What they look like now: 10 stars from the first Monday Night Raw

The 25th anniversary of Raw is shaping up to be a star-studded event.

Emanating live from the Barclays Center and Manhattan Center, the January 22, 2018 episode will feature special appearances from two legendary Superstars who appeared on the first-ever broadcast of Raw on January 11, 1993: Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker.

We've all seen how HBK and 'Taker have evolved over the years, but what about the other personalities who helped kick off WWE’s flagship show?

In this article, we check out how ten stars who appeared on the first episode of Raw are getting on in 2017 – from how they look to what line of work they're in now.

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#1 Sean Mooney

WWE's former announcer looks better now than 25 years ago!

Then: Sean Mooney was the very first face we saw on Raw. He was an enthusiastic announcer who spent the entire episode attempting to prevent Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, dressed in various different disguises, from entering the arena, and he would go on to leave WWE just three months later.

Now: Aged 58, Mooney has his own podcast, "Prime Time with Sean Mooney", on the MLW Radio Network. He has also made various one-off appearances for WWE over the years, most recently working alongside Charly Caruso on a new DVD release

#2 The Undertaker

Then: With eerie manager Paul Bearer by his side, a 27-year-old Undertaker was introduced to viewers as “The Phenom” by commentator Vince McMahon. His entrance only took one minute and his main-event match against Damien Demento, which ended with a trademark Tombstone, didn’t last long.

Now: At the age of 52, mystery surrounds the future of one of WWE’s most iconic characters. His WrestleMania 33 ‘farewell’ was perfect and many believe he should never step foot inside a squared circle again. Will he have one last match? Or is 2018 the year he gets his Hall of Fame induction? We’ll know more when he appears on Raw’s 25th-anniversary episode.

#3 Koko B. Ware

Then: Koko B. Ware was a cheerful fan favourite who, in the absence of injured High Energy tag partner Owen Hart, had the impossible task of taking on the mighty Yokozuna on Raw’s first episode. “Go get ‘em, Birdman!” shouted commentator Vince McMahon. It didn't help – he was squashed inside four minutes.

Now: A 2009 Hall of Famer, Koko still appears at independent wrestling events. Despite being named in part of a lawsuit against WWE in 2015 due to claims of long-term health problems, the 60-year-old often speaks highly of the company in interviews. In recent years, he has worked part-time in security and property maintenance.

#4 The Steiner Brothers

Sco — The Steiners were victorious against The Executioners

Then: All-Americans from the University of Michigan, Rick and Scott Steiner were menacing to their opponents but loved by fans as they defeated The Executioners in a three-minute match on Raw’s first episode. Long-haired Scott even received the first “what a manoeuvre!” in Raw history from Vince McMahon.

Now: Rick, 56, sells real estate and is a board member of the Cherokee County School District, while Scott, 55, still takes wrestling bookings and was even involved in a tag match at GFW Slammiversary XV in 2017.

#5 The Executioners

Enter captio — Duane Gill (L) and Barry Hardy (R) pictured with Bushwhacker Luke

Then: The Executioner character was played by 13 different wrestlers between 1976 and 2013. On the first episode of Raw, Executioner #1 and Executioner #2, played by Duane Gill and Barry Hardy, lost in quick fashion to the Steiner Brothers.

Now: Gill, 58, is accepting independent bookings and made a surprise appearance on Raw in 2017, returning as Gillberg during the feud between Goldberg and Kevin Owens. Hardy, 55, still makes appearances today and told Rolling Stone in 2015 that he feels WWE should open a Hall of Fame wing for enhancement talents, with him and Gill inducted as a tag team.

#6 Vince McMahon

Vince McMahon's WWE is still the hottest wrestling promotion going

Then: Vince McMahon, the real-life owner of WWE, was a mere commentator in the early days of Raw – and an eccentric one at that. His random shouts of “we are live from New York City!” and regular screams of “Monday Night Raw!” were a particular highlight of the first-ever episode.

Now: Now 72, Vince remains on top of the world of professional wrestling – or sports entertainment, as he likes to call it. His most recent storyline saw him receive a bloody headbutt, followed by a Five-Star Frog Splash, from Kevin Owens in September 2017. One wonders what he has in store for his next on-screen appearance.

#7 Damien Demento

Then: Hailing from “The Outer Reaches of Your Mind”, Damien Demento was a deranged mid-card wrestler who, to quote commentator Rob Bartlett, looked like he got his haircut during a power surge. His big main-event chance came in a losing effort against The Undertaker on Raw’s first episode.

Now: Demento, real name Phillip Theis, is primarily an artist and sculptor, telling the New York Times in 2012 that he “was always an artist who dabbled in wrestling”. The 59-year-old retired from the ring in 1994 but has made appearances on independent shows in recent years.

#8 Shawn Michaels

Then: Shawn Michaels played an arrogant heel who, according to commentator Randy Savage, was simply "a legend in his own mind". On Raw's first episode, HBK successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship against Max Moon, with his trademark Superkick merely a set-up for a Suplex finishing manoeuvre.

Now: Aged 52, Michaels is a Hall of Famer whose sensational matches on WWE’s grandest stage earned him the nickname "Mr WrestleMania". Although he continuously rules out a return to the ring, he has recently taken up a role as a trainer at WWE’s Performance Centre.

Edited by Shruti Sadbhav