WWE: Some big memories from Monday Night Raw in Florida
In honor of the 25th anniversary of WWE Monday Night Raw, I relive some Raw moments, when the show emanated from arenas and other places in Florida.
Florida has hosted quite a few WWE Raw shows from Miami to Sunrise (near Fort Lauderdale) … to Orlando to Tampa … and Jacksonville.
Nexus
Monday Night Raw on June 7, 2010 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami is where Nexus made an auspicious debut to close the show. This was a surprise moment as no one on the outside knew these rookies from the NXT contest were being branded together to demolish anything in their path, including WWE crew, staff, announcers and figure-head John Cena.
Strength in numbers.
Yes
Monday Night Raw on April 2, 2012 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, the night after WrestleMania 28, is where the Yes movement took off for Daniel Bryan.
At WrestleMania 28 from Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami Gardens, Sheamus beat Bryan for the World title in a mere 18 seconds. A WrestleMania moment literally lasted a moment, and it was the worst moment in Bryan’s career. From that came the best moment in Bryan’s career, lasting three hours plus on Raw.
Throughout Raw, the crowd chanted “Daniel Bryan,” “No,” “Si,” and mostly “Yes”. Wrestlers cutting promos, like John Cena, could not help but acknowledge the crowd reaction.
When Raw went off the air, the fun continued as Bryan thanked the crowd in his own special way.
You Can See Him
On that same night, The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar made his WWE return by attacking Cena to close the show. The second loudest reaction of the show for sure, when Lesnar gave Cena an F5.
Happy Birthday Rock
Monday Night Raw on May 2, 2011 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami featured The Rock celebrating his birthday. Mr. 305 The Pit Bull and the Miami Heat dancers performed live. Lots of birthday wishes, fun, promos and a face-to-face with Rock and John Cena.
A New Day For The Rock
Monday Night Raw on Jan. 25, 2016 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami featured the return of The Rock. He was confronted by The New Day. Let the games begin.
Flo Rida Rap Off
Raw on Jan. 25, 2016 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami also featured Miami’s own Flo Rida, an acclaimed recording artist, in a rap off with the Social Outcasts.
That led to a Dudley Boyz appearance and tag match with Flo Rida, who became an honorary Dudley Boy.
Silence is Golden
On Raw on April 3, 2017 from the Amway Center in Orlando, Roman Reigns is so over he does not have to say a word. The fans chanted, heckled, booed Reigns for nearly 10 minutes to open the show. The night before at WrestleMania 33 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Reigns upset fans by beating The Undertaker, who hinted at retirement afterward.
DuDu-Dut-DuDuuu – Sheamus and Cesraro
Also that night birthed the catchy crowd created tune: DuDu-Dut-DuDuuu – Sheamus and Cesaro. It helped them defeat Enzo Amore and Big Cass to become the No.1 contenders for tag team gold. Fast forward, Sheamus and Cesaro are multi-time tag champs and one of the best tag teams going today.
Owen Hart
Monday Night Raw on May 17, 1999 (taped May 11) from the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, near Fort Lauderdale, marked the final Raw appearance for Owen Hart. He wrestled as the Blue Blazer with Jeff Jarrett and Debra against Val Venus and The Godfather. He died in the ring six days later.
WCW Finale
The final WCW Monday Nitro occurred on March 26, 2001 outdoors in Panama City. That’s the night Vince McMahon appeared via satellite on Raw from Cleveland, and Shane McMahon made a surprise appearance on Nitro in Panama City.
Raw 25
In 25 years, plenty more moments from WWE Monday Night Raws throughout the country.
Mankind-Mick Foley winning the WWE title over The Rock with the McMahons, DX and Stone Cold Steve Austin also involved in the action on Jan 4, 1999 (taped Dec. 29, 1998) in Worcester, Mass. Jim Ross and Jerry The King Lawler called the historic match that included all these great forces from the Attitude Era.
The highly-rated “The Rock, This is Your Life,” segment featuring Mankind and The Rock, together on the same side, collectively known as The Rock-n-Sock Connection, occurred Sept. 27, 1999 in Greensboro, N.C.
Stone Cold Steve Austin driving a Zamboni to the ring to interrupt Mr. McMahon’s championship presentation to The Undertaker and Kane on Sept. 28, 1998 in Detroit.
Stone Cold Steve Austin driving a beer truck to the ring and giving Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and The Rock a beer bath on March 22, 1999 in Albany, N.Y.
Kurt Angle driving a milk truck to the ring and giving Austin and the Alliance a milk bath on Aug. 20, 2001 in Sacramento.
Lita and Trish Stratus broke ground by main eventing Raw on Dec. 6, 2004 in the Queen’s hometown Charlotte, N.C. This was a big step in the evolution of women’s wrestling.
On Oct. 3, 2016 in Los Angeles, Sasha Banks and Charlotte main evented Raw for the first time since the Lita/Stratus match. A revolution in the evolution, Banks and Charlotte helped bring women’s wrestling to new heights as it continues to grow on a large platform.
The Rock and Chris Jericho’s epic dueling promos on Oct. 30, 2000 from Boston.
The Rock impersonates Kurt Angle, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, Rikishi and Triple H on Dec. 4, 2000 in New Jersey.
So many Rock promos on Raw. Making The Coach dance, banter with The Hurricane, The Rock concerts, confrontations with Cena.
My Top Two
My second favorite Raw angle of all-time is DX invading WCW on April 27, 1998 in Norfolk, Va. Let my people go.
My favorite moment in the history of Monday Night Raw is from June 17, 2013 in Grand Rapids, Mich., and it’s one that fooled everyone.
Give an Academy Award to The World’s Strongest Man Mark Henry and co-star John Cena.
Rumors earlier that day speculated that Henry had a major announcement, retirement.
When Henry appeared, he wore a suit and carried a pair of wrestling boots which he placed at the top of the rampway. He entered the ring just after John Cena finished a promo. Henry shook Cena’s hand and asked him to stay.
Henry delivered a heartfelt speech, mentioning his career, WWE staff and his family. The crowd cheered and thanked Henry. Cena applauded Henry, who shed some tears. Cena even gave the title to Henry, and a humble Henry thanked him.
Then Henry shocked the world.
Nobody saw that coming.
Surprises make for the best moments.
Enjoy Raw 25 on Monday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT live on USA Network from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and Manhattan Center in NYC.