WWE Monday Night Raw: Ranking the 25 Best Wrestlers of the Raw Era

Since its inception in January of 1993, World Wrestling Entertainment's Monday Night Raw has been home to some of the greatest stars in the history of professional wrestling. Everyone from Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair to Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart to Steve Austin and John Cena has stepped between the ropes on Monday night and left an impression on every fan that has watched them perform.

In preparation for July 23rd and Raw's 1,000th episode, let's take a look at the top 25 wrestlers to appear on WWE's flagship program.

*The Superstars and the order in which they appear in these rankings are based on a number of factors, including memorable moments, lasting impact on the show itself, entertainment value and in-ring and microphone work. Longevity will act as a tie-breaker in some cases.

25. Jeff Jarrett

During his two stints with WWE during the Raw era, Jeff Jarrett was a consistent in-ring worker who held down the proverbial "fort" that was the mid-card scene.

In the late 1990s, at the height of the Attitude Era, Jarrett served as the cornerstone of the company's second tier. He was the Intercontinental Champion and a tremendous villain for the more popular Superstars, such as Ken Shamrock, Edge, D'Lo Brown, Chyna and the Godfather, to bump around.

Every month, a different wrestler would attempt to take the title away and, while some would momentarily succeed, Jarrett always managed to take it back in short order, thanks to some plan he concocted with managers Debra and Miss Kitty.

Jarrett's two runs during the Raw era were nowhere near as lengthy as other Superstars' on this list. but he always managed to remain a relevant star and managed to hold down a spot on Raw during a time, the Attitude Era, where things were constantly changing.

One of the more underrated wrestlers of the Raw era, Jeff Jarrett often does not get the credit he deserves for being as good a performer as he actually was.

24. Razor Ramon

The man who started the movement by WCW that would result in the company taking over the control of the Monday Night Wars for 83 consecutive weeks rose to prominence on Vince McMahon's Monday night program from 1993 until his departure for World Championship Wrestling in 1996.

As Razor Ramon, Scott Hall became one of World Wrestling Entertainment's top Superstars during the early 1990s, a time where the company was transferring from the Hulk Hogan-led boom period of the 1980s and into the 1990s' "New Generation."

Ramon's matches with fellow "clique" members Shawn Michaels and Diesel are fondly remembered. but Razor's most memorable Raw moment, and one of the most shocking in the history of the show, was his showdown with a puny wrestler known only as "The Kid."

On May 17, 1993, Kid caught Razor with a moonsault and upset the former top contender to the WWE Championship. It was an instant star-making win for Kid, who would then become the 1-2-3 Kid and later, X-Pac. The upset also affected the career of Razor, who became friends with The Kid and a babyface by association.

Razor was a talented big man who had a Superstar aura about him during an era where Vince McMahon and his company were desperately looking for new stars. He was a major part of guiding the company through the very rough patch that was the early 1990s.

23. The British Bulldog

Davey Boy Smith was a beloved member of the 1980s tag team scene in WWE, which most consider to be the greatest era of tag wrestling ever. He also had an impressive singles career in the early 1990s. But it was his return to the company in 1994, and his subsequent success, that lands the Brit on this list.

After a year of partnering with Bret Hart and Lex Luger, the British Bulldog set out on his own, turning heel on then-WWE Champion "Big Daddy Cool" Diesel and setting in motion the biggest push he had received in North America to that point.

The Bulldog would become one of the most visible stars in World Wrestling Entertainment, a part of a stable led by James E. Cornette that also included brother-in-law Owen Hart and the massive Vader. For over a year, the trio dominated the competition and served as the foil for the company's top star, Shawn Michaels.

In 1997, Bulldog joined Owen, Bret Hart, Brian Pillman and Jim Neidhart to form the Hart Foundation stable and. again, enjoyed a long run at the top of the company. The anti-Americans, they were villains in a war with Stone Cold Steve Austin and any number of pro-American heroes.

Bulldog would leave the company in 1997 and join WCW with Bret and Neidhart. but he would return two short years later and enjoy limited success, feuding with The Rock and Mankind temporarily before falling down the card.

No longer with us, Davey Boy Smith's legacy lives on in his performances with World Wrestling Entertainment, including three main-event years on Monday Night Raw.

22. William Regal

Speaking of tremendously talented individuals from across the pond...

William Regal's career in World Wrestling Entertainment has seen him involved in just about everything anyone could imagine. Debuting in 1998 as a "real man's man," Regal's first stint with the company can only be classified as a complete and utter failure. When he returned in 2000, however, he started a 12-year journey with the sport's top promotion that continues to this day.

While others have concentrated on their "spot," Regal has been concerned only with entertaining the masses. Whether it is in the ring, on the microphone or in some incredibly embarrassing sketch, Regal has excelled in every facet of sports entertainment.

Who can forget Regal's place in history as the first member of the "prestigious" Vince McMahon Kiss My Ass Club?

He has been the general manager, a championship-winning singles competitor,and a tag team specialist.

