Best WWE Raw Episodes
Emma Terry 
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- Monday Night Raw is one of the biggest weekly episodic shows in the history of sports worldwide. Since its inception on January 11, 1993, Raw has been the flagship show of WWE and it has evolved over the years. From being a one-hour show to a two-hour show, and a regular three-hour show since 2012, Raw has played host to some iconic moments. Not even a pandemic has stopped WWE from producing Raw whether it be live or pre-recorded, there has been an episode weekly without fail for fans to enjoy. Not every episode of Raw has been entertaining as three hours can be a slog for fans to get through, but the greatest episodes in the history of Raw have captivated audiences with excellent storytelling and brilliant in-ring matches.
Since January 11, 1993 there has been one constant in all of the professional sports and entertainment worlds - there will be Monday Night Raw. With the exception of the occasional Dog Show preemption in the early years, not technical difficulties, poor ratings, wrestler's deaths, real life terror attacks, Covid - nothing has stopped the WWE from taking the airwaves every Monday Night.
Every WWE Raw Champion In 2023, Ranked Worst To Best
2023 was a solid year for WWE Monday Night Raw, with plenty of champions having both memorable and underwhelming title reigns.No matter how bad fans think the product is from time to time, Raw soldiers on. To steal the "there will always be baseball," line from the Ken Burns documentary - "There will always be Monday Night Raw;" and when it's the best, there is no better way to spend a few hours winding down at the start of the work week.
UPDATE: 2024/03/05 11:30 EST BY TEVON KING
Monday Night Raw is one of the biggest weekly episodic shows in the history of sports worldwide. Since its inception on January 11, 1993, Raw has been the flagship show of WWE and it has evolved over the years. From being a one-hour show to a two-hour show, and a regular three-hour show since 2012, Raw has played host to some iconic moments. Not even a pandemic has stopped WWE from producing Raw whether it be live or pre-recorded, there has been an episode weekly without fail for fans to enjoy. Not every episode of Raw has been entertaining as three hours can be a slog for fans to get through, but the greatest episodes in the history of Raw have captivated audiences with excellent storytelling and brilliant in-ring matches.
10 Raw Is 30
Date: January 23, 2023
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | The Usos (c) (and Sami Zayn) defeated The Judgment Day (Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio) | Raw Tag Team Championship match |
2 | Seth Rollins and The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) defeated Imperium (Gunther, Giovanni Vinci, and Ludwig Kaiser) | Six-man tag team match |
3 | Bianca Belair defeated Sonya Deville | Non-title singles match |
4 | Austin Theory (c) defeated Bobby Lashley | No Disqualification WWE United States Championship match |
On the road to the 2023 Royal Rumble, the WWE celebrated a milestone - thirty years of Monday Night Raw. The opening segment and match were worth the price of admission alone. Raw began with The Trial Of Sami Zayn which led into Sami proving his allegiance and helping Jey Uso defend the Undisputed Tag Team Titles. We also had the ultra-cool (and now unfortunately ultra-haunting) meeting between The American Bad Ass Undertaker and Bray Wyatt on the eve of what turned out to be Wyatt’s last match at the Royal Rumble.
9 Raw After WrestleMania 30 Featured A Shocking Title Change
Date: April 7, 2014
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan, and Luke Harper) defeated John Cena, Sheamus, and Big E | Six-man tag team match |
2 | Emma and Santino Marella defeated Summer Rae and Fandango | Mixed tag team match |
3 | The Usos (c) vs. Batista and Randy Orton ended in a double countout | WWE Tag Team Championship match |
4 | Rob Van Dam defeated Damien Sandow | Singles match |
5 | Bad News Barrett defeated Rey Mysterio | Singles match |
6 | Alexander Rusev defeated Zack Ryder | Singles match |
7 | Paige defeated AJ Lee (c) | WWE Divas Championship match |
8 | Cesaro defeated Jack Swagger | Singles match |
9 | Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Triple H ended in a No Contest | WWE World Heavyweight Championship match |
The Raw after WrestleMania is always a raucous affair filled with WWE fans from all over the world. WWE fans are always still amped from Mania and ready to see the fallout. The night after WrestleMania 30 saw Daniel Bryan fans rabid and full of Yes' cheering the new WWE Champion on.
We also got the final appearance of The Ultimate Warrior after his return from self-imposed exile. NXT stars Paige, Rusev, and Lana made their debuts. In the main event, Triple H tried to steal the WWE Title, but his former heavies The Shield decided to stand up to The Authority and didn't allow that to happen.
