Monday Night Raw's 25th-anniversary celebration is in the books, and as expected, it opened up a can of… nostalgia on the asses of audience members at the Barclays Center and Manhattan Center and viewers watching at home. The only problem was all the current-day WWE wasting time between the nostalgia segments. As a sign in the front row during the opening of the show declared: WWE used to be cool!
Luckily, we've gone through WWE's Twitter and YouTube feeds to gather all the nostalgic clips featuring the Legends of years past and cut out all the filler. Welcome to Raw 25: The Nostalgia Edition!
[Tuesday Morning Update: We've updated the article with more videos WWE posted overnight, including more backstage interviews that didn't air on the broadcast.]
The show opened up with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon reprising their classic roles like it was 1998 again.
It wouldn't be #RAW25 without the STRUT!@VinceMcMahon is LIVE on #RAW! pic.twitter.com/IU83FKtHu2
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
OOOHHHHHHH HELLLLLLLLL YYEEEEEEAAHHHHHHHHHH!@steveaustinBSR is HERE! #RAW25 pic.twitter.com/owfCXlKYR4
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
OH HELL YEAH!! Some rivalries NEVER die as @steveaustinBSR STUNS @VinceMcMahon AND @ShaneMcMahon!!!! #RAW25 pic.twitter.com/lLj8eMUI0f
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
Oh, how we missed you, @steveaustinBSR! #RAW25 pic.twitter.com/Tzl1g4uxBu
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
Backstage after the segment, Stone Cold gave an online interview to Mike Rome, and he wasn't pleased with Rome's interview skills…
While viewers during the Barclays Center segments were stuck with the regular Raw announce team, Manhattan Center segments treated viewers to the stylings of Jerry "The King" Lawler and Good Ol' Jim Ross, and Lawler even made a "puppies" reference after a women's tag match, prompting a disgusted look from JR.
It was very special for @WWE Hall of Famers @JRsBBQ & @JerryLawler to hold things down at @TheHammerstein during #RAW25! pic.twitter.com/9xFHig6XUT
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
Raw General Manager Kurt Angle had a visit from Jonathan Coachman, Harvey Whippleman, The Brooklyn Brawler, Brother Love, Teddy Long, and the Boogieman.
The Brawler, one of the greatest jobbers of all time, had some advice for Curt Hawkins.
The Undertaker made an appearance at the Manhattan Center.
#Undertaker! 👏👏👏👏👏 #Undertaker! 👏👏👏👏👏 #Undertaker! 👏👏👏👏👏#RAW25 pic.twitter.com/xvzAFXnHtY
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
"@steveaustinBSR answered to the reaper. @RealMickFoley answered to the reaper. Even my own flesh and blood @KaneWWE had to answer to the reaper!" #RAW25 #Undertaker pic.twitter.com/MKY2ovPsy6
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
And he told all his friends to enjoy retirement.
"I declare for all of those who have fallen, it is truly time… you REST IN PEACE!!!" – The #Undertaker #RAW25 pic.twitter.com/tXQgpffh9a
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
The APA set up shop in their old office, which has been unused backstage for all these years, and got to doing what they do best in segments throughout the night.
Which was joined by more superstars as the night went on, including Jeff Hardy and MVP!
Some more familiar faces have joined the poker game backstage…#RAW25 @JEFFHARDYBRAND @The305MVP @WWEUsos pic.twitter.com/qBLq0EWpLa
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
"I crunched the numbers…you lost a LOT of money!" – @DanaBrookeWWE to @HeathSlaterOMRB #RAW25 pic.twitter.com/rufjLPvQB8
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
"JUST LIKE MY WIFE'S FAVORITE SHOW, BABY… FULL HOUSE!"#RAW25 @HeathSlaterOMRB pic.twitter.com/0I7RkRvEuL
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
.@MDMTedDiBiase wins the pot…#RonSimmons says…#RAW25 pic.twitter.com/4Svs6iUFp0
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
An awesome APA poker game tonight on @wwe Raw 25th anniversary. pic.twitter.com/usE0m6DtS1
— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) January 23, 2018
Ric Flair is looking well and in good spirits after his health scare.
Even Christian was there for an episode of The Peep Show.
Matt Hardy was Woken in front of a giant ICOPRO banner.
YOU CAN'T SCARE #WOKEN @MATTHARDYBRAND, @WWEBrayWyatt! #RAW25 pic.twitter.com/B2siUZGraF
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
Female Superstars of the past (and pregnant Superstars of the present) took the stage, including the Bella Twins, Jaqueline, Michelle McCool, Terri Runnels, Torrie Wilson, Lilian Garcia, and Kelly Kelly.
And headlined by Trish Stratus!
IT'S TIME TO ROCK AND ROLL!
Great to see @trishstratuscom BACK on Monday Night #RAW!#RAW25 pic.twitter.com/JulIL9a4oj
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
Trish was also interviewed backstage for an online exclusive.