William Regal's feud with Edge in 2002 over the Intercontinental Championship not only resulted in him capturing his first of the three "triple crown" titles, it also helped elevate Edge and proved that the young Canadian could hang with an in-ring veteran that possessed a completely different style from the one Edge was used to.

As partner to Christian and Lance Storm, Regal captured the tag titles and dominated the tag team scene on Monday Night Raw for the better part of 2002 and early 2003.

In 2008, in the middle of his second reign as general manager of Monday Night Raw, Regal enjoyed the most success of his career. Easily the most hated man in the sport, Regal seemed poised to turn his role as an on-screen authority figure into his first true main-event run and even, possibly, a WWE Championship reign.

Unfortunately, two Wellness Policy suspensions derailed Regal's chances at capturing the top prize in the sport. Regardless, that disappointment has not derailed the Blackpool native's passion to entertain the WWE Universe on Raw, SmackDown or NXT.

21. Booker T

Booker T's stay on Monday Night Raw did not get off to a smooth start. In a match that can only be considered a catastrophe, Booker battled Buff Bagwell in Vince McMahon's failed attempt to launch WCW as its own separate brand.

Booker would recover from the initial bumps in the road to become one of the most popular stars on Monday Night Raw following the 2002 draft. His partnership with Goldust drew both laughs and critical praise as the two veterans appeared to be having a blast in their pre-taped sketches and in their in-ring work as a team.

The Goldust-Booker T movie review of The Rock's Scorpion King film is one of the more amusing segments of Raw in 2002, a year many consider a down year for WWE's most-watched program.

In 2003, Booker received the push many believed he deserved far sooner, challenging Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship. The storyline leading to the match remains one of the most controversial in Raw history, with racial overtones that made many a viewer uncomfortable.

Booker would fail to win the title from "The Game" but would remain a featured talent on Monday nights. He defeated Christian to win the Intercontinental Championship and collected a World Tag Team Championship with fellow Invasion survivor Rob Van Dam.

While many may consider Booker's career on Raw somewhat of a disappointment, it is difficult to argue the impact he had on Monday Night Raw early in the 2000s. Did he win the heavyweight title so many thought he deserved? No.

But he was a fixture near, or at the top of, the show, and that is never an easy feat on Vince McMahon's ever-changing show.

20. Goldust

Goldust was as important to the Attitude Era as any other WWE Superstar, a fact that usually goes overlooked or unnoticed.

From the time he debuted in 1995, Goldust was doing things on Monday Night Raw that had not been seen in professional wrestling before. They were things that drew criticism from some fans but captured the attention of others. His bizarre, bordering-on-homosexual behavior shocked and confused and for the first time in years, Vince McMahon's company had a must-see Superstar.

Goldust did not bring the ratings and attendance success that Stone Cold Steve Austin did. but he did show McMahon and other high-profile individuals within WWE that fans were interested in characters that broke from traditional molds.

After a brief hiatus, Goldust returned to WWE in 2002 and enjoyed a career renaissance. Teaming with Booker T, he became a featured star on Monday nights. While the turn of the calendar resulted in his return to the undercard, Goldust remained one of the most over and popular stars in the company.

The importance of Goldust to Monday Night Raw and wrestling's big boom in the late 1990s is immeasurable. While most credit ECW for the company's increased violence and sexual content (and rightfully so), Goldust was the company's first attempt at something different, an edgier character than fans had seen before.

Dustin Runnels deserves respect and credit for his controversial portrayal.

19. Jeff Hardy

One of the most popular stars in the history of WWE, Jeff Hardy made his initial impact on Monday Night Raw as a tag team competitor, teaming with his brother Matt to feud with Edge and Christian and the Dudley Boys.

Hardy's accomplishments as a member of the Hardy Boyz tag team, however great and important to the history of Raw they may be, are better off left to a set of rankings counting down the best tag teams in Monday Night Raw history.

As a singles competitor, Jeff captured four Intercontinental Championships, the European Championship, the Hardcore Championship, the WWE Championship and two World Heavyweight Championships.

Hardy's legacy as a singles competitor in terms of Monday Night Raw, however, can be summed up in one match.

On July 1, 2002, Hardy challenged The Undertaker for the WWE Championship in a ladder match that is still talked about to this day. A perennial midcard act, Hardy was given the opportunity to main-event Raw against World Wrestling Entertainment's franchise player and he gave a performance that lives on in the annals of Raw history.

Jeff came up short that night but he gained the respect of his opponent, who embraced him after the bout.

While Hardy's heavyweight title victories came later in his career, on SmackDown, it was his work on Raw that set the stage and earned the trust of Vince McMahon to give him award him with that honor. No longer a member of the company, Hardy remains one of the most popular and exciting performers to ever come through WWE.

18. Chris Benoit

Regardless of one's opinion of how Benoit's life came to an end, it is difficult to compile a list of the 25 greatest wrestlers in Raw history and not include him.

