50 Greatest WWE Raw Moments Ever

3. The Baddest Meets The Toughest (January 19th, 1998)

In 2005, WWE unveiled a new show opening that closed with a bizarre catchphrase that failed to take off in the vein of "What The World Is Watching" or "Then, Now, Forever, Together". Monday Night Raw had returned to USA Network, with the special three-hour edition branded as 'Homecoming' to toast the reunion of product and network following the flagship's five-year absence. "The Power Is Back", the ident boldly claimed, but soon enough that was gone, just like any hope the product might get better for another 17 years.

On the January 19th, 1998 edition of Monday Night Raw, the power was BACK.

It wasn't just Mike Tyson's "beady eyes locked on the eyes of the world's toughest son of a b*tch" in a headline segment so enormous it remains hard to fully articulate. A comparatively huge television audience tuned in to see exactly how WWE would deploy Mike Tyson at WrestleMania following his appearance at the Royal Rumble 24 hours earlier, including a worried Eric Bischoff watching in awe backstage at WCW Nitro with a sinking feeling. His instincts proved to be bang on.

A blistering performance from Stone Cold Steve Austin punctuated Vince McMahon's announcement that the 'Baddest Man On The Planet' would be a part of the 'Show Of Shows', suspending the disbelief of the watching world that a pro wrestler could spark out one of the most dangerous and deranged heavyweights in boxing history. It fed magnificently into Austin's burgeoning rivalry with an increasingly-infuriated Chairman, and gave international sports outlets their money shot when the shoving match triggered a visceral brawl.