Greetings. As we head toward WWE’s Raw Reunion episode, I began to reminisce over some of the show’s greatest moments. After reliving many of them over several days, what began as a list of 10 quickly turned in to 25. The Attitude Era spoiled me, so I scaled back (mostly Steve Austin) on some to give others a fighting chance. With that said, I bring you my top 25 Monday Night Raw moments to date.
Please let me know if I missed any of your favourites, and I’ll check to see if they were considered. Entries are arranged alphabetically to spare the headache of deciding where moments should be placed in comparison from worst to best. I will add some honorable mentions though, as well as referring to others later on.
Honorable Mentions
- 1-2-3 Kid picks up a surprise win over Razor Ramon, in 1993
- Daniel Bryan betrays The Wyatt Family, in 2014
- Brock Lesnar returns after seven years away, in 2012
- Eric Bischoff named the Raw GM “Hell Freezes Over”, in 2002
- Seth Rollins breaks up The Shield, in 2012
- The Miz cashes in on Randy Orton “Miz Girl”, in 2010
- The 1st WWE brand extension draft, in 2002
- Snitsky kicks a baby doll (Mango’s choice), in 2004
To avoid any surprises, the videos are uncensored and will include cursing. And that’s the bottom line ..
#1. Austin Bedpans McMahon – “I’ll Take It From Here Nurse”
.. Steve Austin on a crucifix? Austin with a Beer Truck? Zamboni 3:16? Fake gun to Vince’s head? Feeding cement in to McMahon’s car? Anything involving Pillman? There’s a plethora of precious Steve Austin moments, and sadly I could not include the above examples in the list. Now now, you can put those middle finger salutes away .. there are other moments to enjoy.
The first comes in the form of a bedpan. The sound of that bedpan crashing off the side of Vince McMahon’s head will never fail to amuse. The story saw Vince McMahon being brought in to hospital with a leg injury sustained at the hands of The Brothers of Destruction. If Mankind coming in to check on him with gifts wasn’t enough .. but Steve Austin dressing up as a nurse? Without a doubt, one of the funniest moments in Raw history.
#2. Becky Lynch Sends A Message
Gaining steam with a new attitude, Becky Lynch looked to upset the women of Monday Night Raw by leading an invasion. The SmackDown Live crusaders followed Becky in to war, and when all was said and done, Lynch left the ring a bloody mess. Thanks to a stiff shot from Nia Jax, Becky taunted the Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey with blood spattered across her face.
And in an era where blood is rare, it certainly made her look badass. Dubbed a crowning moment by critics, The Man’s popularity surged to the top. It’s hard to imagine Becky, Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey headlining Wrestlemania without it. Will this accident go down in history as one of the most inspirational moments in women’s wrestling?
#3. CM Punk’s Pipebomb
The buzz this promo created was monumental. Tired of years of mediocrity, CM Punk finally got the chance to speak his mind. And the ironic thing about what he said, is that much of it still applies today. There’s little point in detailing it, as I’m sure many have listened to it several times over. Perhaps to the point of not wanting others to bring it up?
CM Punk is still lodged in the minds of fans, and much of it can be attributed to this one moment. Shoot or not, the Voice of the Voiceless will forever be etched in the memories of those who resonated with everything he said that night. We talked about it for weeks.
#4. Chris Jericho Saves Us
What’s funny watching this back? Is his insults towards “sports-entertainers” are repeating themselves twenty years later. It’s hard to deny this is one of the best debuts of all time. Everything delivered, and Jericho was immediately taken in by the WWF fans.
And who better to bounce back and forth with than The Rock in his prime? Jericho ceased the moment and never looked back. And what made the buildup so great was the Y2K countdown clock. The anticipation huge, and the delivery perfect, the star of Y2J was born in the WWF.
#5. D-Generation X Invades WCW
Love how Triple H says “Dubya, C, Dubya”. Showing the WWF’s incredibly confident, yet cocky attitude in a colossal ratings war, D-Generation X took it upon themselves to invade enemy territory with a “tank”.
The only two ways this could have gone better is if 1) Shawn Michaels was there, and 2) if WCW invited them in. It’s right up there as one of the most memorable DX moments, cementing them as one of the most popular stables in wrestling. The Attitude Era wouldn’t have been the same had the WWF decided they weren’t allowed to fool around and push the envelope. I think Chyna was the only one who took it seriously.
#6. D-Generation X’s Speech – “I Was Up All Night!”
