WWE Raw

Back on March 10th 1997, WWF Monday Night Raw became Raw Is War figuratively and literally.

I believe 1997 was one of the best years for the WWF (now WWE). There were really heated feuds throughout such as The Hart Foundation VS Steve Austin, The Undertaker VS everyone, Triple H VS Mankind and so many others. Raw is War aired during the battle with rival promotion WCW (now defunct). There were PPV caliber matches throughout Raw Is War and there were some fantastic moments. 1998 was a great year too as WWF owner Vince McMahon became an authoritarian figure who feuded with the anti authority Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Rock was also coming into prominence as a wrestler as was Triple H. There were many other great moments such as the appearance of Mike Tyson, D-X 'invading' WCW, the Owen Hart tribute show and the episode from the 26th March 2001 where Shane McMahon betrayed his father Vince and brought WCW.

Raw Is War became simply Raw after a few years and is still a relatively entertaining program. However, the Raw Is War years really were WAR and worth tracking down on tape if possible.

Think wrestling is just for kids? Think again. I work at a restaraunt in Toronto and every Monday night we rush a little faster to get our closing duties done so that staff night can start a little earlier. Staff night consists of cheap beer and watching Raw is War. Here we are, adults ranging from the ages of 16-40 glued to the television and we all can't wait to hear lines like " Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?"

"Finally the Rock has come back to Boston," and of course, "And that's the bottom line cause Stone Cold Says So!"

Raw is War is entertainment at it's finest. Now a days, wrestling isn't anything more than a soap opera anyway, but we all love it. And I think the rennaisance of wrestling, at least in the WWF anyway can attributed to one thing, Austin 3:16.

I used to watch wrestling religiously when I was a kid. I even went to the Pontiac Silverdome with 93,172 other people to be part of Wrestlemania III. To watch Hogan slam Andre was the highlight of the night. Wrestling was great back then. But then Hogan got old, Andre died, Piper wanted to do John Carpenter movies, Jake got fat and The Ultimate Warrior stopped using steroids. Wrestling became stagnant and I stopped watching it. I still liked guys like Bret Hart and the Undertaker but there was something missing from the spectacle. But then, just a few years ago, my intetrests were peaked again and that can serioulsy be attributed to one thing and one thing only. Stone Cold Steve Austin. Love or hate him, the man is the personification of entertainment. What he has done is take the same M.O. as Bruce Sringsteen and made it work as a wrestler, except that he is always angry. But look at the similarities. Both are exremely rich but both claim they are no different than the working American. They dress in jeans a t-shirt, they drink beer and they drive a pick up truck. How much more American can you get than that? But forget all that and what you have is probably the most entertaining show on TV. From the two dead guys to "The Millions............of the Rock's fans, to Stone Cold to Shane and Shamrock and HHH and everyone else, this is fun and entertaining. If I had one complaint, it would be that as of right now, HHH is getting away with way to much. I really wish everyone would just gang up on him and take a sledgehammer to his leg. He bothers me, but I guess that is his role.

Raw is War is so much fun to watch. And even if you have never seen an episode of Raw before, it is like a soap opera. You can miss a month but they will always recap it for you some how. I don't think wrestling is for everyone. But if you do like the sport, then Raw is War is the best thing going right now. WCW Nitro is good but not quite as good as this one. Watch on Mondays and see for yourself. And remember one thing,

" Know your damn role, you roody poo, candy ass! "

Raw is War has become the most successful wrestling program ever!, and it is mainly thanks to weekly appearances from Steve Williams who is Stone Cold Steve Austin, Mark Calloway who plays the lord of darkness the Undertaker, Degeneration-X which consists of only X-Pac and Road Dogg Jessy James, and the latest Dead man, and my personal favorite "Kane".

WWF had turned from a sporting attraction into a Drama/Sport, and I like it, it gets better and better every week, it`s a shame that "Bret Hitman Hart" left but I liked him as a good guy better.

So I give it 9 out of 10.

Watching WWF wrestling is just pure fun. People look at wrestling in the wrong context. They act like it's wrong that it's all fake and the matches are staged. Well I say who cares it's entertainment, television shows are all fake too. You don't watch wrestling for the sports degree of it. WWF has the best characters. WWF has great characters like Stone Cold, The Rock, Cactus Jack, Kane, The Undertaker, The Big Show and others.

This has got to be the best tasteless pleasure ever. Just look at the different elements Vinne Mac has brought together, Soap Opera, Heavy Metal, B-Movie acting, and an amazingly high level of stunt work. The whole Austin-Undertaker conflict (era 1998) was the best stuff in any media in its time bar none. For those who still doubt rent "The Three Faces of Foley", Hell in the Cell was unreal.