10 Great WWE Raw Matches From The Original Brand Split
SmackDown didn't have all the classics!
Last month, WWE held a draft to split the company's roster between Raw and Smackdown. While this new setup will certainly prove to be interesting in the long run - and will give fans a specific reason to watch each show - longtime members of the WWE Universe will remember that it's not the first time that the promotion has been split in such a fashion.
The original Raw/Smackdown brand split ran from 2002 to 2011, and while the rosters for the shows shifted over time, each show had it's own "feel" for the length of the era. Raw was the flagship, where the most important storyline developments happened, while Smackdown - which at times flew under the radar - was the "wrestling" show.
Many of the company's most technically-gifted stars (including the much-vaunted "Smackdown Six") plied their trade on the blue brand, delivering classic bouts regularly.
At the same time, though, Raw was no slouch when it came to great matches. Smackdown may have had Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar, and Rey Mysterio, but Raw had Shelton Benjamin, Rob Van Dam, and Shawn Michaels. Just like its counterpart, the red team churned out some truly memorable matches during the period.
Here are 10 great Raw matches from the original brand split...
10. Eddie Guerrero Vs. Rob Van Dam (Ladder Match) - May 27, 2002
On the very first episode of post-split Raw, Eddie Guerrero - who had been fired in late 2001 following a DUI arrest - returned to the company. He immediately started scouting Rob Van Dam, who held the Intercontinental Championship. A full-fledged feud blossomed between the two men, with Guerrero capturing the title at Backlash. He retained it in a rematch at Judgment Day, leading to a final match - a ladder match - on Raw.
Though Guerrero wouldn't be on Raw for long (he was traded to Smackdown in August), he helped get the brand off on the right foot with this wild encounter. Both he and RVD pushed the envelope, helping innovate spots that would become commonplace in ladder matches. Powerbombs, moonsaults, and sentons involving ladders were the order of the day.
In arguably the most memorable - and most shocking - moment from the match, a fan ran in the ring and knocked Guerrero off the ladder. Security tackled the fan, but Eddie managed to kick him as he was taken away.
In the end, RVD was victorious. While he slipped off the top of the ladder while attempting the Five Star Frog Splash, he still knocked Eddie out of the ring and grabbed the title.