A script for the March 2 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw leaked onto the internet and was clearly authentic. One former WWE writer who saw the script confirmed it was authentic, but that it looked to be an early draft of the TV show and most likely before the agents meeting as nothing had been timed out yet. Producers of the matches were listed, but the script didn’t list the writing assignments in specific. It is possible this version of the script was the version brought on the plane to Boston for Vince McMahon to review.
One interesting thing to note about the script was how the segments were written out word-for-word with very little ad-libbing and even more so with Chris Jericho’s promo involving Jimmy Snuka. This seems to confirm how the only good promo guys in the company tend to be veterans who were in the business long before promos were scripted to this level with the exception of people like John Cena and Santino Marella who tend to ad-lib and make it work while staying on target with a script. At the same time, this is what is demanded of WWE’s creative team in the era of Stephanie McMahon and it isn’t changing.
Said one source on script, “It’s legit. No coincidence that it’s published the same day [creative team member] John Carle is dropped and that apparently has gotten back to Stephanie and Vince. Apparently, they had creative sign some absurdly one-sided addendum in late 2007 where if you do something like this after being terminated, they have all sorts of legal action against you. Given the timing and circumstances, he shouldn’t be surprised to get a nice legal notice from Stamford shortly. Vince is on a warpath and was mega hot over this so I’m thinking someone is going to be made a legal example of.” It should be made clear that Carle was not the only WWE creative team member let go by the company last week, so it might be hard to pinpoint the source and who decided to leak it online.
Another source added, “I took at look at the RAW script that was leaked. That is the real deal — and from the looks of it was an early draft (most likely PRE-Agent meeting). The show hasn?t been timed yet (the time for the breaks are in but not the actual timing of the show). The producers are in, but not the writer assignments. This might have even been the draft that was brought on the plane for Vince to review before RAW. It’s funny to look at the amount of crap that has been jammed into those scripts over the years. The live attendance box was added so they can know what the last two dates at the building. The side boxes next to the matches are the announcer notes (that announcers hated and would make fun of). The ‘not working’ list allows them to see who they ‘missed’ on not putting on the show. As you can see, the amount of detail that goes into the promos that are written and why these talents have not grown at that art of promos. Though this is what demanded of the creative team to write for Vince. A script can not be turned in without that detail. It’s become so rigid a process.”
It is also interesting to note the almost “rankings” listed in the script as it relates to the top guys and midcard guys on the respective brands. For Raw, the top babyfaces were John Cena, Shawn Michaels and Rey Mysterio, while the top heels were Randy Orton, Chris Jericho and JBL. For Smackdown, the top babyfaces were Triple H, The Undertaker, Jeff Hardy, while the top heels were Edge, Big Show and Matt Hardy. For ECW, the top babyfaces were Christian, Finlay and Tommy Dreamer, while the top heels were Jack Swagger, John Morrison and The Miz.
The script also featured a talent roster that was updated as of February 26 with individual slots to see where everyone ranked on that day. On Raw for the babyfaces, John Cena was No. 1 followed by Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, Kofi Kingston, Cryme Tyme, Jamie Noble, Goldust and Charlie Haas. Heels were Randy Orton at No. 1, Chris Jericho, JBL, Kane, Mike Knox, William Regal, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, Santino Marella, Jimmy Snuka and Dolph Ziggler. On Smackdown for the babyfaces, Triple H was No. 1 followed by The Undertaker, Jeff Hardy, The Great Khali, R-Truth, MVP, Carlito, Primo, Festus, Jesse, Jimmy Wang Yang, Kizarny (before his release) and Funaki. The heels were Edge at No. 1, Big Show, Matt Hardy, Umaga, Vladimir Kozlov, Shelton Benjamin, Chavo Guerrero, The Brian Kendrick, Ezekiel Jackson, Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, DH Smith and Ryan Braddock (before his release). On ECW for the babyfaces Christian was No. 1 followed by Finlay, Tommy Dreamer, The Boogeyman (before his release), Ricky Ortiz and DJ Gabriel. The heels were Jack Swagger at No. 1, John Morrison, The Miz, Mark Henry, Tyson Kidd and Paul Burchill. Developmental talent listed (although some are on the main roster) included Kizarny (already released), Ryan Braddock (already released), Ricky Ortiz, DJ Gabriel, Tyson Kidd, Rosa Mendes, the Bella Twins, Alicia Fox and Tiffany.