Show opened with all the many WWF(E) openings merged together, with the current one sending the intro off. Jan 11, 1993… Live from the Manhattan Center in NYC, Raw exploded onto the air with Vince McMahon welcoming us all to the phenomenon. Kid Rock’s "Bawitdaba" played in the background as we saw many of the highlights, including Kid over Razor, Bret slapping Vince in 1997, Rock seeing 316 on his pager, Foley, Sable, Val, Austin, Jericho’s debut in 1999, DX, Socko, Chyna, Divas, Matt and Lita’s kiss, Debra, Rock This is Your Life, Taker and Kane in 1999, The Greater Power "It’s Me Austin!", Owen, Steph, Dudleyz, the Game, RVD, JR smacking Tazz in 2000, Angle’s moonsault off the cage, and finally a shot of Vince when he realized Ric Flair was back last November in Charlotte. (Great memories right there.)

At the World is WWE in force, all dressed to the nines as Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler open it up, we will tonight count down the top ten moments in the history of Raw. Even SmackDown stars, everybody is here. The Academy of Wrestling Arts and Sciences have several award categories to pass out as well.

WWE DIVA OF THE DECADE
Shawn Michaels comes out to introduce the first award to a nice pop from the fans who are packing the top… and the superstars packing the bottom. "I am now the number one entry into the Royal Rumble this Sunday night. (Jericho irate.) But more importantly to me, I hope I’m still number one in the hearts of all of you. But seriously it is an honor and a privilege to be here tonight to present the WWE Diva of the Decade Award. Now I have been here since the very beginning and let me tell ya, we have come a long long way since the days of Bertha Faye and Bull Nakano. Not that there’s anything wrong with full-figured masculine women, because there isn’t… is there King? However these days the WWE Divas are strong, they’re beautiful, and most definitely they can kick some booty."
NOMINEES: Sable, Sunny, Trish Stratus, Lita, Chyna
WINNER: TRISH STRATUS
(MY PICK: It would HAVE to have been either Sable or Sunny, despite loathing the first of those two. Honestly though, speaking on impact alone, those are the two that made the most of it. Sable was one of the top draws for Vince in 1998 and 1999, when Raw was on top of the world. Sunny may be the most dominant female other than Stephanie in WWF history. Trish is good and certainly the sexiest Diva ever… but has not done anything miraculous yet, I understand her winning but disagree.)

Trish up on stage gets her award… she’s wearing the smallest dress in history by the way and King brings it up. She puts over the evolution of a woman’s role. She first thanks Moolah for opening up the doors… the word "Diva" has been redefined and she dedicated it to all the women and also to Fit Finlay, as the women would never have been anywhere without him. She finally thanks the fans for supporting the women, especially the guys.

Coach and Stacy are also playing hosts from another location and both are again dressed to the nines. Stacy wants to know the fan choice for Raw moment. Votes totaling over two million have put it done… later we’ll find out the top moment, but number ten right now.

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 10 – Mick Foley and the Rock – September 27, 1999 – ROCK, THIS IS YOUR LIFE!
I was there that night and it was brutal to have to sit and WATCH it live because it was hard to hear much of what was going on and it went on for so so long. But on television, it was hilarious. "You want to serve the Rock a great big piece of that poontang pie? The Rock has one thing to say to you… poontang your ass on out of here." (Note: Rock got heat when Coach brought up his name, NYC has no love for the People’s Champ.)

WWE DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME AWARD
Stacy said that she was in seventh grade when Raw debuted… "there were no cell phones… " …, hmmm, I remember the large one Zack Morris and all the yuppie suits always had in the late 1980s. "Each week, they put their lives, their bodies, and their careers at risk. For the past ten years, Raw has had amazing moments and their stars have gone much further than what any might have dreamed possible. Tonight we are going to honor just a few of these recipients that personified this next award."
NOMINEES: Big Show chokeslams the Undertaker to Hell… through the ring in 1999, Jeff Hardy TLC at Raw Roulette in 2002, Dudley Boyz putting Mae Young off the stage through a table with a super Bubba Bomb in 2000, Kurt Angle’s moonsault off the top of the cage against Chris Benoit in 2001
WINNER: KURT ANGLE
(MY PICK: Kurt Angle… unquestionably one of those spots that will never die and what a thud with that landing on the stiff WWF ring in a MOTY contender cage match with Benoit. It was the only choice in my opinion.)