Some past General Managers were there as well, including John Laurenitis, William Regal, Eric Bischoff, and current Smackdown General Manager Daniel Bryan.
Chris Jericho sang a song to Elias and put him on The List of Jericho.
.@IAmEliasWWE, meet @IAmJericho! #RAW25 pic.twitter.com/pc5JxVH1RQ
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
Which led to Elias getting revenge later… on John Cena!
Backstage later, Chris Jericho added more people to The List:
Former Nation of Domination members The Godfather and Mark Henry were reunited.
It still ain't easy… GODFATHER'S IN THE HOUSE!#RAW25 @TheMarkHenry pic.twitter.com/4TeVEVHdar
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
What ain't easy, WWE? What?
The Dudley Boyz showed up to put Heath Slater through a table.
UH-OH! It appears that @HeathSlaterOMRB took a wrong turn and ended up in DUDLEYVILLE!!! #DVonGetTheTables #RAW25 @bullyray5150 @TestifyDVon pic.twitter.com/6W24nqAlaY
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
It was touching when D-Von went for the Wazzap, and Booker T was concerned for his safety.
WAZZAAPPPPPPPPP?! 😜😜😜😜😜😜#RAW25 @bullyray5150 @TestifyDVon pic.twitter.com/JOQd1QOc0Q
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
While AJ Styles got to do his best Hulk Hogan impersonation with Mean Gene Okerlund.
"WELL, LET ME TELL YA SOMETHIN', MEAN GENE!"@WWE Hall of Famer @TheGeneOkerlund is getting the #RoyalRumble report from the @WWE Champion himself, @AJStylesOrg! #RAW25 pic.twitter.com/KeUzafREUy
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
And of course, the highlight of the evening was the reunion of Degeneration X, with Triple H and Shawn Michaels…
Are you ready?#RAW25 #DX pic.twitter.com/2Uu7RKVowj
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
#DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #DX #RAW25 @TripleH @ShawnMichaels pic.twitter.com/9vTzLXFxpe
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
The New Age Outlaws…
OH, YOU DIDN'T KNOW?!#RAW25 @WWERoadDogg @RealBillyGunn pic.twitter.com/zPBW8UNJ4H
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
And X-Pac.
The #DX ARMY is GROWING! @TheRealXPac is in the HOUSE!#RAW25 pic.twitter.com/SL2VrKpUEj
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
It then turned into a Kliq reunion with Scott Hall joining the party in an amazing jacket.
OH YOU DIDN'T KNOW!?! When @ShawnMichaels and @TripleH said they didn't come to @TheHammerstein alone, they weren't lying! #RAW25 @WWERoadDogg @RealBillyGunn @TheRealXPac @SCOTTHALLNWO pic.twitter.com/oNoZOEetb3
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
#RAW25 is officially OOZING MACHISMO!@SCOTTHALLNWO is back at @TheHammerstein! pic.twitter.com/9O92WRGuCs
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
HEY YO!#RAW25 @SCOTTHALLNWO pic.twitter.com/DxTKJbqhLZ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
The Balor Club came to the ring as well.
Now THIS is TOO SWEET! The #BalorClub is LIVE at @TheHammerstein!#RAW25 @FinnBalor @LukeGallowsWWE @KarlAndersonWWE pic.twitter.com/Z6yqsykg0d
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
And they all exchanged a Too Sweet, the highlight of the entire night just as it was at Survivor Series.
IT'S A TOO SWEET PARTY!#RAW25 #DX #BalorClub pic.twitter.com/Nt1CG8kb1I
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 23, 2018
You can watch most of it here:
The Revival hit the ring for a tag team match with Gallows and Anderson, who dispatched them quickly, giving everyone a chance to perform their finishers to the crowd's delight.
.@KarlAndersonWWE and @LukeGallowsWWE aren't going to let @DashWilderWWE and @ScottDawsonWWE ruin their TOO SWEET time at #RAW25! pic.twitter.com/5V01oQbh4C
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
Well, @LukeGallowsWWE & @KarlAndersonWWE get the win, but this night just got a whole lot worse for #TheRevival! #RAW25 pic.twitter.com/m1piu3Ova1
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
TWO WORDS FOR YA from @TheHammerstein!#RAW25 pic.twitter.com/Q5nUW3x8Wl
— WWE (@WWE) January 23, 2018
After the show went off the air, Triple H addressed the crowd:
Backstage, The Club reflected on the experience:
As did Triple H:
And everyone posed for photos:
Kliq. DX. Balor Club.
Monday Night #Raw.
Then. Now. Forever. #Raw25 pic.twitter.com/ob5uvDsDTG— Triple H (@TripleH) January 23, 2018
#BalorClub x #DX x #Kliq = #2sweet #Raw25 pic.twitter.com/Lmnd53DN3J
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) January 23, 2018
Can this be Raw every week?