Best Forgotten Attitude Era Moments from Raw in 1998 to Relive on WWE Network

The WWE Network now transports fans back to 1998, the apex of Raw, to when Kane was still a fearsome creature and when Steve Austin perpetually stood within striking range of Vince McMahon.

Now that the network has added an Attitude Era section, it can be 1998 all over again. Episodes from that year are now available on demand. That's when Austin attacked McMahon in the hospital, Mike Tyson claimed to be the baddest man on the planet and D-Generation X invaded WCW Nitro.

Those famous moments won't be celebrated here, though. Instead, we remember 1998's engaging-but-underrated highlights.

With as great a year as it was for Raw and WWE as a whole, it's not surprising that more classic moments overshadow an Englishman's debut or Kane's early destruction. The following is a chronological look at the times when Raw delivered unique, exciting entertainment outside of the most renowned and replayed highlights.

Honorable Mention

• Steve Austin locks up The Boricuas—Feb. 9
• Edge's Raw debut—June 22

Austin has so many moments that demonstrate his take-no-prisoners style that some of them get lost. Stone Cold spent the majority of the year driving D-Generation X, Undertaker and Vince McMahon crazy.

He provided a litany of things fans will never forget.

During the lead-up to WrestleMania, Austin stole Shawn Michaels' WWE title, carrying it around in a bag reminiscent of the one Jake Roberts once carried Damien in. That night featured a number of fun examples of Austin's badass nature.

Locking The Boricuas backstage is one of them. Seeing Chyna suffer a meltdown afterward is an excellent bonus.

As for Edge's first match on Raw, it's by no means a great bit of action. That's partly why it doesn't make the list proper.

Still, there's a novelty to seeing Edge so young. Knowing that he would become a Hall of Famer makes it an intriguing exercise to see how much stardom he showed in this first outing.

How the announcers play him up is interesting as well. It's just too short and uneventful of a bout to compare with the rest of the list.

Kane Saves Undertaker (Jan. 12)

Credit: WWE.com

Early on, Kane was as mesmerizing a monster as WWE had ever seen. He was a pivotal figure during the Attitude Era and will surely be one of the wrestlers fans go seeking out in the WWE Network's collection of Raw from 1998.

Don't skip over an early alliance with his brother.

D-Generation X looked to pound The Deadman even with Triple H hobbled and walking with a crutch. Even though Kane had attacked his brother in his debut, and even though they would eventually collide at WrestleMania, they were partners here.

Kane saved Undertaker, providing a glimpse of what would eventually be The Brothers of Destruction.  

For fans of Botchamania, it's fun to see that this is where the often-used image of Undertaker choking Shawn Michaels comes from.

Nostalgia, star power and action-packed fighting draw fans in here.  

Kane Demonstrates His Powers (March 23)

Credit: WWE.com

Kane's most macabre moments feature him setting a casket on fire with his brother still in it and electrocuting a man's testicles. A less talked-about instance of sadism came early in his run.

He wanted to show Undertaker and the world just how powerful he was. 

With Paul Bearer at his side, Kane began to command lightning and set a crew member on fire. It's rare that WWE goes this extreme a route and has a man actually wearing flames. That alone makes this worth a look, but Kane's character overall is the draw.

This was him at his best, an over-the-top gimmick somehow thriving in an edgier era. Fans tired of seeing him play an ineffectual corporate lackey will be thrilled to see him when his fangs were sharp.

The End of Goldust (May 11)

Credit: WWE.com

Goldust was too memorable of a character for Dustin Rhodes to walk away from. He tried, though.

On Raw, Rhodes dumped his Goldust gear into a barrel and burned it. He gave a strong, heartfelt promo about his family legacy and what he wanted to be instead of his freakish character.

Even with as good as Rhodes was that night, this moment doesn't get as much buzz today as other peaks from 1998. Likely some of that comes from the fact that the "death of Goldust" ended up being only temporary. 

The out-of-the-box segment and Rhodes' passion make it a must-watch.

Vince McMahon, Humanitarian (June 8)

The Steve Austin-Vince McMahon rivalry is so overstocked with classic moments that the understated ones often get forgotten about.

When a man gets another man arrested, sprays him with beer or drives a Zamboni to get into the building to attack him, a segment relying on suspense rather than chaos is sure to be underrated. That's what happened with this scene, where McMahon accepted an award for his humanitarian efforts and The Texas Rattlesnake lurked behind him.

It feels as if Austin is going to hit him with a Stunner at any moment. That anticipation, Austin's facial expressions and McMahon's overacting make this a success.

On top of that, there's plenty of action at the end when Kane and Mankind ambush Austin and stuff him inside a casket.

Undertaker Invades Paul Bearer's Home (June 22)

Of all the times that a wrestler has burst into another man's home to pounce on him, Undertaker attacking his former manager doesn't get talked about enough.

It's not as shocking as Brian Pillman brandishing a gun or Edge slapping John Cena's dad, but it's plenty effective. Undertaker is brutal here, a predator in attack mode. Seeing the weasel Paul Bearer get his due is attention-grabbing, as is the straightforward violence that Undertaker dishes out.

Seeing these two performers, one who is no longer with us and one who emerges ever so rarely, is one means to enticing fans. A scene more vicious than what fans usually see during the PG Era is another selling point. 

William Regal Debuts (June 29)

Few fans think of William Regal when they reflect back on the Attitude Era. That's when Regal entered the WWE fold, giving his first throttling on Raw.

Regal (still known as Steven then) took on Droz in a hard-hitting, short match. It's intriguing to watch him go to work here knowing how much better he would become as a showman. He showed off a European style, something that looked out of place at the time but would go on to influence future stars like Cesaro and Daniel Bryan.

Viewing this debut is an odd experience, though, as the fans seem distracted and disinterested, missing out on an artist masterfully filling his canvas.

Sable hyping the crowd about Regal's arrival at the outset is an added interesting element. Just do your best to ignore Jerry Lawler's commentary.

The Corporation Steals the Hardcore Championship (Nov. 30)

Long before The Authority was screwing folks out of championship chances, The Corporation was issued injustice aplenty.

Mick Foley's reigns as hardcore champ ended thanks to The Rock, Big Boss Man and a ladder bending his leg backward, among other things. It's not a classic match by any means but a compelling look back into the past.

The Rock as a heel is a distant memory now. Shawn Michaels playing the wicked commissioner is fun to watch, although Vince McMahon's perfection in that role overshadows it. Suspense, big spots and a crowded, star-filled stage comprise this moment of treachery. 

Foley at his peak is just one of the reasons to dive into that year's collection of Raw episodes, to explore the WWE Network's newly added material.