How WWE Should Book RAW 25th Anniversary

 

Hey everyone! I love to write and I love wrestling so ever since Night Of Champions 2015, through multiple accounts, I have been fantasy booking WWE PPV's in detail, and have been a wrestling fan since 2005. Without further ado, here is How WWE Should Book the 25th Anniversary Of RAW. (I was previously u/ThePipeBomb11)

If you don't wanna read all this, I have the final results at the very end of this post, although it doesn't include the segments, only the matches.

• Well, here we are. Only 2 other times in history have I done one of these posts for a weekly WWE show. First time being the 2015 Slammy Awards RAW, and the second being this past SD after Wrestlemania 33. And now here we are at the 25th Anniversary Of RAW. More legends than my brain can remember. Two arenas. Let’s get right into this. I have absolutely no clue as of me beginning this on Tuesday night who will be in which cities, and how the show will be formatted whatsoever, but we’ll make it work.

Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom (First 90 Minutes)

• We open the show with a big long video package with clips of the best RAW matches and moments of the past 25 years. It ends with a shot of the arena from the very first RAW in the very arena they’re in and then we cut to the live arena and it’s decorated exactly the same. Big RAW banners with the original logo over the balconies, blue ringside area and steel barricades, blue ring steps, and more. (Picture:http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/gallery_img_l/public/photo/image/2012/06/01_Raw_Evolution.jpg)

1ST SEGMENT: VINCENT KENNEDY MCMAHON PROMO

• The 25th Anniversary Of RAW Show kicks off with the man himself. The MCMahon. Vince does his walk down to the ring as the crowd sings his music. Vince welcomes everyone to the show and does a spiel about how this will be the greatest RAW of all time. Vince’s music hits and he goes to leave the ring but THE GLASS SHATTERS AND OUT COMES STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN. Austin rides out on a four-wheeler and does his pose on all four corners. Austin grabs a mic and stares down Vince for a second. Austin says he’d love to stun the boss’s ass one more time but that’s not why he came out here. He talks about how lots of the greatest moments of his career occurred on RAW. Flipping off and punching out Mike Tyson, spraying the corporation with a beer truck, helping Mankind win the WWF Title... he says that he’s impressed with the talent of today’s crop. He finishes off by saying that this will be the greatest RAW of all time, and that’s the bottom line BECAUSE STONE COLD SAID SO. Austin’s music hits now and he sits on the middle rope to let Vince out as a sign of respect but they’re both interrupted by none other than DREW GULAK. Gulak is out alone in a suit and he has a remote control in his hand. He first announces that he’s entering the Rumble. He sets up a projector in the ring and shakes Vince’s hand and says he’ll be presenting a PowerPoint on how “Legends hog the spotlight of new guys because they can’t let go”. Austin looks unimpressed and Gulak shows a few slides to boos. Gulak gets to his final slide which shows various clips of Austin’s biggest losses of his career. He finishes up by telling Austin that there’s only one word to describe him...

S.

O.

F-

Before Drew can utter the last letter, Austin kicks Gulak in the gut and delivers a vicious stunner which Gulak sells by like HBK in his match with Hogan by flipping backwards, knocking over the projector and falling over the top rope to the floor. Austin celebrates and calls for beers. He and Vince have clink cans and slobber themselves in beer as we go to commercial. END OF SEGMENT

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH THE REVIVAL

• Mean Gene is actually supposed to be on the show, but I’d have him over at Barclays for a very special reason. Instead we have Charly Caruso. Before Charly can even get out one word, Wilder swipes the mic from her hands and they do their thing. They say that they’re gonna go out to the ring later, so there’s enough time to get word around to the legends lurking that they’re issuing an open challenge to any tag team, past or present that thinks they can take their spot. Dawson gets up close to the camera and there’s intensity in he and Dash’s eyes as they promise that NO ONE CAN TOP THE TOP GUYS. Dawson chucks the mic on the floor and they walk away. Don’t worry. They’re not getting Ascension’ed.

