWF programs, signaling a shift in the wrestling landscape.
September 2000: Raw Moves to TNN
In September 2000, WWE Raw made a significant move from the USA Network to TNN, which later rebranded as Spike TV.
September 25, 2000: Raw Is War Premieres on TNN
Raw Is War made its debut on TNN on September 25, 2000, marking a new broadcasting home for the program.
December 11, 2000: TNN Logo Added to TitanTron
On December 11, 2000, the TNN network logo was incorporated into the TitanTron.
March 2001: WWF Acquires WCW Assets
In a significant power move, WWF acquired selected assets of its struggling competitor, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), in March 2001, including the WCW name, video library, and contracts.
March 26, 2001: The End of WCW Nitro
The final episode of WCW Nitro aired on March 26, 2001, ending the Monday Night War and ushering in a new era for professional wrestling. The episode featured a surprising twist with Shane McMahon's appearance, revealing his ownership of WCW and setting the stage for the "Invasion" storyline.
October 1, 2001: Raw Is War Renamed to Raw
Following the events of September 11, 2001, and in light of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, WWF made the decision to retire the "Raw Is War" name. On October 1, 2001, the program was renamed simply "Raw."
March 2002: The Brand Extension
To manage the influx of wrestlers from WCW and create fresh storylines, WWF implemented the "brand extension" in March 2002. This separated Raw and SmackDown! into distinct brands with separate rosters, championships, and creative teams. It was also the year WWF transitioned to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
2002: Larger TitanTron Introduced
In 2002, Raw unveiled a bigger TitanTron, measuring 55 feet wide and 25 feet tall, weighing around 4,000 pounds.
August 11, 2003: Spike TV Logo Replaces TNN Logo
The TNN logo was replaced with the Spike TV logo on the TitanTron on August 11, 2003, following the network's rebranding.
March 10, 2005: Viacom and WWE Part Ways
On March 10, 2005, Viacom and WWE decided to end their partnership, which meant that Raw and other WWE programs would leave Spike TV when their agreement expired in September 2005.
April 4, 2005: WWE Announces Deal with NBCUniversal
WWE announced a significant three-year deal with NBCUniversal on April 4, 2005. This deal brought Raw back to its original home, the USA Network.
September 2005: Raw Returns to USA Network, Spike TV Counters
In September 2005, Raw officially returned to the USA Network. As a strategic counter-programming move, Spike TV, Raw's former broadcaster, scheduled a live Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event, Ultimate Fight Night, in Raw's old timeslot.
October 3, 2005: Raw Returns to USA Network
On October 3, 2005, WWE Raw returned to the USA Network after a stint on TNN (later Spike TV).
2005: Raw's International Broadcasts
In 2005, as part of its global expansion, WWE Raw broadcasted episodes from Afghanistan, marking a unique moment in the show's history.
October 9, 2006: New Logo and Theme Song
Raw premiered a new logo and opening sequence on October 9, 2006, using "...To Be Loved" by Papa Roach as its theme song.
January 21, 2008: High-Definition Broadcasting
On January 21, 2008, Raw transitioned to high-definition broadcasting.
June 18, 2008: Muscle Flex Inc. Challenges WWE's Raw Trademark
On June 18, 2008, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) ruled that certain WWE trademarks related to "Raw" were too similar to Muscle Flex Inc.'s "In the Raw" trademark, leading to confusion among consumers.
June 2009: Muscle Flex Inc. Takes Legal Action Against WWE
The name "Raw" faced a legal challenge in June 2009 when Muscle Flex Inc., a fitness company based in Los Angeles, took legal action against WWE.
July 20, 2009: Muscle Flex Inc. Discloses Possession of WWE Raw-Labeled Items
In a press release on July 20, 2009, Muscle Flex Inc. revealed that they possessed WWE Raw-branded merchandise, including CDs, VHS tapes, and apparel, which they believed infringed on their trademark.
August 2009: Court Rules in Favor of Muscle Flex Inc. in Trademark Dispute
In August 2009, the court ruled in favor of Muscle Flex Inc., stating that the company had successfully defended its "In the Raw" trademark against WWE.
November 16, 2009: New Theme Song by Nickelback
On November 16, 2009, Raw adopted "Burn It to the Ground" by Nickelback as its new theme song.
