Raw (WWE brand)

Raw is a brand of the U.S. based professional wrestling promotion WWE. The brand was first established on March 25, 2002, during a special episode of Monday Night Raw and went into effect one week later on April 1. The brand was discontinued for a period between August 2011 and July 2016.

Raw
Logo for the brand and the Raw television program as of September 30, 2019
Product typeProfessional wrestling
Sports entertainment
OwnerWWE
Produced byVince McMahon
Bruce Prichard
CountryUnited States
IntroducedMarch 25, 2002
(first split)
July 19, 2016
(second split)
DiscontinuedAugust 29, 2011
(first split)
Related brandsSmackDown
NXT
NXT UK
205 Live
ECW
TaglineUncut. Uncooked. Uncensored.[1]
Executive Director
Bruce Prichard
(June 11, 2020 – present)

Wrestlers assigned to the Raw brand wrestle predominantly on the eponymous television program; the supplementary show, Main Event; and on Raw branded or co-branded pay-per-view events and WWE Network events.

The brand has also appeared in the Worlds Collide and Mixed Match Challenge events. During the first brand split, they also competed on their former supplementary show, Heat; on ECW, under a talent exchange program; and 205 Live, when WWE's cruiserweight division was exclusive to the brand.

History

First split (2002–2011)

In early-to-mid-2002, then World Wrestling Federation (WWF) underwent a process they called the "brand extension".[2] The WWF divided itself into two de facto wrestling promotions with separate rosters, storylines and authority figures.[2] Raw and SmackDown! would host each division, give its name to the division and essentially compete against each other. The split came about as a result of the WWF purchasing their two biggest competitors, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW); and the subsequent doubling of its roster and championships. The brand extension was publicly announced by Linda McMahon during a telecast of Raw on March 25 and became official the next day.

At the time, this excluded the WWE Undisputed Championship and the original WWE Women's Championship as those WWE titles would be defended on both shows. In September 2002, then WWE Undisputed Champion Brock Lesnar refused to defend the title on Raw, in effect causing his title to become exclusive to SmackDown. The following week on Raw, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff awarded a newly instated World Heavyweight Championship to Raw's designated number one contender Triple H. Because the WWE Undisputed Championship was now a SmackDown exclusive title, it was no longer referred to as "undisputed". Following this, the original WWE Women's Championship soon became a Raw exclusive title as well. As a result of the brand extension, an annual "draft lottery" was instituted to exchange members of each roster and generally refresh the lineups.

Raw was the home brand for many top WWE stars including Triple H, Ric Flair, Batista, Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, Goldberg, Chris Jericho, Christian, Shawn Michaels, John Cena, Kane, Trish Stratus, Lita and Stacy Keibler.

The 2005 draft was held on the June 6 episode of Raw. The first draft lottery pick was then WWE Champion John Cena, thus moving the WWE Championship to Raw and having two titles on the brand. Eventually, then World Heavyweight Champion Batista was drafted to SmackDown as the last draft pick, leaving only the WWE Championship on Raw. In the 2008 draft lottery, CM Punk got drafted to Raw and then won the World Heavyweight Championship from Edge, who was a SmackDown wrestler. Triple H, who was the WWE Champion at the time, got drafted to SmackDown while Kane, who was the then ECW Champion, got drafted to Raw. After the draft lottery in 2009, the WWE Championship was brought back to Raw when Triple H was drafted from SmackDown while the World Heavyweight Championship was brought back to SmackDown when Edge defeated John Cena to win the title at Backlash.

On the August 29, 2011, episode of Raw, it was announced that performers from Raw and SmackDown were no longer exclusive to their respective brand.[3] Subsequently, championships previously exclusive to one show or the other were available for wrestlers from any show to compete for—this would mark the end of the brand extension as all programming and live events featured the full WWE roster.[4] In a 2013 interview with Advertising Age, Stephanie McMahon explained that WWE's decision to end the brand extension was due to wanting their content to flow across television and online platforms.[5]

Second split (2016–present)

On May 25, 2016, it was announced that WWE would be reintroducing the brand split in July, with distinctive rosters for both Raw and SmackDown.[6] On the July 11 episode of Raw, Vince McMahon named Stephanie McMahon the Commissioner of Raw.[7] The draft took place on the live premiere of SmackDown on July 19, with the General Managers of the respective brands hand-picking the wrestlers for their brands.[8] Raw's Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and General Manager Mick Foley created a new championship—the WWE Universal Championship. This championship would be exclusive to the Raw brand, as the WWE World Championship had become exclusive to the SmackDown brand.[9] Clash of Champions was scheduled as the reintroduction of the cruiserweight division and the first Raw-exclusive pay-per-view since January 2007, whereas Elimination Chamber was scheduled as the final Raw-exclusive pay-per-view two years later. Subsequently, this saw all upcoming pay-per-views interbranded after WrestleMania 34. And recently, they put another segment, Raw Underground (with a cage fight theme).