Chris Benoit's debut with WWE in January of 2000 was a major moment for Monday Night Raw. Who can forget the image of Benoit, Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero and Perry Saturn sitting ringside as Raw hit the airwaves?

It was a landmark moment for both WWE and WCW in that it strengthened the already-dominant McMahon-owned company and, in many ways, spelled the end for the money-bleeding World Championship Wrestling.

Benoit was, at his peak, the very best in-ring worker in the world. His matches with Triple H, Chris Jericho and The Rock on Monday nights in 2000 set WWE's product apart from the competition and proved Benoit had what it took to be a main-event player in a company that often valued entertainment over sport.

In 2004, Chris Benoit accomplished his life-long goal when he became World Heavyweight Champion. With the big gold strap around his waist, Benoit changed the atmosphere of Raw. The show became more wrestling-based, and the focus was on Benoit's war with the Evolution faction.

On a memorable edition of the show, Chris successfully defended the World Championship against Triple H in an Iron Man match.

Benoit would finish out his career on SmackDown and ECW, but the greatest stretch of his career as a WWE employee came on the flagship program.

17. CM Punk

The current WWE Champion has made quite the name for himself on Monday nights over the last six years.

On the June 30, 2008 episode of Raw, Punk cashed in the first of two Money in the Bank briefcases and defeated Edge to become World Heavyweight Champion. It was a huge moment in the career of the former Ring of Honor standout, but it became clear that he was not as ready for the position as some would have thought.

From there, he would team with Kofi Kingston to capture tag team gold and, later in that same year, would feud with William Regal over the Intercontinental Championship. He would win that title in January of 2009.

Despite his accomplishments, Punk always seemed to fly under the radar. That ended on June 27, 2011.

On that night, CM Punk sat atop the WWE stage and voiced his displeasure with just about everyone in any kind of authority role within the company. It was an epic shoot promo that had fans talking the next morning. In one night, with one promo, CM Punk elevated his stock in the professional wrestling business.

Since then, he has enjoyed a run as one of the two top babyfaces in the company. The WWE Champion, he brings work rate to his Monday Night Raw matches while John Cena is left to compete in storyline-heavy main events.

As Raw approaches its 1000th episode, Punk seems poised to continue his lengthy reign as the WWE Champion. What he has in store for Raw post-1,000 remains to be seen, but if his first six years are any indication, Punk will be a championship-winning wrestler for many years to come.

16. The Big Show

The Big Show arrived on Monday Night Raw on February 15, 1999, just one night after tossing Stone Cold Steve Austin through a steel cage at St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Since then, the giant has had a roller coaster of a ride with World Wrestling Entertainment and on its most watched show.

Big Show enjoyed his earliest success in November of 1999 when he captured the WWE Championship at Survivor Series. Engaged in a rivalry with the Big Boss Man at the time, Show spent his time on Raw constantly fighting off the veteran performer, and his verbal attacks on Show's recently deceased (in storyline, anyway) father.

In January of 2000, Big Show would lose the title to Triple H on Monday Night Raw and begin a heel turn that would lead to a rivalry with The Rock. An injury would put Show out of action shortly thereafter, and it would be years until he would return to form.

Big Show returned to Monday Night Raw in 2005 after a three-year stay on SmackDown and wasted no time in collecting the tag team championship with Kane as his partner. Over the years that followed, Big Show would feud with the likes of John Cena, Edge and Triple H while constantly remaining a relevant piece of the WWE puzzle.

In recent years, Monday Night Raw has been home to some of the most interesting and entertaining encounters between Big Show and any number of celebrity guest stars and hosts. Most notably would be the feud with Floyd Mayweather, which played out on Monday nights in 2008 before headlining WrestleMania XXIV.

A multi-faceted entertainer, Big Show has been and remains one of the top-tier performers in Monday Night Raw history.

15. Owen Hart

Owen Hart deserves far more credit for his role as the cornerstone of Monday Night Raw from 1994 until his untimely death in 1999 than he has, or likely ever will, receive.

In the early days of Raw, Owen served as the heel foil for his championship-winning older brother Bret. Owen was jealous of Bret and would stop at nothing to wrest the WWE title away from him. They engaged in a number of classic matches, including a few on Monday Night Raw.

An incredibly talented tag team competitor, Owen teamed with brother-in-law Davey Boy Smith to capture the tag team titles on a number of occasions. Rivalries with the Legion of Doom, Doug Furnas and Phil LaFon, the Smoking Gunns, and Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels provided tremendous support to the top feuds of the time and brought a legitimacy to the tag team division.

In 1999, Owen partnered with Jeff Jarrett to once again claim tag team gold. Two of the better workers of the time, and legitimate friends off-screen, they gelled well together and had tremendous matches with the likes of Edge and Christian, X-Pac and Kane, D'Lo Brown and Mark Henry, and the New Age Outlaws.

Despite being a major part of Raw for six years, Owen never allowed himself to become stale. A consummate professional, he was as beloved by the fans as he was by his co-workers. The Owen Hart tribute edition of Raw, just twenty-four hours after his tragic death at Over the Edge in May of 1999, remains one of the most gut-wrenching two hours in wrestling history.