2009: Raw Stops Airing on CKVR-TV and CKMI-TV in Canada
In 2009, Raw stopped being broadcast on CKVR-TV in Barrie and CKMI-TV in Quebec in Canada.
2010: WWE Retires Red Ropes for Raw
In 2010, WWE retired the red ropes for Raw after thirteen years, switching to an all-white scheme that became standard for all WWE programming in 2012.
August 29, 2011: Brand Extension Dissolved
On August 29, 2011, WWE announced that performers from Raw and SmackDown were no longer exclusive to their respective brands, effectively ending the brand extension.
May 17, 2012: Raw Expands to Three Hours
On May 17, 2012, WWE and USA Network announced that Raw would permanently expand to a three-hour format starting with the 1,000th episode on July 23, 2012.
July 23, 2012: Raw 1,000th Episode
On July 23, 2012, Raw celebrated its 1,000th episode and switched to a permanent three-hour format.
September 24, 2012: Hulu Signs Multi-Year Deal with WWE
On September 24, 2012, Hulu secured a multi-year deal with WWE to stream all of the company's TV shows and some web series, including a condensed 90-minute version of Raw available for viewing the following day.
October 2012: Raw Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In October 2012, the middle rope on Raw was changed to pink for the first time in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month due to WWE's partnership with the Susan G. Komen organization.
January 14, 2013: Raw 20th Anniversary
On January 14, 2013, Raw marked its 20th anniversary.
May 2013: Raw Begins Live Broadcast in Canada
Around May 2013, Raw started broadcasting live in Canada on The Score, aligning with the United States airtime.
2013: Raw Uses Pink Middle Rope Again for Breast Cancer Awareness
Raw again participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 2013 by changing the middle rope to pink from late September to early November.
August 18, 2014: Raw Switches to Widescreen and Updates Branding
On August 18, 2014, Raw transitioned to a full 16:9 letterbox widescreen presentation. Along with the visual update, Raw updated its graphics package to include the new WWE logo and modified its theme song, "The Night".
October 6, 2014: Raw Begins Live Broadcast in Latin America
On October 6, 2014, WWE Raw started airing live across Latin America on Fox Sports.
2014: Raw Continues Support for Breast Cancer Awareness
Raw continued its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 2014, using a pink middle rope throughout September and partnering with the Susan G. Komen organization.
March 23, 2015: Raw Adds LED Board to the Ring
On March 23, 2015, WWE added a small LED board to the left side of the ring on Raw, which was also used at WrestleMania 31.
September 14, 2015: Raw Debuts Gold Middle Rope
The season premiere of Raw on September 14, 2015, featured a gold middle rope.
October 2015: Raw Partners with Susan G. Komen Again
Throughout October 2015, Raw continued its partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month, incorporating pink into various stage elements.
November 16, 2015: Raw Holds Moment of Silence for Paris Attack Victims
On November 16, 2015, Raw held a moment of silence to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris, France that occurred on November 13, 2015.
May 20, 2016: Syfy Starts Airing Raw Replays
On May 20, 2016, Syfy in the United States began airing a 2-hour replay of Raw.
May 25, 2016: Brand Split Reintroduced
On May 25, 2016, WWE brought back the brand split, introducing a new set with red ring ropes at SummerSlam. The broadcast table was moved to the entrance ramp.
July 25, 2016: Raw Gets a Major Redesign
On July 25, 2016, Raw underwent a major redesign, bringing back the red ropes, moving the announce table back to the top of the stage, and debuting a new HD set and graphics.
December 9, 2016: Raw Episodes Available On-Demand on WWE Network
From December 9, 2016, onward, all episodes of Raw became available on demand on the WWE Network, with recent episodes available 30 days after their original air date.
2016: WWE Starts Uploading Raw Episodes to YouTube for International Audiences
After WrestleMania 32 in 2016, WWE began uploading new episodes of Raw to YouTube for free for international audiences in countries without traditional TV access, with episodes available less than 24 hours after the original broadcast.
2016: Raw's Preemptions and Syfy Broadcasts
Since 2016, to accommodate the U.S. Open tennis tournament airing on USA Network, the two-hour version of Raw has been broadcast on Syfy, ensuring its consistent availability to viewers.