1ST MATCH: Bray Wyatt vs. The Boogeyman (Singles Match)

• Bray Wyatt’s scary graphic of horror hits and he makes his way out. Wyatt says he wants Matt Hardy and he wants him now. Instead, THE BOOGEYMAN'S MUSIC HITS and he makes his way out and hits himself with a clock. There's actually some history here besides just that they both have characters that they're scary and strange, as the two had a faceoff in the 2015 Royal Rumble match. The match goes all of 30 seconds, as the two make weird faces for a little bit, Boogeyman spits some worms at Bray, and then Bray hits a big Sister Abigail for the win. Post-match, VANGUARD 1 MAKES IT'S DEBUT as Matt is backstage flying the drone to the ring, a projection of Matt laughing plays on the ring canvas as Bray drops to his knees, staring at it and also begins to laugh.

WINNER: Bray Wyatt by Pinfall

BACKSTAGE ROYAL RUMBLE TUMBLER SEGMENT

• We see a tumbler backstage and there's a line of Cruiserweights trying to get a number. At first we see Hideo Itami at the front of the line but Enzo rushes in and tells everyone to move over for the champ. Itami doesn't like this and looks ready to attack Enzo. Enzo picks out a ball and he gets a number from 6 to 10. Enzo says he doesn't like his number and goes to put it back in but Ted DiBiase Sr. walks up and offers to buy Enzo's spot. Enzo now refuses and accuses Ted of questioning his credibility. Ted goes higher and higher but Enzo says no and walks off. DiBiase looks around and then at the CW's and then offers some money to Hideo for the ball he chooses as the segment ends.. Everybody's got a price.

ELIAS CONCERT W/ SPECIAL BAND MEMBERS

• Ladies and Gentlemen, ELIAS. (AKA the best thing on RAW minus Braun Strowman). I firmly believe in 2-3 years this guy could be taken seriously as a World Champ. Elias does a song as usual, calling New York a dump and saying that they don't deserve to be able to attend the 25th Anniversary of RAW. Elias keeps singing terribly and messes up a few notes and restarts from the very beginning every time. OUT OF NOWHERE THE HONKY TONK MAN'S music hits and he makes his way out. HTM wasn't an announced appearance at the shows but I think he just needs to have a concert with Elias here. Elias and Honky have a back and forth but Honky searches under the ring and pulls out a guitar and dusts it off. Elias was hesitant at first but now is on board and the two begin to play guitar and sing some classic rock song like "More Than A Feeling" by Boston. The duet is rocking out but then they are interrupted a second time by THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK AND PYRO OF CHRIS JERICHO. Long story short, Honky and Elias jam out on guitar as Jericho sings his heart out, and it all makes for a fantastic moment in RAW history.

2ND MATCH: Enzo Amore vs. The Godfather (Singles Match)

• Enzo comes out and cuts a promo calling Stone Cold SAWFT for beating up Drew Gulak at the start of the show. He says that he’ll deal with all that later as he has something bigger to deal with right now. He calls out Nia Jax. Nia comes out and they stare at each other. Enzo thanks Jax for helping him recover over recent weeks. They lean in and it looks like they’re gonna kiss but THE GODFATHER’s MUSIC HITS and he comes out with HO’S. Godfather and Enzo are so alike, something I didn’t realize. Godfather challenges Enzo to a match purely to see who gets more Ho’s. You gotta have some hilariously dumb Attitude Era/Late WCW stipulations on this Show somewhere. **It lasts about 3 minutes and Enzo gets the win with an Eat Defeat.

WINNER by PINFALL: Enzo Amore

BACKSTAGE SEGMENT WITH MATT HARDY AND RON SIMMONS SAYING DAMN

• We go backstage and see Matt Hardy having a picnic in the parking lot with a goldfish. He says all the weird Woken Matt Hardy phrases and then we get our DAMN moment as Rom Simmons walks over. Matt laughs afterward as Simmons looks weirded out.