14. Batista

Dave Batista catapulted to the top of World Wrestling Entertainment as a member of Evolution and remained there until his departure from the company six years later.

Over that period of time, he was a top star on Raw and SmackDown, won a number of World Heavyweight Championship, and was one of the company's two most marketed entertainers.

As a member of Evolution prior to his climb up the ladder, Batista filled the enforcer role with the faction. His feud with Shawn Michaels, which spanned a number of episodes of Raw in late 2003, proved to be all the evidence WWE needed to continue his push.

From late 2004 through early 2005, Batista became a focal point of Raw. For over one year, he was ordered around by Triple H and Ric Flair and, by the time the Royal Rumble rolled around, had begun to see through his cohorts and their use of him to their benefit.

Fed up with being a stooge, he ended his relationship with his mentors by power-bombing Triple H through a table and signing to face "The Game" at WrestleMania for the World title. It was a seminal moment of Monday Night Raw in the last decade.

While Batista would become a fixture on SmackDown for a majority of the next three years, he would return to Raw as a villain in 2010 and set his sights on John Cena. He would win a WWE Championship in that time and have three very good matches with Cena, but it was his new character, in all its egotistical glory, that would make some less-than-stellar episodes of Raw watchable.

Many believe Batista, one of the better big men to ever grace a Monday Night Raw ring, left just as his performances were peaking. One has to wonder if fans will ever get to see "The Animal" perform on Monday nights again.

13. Kurt Angle

Very few people could have imagined the sensation that Kurt Angle would become when he made his debut with World Wrestling Entertainment in 1999. After all, there had been many former collegiate and amateur wrestlers that tried to break into professional wrestling but could not, for whatever reason, be successful.

Kurt Angle, as it would turn out, was an entirely different performer from any that had come before him.

Angle almost immediately won the European and Intercontinental Championships. By the summer of 2000,  he was engaged in a memorable storyline with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, which saw him infatuated with Stephanie.

By October of that same year, Angle had won his first WWE Championship. To this day, no other Superstar accomplished as much in his first eleven months with the company than Angle did in 2000.

Kurt's interactions with Steve Austin in 2001 were responsible for some of the most hilarious, entertaining segments in Raw history while his rivalry with the same Austin later in the year produced some of the show's most intense moments.

In 2005, Angle returned to Raw after years of serving as SmackDown's top star. He would feud with Shawn Michaels, a program that resulted in two tremendous pay-per-view matches and a televised thirty-minute Iron Man match on the "Homecoming" episode of Raw in October of 2005.

Kurt Angle's legacy during the Monday Night Raw era is one of a tremendous professional wrestler who managed to evolve past headlocks, ankle locks and German suplexes to become one of the most entertaining stars the company had to offer.

During his stay with World Wrestling Entertainment, one would be hard-pressed to find a single performer better than Angle was at his peak. That says a lot about the greatness of the Olympic gold medalist.

12. Kane

The Big Red Machine has been a part of WWE programming since 1995, when he debuted as the evil dentist to Jerry “The King” Lawler. Since that summer, Kane has been one of the most reliable performers on the WWE roster, only occasionally taking time off to heal nagging injuries.

In 1997, Paul Bearer introduced the wrestling world to Kane, the brother of the Undertaker. Like a good horror movie icon, he stalked towards the ring, a mask covering his hideously scarred face and supernatural powers intimidating fans and wrestlers alike. On the eve of the Attitude Era, it was a fresh character that immediately captured the imagination of viewers.

The rivalry with his on-screen brother evolved into a partnership between the two. The Brothers of Destruction wreaked havoc across WWE. They put an end to the title reign of Stone Cold Steve Austin but could not keep their personal animosity out of the equation. Eventually they split up, and Kane went on his own way.

One of the most decorated Superstars of all-time, Kane amassed nine tag team championships, two Intercontinental Championships, a Hardcore Championship, a World Heavyweight Championship and a WWE Championship.

Despite his impressive list of achievements, it will be the various…unique…storylines that Kane has been part of that may define his career.

The infamous Katie Vick storyline in 2002 represents all-time stupidity in terms of WWE creativity. The rivalry between Kane and Shane McMahon featured several unforgettable moments, including the Big Red Machine using jumper cables to electrocute McMahon’s testicles.

Then there was the love triangle also involving Lita and Matt Hardy, which culminated in a match at SummerSlam where Lita would marry the winner. Kane defeated Hardy, and a grand wedding took place a few weeks later on a memorable episode of Raw.

These are just a few of the memorable storylines involving Kane that have created some of the most talked about moments in Monday Night Raw history.

A company man who shows up to work, does what is asked of him and moves on to the next event, Kane has remained a staple of WWE and Raw because of constant professionalism and his ability to stay over with the WWE audience.

11. Edge

Edge and Christian helped revolutionize tag team wrestling in the early 2000s. They, along with the Hardys and Dudleys, were as popular as the top stars in the company at the time, a testament to their abilities as performers. Like Jeff Hardy, however, Edge's tag team exploits will not be a factor in his placement on this list.

