Ten Classic Post-Wrestlemania RAW Moments

Tonight, RAW returns to Dallas after Wrestlemania 32, and it’s practically guaranteed that a new set of unforgettable moments will be made.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

It goes without saying that Wrestlemania is the biggest show on the WWE calendar. It’s a week-long celebration, culminating with the biggest spectacle in sports entertainment where the company’s biggest stars fight on the biggest stage. Duh.

Also without question, the biggest RAW of the year takes place the night after Wrestlemania. With the fevered crowd still settled from the night before and a creative reboot planned for the night, major moments have been born—some with long term implications, and others that just live in the moment. The RAW after Wrestlemania has hosted moments including the genesis of the DX Army, Brock Lesnar’s earth-shattering return, Dolph Ziggler winning the big one, and the WWE Draft being announced.

Tonight, RAW returns to Dallas after Wrestlemania 32, and it’s practically guaranteed that a new set of moments will be made, including a shocking return. But here are the most classic post-Wrestlemania RAW moments to date.

Dolph Ziggler cashes in Money in the Bank against Alberto Del Rio

Not Available Interstitial

The Ultimate Warrior cuts his final promo on RAW

Not Available Interstitial

Ric Flair’s Farewell Ceremony

Not Available Interstitial

Date: March 31, 2008

Location: Orlando, Fla.

As morbid as this may sound, it’s rare we ever get to celebrate a wrestler’s talents unless they’re six-feet under. Many never get the opportunity to end their career on their terms, or perhaps they prolong their career past their date of relevance. At Wrestlemania 24, Ric Flair, one of the greatest wrestlers ever, had a storybook ending and the following night was one of the greatest farewell ceremonies we’ve ever seen. Flair thanked the fans for supporting him through the last 30+ years of his career, and was met not only by the support of the millions watching worldwide, but from his peers. Beyond a wrestling icon for his sixty minute classics which led to a record-breaking sixteen world championship reigns, Flair has become a cultural icon in pop culture for his unapologetic style, demeanor, and swag. The night ended the career (at least in the WWE) of one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time, and gave fans an opportunity to show their love for the limousine ridin’, jet flyin’ son of a gun.

Triple H aligns with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to form the Two-Man Power Trip

Not Available Interstitial

Date: April 2, 2001

Location: Fort Worth, Tex.

After speculation for much of the fall of 2000, it was finally revealed that Triple H was the mastermind behind the plan to run over “Stone Cold” Steve Austin with a car at Survivor Series 1999, sidelining him for almost a year and nearly ending his career. It would start a war that would culminate in one of the most intense encounters we’d ever witness between two rivals in a Three Stages of Hell Match at 2001’s No Way Out event. At Wrestlemania, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin aligned with arch-rival Vince McMahon in the main event of Wrestlemania to win the WWE Championship from The Rock in one of the most jarring endings to a pay-per view on record. But perhaps a moment as equally shocking would follow the next night on RAW when Austin would align himself with Triple H to dismantle The Rock and thrust him away from not only the WWE title picture, but the company entirely for a number of months. The two formed the Two-Man Power Trip, an alliance formed that would seize all major championships in the WWE (World, Intercontinental, Tag Team) simultaneously and raise hell for much of the post-Wrestlemania season. 

Goldberg debuts on Monday Night RAW

Not Available Interstitial

Date: March 31, 2003

Location: Seattle, Wash.

Goldberg was a phenomenon in WCW. A stoic killer whose intensity and drive matches his power and agility. In a period where WCW’s business was booming, he took the company to even bigger heights as larger-than-life, homegrown talent the company needed. After WCW folded in 2001, many wondered if they’d get to see Goldberg in unconquered territory. In March 2003, it was revealed that Goldberg signed a one-year contract with WWE, and the night after Wrestlemania XIX, fans were re-introduced to the the smoke, the pyro, the music, and Goldberg.

The night after conquering “Stone Cold” Steve Austin at Wrestlemania, one of the most surreal moments of the night saw The Rock, the WWE-bred superstar standing across from arguably WCW’s greatest creation. For the first time in a long time, it was like watching a clash of worlds that fans begged for during WWE’s invasion period. Within a matter of seconds, The Rock was drilled with Goldberg’s signature spear and the battle was on. While Goldberg’s tenure in WWE didn’t last too long nor was as successful as his WCW period, his immediate impact changed the landscape of the WWE for the next year with matches against Chris Jericho, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and his infamous Wrestlemania XX encounter with Brock Lesnar.

The Rock and John Cena make the Wrestlemania 28 Challenge

Not Available Interstitial

Paige debuts and defeats AJ Lee for the Divas Championship

Not Available Interstitial

Date: April 7, 2014

Location: New Orleans, La.

At Wrestlemania 30, A.J. Lee defeated 13 other WWE Divas in one match to continue her then-record breaking reign as Divas Champion and unquestionably earned her self-proclaimed status as "Best Diva in the World." Enter Paige, one of NXT’s most prodigious talents who debuted to a major reaction from the New Orleans crowd. Lee would make the fatal flaw of issuing an impromptu challenge to rookie with the special incentive of her Divas Championship on the line. Within a matter of minutes, Paige would become WWE Divas Champion in one of the biggest upsets in RAW history. Paige’s championship win represented a changing of the guards from the Divas of the latter 2000s to the newest generation of Divas emerging from NXT. The surge of interest in women’s wrestling became the catalyst for the Divas Revolution, a movement that would revitalize the Divas division by allowing women more television time and increasing their value as performers to the show.

Linda McMahon announces WWF Brand Split between RAW & Smackdown

Not Available Interstitial

Triple H forms DX Army is formed with X-Pac, and The New Age Outlaws

Not Available Interstitial

Brock Lesnar returns to the WWE

Not Available Interstitial

Latest in Sports