Big disclaimer. The reason this needs to be uncensored, is because the censored version has so many bleeps you can’t make out what anyone’s saying. Also yes, the first minute isn’t there, but it’s not necessary to know what’s going on.
Imagine if this happened today? The heat would be tremendous. Back in the 90’s it was cool as hell, and if you were offended .. then you’re not a fan of D-Generation X? Or perhaps it was always incredibly immature? Having said that, doesn’t it set a record for having the most amount of profanity in a single promo in the history of WWE? If anything beats it, please let me know.
#7. Daniel Bryan Feels The Love
Some of the best moments are spontaneous. With that said, I bring you the time when the WWE Universe hijacked Triple H’s promo to share their love of Daniel Bryan. We could see Hunter slowly boiling over, as the likes of Shawn Michaels and Mark Henry failed to extinguish the lovefest. Daniel Bryan’s reaction was precious. He was genuinely happy to receive an ovation for doing nothing but standing there in the middle of a crowd.
It turned out to be one of a few key moments which helped Daniel Bryan along the path to the main event of Wrestlemania; like when the Yes Movement occupied Raw, and also when he betrayed The Wyatt Family.
#8. Dolph Ziggler Cashes In
What is sad about watching this moment back (as awesome as it was), is that it could be the height of Dolph Ziggler’s career. When we look back on what he’s done, there is nothing which comes close to matching the reaction on this night. The timing was perfect, and the pop is one of the biggest in the history of Money in the Bank cash ins. We even got a match out of it, just to tease the possibility of a wasted opportunity.
Another factor in making it memorable were the several failed (at least five) cash ins along the way. And while it did not become a stepping stone to a fixed main event spot, Ziggler’s victory will always be remembered as one of the best received cash ins to happen on Monday Night Raw.
#9. The Dudleys Destroy Mae Young
Did this really happen? That’s what I kept asking myself. It’s just one of many moments which could only happen because of Mae Young’s unparalleled courage and generosity.
Bubba Ray Dudley has gone on record in saying she helped to get him & D-Von over with the table bumps. She helped to show The Dudleys were capable of anything. During the spot, Ray admitted she dropped a powerful fart on him. “The poot was real powerful.”
#10. Elias & Kevin Owens Survive Seattle
Watch this back and spot the moment when Elias realizes what he’s done. Luckily no one was hurt, other than the crowd’s feelings. The issue with Elias’ comment, is many were genuinely upset to have lost their basketball team the Seattle SuperSonics.
Rubbing it in crossed an unforgivable line, resulting in one of the most savage moments of both men’s careers. The attempts to talk about John Cena were futile against the deafening scorn.
#11. Higher Power Mystery Revealed – “It Was Me Austin!”
Stable warfare encouraged a merger between The Corporation and the Ministry of Darkness. For weeks, The Undertaker told us they were following a “higher power”. Vince McMahon lost control, and the Corporate Ministry’s numbers made them the biggest threat. When the Higher Power arrived in a cloak covering their identity, fans speculated and weighed up the options. At the time, there was no obvious choice.
The build helped to make it one of the most memorable moments of the Attitude Era. Like Vince said, the fans bought it hook, line and sinker. My friend lost his mind when he found out. It took the Mr. McMahon character to another level, showing how far he will go to gain control. But the moment didn’t last long .. as the team of Linda McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and Steve Austin were on hand to bring him down a peg.
#12. Hulk Hogan & The Rock Make History
Two of the biggest names met in the ring for the very first time, and the magic will always be remembered. Despite Hogan being a heel as the leader of the New World Order, he showed a lot of respect to The Rock.
We have two of the most charismatic men in the history of wrestling working the crowd like only they can. A dream match no one ever expected to happen. WWE tried doing something similar between The Rock and John Cena, but it wasn’t quite the same.
#13. Hulk Hogan & The Rock’s Aftermath
And again, another great moment transpired the Raw after their encounter at WrestleMania. Hogan looked like he could cry as the Montreal fans shared their relentless love for Hulkamania. And despite getting booed for being the winner, The Rock saved the segment by quelling any heat with his words.
Encouraging the return of Hulkamania was a nice touch, as Hulk dropped the nWo colours to embrace a crowd who were clearly red & yellow. The next night, Hogan got another standing ovation on SmackDown, making it a satisfying time for anyone who appreciates everything he has achieved in wrestling.
