WWE Heat
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| WWE Heat | |
|---|---|
| File:Heat.PNG | |
| Created by | Vince McMahon |
| Starring | RAW Brand |
| Country of origin | United States |
| No. of episodes | 365 (as of March 19, 2006) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 46 minutes per episode |
| Original release | |
| Network | USA Network |
| Release | August 1, 1998 – Present |
WWE HEAT, also known as HEAT, is a professional wrestling show for World Wrestling Entertainment. It has been previously aired on USA network, MTV, and Spike TV. It is currently being streamed on WWE.com on Friday afternoons. It is the counterpart show to Monday Night RAW, recorded the hour before the previous week's RAW.
History
The show was originally introduced as WWF Sunday Night HEAT (or simply Sunday Night HEAT) on the USA network in 1998. It served as the second most important show to the RAW program and storylines would be advanced during the show, but with the advent of SmackDown!, Heat has significantly decreased in importance. Near the peak of WWE's popularity and as part of WWE's television deal with Viacom, the show was moved to MTV. In the UK, HeAT was the last WWE (then WWF) programming to be run on terrestrial television, via Channel 4.
The WWE has also aired two special editions of Halftime HEAT which aired during halftime of Super Bowl XXXIII on USA Network. These specials ended following the movement of HEAT to MTV.
Now WWE tends to use this program to showcase the talent that they do not use frequently on RAW. Fans often refer to this show as the minor leagues, a B-Show, for the wrestlers on the show are usually at the beginning or the end of their careers in WWE. Occasionally, main eventers and champions will appear on the show, and usually win. HEAT is also used to review the main events that happened on the previous edition of RAW.
Steven Richards, was at one time the most regular competitor on Sunday Night HEAT, dubbed himself "General Manager of HEAT" (though he carried out no GM duties) and began calling the show Stevie Night HEAT.
The future of this show in the United States is not yet known as the show currently was not picked up by USA Network when WWE moved its Spike TV programming over to that network. In the meantime, WWE is going to stream the show for their website, as each edition will be placed on their website every Friday afternoon. However, HEAT will still be shown overseas to fulfil international programming commitments.
Commentators and hosts
There have been many commentators in the history of HEAT. Industry veterans and RAW broadcasters Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler have done commentary on the show. The show was also the launchpad for Shane McMahon's on-camera career in WWE, originally placed in the role of a commentator for the program. In October 2000, the show was hosted by All My Children star Rebecca Budig. Wrestlers Al Snow and D-lo Brown have also been commentators. During the show's run on MTV, Lita also served as a commentator following her major neck injury.
During PPVs often outside stadium hosts introduce segments of the show, recently the host of WWE Experience (Ivory and Todd Grisham) perform these duties. If a SmackDown! Brand PPV takes place, Michael Cole and Tazz commentate inside the arena on a special SmackDown! edition of Heat.
Before the WWE-produced, Extreme Championship Wrestling reunion PPV, One Night Stand took place, a special Extreme HEAT episode was broadcast and hosted by Jonathan Coachman and Michael Cole.
| Year(s) | Commentators: |
| 1998-2000 | Michael Cole, Kevin Kelly, Shane McMahon |
| 2000-2001 | Michael Cole, Tazz |
| 2001 | Michael Cole, Al Snow |
| 2001-2002 | Jonathan Coachman, Raven |
| 2002 | Jonathan Coachman, D-Lo Brown |
| 2002 | Jonathan Coachman, Lita |
| 2003 | Jonathan Coachman and D'Lo Brown |
| 2003 | Jonathan Coachman and Lita |
| 2003 | Jonathan Coachman and Al Snow |
| 2003, International | Jonathan Coachman and Al Snow |
| 2004 | Johnathan Coachman and Todd Grisham |
| 2004, International | Al Snow and Todd Grisham |
| 2005 | Johnathan Coachman and Todd Grisham |
| 2005 Extreme Heat | Johnathan Coachman and Michael Cole |
| 2006, International | Tommy Dreamer and Todd Grisham |
| 2006, International | Johnathan Coachman and Todd Grisham |
| 2006 | Johnathan Coachman and Todd Grisham |
| 2006 | Tommy Dreamer and Todd Grisham |
TV sets
HEAT started out using the original RAW IS WAR TV set when HEAT was styled as HeAT. The debut of SmackDown! led to HeAT moving over from RAW, in 2000 the current logo and theme tune was adopted. Since the brand extension HEAT has been broadcast using the RAW set, except on pre-PPV shows (which use the set built for that PPV).