(MAIN EVENT OF MANHATTAN CENTER): The Revival’s Open Challenge

• It’s time for The Top Guys to establish themselves. Before they can come out, JIM CORNETTE WALKS OUT WITH HIS MEGAPHONE AND INTRODUCES THE REVIVAL. SAY YEAH. Jim Cornette is the absolute perfect fit as a manager to The Revival. Even if it’s just for one night.
• The Revival get a mic and once again challenge any tag team, past or present to come out and get their asses whooped. OUT COMES CHRISTIAN. He says that there’s two guys he’s known for a long time that want to shut the Revival up. OUT COMES THE DUDLEY BOYS. No one will remember when they retired from WWE in 2016... right?...

3RD MATCH: THE DUDLEY BOYS vs. THE REVIVAL (Tag Team Match)

• The match goes 5 minutes. We get Wassups, and they hit a 3D on Dawson but Dash scrambles in and breaks up the pin. SHATTER MACHINE to D-Von and The Revival pick up the win.

WINNERS BY PINFALL: THE REVIVAL

• The Revival get back on the mic and say that The Dudley’s were an easy defeat. They’re done with the past because no one was, is, or ever will be good enough to beat them. OUT COMES THE APA.

4TH MATCH: THE APA vs. THE REVIVAL (Tag Team Match)

• This match goes 2 minutes. All they really do is JBL hits a Clothesline From Hell and punch and elbow the Revival. The Revival win after a Doomsday Device to JBL.

WINNERS by Pinfall: The Revival

• Revival say that they’ll quit the WWE if they don’t get any real competition RIGHT NOW. OUT COMES DX. TRIPLE H. SHAWN MICHAELS. X-PAC. NEW AGE OUTLAWS

5TH MATCH: New Age Outlaws vs. The Revival (Tag Team Match)

• HBK, HHH and X-Pac all tell The Revival to suck it on the outside. The match goes 7 minutes. Lots of finishing moves early and the others try to get involved, but The Revival ultimately knock off another legendary team with a Shatter Machine to Billy Gunn.
• The Revival say that everything they said earlier they’ve backed up. NO ONE CAN TOP THE TOP GUYS. Dash tosses the mic and they go to leave the ring but out of nowhere WOKEN MATT HARDY’s new music hits. Matt comes out on the stage and does Delete with the fans. He looks back up the ramp and No More Words hits to a gigantic pop. Jeff isn’t broken although he’s teaming with Woken Matt and he shouldn’t be. I’d have Matt go to SD after Mania and Jeff stay on RAW, with them both entering World Title Pictures. We have the final team out to challenge the Revival. This is gonna be an actual match.

6TH MATCH: The Hardy Boyz vs. The Revival (Tag Team Match)

• The match goes 15 minutes and it’s fast paced and full of new moves from all 4 guys. It ends when Matt tags in Jeff and Jeff hits a Reverse Twist Of Fate on Dash. Jeff goes up for a Swanton Bomb to finish it off but Dawson runs up and nails Jeff in the back with a steel chair, sending him crashing off the top rope back into the ring. The ref calls for the bell and Matt runs in to try to help Jeff but Dash and Dawson beat them down with chair shots and then leave through the crowd and fistbump as the televised first 90 minutes from the Manhattan Center comes to an end.

WINNERS BY Disqualification: The Hardy Boyz

——-——————————————-

BARCLAYS CENTER (Last 90 Minutes)

• We kick off with the entrances of Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler to me reunited on commentary. My god my ears are gonna cry tears of joy.