In 2004, Edge returned from a severe injury to his neck and began a run on Raw that would, eventually, land him in World Wrestling Entertainment's Hall of Fame.

The summer of 2005 saw tremendous change in both Edge's personal and professional life. A real-life affair with Lita led to an on-screen pairing between the two and a massive heel push for the newly-dubbed "Rated R Superstar." His feuds with Kane and Matt Hardy were a major part of Raw throughout the summer and fall and made for some very interesting programming.

In January of 2006, Edge cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase he won the year before and became WWE Champion, defeating John Cena at the New Year's Revolution pay-per-view.

The next night, live on Raw from family-friendly Hershey, Pennsylvania, "The Rated R Superstar" took things to a whole new level, engaging Lita in a Live Sex Celebration that achieved the highest television rating in years.

On July 4 of the same year, Edge captured his second WWE title on Raw, defeating Cena and champion Rob Van Dam in a triple threat match.

A partnership with Randy Orton and feud with D-Generation X would follow before Edge would be moved to SmackDown to help fill a void left because of injury. He would call the Friday night brand home for the remainder of his career, but he still popped up on Raw on occasion.

Edge is one of the few Superstars who fans could see his entire career evolve at the same time Monday Night Raw was evolving.

A champion of some sort for his entire career, Edge was not only one of the most decorated stars in the history of the show, he was also one of the most entertaining and beloved. A heel fans loved to hate, he was as responsible for the rise of John Cena to a permanent home as Cena was.

Unfortunately, permanent neck injury forced Edge to retire from in-ring activities after a 13-year career with Vince McMahon's company. His statement regarding his departure took place on Raw and remains one of the most emotional moments on the show in the last five years. 

10. Randy Orton

Randy Orton debuted on Raw in 2002, and it was immediately apparent that he would become the future of the franchise program.

As a member of Evolution, Orton was the young star being prepped for greatness by Triple H and Ric Flair. His rivalry with Mick Foley, which unfolded on Monday nights, not only elevated Orton up the card, it also legitimized him in the eyes of even his harshest detractors.

In 2006, Randy partnered with Edge in the "Rated RKO" duo and constantly tormented D-Generated X. They would capture the World Tag Team Championship, but ego and the allure of the WWE Championship would eventually come between them.

As the years passed, Orton continually improved as a performer. Rivalries with Triple H, John Cena, and Shawn Michaels, while WWE Champion, helped cement his reputation as the top heel in the industry.

In 2009, Orton and former Evolution leader Triple H engaged in a rivalry that would lead to the WrestleMania 25 main event. Orton targeted the McMahon family as a means of taunting Triple H, of causing the WWE Champion to lose his temper and do something that would result in him being stripped of his title.

On a memorable edition of Raw just prior to the showdown between the two, Orton delivered a DDT to Stephanie McMahon while Triple H was handcuffed to the top rope, forced to watch. He then planted a kiss on the unconscious wife of his rival in one of the more disgusting acts any WWE villain has perpetrated in quite some time.

As 2010 kicked into gear, Orton became a fan favorite, largely because his Viper-like attacks and his RKO from out of nowhere reminded so many of Stone Cold Steve Austin's unprejudiced Stunners. He would win another WWE Championship before jumping ship to SmackDown, where he remains to this day, though he still appears on the Raw Supershows.

9. Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho has been a part of Monday Night Raw for 13 years. During that time, he has amassed a Hall of Fame career, winning every major championship the company has to offer (multiple times) and being the focal point in some of the company's greatest storylines.

In 1999, a Millennium countdown clock appeared on Raw, seemingly counting down the arrival of a revolutionary Superstar. Despite everyone and their mothers knowing it was Jericho that would arrive when the clock struck zero, he received a tremendous reaction and, from day one, was treated as a big deal. His debut is a defining moment in Monday Night Raw history.

Over the years, Jericho has competed against, and defeated, the top Superstars in the history of the sport. Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Kurt Angle, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels have all been defeated by Jericho on Monday Night Raw.

Jericho's feud with Triple H proved he could perform in high-pressure situations. His 2001 rivalry with The Rock marked his arrival in the main event scene. The program with Shawn Michaels cemented his legacy as one of the greatest performers of any generation.

Recently returned from a suspension and tour of Europe with his band Fozzy, Jericho looks to add to his critically acclaimed career. Recent matches against CM Punk prove he has not lost a step in the ring. Now it is up to him to prove he has not lost a step elsewhere.

8. The Undertaker

The ironman of World Wrestling Entertainment, Undertaker is the only wrestler still on the roster that was a part of the very first Monday Night Raw telecast.

Over the course of nearly 900-plus episodes of Raw, the “Dead Man” has gone through a number of transformations. One thing has been a constant throughout all of the costume changes, appearance alterations and character tweaks: Undertaker is the unquestioned heart and soul of WWE.