Big Show was already on his way up to receive the award but then found out it was Kurt, who celebrated with Haas and Benjamin, who joined him on the stage… he also hugged Show on his way up. "Feel the love boys, this is what it’s all about. Whoo! You know first of all, I would like to thank the Academy of Wrestling Arts and Sciences for this well-deserved award." He apologized ahead of time for forgetting to thank anyone, saying he’d get to them later when he won Raw superstar of the decade. He made a speech that he had written, and the fans gave him a "What" that he acted miffed about. He of course stated that Angle would prove his dominance over Chris Benoit… he then thanked himself for his hard work and his music hit, basically playing him off. Team Angle, who were holding the flag behind him, draped it around him as he left.

Over the years, we’ve had WWE superstars who may have looked good… on paper, shots of Kamala, IRS, The Goon, Aldo Montoya, Doink, the Sultan, Dean Douglas, Gillberg, Regal as the Man’s Man, Mable and Sir Mo, Dink, Salvatore Sincere, Papa Shango, the Model, Earthquake, Berzerker, Repo Man, Atom Bomb, Duke Droese, Giant Gonzalez, Tugboat, Tatanka, and a few others. Stacy intro’d it,

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 9 – Steve Austin and the Rock – April 19, 1999 - ROCK’S AUSTIN FUNERAL MOCKERY BACKFIRES - Rock’s funeral for Stone Cold Steve Austin prior to Backlash. Austin arrived in his 3:16 monster truck and rolled over the Rock’s vehicle as the Rock could only watch his Lincoln Continental suffer the consequences.

WWE TELL ME I DIDN’T JUST SEE THAT AWARD
Booker T made his way out to present the award. "The past ten years have been totally off the hook, kind of like a giant Spin-A-Roony, maybe a little dizzy but always cool. Over the past decade, I’ve seen things I thought I’d never see… like um, Jericho’s outfit. I’m going to tell you like they say, you go girl! But, I’ve seen things I never thought I’d see, like me, Booker T, the five time, five time, five time, five time, five time WCW Champion, now that’s the kind of stuff that made people say tell me I didn’t just see that." Goldust came out to join him for the actual announcement… wearing a gold smoking jacket.
NOMINEES: Mick Foley – Me, Myself, and Cactus Jack – Cactus, Mankind, Dude, and even Mick Foley eventually, The Hug – Eric Bischoff and Vince McMahon, The Night Hell Froze Over, Bart Gunn winning the Brawl For All in 1998… until Mania, though we didn’t see that, Kane – Fire Starter – Your brother Kane has the same powers as you do… the fire on the announce table, the lightning bolt on the crew member that set him ablaze, Steve Austin – Zamboni 3:16 – Austin crashes the belt ceremony in 1998 and leapt off it over the top and took McMahon down.
WINNER: THREE FACES OF FOLEY
(MY PICK: Bischoff/McMahon… one of, if not THE most surreal moment in the history of the WWF, and for that matter the business.)

Booker accepted on behalf of Mick, who couldn’t be there… but obviously would like to tell all the fans thanks… and have a nice day! Coach asked Bisch if he was at all disappointed he didn’t win that award. "I don’t give a damn about Mick Foley, never have, never will… highly highly overrated. The only thing I care about is the next twenty-nine days, two hours of my life, because if you want great moments on Raw, you’re going to see great moments on Raw. That’s what matters to me."

Ric Flair made his way out to applause from Steph, Linda, and everyone… and "Whoo" all around. "We look at ourselves as one huge beautiful extension of the greatest wrestling organization of all time. We look at each other not only as competitors but as brothers and sisters of a great extended family… the greatest family of all time. But as you know, with every family, there are tragic moments. There are moments of great joy, but also of painful loss. In the past decade we have lost several memorable family members, and tonight even though they aren’t with us physically, they will be in our hearts forever."
TRIBUTES: Andre the Giant, Joey Marella, Brian Pillman, Rick Rude, Owen Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, Yokozuna, British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith – "Tell Me a Lie" played.

