20 Years and 20 Matches

First off happy new years everyone. We're offically in 2013 so those Mayans were complete idiots it seems. But the celebration is set to continue as like I mentioned in my last blog Raw is turning 20 years old this month. Last time I looked at the best moments and now I'm looking at the best matches in the shows history. Now like the last post I'll add videos where I can just because it's easier to see than explain, plus these matches deserve to be watched in my view.

20: Trish Status vs. Lita for WWE Women's title-6th December 2004

In 20 years of Raw a women's match has closed the show twice. First was when Lita beat Stephanie McMahon for the title and then this one. And safe to say this match was 1000% better than the previous one. 2 of the best women wrestlers ever showing what they can do. Imagine if they tried this today? I don't think they could at all as the division is pretty much dead.

19: Cactus Jack vs. Hunter Hearst Helmsley in Falls Count Anywhere-22nd September 1997
Nothing but WWE '13 is coming up in the search but lets be honest we've probably all seen this match. This was the reintroduction of Cactus Jack with the great 3 way promo between Jack, Mankind and Dude Love. Luckily for them the fans knew who he was otherwise this would of fell flat. The 2 had a really good feud in 97 and this was the blow off match, it really help put Jack over as something special.

18: CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan-30th January 2012

Every indy wrestling fan was drooling over this match, myself included. This was the first time these two had met in WWE before they would overkill it the rest of the year. To make things better this was champion vs. champion both were World champions and the story of no one thought this would ever happen was great to see. When it comes to the match it was awesome these two always had great matches but it got let down by the DQ finish.

17: Shawn Michaels vs. Shelton Benjamin-2nd May 2005

This moment is probably the biggest part of the match. This was a one off match in a tournament and I don't believe they did it again. Benjamin was getting a big push at the time, sadly it would go no where but Benjamin showed how good he could be in this match. Also this is the first of many Michaels match on this list he truly is one of the best wrestlers of all time.

16: Shawn Michaels vs. John Cena-23rd April 2007

Over an hour! No one expected these 2 to go so long on Raw. They had a great match at Wrestlemania 23 and this was the rematch. First off they did this in front of the right crowd as we English fans are insane for wrestling and come off as one of the best crowds to work in front off. But the reason it's so low on my list is just because of how long it went, it just dragged at points I found.

15: Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler-29th August 2011

This shows that Dolph was ready for the main event years before his current push. He's one of the best wrestlers WWE have and as much slack as Randy Orton gets he's still a pretty good wrestler especially at this time as he was having a great feud with Christian and would make Mark Henry look so much better than he actually is. These 2 clicked so well and they still did during their recent feud.

14: Chris Jericho vs. Christian in a Cage-10th May 2004
Chris Jericho Vs Christian Steel Cage Match 2004 - Video Dailymotion
These 2 just had magic in the ring I thought. They could have stole the show at Wrestlemania 20 if Eddie/Kurt and Benoit/HBK/HHH weren't on the show as well. The follow up at Backlash was just a good and they continued to put on fantastic matches. This was the feud ender mainly because Christian suffered a bad back injury during the match.

13: Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Janetty for the Intercontinental title-17th May 1993

The 1993 match of the year is still a great match today. This was one of the first big matches to happen on Raw. As much as people joke and the difference between these 2, we've all heard the "Which one's Shawn and which one's Marty" when a tag team splits, this match showed how great Marty was. The match flowed so well and was a shocker at the end.

12: CM Punk vs. Dolph Ziggler-21st November 2011

I had much higher hopes last year when these 2 had a feud for the rumble and this match is partly the reason why. The match itself at that Rumble wasn't bad but was overshadowed by Punk vs. Johnny Ace. But this match was great the only downfall was the small botch near the end but these 2 are so good they covered it quickly and it didn't hurt the match.

11: Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle in a Cage-11th June 2001

These 2 always put on fantastic matches. The biggest shame about WWE removing Benoit from history is that some of the best matches in history are overlooked. Of course the biggest moment in this match was the missed moonsault from Angle and 12 years on I bet Angle would do that spot in a cage match again even though he's older and a physical wreck. And if he ever reads this I was hacked!

10: Undertaker vs. Jeff Hardy in a Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE title-21st May 2002
Jeff Hardy vs Undertaker Ladder Match - Video Dailymotion
I remember this time being very busy when it came to TV. The draft had only just started at the beginning of the year and the only superstars who could be on both shows were the Women's champion and the Undisputed champion so there would often be two feuds going on at the same time leading to odd matches like this happening. It was a great match that made Jeff look fantastic, shame he's a drugged up idiot and blew so many chances he's been given otherwise he could be making so much money in WWE. The biggest story of the match was that Jeff just continued to fight back no matter what making him look great even in a lose, something WWE hasn't done in a long time.