OPENING SEGMENT WITH KURT ANGLE, ERIC BISCHOFF & JOHN LAURINAITIS + BRAUN STROWMAN ATTACKS KURT ANGLE

The actual show starts with RAW GM Kurt Angle making his way out Angle, like Vince earlier, welcomes everyone to RAW25 and Barclays. He says he wants to make this the best RAW of all time for the fans there tonight that have been watching for 25 years. ERIC BISCHOFF’S MUSIC HITS. He’s back.... And better than ever. He’s got a knack... for making things better. Bischoff gets into the ring and commends Kurt for doing so well as RAW GM so far, but Kurt says he needs his advice on how to handle someone like Braun Strowman. Angle says Bischoff ran the show for nearly 5 years and he would know some ideas. Bischoff is about to talk but then JOHN LAURINAITIS’s MUSIC HITS. Three famous RAW authority figures, past and present, stand in the ring. Angle starts yelling about Braun and how he doesn’t know what he can do to contain him anymore. Big Johnny says that Angle should follow the ways of People Power. BRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN. BRAUN SPRINTS OUT AND BISCHOFF AND LAURINAITIS RUN FOR THEIR LIVES. Braun gets up on the apron and Angle screams at Braun to stand still. Kurt says that he’s tried the police, swat teams, referees, the entire RAW locker room but nothing could stop him from causing destruction. Angle says quietly that there’s only one more option... and that’s THE MAN WHO WON A GOLD MEDAL WITH A BROKEN FREAKIN NECK. ANGLE DROPS THE MIC AND BLASTS BRAUN OFF THE APRON TO THE FLOOR. JR IS SCREAMING AND ANGLE GROUNDS STROWMAN AND PUNCHES FLY. BRAUN KIPS UP AND SENDS KURT FLYING INTO THE AIR. ANGLE GETS BACK ON THE APRON AND HITS A CROSSBODY TO THE FLOOR. Angle gets a chair and starts beating down Braun. HE’S LOST IT. WE’RE SEEING WRESTLING MACHINE KURT ANGLE. They eventually brawl up the ramp to the announce table. BRAUN FINALLY GETS THE BEST OF KURT AND NAILS HIM WITH A RUNNING POWERSLAM THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE DESK. Holy shit chants ensue. The medical team comes out and gets Kurt on a stretcher with a neck brace. They carry him to the back to an ambulance and Braun yells on the stage as we go to commercial. After we come back, we get a recap and JR is sickened by Braun's actions but says that the show must go on. We pan to the ring and see Curt Hawkins.

MATCH 1: The Brooklyn Brawler vs. Curt Hawkins (Singles Match)

• Curt Hawkins is in the ring and has a mic. He disrespects Brooklyn and says that tonight he WILL break his losing streak. 2018 is THE YEAR OF FACING THE FACTS. Out comes another notorious career jobber, Brooklyn's own THE BROOKLYN BRAWLER. The match goes about 5 minutes. Brawler hits a Sidewalk Smash for the win and the greatest streak in all of wrestling continues. The Undertaker then comes out and attacks Curt Hawkins and challenges Curt Hawkins to see who has the more historic streak at Wrestlemania 34 in a 230-Hour No Ropes, Barbed-Wire Monster Truck Superkicks-Only Deathmatch.

WINNER by PINFALL: The Brooklyn Brawler

BACKSTAGE INTERVIEW WITH MEAN GENE AND KANE:

• Mean Gene is the backstage interviewee at the Barclays Center, and his guest is the Big Red Machine Kane. Gene asks Kane how he plans to win the Universal Champion this Sunday. Kane says nothing as there's a knock on the door. The camera pans over and IN COMES BROTHER LOVE. Love goes to shake Kane's hand but Kane doesn't twitch and he takes his hand away. Bruce reminds Kane how he used to be his brother the Undertaker's manager in the old days. Kane still hasn't moved a muscle and Love pats Kane on the shoulder and Kane looks down. KANE GRABS LOVE'S THROAT AND MEAN GENE RUNS FOR THE HILLS. Kane picks up Prichard and throws him through the curtains of the interview area. He picks him up again and hoists him over his shoulder and brings him out to the arena. He tombstones Brother Love on the stage and JR is horrified while Jerry cheers it on. Kane goes to the back as Love lies there motionless and we go to commercial.

BRAUN STROWMAN INTIMIDATES LEGENDS BACKSTAGE

• We're back now and Braun causes more havoc backstage. He runs into Ric Flair and grabs hoists him up against a wall. Stephanie McMahon runs up and demands Braun put him down or else he'll be arrested, and up walks a team of cops. Braun puts down Ric and Stephanie says that Kurt Angle has been released from the hospital and in the main event, for the first time in over 11 years Kurt Angle will compete on RAW against Braun Strowman. Braun yells his name and walks off.