WWE GIVE ME THE MIC AWARD
Chris Jericho came out after the respectful commercial break in h is full leather suit. "Alright King, JR, enough of your useless anecdotes, you’re boring everyone to death." As far as his outfit, he’s doing it for Freddie Blassie. He calls himself the most entertaining superstar in Raw history as he presents the award, which he isn’t nominated for. He says he’ll be the winner, going to accept it before he opens and sees that the Rock won it. "Well you know what, the Rock isn’t even here tonight, so here’s what I’m gonna do. (Grabs it from Lilian.) Since the Rock isn’t even here, I’m going to accept this award for myself, because I deserve this more than anyone. On the screen behind him appears the Rock live via satellite, more HEAT from NYC directed to the Rock.
WINNER: THE ROCK
(MY PICK: I have no problem with Rock.)

The Rock starts with… "Finally the Rock has come back to New York City. (Heat) Back to you Chris Jericho, you remember that, you interrupted the Rock, the Rock won’t forget it, you won’t forget it, the fans won’t forget it. For old time’s sake Chris Jericho, the Rock says this, why don’t you take that microphone, shine it up real nice, turn it sideways, and stick it straight up your candy ass!" More heat for Rock and I mean REAL heat. Rock tells Jericho to take his punk ass off the stage but leave the little TV there, that’s the Rock’s award… "and brush your teeth." One moment the Rock was just thinking about… "Where’s Kurt Angle. Yeah… hey Kurt, good to see you. How you doing? Rock’s doing good, thank you. There’s one moment, you and the Rock, we made history… face to face, one on one, great match, great night, in your hometown, Pittsburgh, the Steel City. Tell your boys, Team Angle. That was a great night… that was when I beat you. Rock has a better name for your team, Team Suck Squad… shut up, the Rock will deal with you when he comes back." He talks then to Stephanie, who made first his life a miserable hell but now makes everyone else’s life a miserable living hell. "You are and forever will be a five dollar, no two dollar, no thirty-seven cent, all I have is a quarter, tip your waitress, blow out your candles, the Rock says blow out the candles not the pool boy, half priced slut!" He then wants to talk to Goldust who made fun of the Scorpion King, he and Booker T. He congratulates them for their recent work, but Goldy will always be a "sick ffffffffffffffffffffffffreak." Fans then chanted "Boring" at the Rock’s taped video and almost no one did the "millions" line, he HAS to come back heel, where he should be always and forever. He says in a month and a half he’ll be back doing what he does better than anyone else, but NO pop for it at all. He congratulates Raw on being electrifying… if you smellllllllllllll… fans wanted it over with. No love for Rock, and that’s harsh, especially considering he was on video and what he said did not at all match with the audience. Yikes.

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 8 – Vince and Shane McMahon - March 26, 2001 – SHANE BUYS WCW – Guess what Dad, I bought WCW. "The deal is finalized and the name on the contract does say McMahon, however the contract reads Shane McMahon. I now own WCW!" (Another of those surreal moments, that and Bischoff both stand alone.)

Howard Finkel outside welcomes the fans back to the show.

WWE SHUT UP AND KISS ME AWARD
Tazz is next, presenting this award… alongside Michael Cole, the voices of SmackDown. Fans chanted "ECW" at the Thug from Red Hook. The award is based on romantic couples… best onscreen romance.
NOMINEES: Mark Henry and Mae Young in 1998-99, Chyna and Eddie Guerrero as Mamacita was born in 2000, Lita and Matt Hardy as Team Extreme took a twist… of fate (don’t you love my writing style) in 2000 and onward, Mr. McMahon and William Regal with the Kiss My Ass Club last November (I was there, and horrified to watch a true worker forced to do that, but Regal did it willingly as a pro), Stephanie McMahon and Triple H – the McMahon – Helmsley Era began in 1999 and continued up until January of 2002, but had it’s share of problems.
WINNERS: STEPHANIE MCMAHON AND TRIPLE H
(MY PICK: Duh, the only one in a big enough role to matter… and for a LONG time this entire deal was superbly entertaining, especially when Kurt Angle and Trish Stratus both got involved in 2000.)

Steph and Hunter came up and both sold being very uncomfortable. "Where else can you have four wedding ceremonies, get drugged on your wedding night, marry a loser, get fired, fake a pregnancy, and get divorced only to make a triumphant comeback as the General Manager on the greatest show on network television, SmackDown!" Triple H said it’s been a wild ride, then has the idea of a kiss for old time’s sake. She seems into it, hugging him as he tells her to close her eyes. He turns around and drops drawers and briefs, but her eyes opened and she spanked him once before leaving.