8 Steve Austin Handed Vince McMahon His First Stunner
Date: September 22, 1997
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | Ahmed Johnson defeated Rocky Maivia | Quarter-final match in the WWE Intercontinental Championship tournament |
2 | The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) defeated The Nation of Domination (Faarooq and Kama Mustafa) via disqualification | Tag team match |
3 | Owen Hart defeated Brian Pillman via disqualification | Semi-final match in the WWE Intercontinental Championship tournament |
4 | Cactus Jack defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley | Falls Count Anywhere match |
5 | Bret Hart defeated Goldust | Non-title singles match |
When Raw first debuted, it emanated weekly from the Manhattan Center in New York before transitioning to traversing the globe. On September 22, 1997, the flagship show finally came home to Madison Square Garden. The show was easily the wildest Raw yet and the MSG faithful were ready to see something special. They got it when Stone Cold gave Vince McMahon his first-ever Stunner. Later in the evening, Dude Love chickened out of his Falls Count Anywhere match with Triple H. In one of the most fun WWE vignettes ever, the Dude asked Mankind to help. But Mankind deferred to someone even more terrifying as Cactus Jack made his WWE and MSG debut to run roughshod over the Connecticut aristocrat.
7 Tony Schiavone's Butts In Seats' Comment Backfired
Date: January 4, 1999
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | Steve Blackman defeated Ken Shamrock | Singles match |
2 | Mark Henry defeated Goldust via disqualification | Singles match |
3 | Test vs. The Godfather ended in a double disqualification | Singles match |
4 | Triple H defeated Mankind | Singles match with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee |
5 | Edge vs. D'Lo Brown ended in a No Contest | Singles match |
6 | Gerald Brisco and Pat Patterson vs. Kane ended in a No Contest | Handicap match |
7 | Road Dogg (c) defeated Al Snow | WWE Hardcore Championship match |
8 | Mankind defeated The Rock (c) | No Disqualification match for the WWE Championship |
Remembered more for its historical significance during The Monday Night War than anything else, it was still heartwarming to see perennial favorite among fans, Mankind finally be recognized for his hard work and dedication and win the WWE Title.
10 Wrestlers The Rock Surprisingly Never Faced In A Major Match
The Rock has faced many challengers throughout his career, but somehow never met these opponents in a major one-on-one match!The pop Stone Cold got when his music hit as he headed down to help Mick win the big one was scintillating. Foley racing all over the ringside area with the title and having his Rocky Moment telling his son “big daddyo did it!” should override any crazy spot he ever took in the business.
6 The Invasion Gets Extreme
Date: July 9, 2001
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | DDP vs. The Undertaker ended in a No Contest | Singles match |
2 | The APA (Bradshaw and Faarooq) defeated The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von) (c) | WWE World Tag Team Championship match |
3 | Albert (c) defeated Rhyno | WWE Intercontinental Championship match |
4 | Big Show defeated Jeff Hardy | Singles match |
5 | Booker T (c) defeated Kurt Angle | WCW World Heavyweight Championship match |
6 | Kane and Chris Jericho defeated Lance Storm and Mike Awesome via disqualification | Tag team match |
7 | X-Pac (c) defeated Tajiri | WWE Light Heavyweight Championship match |
8 | Team WWE and Team WCW vs. Team ECW ended in a No Contest | 20-man tag team match |
Other than Booker T and DDP, none of the big stars of WCW came over after the company was bought. The Invasion angle was faltering because of it. Then came the debut of ECW stalwarts Rob Van Dam and Tommy Dreamer.
Within a few seconds, the crowd realized what was happening, the members of the WWE and WCW rosters that were part of ECW had capitulated with Paul Heyman to revolt. It was an exciting prospect for a few hours as all three promotions were set to go at it. But by the end of the night, the Alliance was formed instead.
5 Austin Theory Made Unwanted History
Date: November 7, 2022
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | The Bloodline (The Usos and Solo Sikoa) defeated Matt Riddle and The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) | Six-man tag team match |
2 | Baron Corbin defeated Cedric Alexander | Singles match |
3 | Otis defeated Elias | Singles match |
4 | Austin Theory defeated Shelton Benjamin | Singles match |
5 | The Miz defeated Johnny Gargano | Singles match |
6 | Nikki Cross defeated Dana Brooke (c) | 24/7 Championship match |
7 | Seth Rollins (c) defeated Austin Theory | WWE United States Championship match |
For several months, it seemed that WWE was operating against the grain - despite the fans coming back around on Seth Rollins and singing along to his entrance theme, he was a little rudderless and a heel too. That all changed during the November 7, 2022, edition of Raw. The then US Champion opened the show prepping for an open challenge.
But Judgment Day and The OC came out instead and Rollins skirted away unscathed. The entire evening featured challengers coming at Rollins until Austin Theory unsuccessfully cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase. Rollins has been on a roll ever since.
