Tomorrow, Monday Night RAW will celebrate 25 years as it changed the way everyone saw professional wrestling and sports entertainment. There are a ton of moments that are sewed into the minds of RAW viewers. From C.M.Punk's Pipebomb to the Nexus destroying ringside to Kurt Angle dousing the Alliance with milk, to me one moment stands alone.

January 4, 1999: Worcester, Massachusetts

This right here, in my opinion, is the night the momentum swung in the WWF's favor.

(Note: I will add some of WCW Nitro in this story, because they are crucial in this moment).

As a 19 year old kid, watching both WCW and WWF collide in a ratings war was an absolute joy to see. Both organizations were making the professional wrestling business hot as it ever was. The Nitro broadcast started out good as Ric Flair was named president of WCW after beating Eric Bischoff in a match for the presidency. RAW is WAR (which it was called back then) started out with Mr. McMahon stating that Stone Cold Steve Austin was the #1 entrant in the Royal Rumble match, that happened weeks earlier. Shawn Michaels, then WWF commissioner, named Vince McMahon as the #2 entrant in the Royal Rumble. So far, so good.

Then Nitro kind of just went sideways with a Goldberg/Elizabeth stalking angle which was cringeworthy to watch. Then Hollywood Hogan showed up in a limo while for his faux political campaign. RAW is WAR was decent, but nothing outstanding. On Nitro, Mean Gene Okerlund interviewed Hogan, who received a world title match with Kevin Nash for the night's main event. After the interview, commentator Tony Schiavone uttered something that will live in infamy. "We understand that Mick Foley, who wrestled here as Cactus Jack, is going to win their world title.' Then added sarcastically "Ahh, that will put some butts in the seats." Not only that, minutes later, he stated it again.

Maybe it was WCW's lack of observing talent from other wrestling organizations or just pure arrogance, they didn't realize that Mick Foley had become a fan favorite in the WWF. Many theories and legends have said that close to millions of people switched from Nitro to RAW is War after Schiavone's comments. Nitro was bland towards the end with Elizabeth lying to authorities about Goldberg stalking her. The main event will also live in infamy. Hogan puts a finger on Nash. Nash falls and allows Hogan to pin him, 1-2-3. Known as the Fingerpoke Of Doom, it angered many wrestling observers and officials, who claimed Hogan and Nash exposed the business by Nash lying down for Hogan. This signaled the beginning of the end for WCW.

RAW is WAR had its moments, notably Mankind taking Shane McMahon hostage and forcing Vince McMahon into giving him a No DQ WWF title. Vince gave him the match against The Rock in the main event. There was a segment where DX locks Shawn Michaels out of the arena and the Corporation leaves Michaels in a bloody pulp. The main event for the WWF title was a classic. During one instance, The Rock went to the announcer's table and did mock commentary on Mankind. Moments later, Mankind returned the favor on commentary, quoting the term "testicular fortitude". Towards the end of the match, chaos ensued when Ken Shamrock hit Mankind with a chair, then Billy Gunn attacks Shamrock and all hell breaks loose between the Corporation and DX. During the melee, BOOM! The sound of shattering glass and possibly the biggest pop from a crowd ever. Stone Cold Steve Austin enters, grabs a chair, hits The Rock with chair and puts Mankind on top of The Rock for the 1-2-3. The crowd got even louder after the pinfall as Mick Foley finally became world champion.

So, not only did the WWF made Mick Foley into a legend, but WCW also contributed by not getting fresh ideas and holding back lesser talent for the NWO, which was growing stale at this point. After all these years, 19 to be exact, that RAW has had many great moments, the night Mick Foley won the WWF title is still the best moment to me.