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 7 - October 5, 1998 – Mick Foley, Vince McMahon, Steve Austin – MR. SOCKO AND DR. AUSTIN (I’m naming all these since they aren’t.) Mr. Socko arrives to make Vince feel better in the hospital. "Dammit leave, and take this crap with you!" Dr. Austin took it from there, in by far one of the funniest things Raw has ever done, by FAR.

(Comment: This show has been pretty entertaining, though nothing surprising YET. One thing I have to say is this… Raw superstar of the decade must be Stone Cold, if it’s not it’s a total sham. No one has even come close to doing what he did for Raw and for the WWF short of Hogan, and everyone in the country knew Austin and Raw went together whether they were fans or not. For Steve not to be at this show to me means it’s always going to lack something when I go back and watch it. I want to see the guy that bad tonight… but I’m ready for the return of Stone Cold, without question.)

WWE NETWORK DIFFICULTIES AWARD
Mean Gene Okerlund and Pat Patterson make their way out. "What a crowd… in the Big Apple. They remember (meaning the fan respect for him)." Games have been played in the WWE and Pat says perhaps he hasn’t seen it all, but he may have seen enough. Pat has in common with quite a long list, which is an award that will be given later… the most incredible moments for network execs.
NOMINEES: Mae Young – A Hand is Born, Stone Cold – Santa Stunner, 3 Minute Warning – Hot Lesbian Action, Brian Pillman – Pillman’s Got a Gun (UNREAL if you haven’t seen it)
WINNER: MAE YOUNG
(MY PICK: Has to be Pillman or HLA, the hand thing was too ludicrous… this one won to give Mae some stupid chance on stage to waste TV time once again… and because Pillman and Austin are not around… actually, the Network Difficulties award, and I forgot this… was Mock Necrophilia… hands down.

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 6 – July 6, 1998 – DeGeneration X – NATION OF DOMINATION PARODY - "The Crock just came from the bathroom. I ain’t fakin, you should have smelled what the Rock was bakin." Fact is, that might be the best segment I’ve ever seen that wasn’t a serious kind of thing, hilarious, well-done, and really worked.

WWE RAW SUPERSTAR OF THE DECADE AWARD
Brock Lesnar came out doing his taunt, but in a suit, and to a huge reaction. "Thank you, thank you. You don’t get the distinction of being called the Next Big Thing without having some big shoes to fill." He respects everyone on that list and all the performers in the room… except for Paul Heyman. (ECW chant.) Everyone on the list deserves the award but only one can win.
NOMINEES: Mick Foley, Rock, Bret Hart (Massive "We Want Bret" chant over the video), Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Undertaker
WINNER: STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN
(MY PICK: Stone Cold, he WAS Raw… before Stone Cold Raw was low on the totem pole, Austin made Raw… he IS Raw. Taker has been there since the start and certainly has to be close. All these guys are worthy nominees, but to me Stone Cold made the impact.)

Austin’s music hit and instead of Steve… Mr. McMahon came out. "We Want Austin" chant broke out… just give it time fellas. "Unfortunately Stone Cold Steve Austin could not be here tonight and you can bet there’s a damn good reason why he’s not, because if I know Stone Cold Steve Austin and I think I do even more than you JR, I think Steve Austin would want nothing more than to be here before you tonight and raise hell… and give you an Oh Hell Yeah. I know Austin would be proud to stand here and accept this Ruckus Award for the Greatest Superstar of the Decade and I assure you there’s a damn good reason, and that reason is simply because, he was not invited… and that’s the bottom line because Mr. McMahon said so!"

Coach wanted to talk to Triple H about losing… Hunter called it a bunch of crap and walked out. Flair agreed and walked right alongside the Champ.

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 5 – January 19, 1998 – Vince McMahon, Mike Tyson, Steve Austin – TYSON VS. AUSTIN – Tyson shows up, Vince says he’ll be a part of Mania, and unfortunately for Mike, he was standing in Stone Cold’s ring. "Let me make it short and sweet. What I’m telling you is I want a piece of Mike Tyson’s ass." It was Steve’s sign language that finally broke the bank and required security and referees. "You’ve ruined it dammit!"

