Top 10 Raw Matches of all Time
Welcome back folks, I hope the wrestling watchings going well and you are enjoying the early built to Money in the Bank. Today, I would like to count down my top 10 Raw matches, something which, let me tell you, is a difficult task, as over it's 25 year and 1,300 plus episode history the program has had some incredible matches by an array superstars. Here are my Top 10 Raw matches of all time!
After cited among the greatest contests, not just in Raw history but wrestling history, this match was one of 123 kid's (also known as Sean Waltman, Syxx and X-Pac) first and biggest matches in his WWF career. For Bret Hart, this was a match that put him to the test and pushed him so much to his limits that the two men hugged it out after the finish in a show of respect. Although the action was close throughout the 20 minutes, the WWF Champion tapped out the Kid after he reversed a dropkick into a Sharpshooter.
In a match that turned the tide in the WWF's favor during the Monday Night Wars, Mick Foley, competing under his Mankind gimmick, was able to dethrone The Rock for the WWF Championship starting his first of three reigns. This episode of Raw was taped a week previously, with the result being revealed on WCW Nitro in order to put fans off tuning into the WWF but instead resulted in fans changing the channel in order to see Foley finally capture the big one.
When Lita and Trish Stratus faced off on December 6th 2004, the match was remembered for two reasons. The first reason is that this was the first time that women ever main evented an episode of Raw, and the second reason is that the match was freaking awesome. After some great action, Lita won the Women's Championship after hitting her signature Moonsault, sending the crowd into a wild frenzy. This is a match you should definitely check out when you next have some free time.
After facing off with, and losing to, Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania XXI in one of the best matches ever, Shawn Michaels had a score to settle with the Olympic Gold Medalist and he looked for retribution in the form on an iron-man match. The match is one of only 15 Iron-man matches in WWE history, and is one of the better ones as after a blistering 30 minutes, and a series of near falls and signature moves, neither man could get the win and the match ended 2-2. Angle and Michaels would once again meet in the squared circle, but with John Cena, in a triple threat match at Taboo Tuesday a month later.
This bout is one of 5 classic one-on-one contests between CM Punk and John Cena and the only one to take place in 2013. With a WWE Title match up for grabs against the Rock at Wrestlemania XXIX, the two men went all out, hitting multiple finishing moves, and even a Piledriver, however, it was the Cenation Leader who got the win after hitting Punk with an Attitude Adjustment. Due to CM Punk losing this match, he was able to go on and have the great 4 way ranked at #7 on the list.
In 2002 the Undertaker was at the pinnacle of his career and was the man to beat, where as Jeff Hardy was struggling in the effort to prove himself as a top singles competitor, that was until this match came about. There was no better stipulation than a Ladder Match (Jeff Hardy's specialty) and no better opponent to prove himself against than the Undertaker. The match could arguably be Hardy's best ever match, and although he got hammered by the Deadman, he did prove that he has soul, determination, and spirit, so much determination, in fact, that Taker had to put Hardy down a few times before relieving him of the assault. When all was said and done, Undertaker helped Hardy to his feet and raised his arm in a show of respect from veteran to prospect. The two men would meet again in similar circumstance on Smackdown in November 2008.
After losing to John Cena at Wrestlemania XXIII, Shawn Michaels wanted another shot at the Centation Leader and his WWE Title and got his opportunity when Raw hit London in April 2007. In what was an hour long, but not Iron-man, match Cena was able to get his second victory over Michaels in under a month, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time. Michaels and Cena would never meet one-on-one for the WWE Title again, leaving there rivalry at 2-0 to Cena.
The granddaddy of all Raw matches, Shawn Michaels vs. Shelton Benajmin is everything you want to see in a match, athleticism, fighting spirit, and above all, the underdog coming off stronger than the veteran, regardless of inuring a loss. In the final of the 2005 Gold Rush tournament, Shawn Michaels and Shelton Benjamin came face to face in a match that featured one of the greatest match endings in history, when Benjamin jumped off the top rope only to be leveled with a Sweet Chin Music, causing the crowd to erupt. Although Benjamin lost this 13 minute spectacle he finally got the recognition he deserved as one of the best technical wrestlers in the business.
10) Bret Hart vs. 123 Kid- July 11th 1994
After cited among the greatest contests, not just in Raw history but wrestling history, this match was one of 123 kid's (also known as Sean Waltman, Syxx and X-Pac) first and biggest matches in his WWF career. For Bret Hart, this was a match that put him to the test and pushed him so much to his limits that the two men hugged it out after the finish in a show of respect. Although the action was close throughout the 20 minutes, the WWF Champion tapped out the Kid after he reversed a dropkick into a Sharpshooter.