Champions

Initially, the WWE Undisputed Championship and the original WWE Women's Championship were available to both brands.[10][11][12] The other championships were exclusive to the brand the champion was a part of.[10][11][13] When the brand extension began, Raw received the Intercontinental Championship and the European Championship when their respective holders were drafted.[14] In September 2002, the WWE Undisputed Championship became the WWE Championship again and was moved to SmackDown, prompting Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff to create the World Heavyweight Championship for Raw.[15] Shortly thereafter, Raw became the exclusive brand for the World Tag Team Championship, the Intercontinental Championship and the original WWE Women's Championship.[16][17]

On July 19, 2016, the brand extension was brought back and for the first time ever the draft was held on SmackDown Live. Raw drafted the WWE Women's Championship, the United States Championship and the WWE Tag Team Championship.[18] With the WWE Championship being defended exclusively on SmackDown, Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley introduced the WWE Universal Championship to be Raw's world title.[19] At Crown Jewel on October 31, 2019, SmackDown wrestler "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt won the WWE Universal Championship, thus taking the title to SmackDown. On the next night's episode of SmackDown, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar quit SmackDown and moved to Raw, bringing the title with him.

Current championships

Raw
ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays heldLocationNotes
WWE Championship Drew McIntyre 2 November 16, 2020 82 Orlando, Florida Defeated Randy Orton in a No Disqualification No Countout match on Raw.
United States Championship Bobby Lashley 2 August 30, 2020 160 Orlando, Florida Defeated Apollo Crews at Payback.
Raw Tag Team Championship
The Hurt Business
(Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin)
1
(1, 3)
December 20, 2020 48 St. Petersburg, Florida Defeated The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs.
Raw Women's Championship Asuka 2 August 23, 2020 167 Orlando, Florida Defeated Sasha Banks at SummerSlam.

Previous championships

Championship Time on brand
WWE European Championship March 25, 2002 — July 22, 2002
WWE Hardcore Championship March 26, 2002 — August 26, 2002
ECW Championship June 23, 2008 — June 29, 2008
World Tag Team Championship July 21, 2002 — December 13, 2008
WWE Women's Championship September 24, 2002 — April 13, 2009
Million Dollar Championship April 5, 2010 — November 15, 2010
World Heavyweight Championship September 2, 2002 — June 30, 2005
June 30, 2008 — February 15, 2009
April 5, 2009 — April 26, 2009
WWE Divas Championship April 13, 2009 — September 19, 2010
WWE Cruiserweight Championship September 14, 2016 — November 29, 2016
WWE Intercontinental Championship August 25, 2002 — April 13, 2009
April 10, 2017 — April 16, 2019
WWE Universal Championship August 21, 2016 — October 31, 2019

Personnel

Pay-per-view and WWE Network events

First brand split events

Date Event Venue Location Main event
May 4, 2002InsurrextionWembley ArenaLondon, EnglandTriple H vs. The Undertaker
June 7, 2003InsurrextionTelewest ArenaNewcastle, EnglandTriple H (c) vs. Kevin Nash in a Street Fight match for the World Heavyweight Championship
June 15, 2003Bad BloodCompaq CenterHouston, TexasTriple H (c) vs. Kevin Nash in a Hell in a Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship with Mick Foley as special guest referee
September 21, 2003UnforgivenGiant CenterHershey, PennsylvaniaTriple H (c) vs. Goldberg in a Title vs. Career match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Had Triple H been disqualified or counted out, he would lose the title
December 14, 2003ArmageddonTD Waterhouse CenterOrlando, FloridaGoldberg (c) vs. Kane vs. Triple H in a Triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship
April 18, 2004BacklashRexall PlaceEdmonton, Alberta, CanadaChris Benoit (c) vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels in a Triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship
June 13, 2004Bad BloodNationwide ArenaColumbus, OhioTriple H vs. Shawn Michaels in a Hell in a Cell match
July 11, 2004VengeanceHartford Civic CenterHartford, ConnecticutChris Benoit (c) vs. Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
September 12, 2004UnforgivenRose Garden ArenaPortland, OregonRandy Orton (c) vs. Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
October 19, 2004Taboo TuesdayBradley CenterMilwaukee, WisconsinRandy Orton vs. Ric Flair in a Steel Cage match
January 9, 2005New Year's RevolutionColiseo de Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto RicoBatista vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. Randy Orton vs. Triple H in an Elimination Chamber match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship with Shawn Michaels as special guest referee
May 1, 2005BacklashVerizon Wireless ArenaManchester, New HampshireBatista (c) vs. Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
June 26, 2005VengeanceThomas & Mack CenterParadise, NevadaBatista (c) vs. Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match for the World Heavyweight Championship
September 18, 2005UnforgivenFord CenterOklahoma City, OklahomaJohn Cena (c) vs. Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship
November 1, 2005Taboo TuesdayiPayOne CenterSan Diego, CaliforniaJohn Cena (c) vs. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels in a Triple threat match for the WWE Championship
January 8, 2006New Year's RevolutionPepsi ArenaAlbany, New YorkJohn Cena (c) vs. Edge for the WWE Championship
This was Edge's Money in the Bank cash-in match
April 30, 2006BacklashRupp ArenaLexington, KentuckyJohn Cena (c) vs. Edge vs. Triple H in a Triple threat match for the WWE Championship
June 25, 2006VengeanceCharlotte Bobcats ArenaCharlotte, North CarolinaD-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H) vs. The Spirit Squad (Johnny, Kenny, Mikey, Mitch and Nicky) in a 2-on-5 handicap match
September 17, 2006UnforgivenAir Canada CentreToronto, Ontario, CanadaEdge (c) vs. John Cena in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the WWE Championship
November 5, 2006Cyber SundayU.S. Bank ArenaCincinnati, OhioKing Booker (c) vs. Big Show vs. John Cena in a Triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship
January 7, 2007New Year's RevolutionKemper ArenaKansas City, MissouriJohn Cena (c) vs. Umaga for the WWE Championship