WWE GREATEST MATCH IN RAW HISTORY
This brought the show back live, no one intro’d it, went straight to it. Ross and Lawler announced the winner.
NOMINEES: TLC in 2002 at Raw Roulette, HHH vs. Cactus Jack from 1997, Undertaker vs. Jeff Hardy Ladder in 2002 (Which I don’t think should even be near this category though it had its moments), Stone Cold vs. Kane from 1998… Austin got the gold back the night after he lost it at KOR
WINNER: TABLES, LADDERS, AND CHAIRS 2002
(MY PICK: Perhaps that one, though Jericho/HHH from 2000 and Angle/Benoit in 2001 (Cage) were both fantastic as well.)

Christian and Jericho came up first excited as the others came up slowly behind them… Christian said it was about him first… Jericho said it was about him… Kane then took it and said they had no idea how important that award means. He said the Ruckus Award was for all of them. Bubba said there’s nothing better than winning the award right there in his hometown of NYC. He then put over Benoit, D-Von, Matt Hardy, and Edge for along with him and Christian… setting the standard for TLC and permitting that match to take place. Rob stayed onstage after they had all left. "With those guys out of the way, we can congratulate the very talented man who’s amazing efforts made this moment possible… ladies and gentlemen everybody’s favorite superstar and mine… Rob… Van… Dam."

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 4 - April 27, 1998 – DeGeneration X – DX DECLARES WAR ON WCW – Parading through Worcester (I believe it was), POWCW did their worst on a week when the two companies were awfully close together.

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 3 – February 18, 2002 – Rock and Hogan – ROCK CHALLENGES HOGAN – My favorite segment in Raw history, with Higher Power revealed and New CEO Named coming right behind it… it was "Yes or No" for Hollywood, and Hogan accepted. (They never show the nWo assault afterwards.)

Freddie Blassie is there, smiling as the fans give him a nice reaction when he appears on camera.

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 2 – May 24, 1999 – WWF – OWEN HART TRIBUTE SHOW – Need we even say more, one of the most somber nights for any wrestling fan. Jarrett breaking up, along with many of the stars, it’s something I’m very pleased to have seen and been able to tape… I have provided it to many over the years.

RAW MOMENT NUMBER 1
Edge presented the Greatest Moment in Raw History. And the winner is, with over four hundred thousand votes…
WINNER: March 22, 1999 – Steve Austin, Rock, Vince, Shane – THE BEERBATH – The week of Wrestlemania XV, Austin gives the Corporation a beerbath, Coors Light style. A moment that has been seen so many times on so many highlight reels and video releases, and it certainly has to be somewhere near the top… I have no problem at all with this one winning, not at all. The definition of Attitude, plus the "Know Your Role Boulevard… Route 3:16 and burn that son of a bitch to the ground" line that we all know. The fans absolutely exploded and Vince was COVERED repeatedly in beer, absolutely hilarious and very entertaining.

"That’s the kind of moment that people are going to be talking about at the twentieth anniversary of Raw." He then thanked the WWE audience, who without… there would be no Raw and no superstars. "At this time I would like to get everybody up here, all the way down the line. Y2J and your silly little suit get up here, Kurt Angle and your Suck Squad come on up, HBK, come on." Everybody came up on stage… "And now it’s time for the family of the WWE to thank you and turn the tables. Thank you for watching us… thank you." The stars applauded the audience as Ross and Lawler thanked everyone for their passionate support and are so happy that the ride is not over.

This show basically in effect was a souped up Slammy Awards… and the fans probably should have been able to vote on all categories, though the response may still have not been right in the eyes of many people. Because Austin was not a part of the show, it missed the biggest single individual in the history of that show. True he’ll be back very soon, but this event had to happen when it did… so whenever I happen to watch it, I’ll always know Stone Cold missed it. It was a fun two hours, nothing too special… just a chance to see the entire company dressed up and enjoying themselves as they gear up for the Royal Rumble. Though Taker probably was somewhere close by, of all the Superstar of the Decade candidates, only Triple H was seated on the World’s floor, which is pretty sad when you think about it. Two more of them should be back within the next two months, one perhaps in the next couple of weeks. Definitely worth watching if you’re a longtime fan though NO surprises or past stars returning.