10 Most Important Episodes Of WWE Raw In History

From the first WWE Draft to the birth of Mr. McMahon, these are 10 Most Important Episodes Of WWE Raw In History
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[@WWChampion16]

July 15, 2002, episode of Raw always comes to my mind because Eric Bischoff made his shocking WWE debut, was named GM of Raw, and hugged Vince.

[@Brey]

And the nWo officially disbanding. (also i was 4 days old that day)

[@jasonjimerson7046]

The night Hell froze over... Not on the list... ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

[@chrisuncleahmad]

Big omission- April 15 1998 when RAW ended Nitro’s 83 week ratings win streak

[@Evilakuuuuu]

mankind winning the title and being crowned champion is the pivotal moment and why that episode you mentioned falls the to wayside.

[@TheRealAhoy]

​@@EvilakuuuuuIf that's on the list, so should this

[@Lazbotable]

April 13th

[@FUGP72]

@@Evilakuuuuu Raw was already consistently winning the ratings war by January 4, 1999. and had been for months.

[@123simenHP]

Raw on strike might not been important, but it's still one of my favorite RAW episodes.

[@bonafide9781]

March 10, 1997 should be on here due to it being a massive shift in presentation, when Raw became Raw is War. It’s effectively the start of the Attitude Era.

[@AnthonyMackONE]

The Mister McMahon character debuted in Memphis for Jerry Lawler’s USWA in 1993. The heel character was refined there in a fairly lengthy feud that saw many other WWF wrestlers show up in support of him. As Bret Hart and Lawler were feuding at the time in WWF, Bret showed up in Memphis as a heel as well. Basically VKM sent Vinnie Mac to developmental.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I remember flipping between the Raw after Wrestlemania 29 and Michigan vs Louisville national championship game

[@NuMetalfan1996]

* First Monday Night Raw on January 11th 1993 * The Attitude Era starts on Raw on March 10th 1997 * Mike Tyson and Steve Austin brawl on January 19th 1998 * Raw beats Nitro in ratings after 83 weeks on April 13th 1998 * Raw’s highest ever rating in show history with 8.1 Million people watching on May 10th 1999 * Raw Is Owen tribute show on May 24th 1999 * Raw and Nitro Simulcast on March 26th 2001 * The very first ever Draft on March 25th 2002 * The Ruthless Aggression Era starts on Raw on April 1st 2002 * the very last Raw with the WWF name on April 29th 2002 * The very first Raw with the WWE name on May 6th 2002 * Bischoff is Raw GM on July 15th 2002 * Evolution form on Raw on January 20th 2003 * John Cena gets drafted to Raw on June 5th 2005 * Raw Homecoming on the USA network on October 3rd 2005 (my all time favourite Raw episode) * The Raw Eddie Guerrero tribute show on November 14th 2005 * Edge and Lita Sex Celebration episode of Raw draws the highest Raw rating since 2001 on January 6th 2006. * The final Ruthless Aggression Era and TV 14 episode of Raw on July 7th 2008 They are the most historically important episodes of Raw

[@zanethind]

Man that Raw after Wrestlemania 29 crowd was hella loud. Legit too good to be true. Also next can you guys do the Smackdown version of this please?

[@benpezzot8805]

Was that when lesnar returned

[@faceurhell]

@@benpezzot8805 That was after WrestleMania 28 the year prior. The WrestleMania 29 one was where the New York/New Jersey crowd got was funny during the Sheamus/Randy Orton match and did the Fandango song nonstop.

[@zanethind]

@@benpezzot8805 nah that was in 2012 not 2013

[@zanethind]

@@faceurhell yeah hella fun crowd because the Wrestlemania they did deserve didn't happen tbh Metlife Stadium in Newark New Jersey is one of the worst places for wrestling every year they go in the area the crowd is dead granted of course the two unfortunate Wrestlemanias but when there is good wrestling the crowd is still dead and just don't care

[@jodawa2504]

​@@zanethindI think Lafayette, Louisiana would be another US city in which WWE Raw was hosted in the later portion of the 2010s decade that was a dead crowd, too. That may be an idea for a Cultaholic video. "10 most dead US city wrestling crowds in WWE History."

[@joshuamcmartin]

Pretty cool to think that such an iconic WWE moment between Tyson and Austin happened the very day I was born

[@tainedavis2407]

Crazy that this came out when wwe gave us one hell of a raw

[@Unitenotfight]

January 4th 99 was one of my favorite birthdays 🥳 thanks Mick 🧦 , Austin 🐍 and The Rock 🪨

[@Irish.insight]

Sep 22 1997 from MSG, where Austin stuns Vince for the first time and Cactus Jack debuts

[@jodawa2504]

I think that this episode featured the official debut of the faction of D-Generation X, in which Shawn Michaels was in a locker room with Triple H, Chyna & "Ravishing" Rick Rude cutting a promo & talking with Triple H regarding the name of their group. Shawn ultimately said "We are D-Generation X! You make the rules and we, will, break 'em! Yeah!"

