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Your first appearance on WWE live television can either make or break your career. You can either be cheered or looked upon in awe by fans or you can fall flat on your face. It all depends on your persona and your performance.
First impressions are one of the most pivotal aspects in any person's life. A quick glance at first results in the formation of opinions, and these quick glances set the tone for everything that follows. In professional wrestling, it is very difficult to reverse a bad impression and thus the first opportunity matters the most.
A bland or forgettable wrestling debut can result in the culmination of a wrestler's career even before he reaches to the top. On the other hand, a great debut can send a superstar's career to the stratosphere. While a debut isn't always a make or break situation, a successful one certainly sets the pace for the superstar's first rivalry.
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Keeping in mind the above facts, we look at the greatest debuts in WWE that pushed the superstar over the first barrier.
#5 Goldberg
On the 31st of March 2003, the WCW stalwart Goldberg arrived in the WWE. Coming off the heels of a main-event event victory at Wrestlemania XIX, the Rock hosted the ‘Rock Appreciation Night’, boasting about his win and stating that he had nothing left to prove, so he is leaving the company.
Just as he was about to leave, Goldberg’s music hit, and the titantron switched to the backstage area displaying Goldberg ready to arrive. He arrived in decisive fashion, as he speared The Brahma Bull to announce his arrival.
Fans had been dying to see Bill in the WWE since the Invasion angle ended two years prior. When he finally arrived and screamed; "YOU'RE NEXT!" and speared the Rock, it sent shivers down their spines. Although his WWE run didn’t go as planned, his debut did leave a mark in the minds of the fans.
#4 Finn Balor
Finn Balor is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in NXT history. He was a big crowd draw even before he arrived on the main roster. His record breaking 292 days NXT title reign was one of the best which saw him compete against the likes of Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens and Shinsuke Nakamura.
After a successful run as the NXT Champion, Finn Balor arrived in the main event scene to prove one thing - that he had come to displace the top guys in the company. On his debut night, Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and General Manager Mick Foley put together two fatal 4 way matches.
The winners of these matches would face each other for the number 1 contendership for the Universal Championship. Finn found himself in one of these and he pinned Rusev to qualify for the final of number 1 contender tournament for the Universal Championship.
Then in a shock decision he beat Roman Reigns on the same night to become the number 1 contender. His powerful debut and then beating the ‘Chosen One’ of the WWE ensures his spot on this list.
#3 Ronda Rousey
Long before Rousey's debut, there were rumors floating around about her signing a contract with the WWE. Her appearances in the WWE and her dinner with Hunter convinced the fans that she was about to debut in the company.
After the announcement of the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble, many fans speculated that she will be the final entrant in the Rumble. But as the #30 spot was given to Trish Stratus with Ronda being a no-show, they believed that they were just rumors.
But after Asuka's victory, a strange country theme started playing and Ronda Rousey appeared.
Her debut definitely had the shock factor in it and it made the headlines of every top news agency. Fans at Wells Fargo Arena filled it with cheers as she headed down the ramp to enter the squared circle for the first time as a WWE employee.
Many fans were skeptical about her WWE debut as they were worried that she could turn out to be the female rendition of Brock Lesnar.
They were all silenced when she wrestled her first match at Wrestlemania 34. Her match potentially stole the show as it exceeded every expectation and sky-rocketed her career to the top.
#2 Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho was one of pro wrestling's hottest commodities in 1999. He was an outstanding wrestler and his microphone skills had turned him into one of the most entertaining acts in WCW.
Following the dissolution of the said company, Jericho chose to debut in dramatic fashion and the premonition of his debut began way before his actual arrival. A clock starting ticking stating the countdown to ‘The New Millennium’ weeks before his arrival.
When he finally arrived on the August 9 issue of Raw is War, he debuted against one of the most outspoken wrestlers on the planet - The Rock and it was met with resounding success. From that awesome promo, Jericho never looked back and became one of the greatest acquisitions of WWE.
Jericho had been shamefully underused by the WCW and was never given a proper push. Following his arrival in WWE, he transitioned into one of the greatest wrestlers on the planet and fulfilled his mammoth potential.
#1 Kane
In 1997 The Undertaker was embroiled in a feud with his former manager Paul Bearer. Bearer took a fireball to the face at In Your House PPV and emerged later with an ultimatum to The Dead Man.
He wished that The Undertaker should reunite with him and if he disagreed, he would reveal his biggest secret. Finally, at Badd Blood, Bearer emerged with The Undertaker's brother - Kane who was rumored to die in a fire that Taker started.
When Kane arrived in the WWE at Badd Blood: In Your House, it was the closest thing WWE fans ever got to a horror movie. While Undertaker was about to finish off Shawn Michaels in the first ever Hell in a Cell match, the arena turned red and fires started erupting.
Enter a demonic 7 foot monster who ripped the cell door with his bare hands and put down The Undertaker.
His whole gimmick of being The Undertaker’s brother who he burned down strangely worked. His debut and its subsequent effects resonated with the WWE Universe for a long time thus his debut is on the top of this list.