2ND MATCH: The Bar vs. The Club (G&A) vs. Jason Jordan & Seth Rollins vs. Titus Worldwide (Apollo & Titus)(Fatal Fourway Men’s Royal Rumble Qualifier Tag-Team Match)

• Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan come out and talk about their title defense against The Bar in 6 days. The Bar come out and the two teams trash talk each other and make fun of Angle getting destroyed by Braun and says Jordan doesn't have daddy here to protect him tonight. The Club come out with Finn Balor and then THE TITUS BRAND. The four groups all talk over each other and say they want spots in the Rumble. YOU KNOW IT'S THE MACMILLITANT, COMIN' TO GET IT ON. IT'S TEDDY LONG, PLAYAS. HE'S COMES OUT AND ANNOUNCES THAT STEPHANIE HAS GIVEN HIM THE HONOR TO MAKE A 4-WAY TAG TEAM MATCH, WITH THE WINNERS EARNING SPOTS IN THE MEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE.
• The match begins and Apollo Crews, Luke Gallows, Seth Rollins & Sheamus start off. The match goes 14 minutes. Jordan and Rollins get the win after Rollins hits the BLACKOUT on Apollo Crews. So happy it's back, by the way.

WINNERS by PINFALL: Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins

3RD MATCH: Asuka vs. Alexa Bliss (LumberJack Match)

• It's a lumberjack match for a good reason. You'll see. Don't freak out yet. The lumberjacks are all the rest of the RAW Women except Paige. Alexa is out first followed by Asuka. The match goes 8 minutes. Alexa keeps trying to walk out but both the faces AND heels jump her and throw her back in. It ends after Alexa taps out to the Asuka Lock. Afterward, all the Lumberjacks get into the ring and stand around Alexa and Asuka. OUT COME TRISH STRATUS, Jackie Moore, Terri Runnels, Torrie Wilson, Maria Kanellis, Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly, and The Bella Twins. EVERYONE brawls and throws each other over the top. The only one left standing is Asuka, but out of nowhere Alexa Bliss gets back up and blasts Asuka out of the ring. Alexa stands tall to end the segment and holds up her title.

WINNER by SUBMISSION: Asuka

• We get an announcement that Jeff Hardy has entered the men’s Rumble and we’re shown a graphic with all the entrants so far. We go backstage and see The Miz warming up for his match next. Axel & Dallas walk up and Miz tells them that as much as he appreciates everything they’ve done for him, he doesn’t want them out at ringside tonight. He wants to do things by himself so no one ever doubts again that he can beat Roman Reigns and then announces he’s entering the Royal Rumble and will win it.

4TH MATCH: Roman Reigns (c) vs. The Miz (Singles Match for the Intercontinental Championship)

• Miz is out first followed by Roman. The match goes 15 minutes. At one point Roman spears Miz through the barricade. It ends after Roman hits a Spear on Miz. He’s about to go for the pin but he goes back to the corner again to hit one more to finish him off for good. He yells OHHHHAHHHH and then the lights go out. When the lights go back on Paul Ellering is standing on the apron on the side of the ramp. Roman walks toward him and then he’s knocked down from behind by The Authors Of Pain. They hit a Last Chapter on Reigns and then retreat up the ramp. Miz crawls to the cover to become an 8-Time Intercontinental Champion. The Authors Of Pain would act as bodyguards to The Miz and would eventually feud with The Shield upon the return of Dean Ambrose.

WINNER by PINFALL/ Authors Of Pain and NEW Intercontinental Champion: The Miz

5TH MATCH (MAIN EVENT): Braun Strowman vs. Kurt Angle (Singles Match)

