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

A Gold Standard is Set (May 2, 2005)

Sometimes, a standard is set due to complacency; other times, people go out and earn it. Shawn Michaels, who keeps popping up on memorable Raw episodes, set about earning it with Shelton Benjamin in 2005. Looking at the rest of the card that spring, a lot of it was centered around the gold rush tournament to determine a number one contender for Batista's world title.

The show featured a great mix of names all competing at the event. Veterans like Chris Jericho, Kane, and Triple H put on solid matches, and some even put over younger talents to really sell how deep the roster was getting. It was also the early days of Edge as the "ultimate opportunist," having only recently won his Money in the Bank briefcase, which he was using to great effect and paving the way for that gimmick in the future. The talents featured are all iconic now, and the matches were, by and large, suitable for with a decent amount of time allotted to tell different stories.

The Shawn Michaels and Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin Quarterfinal Gold Rush matchup was something totally different. It felt like the longest match of the night, and it was hard-hitting and highly athletic. Shelton was innovative in his offense and defense. He reversed a top rope belly-to-back suplex with a twist into a crossbody. Shawn, the wily veteran, couldn't outwork the younger champion, so he waited for an opening and one of the most iconic superkicks of all time to end the match bloodied and exhausted. It is one of the best matches in either man's career; that's a feat for a guy known as Mr. WrestleMania. It also upped the level fans expected on television, making the product better. Rewatching the match is a must, but the whole show deserves its flowers for the wrestling it put out.