10 Best Raw Superstars Of All Time, Ranked

Monday Night Raw has been WWE's flagship show since January 1993. Some of the very best superstars of all time have made Raw their show over the years.

Raw is one of the greatest shows of all-time. There have been many memorable moments which have stood the test of time. The Red brand has generally been used to build up pay-per-views, and enhance feuds. Raw celebrated its historic 1,000th episode in July 2012, with some of the all-time greats returning.

The likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock and John Cena have been mainstays of Raw, and have left a lasting a legacy on the show. But who would be considered the best of the best?

10 Bret Hart

Bret Hart was the reigning WWE Champion when Raw debuted in January 1993. The Hitman was the face of the company, during the early days of Raw. Regardless if he was the WWE Champion or not, Hart carried the company.

Before Hart departed the WWE for WCW in 1997, he turned heel and formed the Hart Foundation as he was not appreciated by fans in the United States. His rivalry with Shawn Michaels was well documented, and it was some of The Hitman's best work on a mic. Hart deserves a lot of recognition for the job he did on Monday Nights, which is certainly why he is, "The Best There Is, The Best There Was, and The Best There Ever will be."

9 The Undertaker

The Undertaker is synonymous for his time on Smackdown but his stint on Raw cannot be overlooked. The Phenom appeared on the very first broadcast on January 11th 1993. Taker's first few years on Raw were underwhelming but by 1997 as WWE Champion things were looking up.

Taker was vying with Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart for the top spot, which created healthy competition. The Deadman's legendary rivalry with Steve Austin which spanned over a year was one of his best programmes on Raw. He reverted from a face to a heel and led the Ministry of Darkness stable. The Lord of Darkness is a very underrated speaker on the mic. Nevertheless, every time he appeared on Raw it was a very special occasion.

8 Shawn Michaels

The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels is one of the all-time greats to grace a Monday Night Raw ring. Michaels just like The Undertaker competed on the very first episode of Raw. In 1996, Michaels was the reigning WWE Champion and the spotlight was firmly on him to deliver.

Delivered he did but Raw's direct competitor WCW's Nitro did better than the WWE in the ratings. Nevertheless, Michaels' good performances would help keep the company afloat. Especially, when he turned heel and formed DX in late 1997 it was some of his best work and feuded with Taker and Bret Hart.

The Showstopper suffered a career-threatening back injury in 1998 but once he returned in 2002, he did not miss a step. Michaels' best match on Raw with John Cena in London in April 2007 was exceptional. HBK proved he could compete in two eras, and arguably his matches in his second run were better.

7 Chris Jericho

One of the greatest Raw debuts in history belongs to Chris Jericho. Jericho interrupted The Rock on the August 9th 1999 episode. Y2J got a very good reception, and he was on his way to a Hall of Fame-worthy career. Jericho showed he could mix it up with the very best on Raw with the likes of Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, The Rock and Triple H.

Jericho continues to reinvent himself, and his rivalry with Michaels in 2008 was one of the best in Raw history. He had a taste of the big time when he "won" the WWE Championship from The Game on April 17, 2000, only for the decision to be reversed. Jericho's Highlight Reel on Raw as one of the best in-ring shows, and that is a credit to Jericho's talent.

6 CM Punk

CM Punk made a name for himself on Raw. The five-time World champion cashed in Money in the Bank on Edge to win his first World Championship in June 2008. Fans knew how great Punk was as an in-ring competition but did not get the recognition he deserved.

However, in 2011 that all changed, Punk was back on Raw and had one of the greatest feuds with John Cena. The Straight Edge savior's infamous pipebomb was one of the best segments in Raw history. Punk also held the WWE Championship for 434 days which helped increase Raw's rating. Punk turned heel on The Rock on the 1,000th episode and became the top heel in the company. It remains to be seen if Punk will return to the WWE for one more match.

5 Randy Orton

Randy Orton was destined for greatness on Raw. He was under the tutelage of Triple H and Ric Flair in Evolution. Orton's first major feuds with Shawn Michaels in 2003 and Mick Foley in 2004, showed how great Orton is as an all-round performer.

The Viper's best work is undoubtedly as a heel, as Orton is motivated and delivers five-star classics. Orton's biggest rival is John Cena, and the two of them dominated Raw in 2007 and 2009 over the WWE Championship. Without a doubt, Orton is a sure-fire WWE Hall of Famer and continues to deliver at a high level to this day.

4 The Rock

The Rock held the WWE Championship in the Attitude Era

The People's Champion, The Rock is one of the most popular superstars in Raw history. However, Rock had to work hard to win over the crowd. At Survivor Series 1998, Rock won his first WWE Championship as the "Corporate Champion." Mankind was Rock's major rival during this run which culminated on February 15, 1999, in a Ladder match, after a few trades with the WWE title.

Rock's rivalry with Steve Austin is synonymous on Raw over the years, which built up their incredible WrestleMania trio of matches. The Rock spearheaded Raw as the face of the company in 2000 with Austin sidelined. Ultimately, Hollywood came calling for Rock but has left a legacy on Raw, where he still makes sporadic returns.

3 Triple H

Triple H and Monday Night Raw go hand-in-hand. The Game transitioned from a popular leader in DX to a top heel in 2000. Triple H's in-ring work drastically improved with Jim Ross coining him as the "Cerebral Assassin."

The Game held the fort with The Rock in Steve Austin's absence. He was hated by fans with his dastardly heel manner. Nevertheless, Triple H's reign as WWE Champion was refreshing, as his rivalry with The Rock was legitimate with both men wanted to outdo the other. Evolution was Triple H's brainchild and they dominated Raw for two years from 2003-2005.

Triple H was the World Heavyweight Champion, running roughshod, however, fans may have grown sick and tired of Triple H's Reign of Terror in 2003 but he made Raw a better show to watch.

2 John Cena

John Cena moved to Raw in June 2005 as the WWE Champion. Cena has had critics to contend with but he was the face of the company for over a decade. Cena is not the greatest in-ring worker but his work ethic is second to none.

Big Match John has always delivered with some of the best. His selflessness has elevated Edge and CM Punk on Raw to main event level status. Randy Orton is one of his greatest rivals as the duo carried Raw for two years between 2007-2009 over the WWE Championship. Whilst Cena's career has dwindled, you have to give the Cenation leader credit for his longevity on top.

1 Stone Cold Steve Austin

Stone Cold Steve Austin took Raw to new heights in the Attitude Era. Austin's longstanding rivalry with Vince McMahon turned the tide of the Monday Night Wars in 1998 in WWE's favour.

Austin's rivalries with The Undertaker, The Rock, Triple H were equally as successful on Raw. Whether Austin was a face or a heel, fans loved Austin's antics. Unfortunately, injuries curtailed Austin's career but he was on Raw in another capacity. He transitioned as a Co-General Manager with Eric Bischoff in 2003 which was entertaining. Austin paved the way for many to follow his footsteps on Raw.

NEXT: 5 Reasons Stone Cold Was The Face Of The Attitude Era (& 5 Why It's The Rock)