I agree. I was lightly annoyed with the 2002 overhaul, but everything after that made me wish they would have stayed simpler. Way too many LEDs, sometimes it's better to save that stuff for Wrestlemania. Raw from 99 to 02 was perfect. Other great sets were Armegeddon 99, and Royal Rumble 2000. Too many LEDs just take away from the show in my opinion.
Charlieboy Saldivar Same man. I grew up in the Legendary Attitude Era, and it's by far my favorite time in wrestling...WWF (I still call it that, screw WWE) just sucks now. I'm legit embarrassed to tell people who don't watch it that I'm a fan of wrestling nowadays it's so bad.
The 2002 era is probably my favorite. Growing up during the attitude era I always liked the 1998 raw is war style too. The original smackdown set other the silver ovals and blue lighting was sweet too. That's why I love WWE 13 , I can play all my favorite entrances.
The 2003 Raw is when I started watching Raw on television, but I started watching WWF/E back in August 26, 1999 with Smackdown made its television series debut.
Hardly ever comment on videos but these videos really hit a sweet spot for me. Really entertaining and informative! Hope you carry on doing these for a long time.
Now thinking about it I thought I'd dislike the newer designs but it actually looks nice as hell. Like the ramp and video being seen on the floor is freaking awesome at the end and also great job, Nik. Interesting stuff and people barely mention designs in visuals from what I see on here.
I really love the look of the whole arena from latter 1999 to 2002. It's an often overlooked stage design compared to the ones preceding and following it. I think it has a really great balance between the metallic grit of the Attitude Era and the sleeker, higher production values that would come to define WWE. It was especially a good complement against the neon scifi look of Smackdown at the time. I really wish they kept it longer than the two and a half years that they did. I think the Ruthless Aggression and PG era designs are a lot blander in comparison.
Gotta give you credit. You're detail oriented and know the right details to look for. Not everyone would notice details like initial case vs all cap type. As an occasional designer, I love, love, love this series and the effort you put into it.
Seriously this content is good fun because one of the things in the wwe universe that don't get enough attention yet is literally the biggest part of the program is the stages be it iconic or lack luster
My Favorite Raw stages are 1998-2002 and 2002-2008 great looks for Raw.Will you do a similar video on SmackDown! over the years as well? I'M really enjoying these Arena Showcase videos. I don't think anyone else even does videos on stage design in wrestling.I love the content NikateeN please don't stop doing vids anytime soon 🙂
For RAW the stage from 2008 to 2011 was my favourite. The massive header screen made it look fantastic aswell. Hopefully that stage with those stage parts are available on WWE 2K20 for create an arena mode as that would be sooo DOPE!🔥. For smackdown the Smackdown Fist stage was my favourite. And my favourite smackdown logo was the smackdown logo from 2010. The one with all the glass👌.
I'm such a nerd for this stuff I love it!! My favorite arena is the late 99 set with no incremental changes which had it's first change when they added the mini tron on July 2, 2001 and got rid of the physical WWF logo. I always will associate WWE being it's best before the Alliance angle went into full gear and on top of that I prefer the look of the old physical WWF logo with the lights behind it. It had more style compared to just another screen.
another awesome video I liked the snatcher music in the background lol I miss the steel barricades I get it looks cheaper but it makes the crowd so much closer.especially on 97 raw
Here’s is my ranking for each of the stages 1. The Trapezoid Stage (02-08) 2. WWF Light Up Stage (93-93) 3. Nee-On Stage (93-95) 4. The Raw Logo Stage (95-97) 5. Raw Is War Stage (97-02) 6. The HD Stage (08-12) 7. Raw 2016 1st Stage (16-16) 8. The 1000 Stage (12-16) 9. Raw 2016 2nd Stage (16-19) 10. The Half Pipe Stage (19-20) 11. The Performance Center (20-20) 12. The Thunderdome (20-Present)
My favorite is the slanted raw stage the one b4 announcers were ramp side altho I admit when in person it was cool to see Jr and the king so close at ramp side
man I love seeing the RAW stage from the Ruthless Aggression era brings back the time when RAW came to Memphis in early 04 back then WWE barley came there now they're having NXT house shows near my place lol but I can remember the stage and everything from that night the Sunday night Heat bouts they had before RAW to the very end where Stone Cold showed up and stunnered Teddy Long
The stage set that was shown at 12:16 was actually only used for one night. It was in July 2016 on the first night of the new brand split and would be changed to the current set the next week.
