Back in 1993, sites like Wrestlenomics and The Programming Insider who provide all of the TV rating information in the modern era did not exist, and truthfully this isn't going to be a case where I break it down by average viewership and the key 18-49 demographic because, quite frankly, that information is not available. What is available is the TV number "Raw" drew, a 2.5, which is a number that shows these days would be scrambling to get, and despite the show being something that is rather tough to look back on through modern eyes, no one can deny that the first episode of "Raw" was a big success.

Had it not been a success, the show wouldn't have lasted on cable TV for 32 years, it wouldn't be available to stream on Netflix today, and I would be writing a very different piece, one full of negativity and how WWE squandered their big opportunity to make a lasting impression on American television. However, it was a success, and even though the "new generation" era could have genuinely seen WWE go out of business, "Raw" was still a proven ratings draw, and by the end of the Attitude Era, it had become a pop culture juggernaut.

So there you have it, a crash course on everything weird and wonderful about the first episode of "Raw" from January 11, 1993. The world was a very different place, and WWE was a very different company. The show itself isn't very eventful, and outside of cultural significance, there isn't anything "must see" on display. Having said that, it is one of the most important nights in wrestling history, and as fans, we should all be thankful it went as well as it did.