By Rick Gardner, PWTorch specialist

WWE Raw is an institution. Since its inception in 1993, Raw has been the WWE's most important TV show. On Monday, the WWE celebrated 800 episodes of Raw with a special three hour show, featuring inter-brand matches, a title change, and clips of classic moments from Raw's history. However, there is the danger that by showing too many nostalgic clips will reminded fans of how much better Raw used to be.

Let's examine each of the classic moments, and explore how they relate to today's product.

Episode #764 - Jeff Hardy Jumps off Scaffolding onto Randy Orton

This was one of three clips from 2008. Back in January, Jeff Hardy was the hottest star in the company. However, a subsequent drugs test failure meant that he has since cemented his place as top babyface who will never be given a top title.

Episode #1 - Bobby Heenan Tries to Sneak into the Manhattan Center

Bobby Heenan was one of the WWE's greatest announcers, and this storyline of him trying to get into the Manhattan Centre ran throughout the first episode of Raw. Heenan donned several different disguises, which made for funny segments. In contrast, the WWE did a segment on Monday night where Michael Cole danced with Goldust and other stars, which was just horrible.

Episode #17 - 1-2-3 Kid pins Razor Ramon

This was a genuine shock at the time, as Ramon was viewed as one of the top heels in the company. The win jump started Sean Waltman's career, and established Raw as an unpredictable show where anything could happen. The WWE tried to recreate this storyline earlier this year with Colin Delaney, but it fell short due to a lack of charisma on Delaney's part, as well as pinfalls not meaning as much as they did in 1993.

Episode #409 - WWF Buys WCW

This should have been the greatest storyline in wrestling history, but instead became the beginning of the creative rut that the WWE have been stuck in for the last few years. After a bitter Monday Night War, a feud between WWF and WCW should have written itself. Instead, politics and a lack of Nitro as competition had a detrimental affect on the quality of WWE programming.

Episode #778 – Obama and McCain Appear on Raw

Congratulations to Barack Obama on his win in the US Presidential Elections. But if his imitation of The Rock won your vote, then it doesn’t say much about the democratic state.

Episode #257 – DX Invade WCW

The clip of this landmark segment was immediately followed by an appearance by a lengthy in-ring segment with Shawn Michaels and Triple H, indicating how much the product has changed in ten years. The old DX invaded had edgy catchphrases and invaded the competition with a tank. The new DX cracks jokes like drunk dads at a wedding, and buries younger opponents like the aging WCW stars they were ridiculing a decade ago.

Episode #243 – Steve Austin Confronts Mike Tyson

If I had to pick one highlight from the 806 episodes of Raw, it would be this. Unfortunately the WWE's by the numbers approach of scripting their shows today would not allow such a moment to have the same impact (see episode #772).

Episode #456 – Showdown Between Hulk Hogan and The Rock

A memorable confrontation that further emphasized the lack of genuine star power Raw has in 2008. Thankfully the WWE did not show the ridiculous conclusion to this segment, where Hulk Hogan smashed a truck into an ambulance with The Rock inside.

Episode #772 – Big Show Attacks Floyd Mayweather

This was a memorable moment, particularly by 2008 standards. The sight of Mayweather being thrown over the top rope was certainly impressive, but pales in comparison to the culture shifting Austin\Tyson confrontation that ignited the WWF's most successful period of business since the late 1980s.

Episode #475 – Undertaker vs. Jeff Hardy in a Ladder Match

What could have been the beginning of Jeff Hardy's rise to main event status is actually just the start of six years where numerous factors have prevented Hardy from getting beyond the upper mid-card.

Episode #305 – Steve Austin Gives The Rock and the McMahons a Beer Bath

Another fantastic segment that harks back to days when Raw was better than it is today.

Episode #775 – Ric Flair's Farewell

A truly great moment from Raw's history. Its reassuring that a company that has banned the word "wrestling" from its television shows can produce such a fitting tribute to one of the greatest performers of all time.

Episode #530 – Kane Ruins Edge and Lita's Wedding

Surely no one has been involved in more terrible storylines during Raw's near-16 year history than Kane. This one from 2005 illustrates how little Kane's character has evolved in recent years.

Raw has provided many highlights during its first 800 episodes. However, memorable moments in recent years are sparse in comparison to the 1990s, when Raw was a consistently newsworthy show. The WWE needs to move away from the stale formulaic way in which they have been booking Raw in recent years, to try and recapture some of the unpredictability and excitement of the early episodes.

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