Second brand split events

Date Event Venue Location Main event
September 25, 2016 Clash of Champions Bankers Life Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana Kevin Owens (c) vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship
October 30, 2016 Hell in a Cell TD Garden Boston, Massachusetts Sasha Banks (c) vs. Charlotte Flair in a Hell in a Cell match for the WWE Raw Women's Championship
December 18, 2016 Roadblock: End of the Line PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship
March 5, 2017 Fastlane Bradley Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin Kevin Owens (c) vs. Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship
April 30, 2017 Payback SAP Center San Jose, California Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns
June 4, 2017 Extreme Rules Royal Farms Arena Baltimore, Maryland Bray Wyatt vs. Finn Bálor vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins in an Extreme Rules match to determine the #1 contender for the WWE Universal Championship
July 9, 2017 Great Balls of Fire American Airlines Center Dallas, Texas Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Universal Championship
September 24, 2017 No Mercy Staples Center Los Angeles, California Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Braun Strowman for the WWE Universal Championship
October 22, 2017 TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Target Center Minneapolis, Minnesota Dean Ambrose, Kurt Angle and Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman, Cesaro, Kane, Sheamus and The Miz in a 3-on-5 handicap Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match
February 25, 2018 Elimination Chamber T-Mobile Arena Paradise, Nevada Braun Strowman vs. Elias vs. Finn Bálor vs. John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. The Miz in an Elimination Chamber match for a WWE Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 34

References

  1. Schwartz, Nick (January 11, 2018). "WWE's Triple H explains how 'Monday Night Raw' changed wrestling forever". USA Today. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  2. Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE: History of WrestleMania. p. 55.
  3. Nemer, Paul (August 30, 2011). "Raw Results – 8/29/11". Wrestleview. Retrieved November 5, 2016.
  4. Tom Herrera (January 11, 2014). "The 10 most important moments in Raw history". WWE.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  5. "WWE NEWS: Stephanie McMahon says why brand split is gone". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  6. Clapp, John. "Smackdown going live July 19th". WWE. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  7. Caldwell, James. "7/11 WWE Raw Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  8. "WWE's destiny to be determined during SmackDown's LIVE premiere". WWE. June 20, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  9. Schwartz, Nick. "WWE creates new Universal Championship for Raw". Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  10. Zimmerman, Christopher Robin (March 26, 2002). "WWE Draft 2002 Recap". Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  11. "WWE Raw (March 25, 2002) Results". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  12. "WWE Draft 2019 Results". PWWEW.net. Archived from the original on January 26, 2002. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  13. "WWE Raw (March 25, 2002) Results". PWWEW.net. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  14. "WWE Cruiserweight Championship History". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  15. "Triple H's first World Heavyweight Championship reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 21, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  16. "WWE Tag Team Championship History". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  17. "WWE United States' Championship History". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  18. "2016 WWE Draft results: WWE officially ushers in New Era". WWE. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  19. Hamlin, Jeff. "WWE Raw live results: title match set for SummerSlam & a new champion is crowned". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  20. Raw 2/18/19 - WWE.com
  21. Satin, Ryan (May 20, 2019). "WATCH: Mick Foley Unveils New WWE 24/7 Title, First Champion Crowned". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
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