10 Shocking WWE Raw Moments You Never Saw Coming
Debuts, deceptions, and everything in between.
A chronic lack of major surprises is one of modern day WWE's biggest shortcomings. With the company's booking patterns and formulas more rigid than ever, predictability is everywhere, and Vince McMahon's insistence on advertising what could have been heart-stopping moments ahead of time suggests he no longer cares about such things.
In their defence, keeping the audience guessing is incredibly different in an era where everyone has an internet connection and a Twitter account, and rumours spread faster than wildfire. These days, all you need to do is surf over to Reddit a few hours before Raw or SmackDown to find a leaked script revealing everything that's about to go down.
Still, Dean Ambrose's recent return to WWE shows that big-time surprises haven't yet gone the way of the dodo, and as the company's flagship show for 25 years, Monday Night Raw has often played host to such moments.
The red brand's countless swerves, twists, and unexpected moments are legion, and each of the shocks within is iconic. Many will have homes on historical highlight reels forever, but even those excluded for political reasons sent shockwaves through the wrestling world...
10. The 1-2-3 Kid Upsets Razor Ramon (17 May, 1993)
WWE's steadfast devotion to 50/50 booking and complete lack of caste system makes true upsets a rarity in the modern era. As such, it's hard to appreciate just how stunning Sean Waltman's victory over Razor Roman was back in 1993, particularly for those whose only frame of reference is post-Attitude Era WWE. But it remains a truly iconic moment, one of the most impactful in Raw history, and a worthy conclusion on any list of big wrestling shocks.
It looked like a straightforward manhandling for the bigger, stronger, cool Ramon, who tore the lowly 1-2-3 Kid to pieces early on. A missed corner move turned the tide, though. Desperate to seize the opening, Kid clambered to the top, flew back down with a Moonsault, and scored a seismic victory.
Shock filled the Manhattan Center as referee Mike Chioda's hand hit the mat for a third time. Even Vince McMahon, Randy Savage, and Bobby Heenan lost their sh*t on commentary, and as Razor flipped out in the ring, Kid dashed to the back, utterly jubilant.
Embarrassed contextually and physically, 'The Bad Guy' was left red-faced, but his fall earmarked the previously unknown Waltman as a potential star.