7 times WWE Superstars stole the show on their debut

There have been several iconic WWE debuts over the years, but only a few stand out. Debuts in WWE are important because it's a Superstar's chance to make a lasting impression.

While many greats haven't had such iconic debuts, here are seven instances in WWE where a debutant stole the show, whether it was in a match or segment:

#7. AJ Styles - made his WWE debut at Royal Rumble 2016

A former WWE writer just went after JBL for his comments HERE

We'll start off with perhaps the most iconic WWE debut of the 2010s. We're sure that someday, it will be considered as one of the greatest debuts in WWE history, and it's not hard to see why.

AJ Styles had spent years in TNA (now IMPACT Wrestling), establishing himself as one of the world's best in-ring talents. While his 12-year run in TNA helped a smaller audience realize that, it was only when he went to New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2014 that he established himself as a global superstar.

Competing against the likes of Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito, and Shinsuke Nakamura, among others, helped put him on the map while NJPW was undergoing a surge in global popularity.

In 2016, WWE approached AJ Styles again, and the timing couldn't have been better. There was a lot of buzz around the rumored signings of AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson, but it was Styles and Nakamura's signing that sent the WWE Universe buzzing.

At the 2016 Royal Rumble, AJ Styles made his debut at number three - with Roman Reigns being the first WWE Superstar he confronted. Styles admitted that he was afraid the WWE Universe wouldn't recognize him. Once the words "I am Phenomenal" popped up on the titantron, the WWE Universe erupted in joy, putting any fears he had to rest.

The debut was made even sweeter in hindsight by the fact that AJ Styles went on to have a WWE career that exceeded everyone's expectations - including his own.

#6. Kane - Debuted at WWE Badd Blood 1997

Considered by many as the most iconic debut in WWE history, Kane's first appearance under his new gimmick was one that fans will never forget. It took place during the very first Hell in a Cell match in 1997 - competed between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker.

For a while then, Paul Bearer had been teasing the debut of The Undertaker's half-brother. When he finally debuted, he took the WWE by storm by ripping open the cell's cage. He hit The Undertaker with a Tombstone that allowed Shawn Michaels to win the match. The first Hell in a Cell match itself is considered the greatest to date, but there's little doubt as to who stole the show that night - Kane.

#5. Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho's debut on RAW Is WAR is also considered among the greatest debuts in WWE history. The Countdown to the new Millenium clock that had been appearing weeks before had finally run out, and The Rock was confronted by none other than former WCW star, Chris Jericho.

While Chris Jericho didn't get the better of the verbal exchange, the moment and the entire show was stolen by his debut.

#4. Shinsuke Nakamura - Debuted for WWE at NXT TakeOver: Dallas

Shinsuke Nakamura's WWE signing got nearly as much hype as AJ Styles' did. WWE's decision to sign Shinsuke Nakamura was largely considered the greatest international signing the company had ever made.

Shinsuke Nakamura would be assigned to the NXT brand, where he was instantly recognized and loved by the more hardcore fanbase. His WWE debut would be at NXT TakeOver: Dallas in April 2016 - which was incidentally Sami Zayn's final appearance for the NXT brand.

Shinsuke Nakamura's debut match in WWE is largely considered his best in nearly five years. He found success on the NXT brand in his year-long tenure there, becoming the first two-time NXT Champion.

While his success didn't translate as instantly on the WWE main roster, he has some impressive accolades, including a Royal Rumble win, a WWE Title match at WrestleMania, reigns with the United States Championship, Intercontinental Championship, and the SmackDown Tag Team Championship.

In many WWE fans' eyes, Shinsuke Nakamura didn't live up to his full potential, but the reality is that he was already past his prime when he signed with the company in 2016.

#3. Sting - Debuted at WWE Survivor Series 2014

Sting was considered the greatest wrestler to never compete in WWE. When WWE bought out WCW in the early 2000s, Sting was a name who refused to jump ship - stating that WWE's treatment of Booker T made him close the door.

Vince McMahon vowed that the two would do business someday, but it happened over a decade after he said it. Sting became a legend for TNA instead, and in 2014, he finally made his WWE debut at Survivor Series 2014.

His debut match for WWE was against Triple H, and he lost, for some reason. While he stated that he thought it would be his final match, many felt that it was the incorrect decision.

But his Survivor Series WWE debut remains one where he stole the show in an otherwise-incredible match. He helped Team Cena beat Team Authority and disband them, albeit temporarily.

#2. The Nexus

It's hard to believe that 10-and-a-half years have passed since the Nexus invasion angle. It was a group of NXT "rookies" from when it was a game show and not a developmental territory.

The group led by Wade Barrett stormed the main event of RAW and took out everyone present - including John Cena. Ultimately, they lost momentum, and the faction disbanded after a decent run - even having spinoffs such as The New Nexus and The Corre (with considerably lesser members).

#1. Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks - Debuted to start the Women's Revolution

Over five years on, it's hard to describe how significant a moment the WWE main roster debuts of Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks were. The Divas division was still existent at the time, and women's wrestling in WWE was less-than-impressive.

All of this was changing in NXT, and The Four Horsewomen truly represented the next step in women's wrestling within WWE. While other promotions in Japan and even IMPACT Wrestling were ahead in terms of women's wrestling, WWE was far behind.

When Stephanie McMahon introduced Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Sasha Banks to the WWE main roster on RAW, it felt like something was changing. While Sasha Banks aligned with Naomi and Tamina to form Team B.A.D, Charlotte and Becky Lynch aligned with Paige to form Team PCB (known as Submission Sorority at first, before WWE realized why they needed to change that name).

It would take a long time for each woman's career to truly come to fruition, but once they started becoming the central figures of women's programming in WWE, things would change.

2016-2019 saw a rapid rise in the female talent influx in WWE and the overall quality of women's wrestling. While many women before are to be credited for planting the seeds, the debut of three out of four Horsewomen marked a major change.

Edited by Zaid Khan