Opinion: Why Does WWE Still Run Monday Night Raw Ten Minutes After 11 O’Clock?

Back in the heyday of the Attitude Era, competing for ratings was pivotal to the success of two wrestling promotions that were in a war with one another.

That was a different time, so it was a big deal that WWF was allowed to go a few minutes over eleven o’clock to get the top of the hour ratings as a final judgement on how many people were watching their main event.

What’s interesting is that all these years later, Monday Night Raw still ends a few minutes over the eleventh hour.

On paper, you’d think three hours was more than enough content that the show wouldn’t need a few extra minutes to judge the ratings and throw off the USA Network schedule for the rest of the night.

It would be one thing if WWE was in competition with any other wrestling promotion, but the company has such a monopoly over the industry that really worrying that much about ratings seems like a waste of time.

It’s true that old habits die hard and WWE personnel should absolutely care about the ratings, but are the few extra minutes necessary anymore?

Do you know why WWE still keeps Raw going a few minutes over the eleventh hour every Monday night?