To say the first few years of Raw were utterly unmemorable for Undertaker would be an understatement. A never-ending rivalry with Ted DiBiase’s “Million Dollar Corporation” is hardly worth reliving here. A feud with Mable is notable only for the very cool mask the “Dead Man” sported following a severe facial injury. And the stop-and-go storyline involving Yokozuna is better off forgotten.

In 1996, however, Vince McMahon realized the quality of performer he had with his locker-room leader and featured him heavily on WWE programming. Feuds with Diesel and Mankind proved what kind of worker Undertaker was, while Raw main event matches against the blossoming Stone Cold Steve Austin were a preview of what was to come.

The Undertaker would spend the Attitude Era and beyond as one of Vince McMahon’s featured talents, never far from the main event of any given show.

As the Millennium approached, he changed up his character to better fit the peaking Attitude Era. Now the “American Badass,” Undertaker spoke more and destroyed more than he ever had before.

While the character was fresh and different from the “Dead Man” that had dominated in the 1990s, the fans had a harder time connecting to it. Did Undertaker’s popularity wane? No, but there was a lack of buzz about the character that the performer recognized.

In 2004, he returned to the gimmick that made him famous. Since then, he has remained largely a SmackDown talent, the only factor preventing him from ranking higher on the list. When he does appear on Raw, however, the appearance is treated with great respect and hyped as something important, as it should be.

The Undertaker is the WWE’s franchise player, and there is no better evidence of that than his involvement in Raw over the years.

7. Mick Foley

Mick Foley is the most multi-faceted performer in the history of professional wrestling.

Bar none.

The Rock included.

Over the course of four years, he played four different characters and made sure each had its own dimensions. Mankind started as a deranged psychopath but segued into a fun-loving, sock puppet-wearing bozo. Dude Love was a delusional 1970's reject who thought he was God's gift to women. Cactus Jack was a mayhem-loving madman who inflicted pain on anyone put against him.

And Commissioner Mick Foley was incorruptible and did what was in the best interest of Vince McMahon's company...even if he had to oppose the owner at times.

Mick Foley was a performer different than others in that fans became emotionally invested in him because of the sacrifice he put his body through and his way of expressing himself on the microphone.

The 1997 sit-down interviews between Mankind and commentator Jim Ross were revolutionary and Foley's performance in that character, showing emotion as only he could, was single-handedly responsible for Mankind's face turn in the summer of that year.

As 1998 came to a close, Foley accomplished a boyhood dream. As Mankind, he captured the WWE Championship from The Rock in a moment still talked about today. It was the moment that proved WWE's dominance over its competition as hundreds of thousands of viewers switched from Nitro to watch the beloved performer realize his dream.

Even in 1999, as his career was winding down, Foley was able to keep the fans' attention through hilarious skits with The Rock. "This Is Your Life" starring the Rock and Sock Connection is still the highest-rated segment in Monday Night Raw history some 13 years later.

After his retirement in 2000, Foley remained an important part of WWE. As the Commissioner of the company, he provided a nice break from the tired heel authority figure. Four years later, he elevated Randy Orton to main event status during a rivalry that spanned 10 months. And just two years later, he helped confirm Edge's spot at the top of WWE.

When speaking of the Attitude Era, Steve Austin and The Rock are often the two most talked about stars. Most forget just how influential and important Foley was to that time. Whether it was Mankind, Dude Love or Cactus Jack, Mick Foley was and still is a master story-teller.

It is a shame those in power today have not come up with a way to use him on Raw or SmackDown to benefit the young roster.

6. Bret Hart

Bret Hart was the face of both Monday Night Raw and World Wrestling Entertainment for the first four years of the show's existence.

Much like John Cena today, Hart held down the fort as the company's top star whether or not he had the WWE Championship in his possession.

His rivalry with Jerry "The King" Lawler was a tremendous example of an angle being as hot, if not more so, than the one centered around the top title. It spanned two years and concluded with a steel cage match in 1995, where Bret defeated Lawler's evil dentist, Isaac Yankem.

Hart was a hero for many during the early days of Raw. He was the noble fighter more interested in earning respect and collecting championships than inflating his ego. The arrival of a "Rattlesnake" and the changing American culture would put an end to that as the 1990s progressed.

In 1997, Bret Hart underwent a historic turn, becoming an anti-American villain. Despising the new attitude of the country, a way of thinking that allowed them to cheer the vile and despicable Stone Cold Steve Austin while booing the morally respectable Hart, Bret was loved in every country other than the Unted States.

As the leader of the Hart Foundation, his war with Austin paved the way for the Attitude Era. Their brawls in and around the ring, in the backstage area, and on the microphone was an appetizer from the full-on assault WWE would unleash on its fans during the sport's biggest boom period.

Nearing the end of his run with the company, Hart's rivalry with Shawn Michaels, both professionally and personally, made Raw can't-miss programming. The very real shots each man took at the other on Monday nights were intriguing and entertaining on a level no writing team could ever match.