• Braun is out first and then gets in the ring and directs his attention to the stage. We hear sirens and IN COMES KURT ANGLE IN AN AMBULANCE, all bandaged up. Kurt is in a hospital gown and then rips it off to reveal his singlet. The match goes 10 minutes. Angle rushes the ring and goes crazy on Braun but nothing hurts him. Braun shoves Angle and he rolls across the ring. It’s very physical and at one point Braun kicks out of an Angle Slam. Angle hits a huge clothesline on Braun and actually knocks him down. Angle goes up too for a Moonsault and the entire crowd is on their feet but since a moonsault would most likely kill Kurt Angle at this age, Braun scoops him up off the top and spins him around for a Running Powerslam. Braun isn’t done. He rolls out and throws some steel steps in the ring. He scoops up Kurt for the final blow as JR yells for Braun not to do this, that Angle has a family, damnit. JOHN CENA’S MUSIC HITS and he runs down for the save. Cena goes wild on Braun with punches. All of a sudden both the Raw AND Smackdown locker rooms empty out and they all rush the ring and start throwing each other over the top rope. KANE'S music hits and he comes down and chokeslams all the jobbers. BROCK LESNAR'S MUSIC HITS AND HE RUNS DOWN AND KILLS EVERYONE TOO. ALL 3 MEN IN THE UNIVERSAL TITLE MATCH TEAM UP MOMENTARILY AND TAKE EVERYONE OUT. EVERYONE BRAWLS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GONG SOUNDS. THE LIGHTS GO OUT. THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON AND IN THE RING IS UNDERTAKER'S TRENCHCOAT, GLOVES AND HAT, JUST LIKE HE LEFT THEM AT WRESTLEMANIA. EVERYONE HAS LEFT THE RING NOW AND WE SEE THE LAST FEW RUNNING TO THE BACK. CENA LOOKS AROUND FACING THE STAGE AND UNDERTAKER'S HAND EMERGES FROM THE RING. THE CROWD GOES INSANE AND CENA TURNS AROUND INTO A CHOKESLAM. The steps the Braun brought in are still in the middle of the ring and UNDERTAKER SCOOPS UP CENA AND NAILS A TOMBSTONE ON THE STEPS. TAKER GOES OVER TO HIS GEAR AS CENA IS DOWN AND PICKS UP HIS HAT AND PUTS IT ON. HE PUTS ON HIS GLOVES. HE SLIPS INTO THE TRENCHCOAT. HE DROPS DOWN TO ONE KNEE AND ON THE STAGE WE SEE A GRAVESTONE WITH JOHN CENA'S NAME ON IT AND LIGHTNING STRIKES IT AS TAKER DOES HIS POSE.

And with that, the final shot of the 25th Anniversary of RAW is the Undertaker standing tall over John Cena.

———————————————

FINAL RESULTS:

Manhattan Center-

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times
1	Bray Wyatt defeated The Boogeyman by Pinfall	Singles Match	30 Seconds
2	Enzo Amore (with Nia Jax) defeated The Godfather (with Ho's)	Singles Match	3 Minutes
3	The Revival defeated The Dudley Boyz by Pinfall	Open Challenge to any Tag Teams by The Revival	5 Minutes
4	The Revival defeated The APA by Pinfall	Open Challenge to any Tag Teams by The Revival	2 Minutes
5	The Revival defeated The New Age Outlaws (with DX) by Pinfall	Open Challenge to any Tag Teams by The Revival	7 Minutes
6	The Hardy Boyz defeated The Revival by Disqualification	Open Challenge to any Tag Teams by The Revival	14 Minutes

——————————————— Barclays Center-

No.	Results	Stipulations	Times
1	The Brooklyn Brawler defeated Curt Hawkins by Pinfall	Singles Match	4 Minutes
2	Jason Jordan & Seth Rollins defeated The Bar, The Club (with Finn Balor) and Titus Worldwide (Apollo & Titus) by Pinfall	(Fatal Fourway Men’s Royal Rumble Qualifier Tag-Team Match)	13 Minutes
3	Asuka defeated Alexa Bliss by Submission	Lumberjack Match	8 Minutes
4	The Miz defeated Roman Reigns by Pinfall & Authors Of Pain assistance	Singles Match for the Intercontinental Championship	15 Minutes
5	Braun Strowman vs. Kurt Angle ended in a No Contest (RAW & SD brawl, Undertaker attacks John Cena)	Singles Match	9 Minutes

Well, that's how I'd book RAW 25. Tell me what you liked and didn't like, and what from this post you'd like to see on the show tonight. Pretty sure I included all advertised legends. Don't forget to look out for my 2-Part "How WWE Should Book Royal Rumble 2018" post on the day before the show. If 1 Rumble wasn't enough to keep track of, now we have 2. Enjoy the show tonight, everyone.