I hope they bring back the raw is war arena The left and right curtains can be the led lights but Just those two Keep the rest a dark curtains with some few lights
God, man. You go into so much detail with these vids. Great flashbacks to my younger days visiting some of these great RAW arenas. What one was your favourite?
God the LED screens have become such an overkill nowadays. I loooong for the days of just a simple titantron and mini-tron/logo underneath it. That's literally all you need.
You forgot to mention how they basically got rid of all the crazy lights they had on the stage in 1997, which I'll never understand because they made the stage look much better
6:43 My favorite sets are 1999-2002 and 2002 to 2005. In 2005 when they added the screens instead of the set designs, I didn't like it as much. The product was also going downhill. Overall, the designs and presentation throughout the years has been consistently good.
It took me decades to accept the Titan Tron. The 1997 tron was so ugly, and Sid carefully walking down the ramp to avoid falling over just ruined run-ins.
Joe Delly thanks a lot! My favorite is probably 1998ish. That's when I really started liking what the WWF was doing and could tell the future was going to be bright for them.
NikateeN me too. I started watching around SummerSlam 98 high to hell. I loved that old stage set up. I miss when they used to do special sets for their ppvs
Nowadays stages has to have so much light and LED this and that to reflect with time and to tune in with 4K TV that eventually will be in almost everyone household in the coming years...I like the simpler design without all the fancy, schmancy stuff.
Its literally just the story of Vince slowly becoming obsessed with LED screens.
Fuck the LED set
I know right lol I'll pass on the LED set
@@RDR8933 even ring apron and posts are LED.
Cringey.
@@rightlibertarian8355 The barriers are also LED Now 😂
the Raw set from 1999-2002 is my top favorite
Christopher Henderson definitely a classic!
I agree. I was lightly annoyed with the 2002 overhaul, but everything after that made me wish they would have stayed simpler. Way too many LEDs, sometimes it's better to save that stuff for Wrestlemania. Raw from 99 to 02 was perfect. Other great sets were Armegeddon 99, and Royal Rumble 2000. Too many LEDs just take away from the show in my opinion.
This was the best arena imo. It's never featured in WWE 2K games, kinda why I refuse to buy them
Yas
Mine is 2002-2008
Give them 2 years, and I bet that entire ring will be nothing but leds.
...And then a year later the floor mats, the announcer table and the barricades will all be covered in led screens.
NEXUS2040 and the wrestlers will be less.
*led
just wait til all the titles are all LED
Michael Cole's pants will eventually be LED...
My favorite stage design is the 2002-2007 because I grew up with it. Great video.
John Donisi thanks a lot!
Charlieboy Saldivar I grew up with the ruthless aggression era, but the attitude era stage is my 2nd favorite stage design.
Charlieboy Saldivar Same man. I grew up in the Legendary Attitude Era, and it's by far my favorite time in wrestling...WWF (I still call it that, screw WWE) just sucks now. I'm legit embarrassed to tell people who don't watch it that I'm a fan of wrestling nowadays it's so bad.
John Donisi I was a kid in the early 90's but loved the Attitude era. Maybe because I was in high school and it was more edgy.
John Donisi Same especially smackdown vs raw
the 2001 set will always be my favorite. i used to draw it all the time in my school books
naraicks haha I did as well!!
That arena is never shown in WWE games as of late, unfortunately.
yeah its the best one. I like early 2002 RAW.
UrbanPhoenix247 I feel like wwe tries to almost ignore the invasion/pre draft era (mid 01- early 02
@@cba.literallycant. Given how badly it was mishandled/botched, you would too!