#14. Jericho & KO’s Festival Of Friendship
Jericho spent several weeks playing to the crowd, while being a motivational partner to his best friend Kevin Owens. Acting out of brotherly love, Jericho looked to go one further with the Festival of Friendship, to help get Kevin in the frame of mind to take on the mighty challenge of Goldberg. After presenting many gifts, including a disturbing painting and a brief Gillberg cameo .. a dose of heart break was administered.
Owens handed Jericho a present of his own .. a list, just like his. Ecstatic to see who his friend had listed as enemies, Jericho scanned through the names. His demeanor changed as he asked the question “Why is my name on the list?”.
#15. Mankind Wins WWF Championship – “That’ll Put Butts In Seats”
One of the most documented and important moments of the Attitude Era. Eric Bischoff & WCW’s attempts to ruin a pre-taped episode of Raw by spoiling the result of Mankind’s match with The Rock, resulted in over (the number varies) 300,000+ households switching the channel to catch it.
WCW lost in the ratings, and they never reached the same heights again. And what’s even greater? Is the HUGE pop Steve Austin got as he pretty much handed the title over to Foley. The people were super happy about it though, as it was a long time coming for Mrs. Foley’s baby boy. This was the major turning point in the war between the WWF and WCW.
#16. Mark Henry Retires – “I Got A Lot Left In The Tank!”
This is like a work of art. Can we frame this? Or put up a statue? He played the WWE Universe and John Cena like a fiddle, and I can’t see anyone topping it. He was ready to be a champion again, but fell short in his match against John Cena for the WWE Championship.
Nevertheless, we will always look back on this promo and remember how we felt when he drilled Cena in to the mat with the World’s Strongest Slam after fooling every one of us.
#17. Roman Reigns’ In Remission
Another more recent moment saw Roman Reigns return to WWE with the greatest news. His leukemia announcement shocked the world. For his fans, it was truly upsetting news, and the world reached out to him in every way imaginable. Upon returning, Reigns spoke as himself to the WWE Universe.
Announcing his leukemia’s remission came as a great relief for himself and everyone. His character may or may not be what some want it to be, but the support shown proves he has a place in the hearts of many. Beating cancer is the greatest thing anyone can do, and that makes him a champion in life.
#18. Roman Reigns: “This Is My Yard Now”
Remember this? The Monday Night Raw after Roman Reigns defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania? The heat was unreal, and as you may have guessed .. WWE cut much of the segment from their YouTube clip to avoid the colourful chants. I found a video shot by a fan which really captures the moments.
Not going to repeat what was said, but let’s just say none of it is pretty. Bask in the scorching heat of a crowd who could not possibly be anymore anti-Reigns. Easiest payday ever, with only five words needed.
#19. Shane McMahon Steals WCW
History made. Many will say this was the beginning of the end of wrestling. With no WCW as direct competition, WWE could afford to stagnate the product while maximizing profit. The reason why it gets a mention, is because it was mind blowing to live through. I had friends who were strictly WCW fans, and listening to Vince gloat did not help to get them onboard.
For WWF fans it was fun seeing Shane O’Mac take control of WCW. Change was happening, and many had to accept it or move on. There was a great deal of anticipation, as fans wondered if Vince would sign guys like Hogan, Flair, Goldberg, Sting, Nash & Hall etc. With Shane’s announcement, many speculated if we’d see an invasion angle with WCW vs. WWF, or some kind of continuation of WCW Nitro. So while the aftermath completely failed to live up to expectations, the buzz it generated was enough to include it here.
#20. Steve Austin Meets Mike Tyson
I do not believe there has ever been a more talked about standoff between a wrestler and another sports personality than this. The world talked about it, and it’s here because the media coverage it garnered was completely insane. The perfect build to WrestleMania, where Tyson would serve as an enforcer at ringside, favoring D-Generation X during the WWF Championship match between Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels.
I’d say it also added something to the growing feud between Austin & McMahon, as the latter was clearly furious telling The Rattlesnake he’d “ruined it”.
#21. The Hitman Returns?
I was in two minds to include this, because in a way it’s kinda cruel. HBK was already despised for the part he played in the Montreal Screwjob, so it was too easy getting heat in Canada. This time though, HBK was a heel going in to his match with Hulk Hogan, so Vince encouraged him to go out in front of Montreal and push every single button.
And after those buttons were pushed, they’d bring in the big guns. Firstly, they used Bret Hart’s theme to tease a return which never happened. And secondly, he did the same thing with Hulk Hogan. It’s a moment which likely doesn’t hold the same weight as before, due to Shawn & Bret burying the hatchet years later.