[@jhunny2773]

This episode of raw that jus ended was top tier

[@micklar2000]

2:34 Put some respect on Maven’s name Pacitti!

[@KTAUSENCIA]

Tell him!!!

[@TheBrandonGrose]

Even Maven says Maven wasn’t that good. No need to slurp so loud

[@wyattangle]

@@TheBrandonGrose I like that about Maven. He's not deluded to think he was someone other than he was.

[@markbeebe125]

When I saw the title of this video I watched it specifically to see if that March 30th 1998 episode was referenced. I personally think it's one of the most important dates in the history of the industry. I don't know why but I remember it like it was yesterday just feeling like the tide had completely turned. That WWF was taking over.

[@shaunanderson9084]

The fact that the Austin vs McMahon match Raw that broke WCW’s 83 week win streak isn’t on this list takes away from this video

[@MarkieDood]

June 27, 2011: R-Truth beat John Cena in a tables match. Oh and also CM Punk did a promo.

[@Soccerteam793]

Maybe today’s raw debut of Wyatt 6 after Windham Rotunda R.I.P

[@tylernereim8295]

Before I watch further, this is my list of five I think are gonna make it into the list. 1. Bret screwed Bret 2. Butts in seats 3. Pipe bomb 4. First ever Raw 5. Announced death of Benoit Like it seems like big pivots in terms of where the company is headed would be ripe for this list. I would have picked late nitro but it was in the thumbnail XD

[@tylernereim8295]

Swing and a mostly miss

[@shady3legend]

I see people always put the pipe bomb in high praise which I think was OK I mean wasn't it scripted anyway

[@bury_the_elite65294]

27th June 2011 - The Pipebomb Promo from the Best In The World. This deserved to be in the top 3. (Yes, OK, you found the CM Punk fan. Good for you.)

[@tonyllanes6813]

The formation of the two man power Trip officially ended the attitude era. I don't know how that's not on the list

[@AnnaJaneMTG]

Maybe too soon to be considered but March 25 2024 should have been an honorable mention for the Rock/Cody beatdown in the parking lot that left Cody bloody and beaten (and Rock dropping F bombs), as well as the mostly unscripted promo between Rollins, Punk, and Drew. Two huge moments that heralded the start of the new HHH era.

[@brightsamuel5325]

Who else missed Adam saying that doesn’t work for me brother😂

[@whaduzitmatr]

While not super important to the grand scheme of things the February 13 2017 episode featured 3 events that still get talked about; 1. the misfire debut that was "Emmalina" 2. The Festival of Friendship 3. Bayley winning her first main roster championship

[@jodawa2504]

Fun fact about that date: February 13, 2017 marked exactly 20 years since The Rock(as Rocky Maivia) won his first ever WWE championship of any kind, which was the Intercontinental championship, in WWE on WWE Raw.

[@fredtott4684]

Are we not going to talk about the Raw that Mr Socko made debut and Stone Cold gave McMahon the sickest bedpan sound of all time?

[@goingrogue2236]

I believe Waltman went by the Lightning Kid that night, previously knows as the Pegasus Kid and then the 123 kid.

[@jodawa2504]

He may have had those names, too, along with The Cannonball Kid & The Kamikaze Kid before getting The 1-2-3 Kid name.

[@Maverick7613]

@@jodawa2504 - Yeah... he's had more "Kids" than the Catholic Church :|

[@vitocold9240]

Pegasus kid was Benoit in Japan

[@goingrogue2236]

@@vitocold9240 You're right, my mistake.

[@wearethepros]

Man I love Raw its so good to watch it be done Raw

[@Trialwolf]

Raw is Owen..... still can't watch it without tearing up.

[@dragon345678]

Fun fact: I was born on the day Monday Night Raw first aired. (January 11th, 1993) So I’ve always felt close to the show in a way. RAW was the show that got me into WWE and I’ve stuck around ever since. I only watch WWE programming and even after I lost cable, I watch the clips of Raw so I don’t fall behind. (Same with Smackdown too if I’m honest)

[@CarlosCruz-ox9wc]

Heyman on commentary > lawler on commentary

[@djtrakakadrunkpoet8598]

The Raw episode when Eric Bishoff came back from vacation is classic I still have the tape . Edge would never stop crying but now I understand him

[@thanksgivingmcdaniels3335]

I'm so confused by your take that the night after WM29 started the night after Mania thing. The year before the crowd hijacked the show with Daniel Bryan chants, getting that two year story going, and Brock Lesnar came back. No idea what you're talking about.