The 2002 era is probably my favorite. Growing up during the attitude era I always liked the 1998 raw is war style too. The original smackdown set other the silver ovals and blue lighting was sweet too. That's why I love WWE 13 , I can play all my favorite entrances.
Everything you guys are saying are completely true.We don't need a wall of LED screens we just need a titantron and some pretty cool set designs.
2005 was also the year that Raw returned to USA after 6 years on TNN/Spike TV
I miss the attitude era stage 98-02 they were my favorite. Plus that's when I started watching
The 2003 Raw is when I started watching Raw on television, but I started watching WWF/E back in August 26, 1999 with Smackdown made its television series debut.
Man, gotta love that 1999-2000 design!
The attention to detail required to make this video is insane. Bravo.
I always loved the Raw is War arena myself
The neon was my jam...🤘🏼💯✔️
Love this series. You point out every detail and explain them all perfectly
I really miss the square LED lights they had in 08. They were so cool to me.
How long until the superstars are made entirely of LEDs? 🤔
😂😂😂😂
2:10 That is so awesome to see this featured!!! I'm a YSU grad! Granted I was born a little after this episode of Raw but still awesome!
Hardly ever comment on videos but these videos really hit a sweet spot for me. Really entertaining and informative! Hope you carry on doing these for a long time.
JCAR MEDIA hey, thanks a lot! Glad you guys enjoy this kind of stuff as much as I do. At first I thought nobody would watch these! Lol
Nah, you definitely hit a niche with these, mate.
NikateeN do the smackdown arena showcase now
@@NikateeN SURVIVOR SERIES ARENA SHOWCASE POR FAVOR
Now thinking about it I thought I'd dislike the newer designs but it actually looks nice as hell. Like the ramp and video being seen on the floor is freaking awesome at the end and also great job, Nik. Interesting stuff and people barely mention designs in visuals from what I see on here.
Awesome vid, appreciate the hard work and effort to makes this kinda stuff.
FrOz3nFrI3Z thanks a lot!
best arena showcase episode, really awesome, keep up the great work
TheLegendLizard appreciate it!!
***** do smackdown next
Well done..it's a breath of fresh air to see competent niche videos like this..
great video man! Really enjoyed this trip down memory lane
Really enjoyed this!
I really love the look of the whole arena from latter 1999 to 2002. It's an often overlooked stage design compared to the ones preceding and following it. I think it has a really great balance between the metallic grit of the Attitude Era and the sleeker, higher production values that would come to define WWE. It was especially a good complement against the neon scifi look of Smackdown at the time. I really wish they kept it longer than the two and a half years that they did. I think the Ruthless Aggression and PG era designs are a lot blander in comparison.
Gotta give you credit. You're detail oriented and know the right details to look for. Not everyone would notice details like initial case vs all cap type.
As an occasional designer, I love, love, love this series and the effort you put into it.
Seriously this content is good fun because one of the things in the wwe universe that don't get enough attention yet is literally the biggest part of the program is the stages be it iconic or lack luster
This was great! Brought me back to my childhood
This is a well put together video. Just the history and all that.
2002-2008 was my favorite stage design
As always, you never fail to put up a great vid.. keep grinding bro
Grammys World thanks a lot man!
NikateeN anytime man.. keep pushing these vids.. most unbiased wrestling channel on RUclips (Razor Ramon is a gawd he doesn't count lol)
I would love showcases on various ppv arenas! Summerslam, Backlash, and Royal Rumble come to mind aside from wrestlemania.
Good stuff man. Thanks for your hard work!
My Favorite Raw stages are 1998-2002 and 2002-2008 great looks for Raw.Will you do a similar video on SmackDown! over the years as well? I'M really enjoying these Arena Showcase videos. I don't think anyone else even does videos on stage design in wrestling.I love the content NikateeN please don't stop doing vids anytime soon 🙂
gamer dude thanks a lot!! As long as people keep enjoying what I do, I'll keep doing it!
NikateeN Thanks for loving my comment you're awesome dude as long as continue to do videos I will stay subscribed to this channel👍🙂.