June 2017: WWE Issues Legal Order to Raw Motors Over Logo Similarity
In June 2017, WWE issued a legal order to Raw Motors, an automobile repair company in the UK, over their logo, which WWE claimed infringed on their Raw logo used from 2006 to 2012.
2017: e.tv Discontinues WWE Broadcasting Deal
In 2017, free-to-air broadcaster e.tv opted not to renew its deal with WWE, ending its broadcast of Raw. SuperSport later acquired the rights.
January 29, 2018: Raw Introduces New Graphics and Logo
Raw introduced new graphics and an updated logo on January 29, 2018, which were used until September 23, 2019.
February 19, 2018: Longest Match in WWE History
On February 19, 2018, Braun Strowman won the longest match in WWE history, a Gauntlet match lasting nearly two hours, defeating The Miz.
June 26, 2018: WWE and USA Network Announce Five-Year Extension for Raw
On June 26, 2018, WWE and USA Network announced a five-year contract extension for Raw, with the new agreement starting in October 2019.
October 2019: New Agreement with USA Network Commences
The new five-year agreement between WWE and USA Network for Raw began in October 2019.
2019: SuperSport and MultiChoice Secure Deal for 24-Hour WWE Channel
In 2019, SuperSport and its parent company, MultiChoice, signed an agreement to broadcast a 24-hour WWE channel. Initially a five-month pop-up channel on their DStv platform, it became a permanent channel.
August 18, 2020: Move to WWE ThunderDome
In August 2020, WWE programming, including Raw, moved to the WWE ThunderDome at the Amway Center in Orlando, featuring virtual fans.
April 5, 2021: WWE Network Content Moves to Peacock
On April 5, 2021, all WWE Network content, including past episodes of Raw, was moved to the Peacock streaming service.
May 21, 2021: Return to Live Fans Announced
WWE announced on May 21, 2021, that it would return to live events with fans, scheduling a 25-city tour.
July 12, 2021: Final WWE ThunderDome Show
On July 12, 2021, WWE hosted its last show at the WWE ThunderDome, marking the return to live events with fans.
September 2021: Raw and SmackDown Change Ring Ropes to White
In September 2021, Raw and SmackDown both changed their ring ropes from red to white.
February 2022: Raw and NXT Temporarily Move to Syfy
Raw and NXT temporarily moved to Syfy in the United States during February 2022 due to USA Network's coverage of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
February 2022: Raw Temporarily Moves to Syfy
Due to the 2022 Winter Olympics coverage on USA Network, Raw temporarily moved to Syfy for two episodes in February 2022, highlighting the network's flexibility.
January 23, 2023: Raw Celebrates its 30th Anniversary
Raw celebrated its 30th anniversary with the RAW IS XXX event on January 23, 2023.
September 2023: SmackDown Moves to USA Network
USA Network announced in September 2023 that SmackDown would return to the network in October 2024, following the expiration of its contract with Fox.
November 20, 2023: Raw Debuts New Theme Song
On November 20, 2023, Raw's theme song was changed to "Born to Be" by def rebel, performed by Supreme Madness.
January 23, 2024: Netflix Acquires Raw Rights
On January 23, 2024, TKO Group revealed that Netflix had secured the rights to broadcast Raw starting January 2025.
October 2024: Raw's Contract with NBCUniversal Expires
Although Raw's agreement with NBCUniversal was set to end in October 2024, WWE negotiated a short extension to keep the show on the network until the end of the year.
2024: Rogers Media's Canadian WWE Programming Rights Expire
Rogers Media's rights to Canadian WWE programming, including Raw, will expire in 2024.
January 2025: Netflix Acquires Latin American Rights to Raw
Netflix is anticipated to take over the broadcasting rights to Raw in Latin America in January 2025. Several channels across Mexico, Central America, and South America currently hold the rights.
January 2025: Netflix Acquires Canadian WWE Programming Rights
Rogers Media holds the Canadian rights to WWE programming, including Raw, until 2024, with the rights transferring to Netflix in January 2025.
January 2025: Netflix to Broadcast Raw in the United Kingdom
Starting in January 2025, Netflix will take over broadcasting Raw in the United Kingdom from TNT Sports.
January 2025: Raw's Move to Netflix
WWE Raw is scheduled to move to the Netflix streaming platform in January 2025, marking a new era for the program.