March 18, 2002 episode of Monday Night RAW/Transcript

Monday Night RAW intro

(Camera pans the crowd.)

Jim Ross: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Monday Night RAW! We are live from the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia, just 24 hours removed from an epic WrestleMania!

(Camera settles on the announce table.)

J.R.: My name is Jim Ross, and I'm joined by my broadcast colleagues, Jerry "The King" Lawler and "The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko, and tonight will be, arguably, one of the most exciting editions of RAW in recent memory! Earlier today, Mr. McMahon announced that the first official brand extension begins tonight!

King: Ain't that the truth, J.R.! For those of you who don't know what the brand extension is, starting tonight, every single superstar on the roster will have their contract bound to either RAW or SmackDown! Superstars will no longer be able to appear on both brands! This is the first time in WWE history that something like this has ever happened! I'm excited to see what will go down tonight!

Zbyszko: Tonight will definitely be a historic episode of RAW. The most interesting thing about this brand extension is that it will be totally random! Each draft pick will be a completely random pick from the roster. So we could get anyone! The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, The Undertaker....heck, this may be the last night we broadcast as a team!

King: Now, don't get my hopes up, Larry....

(Pictures of Eric Bischoff and Dusty Rhodes appear.)

J.R.: The other big announcement was that each brand, from here on out, would be controlled by a General Manager! In one of the most shocking appointments I've ever heard of, Eric Bischoff, who was formerly President of WCW, has been named General Manger of RAW, while "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes was placed at the helm over on SmackDown.

Zbyszko: I don't have a problem with this whole GM thing, but why did our GM have to be Eric Bischoff?

J.R.: In just a few moments, the draft will begin!

(Camera pans to the ring, where Lillian Garcia is about to speak.)

Lillian Garcia: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the General Manager of RAW, Eric Bischoff!

Eric Bischoff TitanTron

(Bischoff emerges from backstage and arrogantly makes his way towards the ring.)