Looking Back At WWE's Ten Best Episodes of Raw Ever

A Stunning Moment (Sept 22, 1997)

This particular Raw is a pivotal one and was not only a must-see but also era-defining. You can't talk about Raw without mentioning two names, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon. The WWE icon and the embattled former chairman were the protagonists and antagonists that fueled programming at the company's peak. Without this rivalry, there might not be a WWE at all. WCW was a real threat in the 1990s, and this was a pivotal moment in reclaiming its spot atop the industry.

On this particular night, the undercard included the Undertaker's build to his Hell in a Cell match with the new European Champion, Shawn Michaels. Both superstars cut promos on one another and really put over the structure itself, which would become essential to the impact of that match's ending. There was also a tag team match between two iconic teams in the Legion of Doom and Nation of Domination, which was fine for a TV matchup. Cactus Jack and Hunter Hearst Helmsley had a fall count anywhere match that wouldn't look out of place today, and they really anchored the in-ring action.

The real story here is that this was the night that Mr. McMahon took his first Stunner in Madison Square Garden, of all places. Mr. McMahon wanted Stone Cold to "play within the system," which earned him a whole lot of pain in response. Fans in attendance and on television probably forgot that WWE Champion Bret Hart was on the show. Vince flopping around on the mat and Austin leaving the garden in steel cuffs are the lasting images of the show and one of the more iconic moments of Stone Cold's career. It also made The Stunner a legendary wrestling maneuver known the world over.