WWF Raw
(1993– )
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WWF Raw
(1993– )
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| Series cast summary: | |||
| Jerry Lawler | ... |
Jerry Lawler
(398 episodes, 1997-2013)
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| John Cena | ... |
Himself
(351 episodes, 2005-2013)
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| Randy Orton | ... |
Himself
(284 episodes, 2004-2013)
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Michael Coulthard | ... |
Michael Cole
(242 episodes, 1997-2013)
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| Paul Levesque | ... |
Triple H
(221 episodes, 1997-2013)
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Shawn Michaels | ... |
Himself
(221 episodes, 1993-2013)
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Anthony Carelli | ... |
Santino Marella
(218 episodes, 2007-2013)
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| Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin | ... |
The Miz
(208 episodes, 2006-2013)
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| Paul Wight | ... |
Big Show
(192 episodes, 2001-2013)
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Jim Ross | ... |
Himself
(189 episodes, 1997-2013)
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Lilián García | ... |
Lilian Garcia
(185 episodes, 2001-2013)
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| Cody Runnels | ... |
Cody Rhodes
(183 episodes, 2007-2013)
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| Glenn Jacobs | ... |
Kane
(181 episodes, 1997-2013)
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Vince McMahon | ... |
Himself
(179 episodes, 1993-2013)
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Carlos Colón Jr. | ... |
Carlito
(179 episodes, 2005-2010)
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| Chris Jericho | ... |
Himself
(173 episodes, 1999-2013)
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Mickie James | ... |
Herself
(172 episodes, 2005-2010)
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| Adam Copeland | ... |
Edge
(166 episodes, 1998-2011)
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Justin Roberts | ... |
Justin Roberts
(165 episodes, 2005-2013)
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| C.M. Punk | ... |
CM Punk
(162 episodes, 2006-2013)
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This wrestling show quickly grew into one of the most popular sports/entertainment shows ever. In addition to presenting matches between the stars of the WWF, this program spent most of its time on the elaborate backstage story that had developed, involving feuds, deals, backstabbings and romances between the wrestlers, managers, referees and commissioners. Written by Jean-Marc Rocher <rocher@fiberbit.net>
Pro wrestling...as a friend of mine said one time, it's the only type of program where you can screw up consistently for weeks on end, only to get one thing right and keep everyone watching. I don't have quite as awful an outlook on the program as he does, perhaps, but I can recognize that the vast majority of pro wrestling plotlines are poorly written, filled with laughable dialogue and complete rejection of continuity. But hey, they're still better than Snipes' Art of War. I still watch...for one thing, the in-ring portion of the show is usually an exciting stunt-fest, and a lot of the performers are really quite skilled at making the fights look believable these days. Much better than the cornball superhero antics I remember from the 80s. With better writing, I'm sure that the shows could be entertaining all around, rather than just in the ring. For proof, I can look to the few times good writing has been present in wrestling. 2001's Rock-Jericho fued was incredible, one of the few times I've actually been able to get into a plotline and enjoy the story. One guy (Rock) is an acknowledged champion, the other (Jericho) has a reputation for blowing the big match. So Jericho fights the Rock to try to prove he's got what it takes, and as they fight, he slowly gets more and more irritated by suggestions that he's not as good as everyone else, until finally he snaps. Pretty nice story, there. It didn't hurt that The Rock and Chris Jericho are pretty good actors. (Incidentally, I'm really hoping that The Scorpion King turns out to be a good film.) Or what about the current Undertaker-Ric Flair storyline? That's another entertaining plot. Sadly, most plots are like the current Triple H-Jericho-Stephanie storyline...up until recently, that was good too, but it has since descended into the realms of idiocy...poop jokes? Running over a dog? Promos based on Triple H and Stephanie's respective sexual prowess? It's this kind of thing that gives wrestling its reputation as a horrible show that only people of low IQ and low moral standards watch. Every now and then, there's a really good moment...and because of that, I, like lots of other people, keep coming back to watch more. But if the writers would actually try their best the entire time, maybe wrestling could be consistently exciting and involving, instead of being laughable most of the time.