As the WWE Network has shown, for nearly 25 years Raw has been the premier TV show for wrestling. Throughout the two decades-plus that Raw has aired, it has made record-ratings, it is the longest running episodic show in history, and it has provided some of the best matches in wrestling history. Because of all of their content, navigating to the best matches on the WWE Network can be overwhelming. This article highlights the top 10 matches of Raw that can easily be found with a simple search on the Network.
Ric Flair vs. Mr. Perfect (January 25, 1993)
Ric Flair’s initial run with the WWE was short lived. During the majority of that time, he was managed by his executive consultant, Mr. Perfect. The two would end up feuding, and this Loser Leaves Town match would mark the end of Flair’s first stint with the company.
Bret Hart vs. 1-2-3 Kid (July 11, 1994)
Sean Waltman has wrestled under several monikers throughout his career: The Lightening Kid, Syxx, X-Pac, and during his early years with the WWE, the 1-2-3 Kid. Out of his entire career, the match he had with Bret “Hitman” Hart on Raw is arguably the best he has ever had.
Mankind vs. The Rock (January 4, 1999)
This is perhaps the most famous moment in the history of Raw, and one of the most watched contests on the WWE Network. During the Monday Night War era, WCW’s Nitro was beating Raw in television ratings for over two years. Raw wasn’t always live, and Nitro was; so WCW decided to spoil this title match for Nitro viewers by telling everyone watching that Foley was the new champ. WCW did this hoping that viewers wouldn’t turn the channel — their plan backfired! Almost everyone flipped over to Raw to witness Mick Foley becoming the new champion. This also marked one of the last times that Nitro would win the ratings war.
Undertaker vs. Steve Austin (June 28, 1999)
As the WWE Network highlights, The Attitude Era was created on Raw and the leader was “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Both the Undertaker and Austin have had legendary moments throughout their career, and this one is certainly one of them.
Jeff Hardy vs. Undertaker (July 1, 2002)
The “dead man” strikes again! This time he takes on Jeff Hardy in a phenomenal Ladder Match. Bleacher Report regards this as one of the best WWE Raw contests, and reported how the two received a “standing ovation” from the audience.
Jeff Hardy vs. Rob Van Dam (July 22, 2002)
Jeff Hardy was on a roll in 2002, and many argue that this Raw contest was one of the best he ever had. You can checkout most of Rob Van Dam’s WWE matches on the Network.
Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H (December 29, 2003)
The WWE Network has featured a special on the rich history between Triple H and Shawn Michaels: they were part of the legendary backstage group of The Kliq, they founded Degeneration-X, they held titles together, and they had one of the most brutal feuds in wrestling history. Out of all the times these two met in the ring, this is often considered their best.
Eddie Guerrero vs. Triple H (March 22, 2004)
The late Eddie Guerrero performed a litany of phenomenal matches for audiences worldwide, and Triple H has the same reputation. So when the two of them met in the ring on Raw , audiences witnessed one of the greatest matches of 2004. The WWE Network also features a collection of Guerrero’s greatest moments.
Shawn Michaels vs. Shelton Benjamin (May 2, 2005)
This could easily be considered the greatest technical match in the history of Raw , and one of the best WWE bouts of all-time. These two were practically made to wrestle each other: they both had similar builds, they both are technically sound, they’re masters of ring psychology, and their work ethic is unparalleled — and this match proves that.
CM Punk vs. John Cena (February 25, 2013)
CM Punk and John Cena faced each other several times, but this episode of Raw would mark the last time the two would meet in the ring. Their feud is considered one of the best during the PG Era, and this Raw match shows why. All of the contests between these two can be found on the WWE Network.
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From the legends of yesteryear to recent rivals, WWE’s Raw has provided some of the best matches in wrestling history, and many of them can be seen on the WWE Network.
[Featured Image by WWE]