Unfortunately, the hatred between Shawn and Bret would lead to Hart's departure from the company in one of the most infamous moments of all-time, the Montreal Screwjob.

In 2010, Hart returned to Raw and reconciled with Michaels in front of the entire viewing world. It was a fitting conclusion to one of the most competitive, most uncomfortable, most talked-about rivalries in the history of Monday night wrestling.

5. Triple H

The evolution of Monday Night Raw and the evolution of “The Game” Triple H go hand-in-hand.

First he was an spoiled rich boy from Greenwich, a gimmick that fit in well with the mid-1990s World Wrestling Federation product.

As the Attitude Era approached, he became a degenerate, crotch-chopping and goading women into flashing their breasts.

With the peak of WWE popularity upon him, he became the top villain in the company and a member of the McMahon-Helmsley Era that dominated the year 2000.

No longer in need of anyone to help get him over as the company’s most recognizable heel, he became known as the “Cerebral Assassin,” the smartest man in the business and one willing to do whatever it took to leave any given match with his hand held high.

Triple H has been a fixture of WWE Raw for seventeen years. One of the most controversial stars in the history of the sport, the real-life son-in-law of company owner Vince McMahon has etched himself a legacy that compares favorably to any all-time great put up against him.

His impact on the Monday night program is far greater than most realize. While The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin may receive the hype, it was Triple H that provided both men with a villainous character that fans wanted to see their heroes defeat.

“The Game” was as vile and reprehensible a character as any in the history of Raw, and every week, people tuned in to see if he would finally get what was coming to him.

As a member of D-Generation X, he embodied everything the Attitude Era stood for. He was a trash talker who took no prisoners, spared no feelings, feared no censors and would not hesitate to cross the proverbial line.

When the wrestling business saw its popularity decrease, Triple H looked back to the heyday of the National Wrestling Alliance, to Crockett Promotions, and became the 2002 equivalent to Ric Flair. He was the overconfident heel who could talk and could back it up but, at the end of the day, managed to find someone to sneak out of a big match with the World Heavyweight Championship intact.

Considering the lack of any real, legitimate top babyface at the time, it was a smart move on the part of Triple H and one that goes underrated to this day.

One of the smartest performers in the history of the business, Triple H has always had a knack for understanding where the professional wrestling industry was headed and changing his character to adapt with the times.

Regardless of many opinions of Triple H, Monday Night Raw was and, in many ways is, better for having him as a major part of the show.

4. John Cena

For seven years, John Cena has been the face of World Wrestling Entertainment and its Monday Night Raw program.

Heading to the show as the first official WWE Draft pick in 2005, Cena has amassed 11 heavyweight titles and been the focal point, not only of Raw, but the entire company. Much like Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H before him, Cena has filled the role of the company’s top star on its flagship show.

Like Austin, he has also single-handedly defined an era in the sport, that being the critically hammered “PG” era.

Cena’s accomplishments on Raw have been numerous, including a 50-minute match against Shawn Michaels in London, England that confirmed that Cena was not simply a muscle-bound pretty boy but a tremendous entertainer as well.

His feud with “the Rated R Superstar” Edge helped elevate both performers to a whole new level and proved to the office that they could carry their own shows.

Cena’s rivalry with Randy Orton spanned three years of Monday Night Raw programming. Two Superstars who came up through Ohio Valley Wrestling and the WWE ranks together, they fought over the WWE Championship from 2007 until 2009 and provided the company and the show with a bona-fide rivalry akin to any major sport.

Now in his seventh year as the unquestioned top star of Monday Night Raw, Cena has transcended the WWE Championship and become bigger than the rest of the roster. His matches are the last on the card regardless of whether or not there is a title at stake, and his storylines take precedent over everything else on the show.

Some find fault with that. Others do not. Either way, John Cena is still the company's most visible, most recognizable and most popular star, and until the company allows the rest of the roster to catch up, his spot on top is safe.

3. The Rock

Dubbed "The People's Champion," The Rock brings an electricity to Monday Night Raw that no other Superstar, past or present, has the ability to match. Love or hate the man millions of moviegoers know as Dwayne Johnson, he is responsible for a number of Raw's greatest moments.

As rookie "blue chipper" Rocky Maivia, Johnson failed to thrill the audience. The fans saw through his act and mercilessly booed the generic "good guy." When he returned from injury, turned heel and joined the Nation of Domination, the spark was provided that the fans needed to become emotionally invested in the character of The Rock.

The fans hated the arrogant third-generation star and unleashed their displeasure on him in the form of "Rocky Sucks" chants. But as he continued to cut promos, introducing witty, clever, and original catchphrases, fans could not help but find themselves entertained.

Rock would undergo a face turn in 1998, followed by a quick heel turn as the villainous Corporation's chosen WWE Champion, then another face turn as the summer of 1999 approached.

When Steve Austin underwent neck surgery, Rock became the unquestioned face of World Wrestling Entertainment and the most popular star in all of sports-entertainment. His battles with Triple H and the McMahon family over the WWE Championship represented the creative peak of WWE. Even after Austin returned, Rock managed to sustain his popularity and rivaled Steve for the hearts of the fans.