The 1999-2002 version of the arena is never showcased in WWE games, as of recently.
I love the Raw Arenas from 1993-2011
For RAW the stage from 2008 to 2011 was my favourite. The massive header screen made it look fantastic aswell. Hopefully that stage with those stage parts are available on WWE 2K20 for create an arena mode as that would be sooo DOPE!🔥. For smackdown the Smackdown Fist stage was my favourite. And my favourite smackdown logo was the smackdown logo from 2010. The one with all the glass👌.
Love this series keep up the good work
Robert Hardy thanks!
I'm such a nerd for this stuff I love it!! My favorite arena is the late 99 set with no incremental changes which had it's first change when they added the mini tron on July 2, 2001 and got rid of the physical WWF logo. I always will associate WWE being it's best before the Alliance angle went into full gear and on top of that I prefer the look of the old physical WWF logo with the lights behind it. It had more style compared to just another screen.
my favorite one will always be the Attitude Era one that's the one I grew up with
I've been waiting for this video, nice!!!
Jaytrex Gaming 😀
Dude the arena showcase stuff is top notch. Especially the WWE ones as I've always thought they had the cooler stages. Keep it ip
Time to relive them (2018-present)
Will you do an update video on the RAW arenas, say 2017 to 2023?
It’s a good possibility.
@NikateeN can you make it for 2024-2025
thank you so much for the dedication to make videos like this, I love your channel
This video just took me through a bit if my childhood.
My favorite Raw arena is 1999-2001
My favorite is the stage from 1999 to 2001.
Absolutely love this vid, great wurk
Thank you for such an awesome video!!! I hope to see one for smackdown too...
I love the March 10,1997-March 25th 2002 Raw set
Summerslam, No Mercy and Backlash had awesome arenas. Looking forward to you covering them
I think it would be awesome if they went to the Manhatten Center once a year
Herschel Norman I agree! Whatever happened to Raw "old school?"
The last Monday Night Raw we had in Vancouver BC Canada was May 2004 at Pacific Coliseum
simon marshall damn that's too long... Raw is coming to the Golden 1 center here in Sac in May! Tickets go on sale this Saturday.
These videos are great!
another awesome video I liked the snatcher music in the background lol I miss the steel barricades I get it looks cheaper but it makes the crowd so much closer.especially on 97 raw
Here’s is my ranking for each of the stages
1. The Trapezoid Stage (02-08)
2. WWF Light Up Stage (93-93)
3. Nee-On Stage (93-95)
4. The Raw Logo Stage (95-97)
5. Raw Is War Stage (97-02)
6. The HD Stage (08-12)
7. Raw 2016 1st Stage (16-16)
8. The 1000 Stage (12-16)
9. Raw 2016 2nd Stage (16-19)
10. The Half Pipe Stage (19-20)
11. The Performance Center (20-20)
12. The Thunderdome (20-Present)
Parallelogram, not a trapezoid.
LOVE these videos!!
loved the heck outta this video! before you do smackdown do WCW nitro!
shawn 242 Nitro will definitely happen! It didn't see as much change as Raw so it won't be quite as long, but stay tuned for it!
NikateeN great stuff, you'd be surprised to know how long I have been waiting on a video like this! thanks
My favorite is the slanted raw stage the one b4 announcers were ramp side altho I admit when in person it was cool to see Jr and the king so close at ramp side
New Subscriber, love the content you post out. Keep it up, maaaaan.
Paras Dhaliwal thanks a lot, and welcome!
man I love seeing the RAW stage from the Ruthless Aggression era brings back the time when RAW came to Memphis in early 04 back then WWE barley came there now they're having NXT house shows near my place lol but I can remember the stage and everything from that night the Sunday night Heat bouts they had before RAW to the very end where Stone Cold showed up and stunnered Teddy Long
you should do a smackdown arena showcase next keep up the work man love your vids.
Great vid. Personally, I think I've gone overboard with LED's now.
The stage set that was shown at 12:16 was actually only used for one night. It was in July 2016 on the first night of the new brand split and would be changed to the current set the next week.