9: Bret Hart vs. 1-2-3 Kid for WWF title-11th July 1994
Bret Hart vs 1-2-3 Kid-WWF Title - Video Dailymotion
I personally feel that Sean Waltman is one of the most underrated wrestlers of all time, he was just so good in the ring and could make anyone look great. So when you combine that with one of the best wrestlers of all time you get a fantastic match. This match really made the Kid as it looked like he could hang with the WWF champion.

8: Shawn Michaels vs. Rey Mysterio-15th November 2005

This was a tribute show to Eddie Guerrero who had only just pasted away and what a way to do a tribute to one of the best ever by putting 2 great wrestlers in there together. Much like Orton I feel that Rey gets too much hate, he does have a lot of issues but he's great in the ring and can make guys look great. This would be the beginning of the Rey push to the World title for Eddie so the win was there to help him and during Shawn's 2nd run with the company he wasn't against putting anyone over.

7: Edge vs. Ric Flair in a TLC match for the WWE title-16th January 2006
TLC: Ric Flair Vs Edge RAW - Vidéo Dailymotion
In my last blog I mentioned how Edge claimed he was the most watched WWE champion of recent time when he first won the title. His live sex celebration was one of the reasons and this was another. Much like they did with the Miz/Lawler TLC match on Raw years later they used this extreme match and the whole angle of "This legend has never done anything like this" to help make the match that more important. This was the right crowd on the right night with the right guys, Edge looked like a true evil heel and you couldn't help but admire Flair's drive.

6: John Cena vs. Edge in a Cage for WWE title-2nd October 2006
Edge vs John Cena Steel Cage Match - WWE RAW - Video Dailymotion
I just remember the heat of this match being incredible. Edge was the first guy that really clicked with Cena at that main event level to the point that fans actually booed Edge at a time when fans were turning on Cena. The 2 had just come off an amazing TLC match for the title and this was ending the feud. My biggest let down back then was that Edge didn't win as the angle had it that Cena would go to Smackdown if he lost and that show really needed the big name talent on there but that didn't happen and he's still on Raw today.

5: Mr. Perfect vs. Ric Flair in a Loser Leaves Town match-25th January 1993

This really was the first big match in Raw history the show had only been on for a matter of weeks when it occurred. 2 of the best ever wrestling meeting during their prime. Perfect looked great here and why he never got a WWF title run is beyond me. Flair was off back to WCW and had promised to put Perfect over before he left, not only that but Bobby Heenan helped put this match over huge while on commentary.

4: Shawn Michaels vs. Edge in a Street Fight-28th February 2005
HBK vs. Edge - Street Fight - 2005 - Vidéo Dailymotion
A brutal and bloody match that we might see again in the future if this end of PG era rumour is try. This is the final Shawn Michaels match on this list and he was working with a great wrestler in Edge. Not much can be said here except go and watch it.

3: Chris Jericho vs. Triple H for WWF title-17th April 2000

I remember losing my mind when I watch this back then. I loved Jericho and I thought he had won the title. These 2 put on a great match and the fans were losing their minds as well as it built and built. Triple H was actually really good in 2000 and it was the little things of going against the unlikely guy and making them look like he could win, he would do this with Taka Michinoku and Rikishi while as champion.

2: Edge vs. Randy Orton-30th April 2007

I LOVE this match. I don't know what it was but I just love it. Earlier I highlighted the Cena/HBK match and this match was meant to go on the same night but as it went an hour it didn't happen. While this was heel vs. heel it was worked great with Orton being subtle face. We got an insane spot with the spear from the apron onto the announce table from Edge to Orton and we even got hard way blood on Orton. They built up the finish great with the fact they knew each other so well, they had be tag partners, so it was counter after counter until the final blow. Seriously I just love this match.

1: Steve Austin & Triple H vs. Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit for the WWF tag titles-21st May 2001

What a match. The fans were hot from the get go, the action in the ring was fantastic and even Triple H getting injured didn't slow things down one bit. This was a match that started out great and just got better. I loved the team of the Chris' but they wouldn't last long as Benoit would get injured at the next Smackdown in fact. Probably the best tag match in Raw history and in my view the best match in Raw history.

Well there you go. Hope you like my list and it's hyped you up for the actual 20 year celebration, however WWE decides to celebrate it.