[@DeanMoxley87]

I now own Dub Ya C Dub Ya, i was at the Raw in Cleveland. Memories

[@83jdc1]

I would say the Raw after Wrestlemania 28 was the first one that started that run.

[@kennyjones1282]

I think the first triple h led show in 2022 should’ve made the list

[@cloudxz92]

Raw: June 6 2005 is missing. John Cena drafted from Smackdown to Raw. Cena was the #1 at Raw for 10 Year's. This was more then impotent.

[@CQuick30]

I was a huge WCW fan at the time but when they said Mankind was going to win the title, I switched over instantly.

[@Finfection]

Man, I remember hating Raw 1000 when it aired. Punk turning heel and attacking Rock made the next six to nine months of booking extremely predictable. Everyone knew Punk wasn't dropping that belt until he faced The Rock at the Royal Rumble. Then everyone knew that would lead to Rock defending the title against Cena at Mania where Cena would win it because he lost to Rock the previous year and we knew Rock wasn't sticking around. Just an overall awful time to be invested in the product. It also was extremely obvious that before Punk even turned heel that night they did an online poll during the show where they asked fans who they would like to see Punk face at the Rumble that following year, which of course Rock won. lol During all that time Punk had that shitty filler feud with Ryback and the only good thing to come out of that was the debut of The Shield.

[@CowboyPrestige101]

The montreal screw job is a great example of how something like the finger poke of doom could have worked if there were proper authorities heels in place.

[@shroomsandmetal]

Farouq being outstated by the rock.... Damn!

[@logankerr8090]

now do SmackDown next!

[@TheKing21Prod]

I expected the pipebomb promo

[@tObito687]

more of an important moment than an important episode. nobody talks about any other moment in that episode at all plus its not like punk revealed anything that the hardcore fans didnt already know.

[@ToxicSmallz]

Same

[@Schollchen]

That was a great list. Please do this for Smackdown too

[@pepito2847]

Raw 1000 took place around the time I was getting into WWE in 2012 CM Punk had one of the best heel turns in history

[@Jestin612]

One of the best lists 👌 ever.

[@Extinguisher10]

9 minutes in and I'm still waiting to hear "It was me Austin! It was me all along!"

[@darnellwilliams1139]

Haha every damn one of you were made fools of haha 😂I’ll never forget it!!

[@iainnicholls8537]

Enjoying the vice series who killed wcw ..its on you tube ..eric hogan goldberg nash to blame for me

[@eptx830]

Best doc series of 2024 no question

[@Jbell55145]

Austin Stunning McMahon? Pillman has a gun?

[@browninplay]

Austin Vs. Bret - that was the real start ;)

[@Joheruchan]

Forgot the highest rated Raw episode of all time

[@djtrakakadrunkpoet8598]

I wish they’d focus on better arenas or go back to the basics . They used to make great ppv arena designs then after 2006 they just stopped trying . And the making that W design the way it is like a slap to the the early 2000s and late 90s fans .

[@YsuTCOMProject]

Put some respect on Maven’s name 🗣️

[@greenfrog9702]

3hrs is ridiculous... QUALITY over quantity

[@FUGP72]

People saying that January 4, 1999 "turned the tide" of the Monday Night Wars are idiots. Raw was consistently winning the ratings for a few months already.

[@MrMNo13]

Was that the Marty vs Shawn match where Shawn drove Marty's shoulder into the outside ring post and Marty sold the other shoulder? 😂

[@keithsmith8975]

September 22,1997 cactus jack debut and stone cold stuns Vince for the first time

[@GforceLEVEL1988]

I'll shock October 7th 2002 Episodes of RAW wasn't on the list as it the first and only RAW where every match was a Gimmick Match

[@jmb01550]

No Owen tribute, Austin stuns McMahon for the 1st time (MSG) or Chyna turning Corporate

[@ttheaney]

Excellent No. 1 choice.

[@Dannykm]

Interesting list, but I wonder: How many of these episodes are available on the WWE Network "unedited"?

[@user-qg1hz9wv9s]

Raw. Being 3 hrs is great, should be more matches

[@avasquez5919]

Hey cultaholic will u guys make a rise and fall of nxt black and gold before 2.0 video. And a complete history of wcw, tna, or roh?

[@m00rtin4]

My fav is the 2018 Nov episode that made history as the worst of all time. 1995 and 2018, 2019 are true gems overall in wrestling history

[@NuMetalfan1996]

No the very first Attitude Era raw was on March 10th 1997, when Raw went to War with Raw is War.

[@sirekumasutra7022]

RAW is Owen will always be my #1

[@ois9]

Jericho v Kane was the best feud.

[@reignman2263]

I was at #2 (Shane "buying" WCW) and the ensuing PPV

[@Trekapedia]

Honorable mentions: RAW Is Owen, Benoit Tribute, Pillman’s Got A G**(youtube is weird with that term so I censored myself), Hogan vs Rock for Mania is confirmed, The Radicalz arrive.