9) John Cena vs. Cesaro- July 6th 2015
The most recent match on this list, John Cena vs. Cesaro really is a modern classic that captivated the Raw audience throughout. The match took place during John Cena's impressive US Title Open Challenge, a series of bouts that elevated John Cena and also his competitors to another level, and was the second meeting between the two superstars. After a back-and-forth contest, and an attempted Neutralizer by Cesaro off the top rope, Cena finally hit a Super Attitude Adjustment to put the Swiss Superstar away for the three count. This is the best Cesaro match of all time.
8) Mankind vs. The Rock- January 4th 1999
In a match that turned the tide in the WWF's favor during the Monday Night Wars, Mick Foley, competing under his Mankind gimmick, was able to dethrone The Rock for the WWF Championship starting his first of three reigns. This episode of Raw was taped a week previously, with the result being revealed on WCW Nitro in order to put fans off tuning into the WWF but instead resulted in fans changing the channel in order to see Foley finally capture the big one.
7) Lita vs. Trish Stratus- December 6th 2004
When Lita and Trish Stratus faced off on December 6th 2004, the match was remembered for two reasons. The first reason is that this was the first time that women ever main evented an episode of Raw, and the second reason is that the match was freaking awesome. After some great action, Lita won the Women's Championship after hitting her signature Moonsault, sending the crowd into a wild frenzy. This is a match you should definitely check out when you next have some free time.
6) CM Punk vs. Big Show vs. Sheamus vs. Randy Orton- March 4th 2013
The only multi-man match on this list, CM Punk vs. Big Show vs. Sheamus vs. Randy Orton took place on an Old School Episode of Raw to determine the Undertaker's opponent for Wrestlemania XXIX. After loosing the WWE Title to The Rock at Elimination Chamber, CM Punk needed to prove himself once again, and he did just that, as after a series of finishing moves, he caught Orton with the GTS for the victory. To add to the drama and excitement, the Undertaker made his way on to the stage to close out the show.
5) Shawn Michaels vs. Kurt Angle- October 3rd 2005
After facing off with, and losing to, Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania XXI in one of the best matches ever, Shawn Michaels had a score to settle with the Olympic Gold Medalist and he looked for retribution in the form on an iron-man match. The match is one of only 15 Iron-man matches in WWE history, and is one of the better ones as after a blistering 30 minutes, and a series of near falls and signature moves, neither man could get the win and the match ended 2-2. Angle and Michaels would once again meet in the squared circle, but with John Cena, in a triple threat match at Taboo Tuesday a month later.
4) John Cena vs. CM Punk- February 25th 2013
This bout is one of 5 classic one-on-one contests between CM Punk and John Cena and the only one to take place in 2013. With a WWE Title match up for grabs against the Rock at Wrestlemania XXIX, the two men went all out, hitting multiple finishing moves, and even a Piledriver, however, it was the Cenation Leader who got the win after hitting Punk with an Attitude Adjustment. Due to CM Punk losing this match, he was able to go on and have the great 4 way ranked at #7 on the list.
3) Undertaker vs. Jeff Hardy- July 1st 2002
In 2002 the Undertaker was at the pinnacle of his career and was the man to beat, where as Jeff Hardy was struggling in the effort to prove himself as a top singles competitor, that was until this match came about. There was no better stipulation than a Ladder Match (Jeff Hardy's specialty) and no better opponent to prove himself against than the Undertaker. The match could arguably be Hardy's best ever match, and although he got hammered by the Deadman, he did prove that he has soul, determination, and spirit, so much determination, in fact, that Taker had to put Hardy down a few times before relieving him of the assault. When all was said and done, Undertaker helped Hardy to his feet and raised his arm in a show of respect from veteran to prospect. The two men would meet again in similar circumstance on Smackdown in November 2008.
2) John Cena vs. Shawn Michaels- April 23rd 2007
After losing to John Cena at Wrestlemania XXIII, Shawn Michaels wanted another shot at the Centation Leader and his WWE Title and got his opportunity when Raw hit London in April 2007. In what was an hour long, but not Iron-man, match Cena was able to get his second victory over Michaels in under a month, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time. Michaels and Cena would never meet one-on-one for the WWE Title again, leaving there rivalry at 2-0 to Cena.
1) Shawn Michaels vs. Shelton Benjamin- May 2nd 2005
The granddaddy of all Raw matches, Shawn Michaels vs. Shelton Benajmin is everything you want to see in a match, athleticism, fighting spirit, and above all, the underdog coming off stronger than the veteran, regardless of inuring a loss. In the final of the 2005 Gold Rush tournament, Shawn Michaels and Shelton Benjamin came face to face in a match that featured one of the greatest match endings in history, when Benjamin jumped off the top rope only to be leveled with a Sweet Chin Music, causing the crowd to erupt. Although Benjamin lost this 13 minute spectacle he finally got the recognition he deserved as one of the best technical wrestlers in the business.
So the classic between Michaels and Benjamin tops the list, but what is your favorite Raw match? Please comment, like, and follow. Stay tuned as next up is Rivalry Rewind #1: CM Punk vs. John Cena.
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