I was born in 1994 when Raw brought the pyro to the show for the 1st time
I was always under the assumption that the things on the side of the. 02-06 stage were supposed to be shards of broken glass.
Before the WWF went with full red ropes they did a red/black/red combo for a week or two.
1999 set, 2002-2007 set, and the current set are my favorites.
I hope they bring back the raw is war arena
The left and right curtains can be the led lights but Just those two
Keep the rest a dark curtains with some few lights
you videos are dope man keep it up very detailed
Now I know what to use a as a guide whenever I want to create an arena in a video game.
the minute it hit HD ... I stopped caring
Awesome video man!
you forgot to mention the changing of wwf to wwe logo. besides that really great vid man
I hope you do a video for the SmackDown arenas as well. I love this stuff.
I'm pretty sure I'm the only one to feel this way yet i really miss the tnn scratch logo on the raw set
The ruthless aggressions era set was the best, it was like a Pokémon evolution of the attitude era set
I definitely wanna see arena showcases for WWF/WWE SmackDown (1999-2017) and WCW Thunder (1998-2001)
God, man. You go into so much detail with these vids. Great flashbacks to my younger days visiting some of these great RAW arenas.
What one was your favourite?
God the LED screens have become such an overkill nowadays. I loooong for the days of just a simple titantron and mini-tron/logo underneath it. That's literally all you need.
I guess i'll be the odd one out and say i don't mind the led invasion lol. I especially like the current set with the giant ass screen
You forgot to mention how they basically got rid of all the crazy lights they had on the stage in 1997, which I'll never understand because they made the stage look much better
EARLY 2002 "RAW" was the best. Ruthless Aggression era stars debuting in the World Wrestling Federation.
Great video mate, could you do the changing of Superstars/Wrestling Challenge? That would be a great one to see
If you never heard "NOW GET THE GUNS, THE DRUGS, FROM MY GENERATION" during the 2002 - 2006 run of Monday Night RAW , you missed out
"Move to the Music! Yeah!"
Awesome video. ..
Thanks for making this video, man! I was hoping you would do a showcase for RAW. Will we see one for Smackdown soon?
Greedyselfish97 thanks a lot! SmackDown isn't next but it's definitely coming soon!
@@NikateeN It's been 3 years since you said that. Where is it?
This may sound like a challenge but anyway you can do NJPW Tokyo Dome shows? Great vid!
RAW’s late 2016 stage reminds me of SummerSlam 2013
6:43 My favorite sets are 1999-2002 and 2002 to 2005. In 2005 when they added the screens instead of the set designs, I didn't like it as much. The product was also going downhill. Overall, the designs and presentation throughout the years has been consistently good.
It took me decades to accept the Titan Tron. The 1997 tron was so ugly, and Sid carefully walking down the ramp to avoid falling over just ruined run-ins.
One interesting thing you didn't mention was the HD era addition of LED screens around the entire arena bowl.
great video! I was waiting for you to do this one. what's your favorite raw stage design?
Joe Delly thanks a lot! My favorite is probably 1998ish. That's when I really started liking what the WWF was doing and could tell the future was going to be bright for them.
NikateeN me too. I started watching around SummerSlam 98 high to hell. I loved that old stage set up. I miss when they used to do special sets for their ppvs
WWF RAW SNES & SEGA Genesis vibe Anyone! I have that Game for the SNES version and Royal Rumble
good job man
Michael Mearney thanks!
Any chance of smackdowm arena showcase
Nowadays stages has to have so much light and LED this and that to reflect with time and to tune in with 4K TV that eventually will be in almost everyone household in the coming years...I like the simpler design without all the fancy, schmancy stuff.
Raw sets have become soo ridiculously big that they block out an eitre section of the arena now.
It sucks that they do a complete facelift every 1,5 or 2 years today ... Can't they just stick with one layout for at least 5 years???
Hi Nikateen , please make one for SmackDown, eagerly waiting for that. It had one of the most nostalgic stages of attitude era.