WWE History Vol. 12: The First Ever Monday Night RAW

Shawn Michaels--resplendent in his 1990s mullet--puts the squeeze on Max Moon. Believe it or not, this is a match for the Intercontinental championship.

Opening Act: Bobby Heenan is shut out.

Sean Mooney informs Bobby Heenan that the first ever Monday Night RAW is sold out, and he cannot enter.

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan was one of the most well known (and hated) heel managers in WWE when RAW's first episode aired. He was also the entertaining co-host of Prime Time Wrestling, the show which proceeded RAW.

Naturally, WWE wanted to both acknowledge his long-term contribution to wrestling airing on the USA network, while also poking fun at him. Meanwhile, fans enjoyed seeing the villainous 'Brain' suffer. To that end, RAW opened with Bobby Heenan showing up late to the arena and being told he could not enter. When Heenan pointed out that he was a member of the announcement team, he was told he had been replaced by Rob Bartlett -- a local DJ who had very little wrestling knowledge.

Heenan was, of course, flustered, playing his role to the hilt as always. Sean Mooney, who long-time WWE fans might remember endured a lot of ribbing from Heenan, was a great straight man for 'The Brain' to play off of.

Then the show changed to display the live arena and WWE Monday Night RAW truly began.

One can trust Heenan to generate a lot of heat and still make it look entertaining and 'the Brain' did just that.