Unfortunately for wrestling fans, a blossoming movie career would interrupt The Rock's in-ring career. He would return, on a part-time basis, in 2003. Now a major star in Hollywood, he no longer cared about the people, instead focusing on stroking his own ego.

The build-up to his WrestleMania XIX match with Stone Cold took place on Raw and was a fitting conclusion to one of the greatest rivalries in wrestling history.

The Rock's return in 2011 set up a history-making match between himself and John Cena, a match that took place one year later at WrestleMania XXVIII in 2012. The personal jabs the two mega-stars took at one another made a stale show interesting again and provided all the hype needed for a match of its caliber.

The Superstar aura that accompanies Dwayne Johnson will always make him a must-see performer, whether it is kicking ass on Monday Night Raw or in another Hollywood blockbuster.

If his recent stint with the company is any indication, it will be a long time before fans get sick of "smelling what The Rock is cooking."

2. Shawn Michaels

“The Heartbreak Kid” was an essential part of two completely different eras of Monday Night Raw.

A competitor on the very first episode of Raw way back in January of 1993, Michaels was one of the top performers in Vince McMahon’s organization during the mid-1990s.

Whether it was feuding with Razor Ramon over the Intercontinental Championship or teaming with “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel to defend the World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Championships, Michaels brought tremendous work-rate to the show in an era where gimmicks came first.

After becoming the WWE Champion in 1996, Michaels became the central figure of WWE programming and led the company during its darker years. Constantly pummeled in the ratings by the more popular World Championship Wrestling Monday Nitro, Vince McMahon’s show relied on Michaels and his performances to keep the limited viewers Raw had.

His rivalries with Davey Boy Smith, Owen Hart, Mankind, Vader, and Sid, which played out each and every Monday night, led to phenomenal pay-per-view bouts.

The rivalry between Michaels and Bret “Hitman” Hart in 1997 set the tone for what would become the Attitude Era. Their shoot comments fueled a rivalry that was far more real than viewers would ever realize. When Hart left the company in November of that same year, the victim of the now-infamous Montreal Screwjob, Michaels became the unquestioned top star in the company.

Unfortunately, a severe back injury prematurely ended Shawn’s career just as the company was entering the hottest period in its history. Michaels would be sidelined for four years before making a triumphant, and unlikely, return to the company…and Monday Night Raw.

In 2002, Michaels returned to Raw and once again returned to the top of the hit Monday night program. Matches against Bill Goldberg, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Triple H, Edge and Chris Benoit re-established as the standard-bearer for in-ring performance.

In 2007, on a memorable edition of Raw from London, England, Shawn Michaels battled John Cena in one of the greatest matches in the history of the show. A 50-plus minute classic, Michaels and Cena thrilled the British crowd with in-ring action and pure, adulterated sports-entertainment.

Michaels was victorious, but it was Cena who came out of the match looking better for having kept up with Shawn in a match of that length.

For over nineteen years, Shawn Michaels has provided fans with memories and performances on Monday Night Raw that rank amongst the greatest in show history. While no longer an active competitor on the WWE roster, he still returns every now and then to entertain the audience like only he can.

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin

No Superstar did more to make Monday Night Raw destination programming than Stone Cold Steve Austin, dubbed “The Texas Rattlesnake.” Fans tuned in every week to see Austin spew his profanity-laced venom and open up the proverbial can of whoop-ass on anyone that stood between him and the top spot in the industry.

The most popular sports-entertainer of all-time, Austin made an impact on professional wrestling and led an era in sports-entertainment rivaled, in terms of financial success, only by Hulk Hogan and the Rock and Wrestling Era of the 1980s.

Austin would be responsible for some of the most memorable moments, matches, and rivalries in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment’s flagship program. His feud with Vince McMahon single-handedly catapulted the company past WCW and into the ratings lead in 1998.

Matches with The Rock, Undertaker, Kane, Mankind, and Triple H made the company must-see TV in the late '90s, early 2000s.

Outside of the squared circle, Austin created memorable moments by commandeering large vehicles and using them to torment Mr. McMahon on a regular basis. His use of a beer truck to embarrass the boss, his son and World Wrestling Federation Champion The Rock, just prior to WrestleMania XV, is ranked amongst the top moments in Raw history.

When injuries caught up to Steve and forced him from the ring, he segued into the role of co-General Manager and worked alongside Eric Bischoff to create several more endearing, entertaining moments.

Regardless of the events going on in his personal life or the injuries that affected him later in his career, Austin gave everything he had to the fans and when he could no longer give of his body, he gave us his personality and charisma, entertaining fans after the cameras stopped rolling from 2003-04.

Stone Cold Steve Austin literally broke his neck for the sport of professional wrestling while taking Vince McMahon’s sports-entertainment empire, and Monday Night Raw, to heights it had never seen before. If that does not make him the greatest wrestler of the Raw era, nothing will.