Wrestling's "RAW" gets set for 800th episode

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Vince McMahon has one of the longest-running shows on U.S. television with wrestling series "RAW," and as it celebrates 800 episodes on Monday the chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment said its success depends on more than fighting.

"RAW," which airs on the USA cable network, averages more than 5 million viewers a week and is the No. 1 weekly show on cable TV. It will celebrate its milestone episode Monday with a three-hour special with a live broadcast in Tampa, Florida,

McMahon said the success of "RAW" stems from more than just putting on a professional wrestling match. He compared it to a variety show with elements of action adventure, soap opera, rock music and pyrotechnics.

"When you think about the old years of two guys wrestling in the ring, that's not exactly what we are now," he said.

"RAW" first aired 15 years ago, and it has logged more episodes than such classic U.S. TV shows as "Gunsmoke," "The Simpsons" and "ER."

The scripted show launched the acting careers of such former WWE sports stars as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Stacy Keibler. It has featured appearances by the likes of business mogul Donald Trump and basketball star Shaquille O'Neal.

John Cena has emerged as one of the series' biggest stars, but he is out with an injury that will sideline him until November. The WWE's slate of standouts also includes David Batista, known for his wrestling move the "Batista Bomb," and Shawn Michaels, who has been on the show since its inception.

"These performers not only put themselves out there as great characters, but they put themselves out there like any other athlete would," said Chris McCumber, executive vice president of marketing for USA Network.

A typical "RAW" episode has plenty of behind the scenes drama leading up to a showdown in the ring between muscle-bound wrestlers. McMahon himself is a series regular, playing a macho version of himself often at war with his wrestlers.

His wife, Linda, who is chief executive officer of WWE, also appears on "RAW" with the ins-and-outs of her job running the company fictionalized and made highly dramatic.

In 2005, Linda McMahon was in a fictional confrontation with wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin that ended with him using his signature move on her, the Stone Cold Stunner. She has also been portrayed as lingering in a coma after a breakdown.

The McMahons' adult children, Shane McMahon and Stephanie Levesque, are also involved in running the business, and they have regularly appeared on the show.

On Monday night's anniversary show, the McMahon children will act in a segment as they make a "decision" about whether to fire the "RAW" general manager at the request of a wrestler.

The show also features a championship match between Batista and Chris Jericho. But as in any "RAW" show, the ringside action is only half the draw.

"This is a very unique form of show business, and it's an ever-changing form of show business," McMahon said. "... And there's no reason it won't continue."

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)