The Monday Night Raw after WrestleMania has become one of the most anticipated nights on the wrestling calendar, known for shocking debuts, major storyline shifts, and a famously raucous crowd. On “Something To Wrestle,” JBL and Conrad Thompson discussed when this tradition truly began.
Thompson suggested the Raw after WrestleMania 14 in 1998 marked the turning point, citing the beginning of the Austin era, Triple H taking over DX, and the debuts of X-Pac and the New Age Outlaws joining the faction.
JBL agreed emphatically. “I think it was 98 I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” he stated. “Because we had to reset, because we’re losing one of the greatest stars of all time [Shawn Michaels]… And so we had to reset.”
He explained that internally, the day after WrestleMania was always significant, marking the start of WWE’s unofficial “new year.” “That was the beginning of our new fiscal year,” JBL revealed. “That’s where you consider the start of the year for WWE was the day after Wrestlemania… Guys would get… fired, you know, laid off… because that’s when you start the new year, and that’s when you start with this new company. It was really day one to Vince.”
JBL shared an anecdote illustrating Vince McMahon’s mindset: “I remember one time after mania… He said, ‘Well, now the work begins,’ and everybody else was going to WrestleMania party… He was going into work because that’s was the start of the new year for him. He really saw it that way.”
While the internal reset was always present, JBL believes 1998 solidified the fan perception of the Raw after Mania as a pivotal show due to the major storyline reset required after Shawn Michaels’ departure.
Looking at the modern era, JBL acknowledged the heightened anticipation, especially regarding potential debuts like Jeff Cobb. “The anticipation is going to be huge,” he said. “That Monday Night Raw is so freaking fun.” He recalled the explosive reaction when Dolph Ziggler cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase the night after WrestleMania 29: “That was one of the loudest reactions. I’ve never heard anything like that. That was freaking amazing.”
From an internal “Day One” to a fan-frenzied night of major developments, the Raw after WrestleMania cemented its unique place in the wrestling world, with JBL pointing to 1998 as the year its modern identity truly took shape.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit AdFreeShows.com with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
