10 Best Years In WWE History

4. 1998

Steve Austin Vince McMahon Raw 1997
WWE.com

1998 was a mixed affair in the ring.

Steve Austin's feud with Dude Love produced a bevy of progressive, story-heavy affairs, and The Rock and Triple H justified their positions as headliners-in-waiting with a string of impressive outings against one another and with the likes of Owen Hart and Ken Shamrock.

Elsewhere, however, the Undertaker and Kane dragged down the product from a match quality perspective, particularly towards the end of the year.

The undercards, too, were fairly woeful across the board. Populated by the dull likes of 8-Ball and Skull - and the appalling likes of Golga and Kurrgan - it's no wonder that WCW, with their awesome lower level roster, were still fiercely contesting the Monday Night War.

But, in terms of episodic wrestling television, it provided what many consider the most compelling collection of week-to-week episodes of RAW ever aired. The feud between Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon wasn't must-see - it was can't miss. Speaking personally for a moment, your then-thirteen year old writer once sulked for an entire family holiday because it clashed with the latest edition of RAW.

The envelope was getting pushed further with each passing week. I might have missed Sable's bare t*ts!

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!