But we’ll never forget the time when HBK was booed out of the building for stirring up the Montreal fans so bad, we wouldn’t be surprised if they were after blood. Michaels went on to oversell the heck out of his match with Hogan at Summerslam.
#22. The Rock Talks Cena’s Fruity Pebbles
A grand homecoming, The crowd were truly electric, as The Rock announced he is “back for good”. Telling the story of how his return came about, he joked about Justin Beiber being the only man captivating enough to host WrestleMania. There were promises of a laptop being shined up real nice, if Michael Cole went anywhere near the email from the anonymous GM.
And then there was the birth of the association between John Cena and Fruity Pebbles. In one night, The Rock single-handedly made The Miz vs. John Cena a main event kinda worthy of seeing. And he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand every step of the way.
#23. “This Is Your Life”, By Mankind
As a fan favourite moment, I want to include the comments made by Mick Foley in an interview from last year.
He admitted the actors who were brought in to play the various parts couldn’t quite comprehend WWE’s improv acting style while they were doing a run through for the segment. “OK, I’ll bring you out and The Rock will say something, and then I’ll bring you out and The Rock will say something,” Foley told the actors. “These were professional actors, and they were like, ‘This is how you do it?’ I just looked at them and said, ‘Yeah. We’ll come up with something.’”
“I think that was part of the magic of that segment,” Foley said. “Everything was off the cuff, and I think The Rock and I played off each other really well.” Mick Foley and The Rock ran 14 minutes over their allotted time, but once the numbers came in it was easy for Vince McMahon to forgive them as Foley continued explaining, “once the ratings were revealed, he was kind of like, ‘OK, you guys can do whatever you want from now on. And we had the freedom to pretty much do what we wanted.”
#24. Triple H & Stephanie Get Married In Vegas
In the closing stages of a beautiful wedding ceremony for Andrew “Test” Martin and Stephanie McMahon, the question was asked for anyone to stand, if there is any reason why the couple could not be wed. Cue Triple H, who revealed video evidence she was already married.
Considering the hate between the characters of Triple H & Stephanie, it was a shocking twist in the feud between DX and The McMahon Family. Questions were asked about the logic of marrying someone who was visibly unconscious .. but still, it was a funny turn of events to many. As we know, this marked the beginnings of a relationship between Triple H & Stephanie with the unlimited strength of sixteen years of marriage with three princesses.
#25. Triple H Returns
No one realized how much of a star “The Game” was til this return. Granted, he’d already won several WWF Championships, lead D-Generation X, married the bosses daughter, and even claimed tag team titles with Steve Austin. But yet, he’d never been over as a babyface, and in 2001 he and Austin were really hated as the Two Man Power Trip. A severe quad injury in a tag match against Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit, forced him out of action for over eight months. He missed the whole invasion angle.
The reason his return is remembered, is because it was completely unexpected to get such a warm return. In Madison Square Garden, Jim Ross said he’d never heard such a roar before. And his return was out of the blue, they did not announce it beforehand. Knowing The Game was back opened up so many possibilities, and of course, the fans knew he’d suffered and were happy to see him back in good health.
Raw Reunion
Before we close up, let’s look at Raw Reunion. There will undoubtedly be many nostalgia acts. WWE has confirmed the following names:
Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Road Dogg, X-Pac, Ted DiBiase, Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, Diesel, Razor Ramon, Alicia Fox, Alundra Blayze, Booker T, Eric Bischoff, Candice Michelle, Christian, D-Von Dudley, Eve Torres, Gerald Brisco, Sgt. Slaughter, The Godfather, Jillian Hall, Jimmy Hart, Jerry Lawler, Jonathan Coachman, Kaitlyn, Kelly Kelly, Lilian Garcia, Mark Henry, Melina, Pat Patterson, Rikishi, Ron Simmons, Santino Marella, The Boogeyman, The Hurricane and more.
There’s many names to feature on top of current talent. I’m mostly surprised by Santino Marella, seeing as he’s working for Impact Wrestling. Also there’s Melina, Eve Torres, Jillian Hall and Candice Michelle, who we’ve not seen in a long time. Eric Bischoff will be interesting now he’s got a job leading SmackDown. There’s some fun personalities in there, so hopefully Heyman & McMahon can cook something up with a little spice.
Do you have a #1 pick of all time best Raw moment? Please let us know. If I have to pick a #1? It’s super tough .. but I’m going with Mick Foley winning the title for its historical impact. It’s been a pleasure reliving and sharing my thoughts on these moments, and I thank you for joining me. Have a nice day!
