Throughout the entire history of the WWWF, WWF and WWE, it can be argued that there weren't many years that were more important to the company's overall growth and expansion than 1996. You had Shawn Michaels finally reaching the top of the mountain and winning his first WWF Title. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin would begin his ascension to the top of the wrestling world, and would start to be a household name. Rocky Maivia would make his debut, and while he didn't set the world on fire with the gimmick, it was the reactions of crowds all over the United States that would dictate his future. Mankind arrived on the scene. The company's entire creative direction began to change, in response to what WCW was doing with Nitro. Now in its fourth year on the air, Raw was really beginning to pick up steam. The aforementioned creative change in direction allowed for a different style of television, and a different style of storylines to take place. With another year of Raw comes another article showcasing the ten most memorable moments to take place on the show that year. In a crowded field, these were the events that stood out above all else in 1996.