50 Greatest WWE Raw Moments Ever
46. Sid Snaps (April 3rd, 1995)
Raw was just over two years old when WWE realised the potential of being able to run a post-WrestleMania edition of the show that could utilise the card's major happenings. In 1993 and 1994, live-ish commentary over taped matches pushed viewers to order the replay, with vague mentions designed to make people feel locked out until they bought in. By 1995, there was at least the realisation that people could do both.
Earlier in the night, WWE Champion Diesel cut a promo putting over Shawn Michaels' valiant effort against him in a show of respect that might have scanned as just a babyface doing babyface things had Shawn Michaels not also been advertised for the same hour. 'Big Daddy Cool' offered up a rematch down the road, and sure enough, when 'HBK' came out alongside bodyguard Sid and told him to take the night off the next time the former partners locked up, the fix was in.
Resenting being sidelined and shouldering some blame for Shawn's loss, Sid snapped on his boss, drilling him with multiple powerbombs (entirely in the commercials, resulting in eyes returning from break to a totally flattened Michaels) until Diesel himself came to his former friends' aid. Thus began Michaels' one year run to the top strap at WrestleMania XII, though the babyface turn was far from instant. Live on the night, the crowd popped huge for Sid decimating Shawn, before Diesel's save clued them into the order of things to come.