4 Sting Gatecrashes Seth Rollins' "Statue" Unveiling
Date: August 24, 2015
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) defeated The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara) | Non-title tag team match |
2 | Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns defeated Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper via disqualification | Tag team match |
3 | Team Bella (The Bella Twins and Alicia Fox) defeated Team PCB (Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Paige) | Six-woman tag team match |
4 | Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler, Cesaro, and Ryback defeated Big Show, Kevin Owens, Rusev, and Sheamus | Eight-man tag team match |
Speaking of Rollins, the night after SummerSlam 2015, he was also riding pretty high. He just defeated John Cena to become the US Champion and retain his WWE World Title. Jon Stewart came out and explained his actions as to why he stopped John Cena from breaking Ric Flair’s title record.
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John Cena is one of the famous WWE stars ever. Still, there are some things fans don't know. Here's everything you need to know about John Cena.Paul Heyman tried to convince the Barclays crowd that The Undertaker cheated to defeat Brock (which he did, but they didn’t care). The Dudley Boyz also made a surprise return to drive Xavier Woods through a table. At the end of the night, Rollins was supposed to have been presented with a statue but instead got surprised by Sting showing up to clean house.
3 Raw Homecoming Featured A Betrayal And A Wrestler Leaving The Red Brand
Date: October 3, 2005
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels went to a time-limit draw | 30-minute Iron Man match |
2 | Edge defeated Matt Hardy | Loser leaves Raw match for Edge's Money in the Bank briefcase |
3 | Ric Flair and Triple H defeated Carlito and Chris Masters | Tag team match |
4 | Trish Stratus and Ashley defeated Victoria, Torrie Wilson, and Candice Michelle | Handicap Bra and Panties match |
5 | Batista, Chris Benoit, and Rey Mysterio vs. Eddie Guerrero, JBL, and Christian ended in a No Contest | Six-man tag team match |
6 | John Cena (c) defeated Eric Bischoff | No Disqualification match for the WWE Championship |
For several years, Monday Night Raw aired on the TNN Network, the only time in WWE history that their Monday night show was not on USA Network. So when the rights fees reverted back to USA, Raw came home. Stone Cold stunned all of the McMahons (including Linda!!).
Matt Hardy lost his feud with Edge and was banished from the red brand. John Cena beat up on Raw GM Eric Bischoff. But the price of admission was paid with Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle in a 30-minute Iron Man match.
2 The Original ECW Invasion Takes Place On Raw 200
Date: February 24, 1997
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | The New Blackjacks (Blackjack Bradshaw and Blackjack Windham) defeated The Godwinns (Henry and Phineas) | Tag team match |
2 | Big Stevie Cool defeated Little Guido | Singles match |
3 | Goldust defeated Savio Vega | Singles match |
4 | Taz defeated Mikey Whipwreck | Singles match |
5 | The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) vs. The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) ended in a double count-out | Tag team match |
6 | Tommy Dreamer defeated D-Von Dudley | Singles match |
7 | The Undertaker defeated Faarooq | Singles match |
In the infancy of Monday Night Raw, particularly as the company was exiting The New Generation Era, the show really felt like anything could happen. The original ECW invasion didn't just accentuate that positive, it made the show feel dangerous. Paul Heyman and his band of misfit toys invaded The Hammerstein Ballroom. Sabu famously leaped off the Raw sign and many of ECW's top-tier talent got to showcase their skills on the WWE stage. The show also featured the debut of Ken Shamrock (speaking of dangerous), which laid the foundation for Shamrock being the guest referee at WrestleMania 13.
1 The Attitude Era Begins With DX Getting Stronger
Date: March 30, 1998
Match Number | Results | Stipulations |
|---|---|---|
1 | The Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk) defeated Los Boricuas (Jesus Castillo and Jose Estrada) | Tag team match |
2 | Kurrgan defeated Chainz | Singles match |
3 | Jeff Jarrett defeated Aguila | Singles match |
4 | Ken Shamrock and Steve Blackman defeated The Nation of Domination (The Rock and Faarooq) | Singles match |
5 | Marc Mero defeated Taka Michinoku | Tag team match |
6 | The Midnight Express (Bodacious Bart and Bombastic Bart) defeated The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher) (c) | NWA World Tag Team Championship match |
7 | The New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg) defeated Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie | WWE World Tag Team Championship match |
After vanquishing Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14, Stone Cold Steve Austin stomped his way out to Raw as the new WWE Champion. It was immediately set up that the new champion would not be moldable into a corporate version of what Vince wanted. Elsewhere, X-Pac made a huge return and cut a scathing promo on Bischoff and Hogan. By the end of the night, The New Age Outlaws had officially joined DX and the faction was stronger than ever.