[@jeremycastillo8594]

What about the one when the set falls on Vince?

[@LwandaMandla-eo3io]

Unrelated Fun Fact: Cultaholic has more subscribers than Wrestletalk

[@danielolivierpepin]

No raw is owen or raw is benoit

[@akidnameddavey]

What about Kane unmasking!

[@ayushkkharwar3213]

Which show use to come before the first episode of Raw

[@jazzykrisis1783]

Can we get the same video for Smackdown

[@Jefflo888]

Val Venus might have came, but Veer Mahan came harder

[@eLite-Tiss91]

And remember wwe is no longer the McMahon glory show snooze fest

[@zanethind]

That episode of Raw should be on here

[@nixda9326]

lol what? i knew that Vince tried to put the blame for the Montreal Screwjob on Bret. but i didnt know that one Reason was that he left for WCW. how makes that even sense when Vince himself convinced Bret that he should go to WCW? Bret actually didnt want to leave for WCW. this old man really lives in his own World. even tho he wasnt even that old at this Time which makes it even worse. im really astonished that Bret really made up with WWE years later after all the BS they did to him.

[@stephenhester9804]

The whole background to this has been consumed in Smoke and Mirrors for so long you'll be lucky to ever get the truth, basically Brett refused to Job to HBK and Vince did the dirty all to ensure Brett didn't take the Belt with him.

[@nixda9326]

@@stephenhester9804 as far as i know Bret didnt really refuse. he just didnt want to do the Job in his homecountry Canada. but as far as i remember there was even supposed to be a rematch in the USA where Bret was suppose to lose the Title for real before he left for WCW. but they didnt trust Bret and screwed him instead.

[@nixda9326]

@@stephenhester9804 and it was still Vinces fault that Bret left because he convinced him to go to WCW not Bret himself.

[@chrisbuckley1785]

Just announced starting in August Raw and smackdown will be 240 minutes long .....

[@johnalbent]

Your old employer wants a word 😉

[@RangoTheMercenary]

Kevin Owens winning the Universal Title.

[@isaiahwinbrone]

March 26, 2001 Shane McMahon buys WCW from his father

[@JunGaGotoku]

November 4, 1996. Pillman has a gun.

[@pdw8635]

Excuse me… maven was IC champ. He drafted the title. Not the wrestler

[@Wooderz245]

"WWE enjoyed almost two decades without viable competition." I'm sorry, but by what metric is AEW considered viable competition?

[@greasy2007]

Is Tyson in the Hall of Fame? If not Put Him In!

[@caneospreay6370]

Time for smackdown and nxt

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Hey Yo

[@TaguroSuper]

Dominic Mysterio WWE Champion 2032.

[@mpbosco11]

To be fair. Bret did screw Bret.

[@davidparkes7741]

I wonder how long it'll be till we get a new gen version of that WCW moment but with AEW?? Dunno who'd be in Shane's position though.

[@frostedbutts4340]

Nobody would buy AEW, it's worthless lmao

[@Maverick7613]

I mean... x3H and Steph's oldest daughter is 18 now so... :D

[@ricardosanchez-delgado2347]

The first Raw Roulette in 2002?

[@Hoovie9596]

Screwed Bret Screwed

[@natetingen1404]

i watch for adam

[@actionoverloaded887]

Monday night messiah !

[@jimsheppard3166]

05:15 Wait, what am I missing here?? I stopped watching Raw consistently around 2007, but at that time the show was 3 hours long, and had been for some time...

[@petersengupta]

trump was kayfabe owner of raw and was paying for 3 hour raws plus no commercials, so maybe thats why?

[@robinchai5255]

Tonight is one did you do this by coincidence

[@youngboss87]

No raw is Owen?

[@Dr_1212]

Jailing vince during raw & firing all involved still in WWE would be awesome

[@dmercy8477]

How about you focus on the new era of WWE that Triple H is doing and stop being an AEW mark. Vince is a piece of crap but you need to understand he’s no longer running the company and he’s always been denied entrance and erased from WWE due to his misconduct so at least you can be happy about that. I am happy about it and you should too. He deserves it. HHH is making WWE great again.

[@Dr_1212]

@@dmercy8477 & yet there's still bs going on under h.s regime & do you honestly believe marry any1 to get ahead H knew nothing about vinces bs you WWE fans need to stop ignoring there million scandals then & now & demand change your looking the other way is exactly why they keep there bs going Recognize the truth before you rant

[@Dr_1212]

@@dmercy8477 Mark that 🤦‍♂️

[@greenfrog9702]

Bungled invasion angle.. Bungled invasion angle.. Bungled invasion angle.. I disagree, I enjoyed those years

[@JoshHatfield]

Ridiculous. Bret screwed Bret is nothing compared to the last episode of Nitro.