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Pro-wrestling can be a cruel business. More than the skills, it takes years of resilience and patience before someone finally achieves their dream of reaching the pinnacle of Sports Entertainment.
There are several WWE Superstars who now rule the business but were once a part of the backstage crew. Some of these top names of the modern-day business appeared in the old televised segments long before they made their debut as a professional wrestler.
From appearing in segments that involved The Undertaker to the ones that featured D-Generation X, a lot of people were featured on WWE television long before they became stars. It is not easy but some of them started as extras who were lost in oblivion and fought their way to the top of the roster.
In this list, we will take a look at ten WWE Superstars and their first-ever appearance in the promotion.
#10 Tommaso Ciampa
Tommaso Ciampa is one of the most popular Superstars in the pro-wrestling business today. His magnificent in-ring skills coupled with dramatic mic skills have helped him explore new altars of success in his career.
The entire world knows that his first run in WWE saw him debut under the ring name ‘Tommaso’, back in 2007. However, that was not his first appearance in WWE.
Two years before Ciampa started wrestling for the company, he appeared in a segment with The Undertaker. 'The Deadman' was feuding with Muhammad Hassan at the time.
Ciampa, then known as Thomas Whitney, walked inside the squared circle as Hassan’s lawyer. He also had a brief moment on the mic during which he went on to read a legal statement on behalf of his client. A slightly amused Undertaker then went on to lay down a vicious attack on Ciampa before he started hunting for Hassan.
It’s been a little more than fourteen years since this segment aired on WWE television, and this period saw the Blackheart go from being a lawyer to the ‘Daddy’, courtesy of the Black and Gold brand.
#9 Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy has several WWE Championships registered to his name. During his time with the promotion, the one-half of the Hardy Boyz has managed to get his hands on both Singles and Tag Team Championships.
Widely regarded as one of the best high-flying workers in the entire pro-wrestling business, Jeff Hardy worked through a lot of personal issues to find the appreciation that he enjoys today.
But it was not easy for him to find his way into the business.
Before he became famous for his high-flying maneuvers, Jeff worked in a lot of backstage segments. A year after Jeff made his debut, WWE star Mabel became the ‘King of the Ring’ and the latter preferred to be carried to the ring.
Thanks to that gimmick, a young Jeff Hardy was spotted in action as he was one of the guys carrying Mable in a brief segment.
#8 Sheamus
Despite countless physical issues, Sheamus defied all odds to follow his passion and became a WWE Superstar. He has gained the respect of the fans and peers who applaud his dedication to the art.
But before Sheamus scripted his path to success in the promotion, he appeared as a security guard in one of the segments on WWE television.
Back in 2006, Sheamus was spotted donning a security uniform as he escorted D-Generation X away from the side of the ring. The Irishman was seen standing behind Triple H and Shawn Michaels right next to the barricade.
Along with the other members of WWE Security, Sheamus was almost successful in taking the chaos away from the in-ring action. But his attempts met a predictable fate as he was attacked by Triple H. The latter took down Sheamus after delivering a brutal pedigree.
The following year, Sheamus made his official WWE debut at FCW and began his journey to stardom.
#7 Rob Van Dam
Former WWE Champion Rob Van Dam is better known for his time in ECW, but there’s no denying the fact that he enjoyed a lot of attention from the fans while working for WWE.
Unlike other wrestlers in this list, RVD was not a part of the WWE backstage crew. Instead, he appeared as a member of the audience who was paid $100 for a brief segment.
Back in 1987, a 16-year-old RVD was purposely planted in the audience to facilitate a demeaning segment inside the ring. At the time, Ted DiBiase would often pay people in the audience to use them for his in-ring maneuvers.
RVD met DiBiase during the skit, "The Million Dollar Man" that was featured on the television. Following that, he was present in the audience and was called inside the ring to kiss the latter’s foot.
RVD returned to WWE in 2001 and went to win the Intercontinental Championship. He is currently signed with Impact Wrestling but appeared during the RAW Reunion episode that aired earlier this year.
#6 Tye Dillinger
Former WWE Superstar Tye Dillinger is currently signed with All Elite Wrestling where he goes by the name 'Shawn Spears' and portrays a heel character.
But long before he made a name for himself in the pro-wrestling business, Dillinger was one of the enhancement talents spotted during a backstage segment.
Back in 2006, “The Perfect 10” featured in a segment alongside D-Generation X at Cyber Sunday. Shawn Michaels was quarreling with Triple H in a hilarious conversation and was told that he doesn’t understand the meaning of controversial.
Following that, Michaels came across Dillinger who appeared as an employee called ‘Stan’. An infuriated HBK would then go on to deliver a brutal superkick to take down ‘The Perfect 10’.
After spending a few years in ECW and the Independent circuit, Dillinger returned to WWE in 2013, He performed at NXT but could not get his hands on the gold. A couple of years ago, he was moved to SmackDown but he couldn’t capture any Championship on the Blue brand either.
#5 Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy is one of the few Superstars who has experimented with his in-ring gimmick throughout his wrestling career. He tasted immeasurable success as one-half of the Hardy Boyz. He also had a good run in singles’s competition and his ‘broken’ gimmick was extremely over with the fans.
But before Matt became a Superstar in the pro-wrestling business, he appeared as one of the guys who carried Mabel into the ring. The latter was the ‘King of the Ring’ at the time and preferred a group of guys to carry him on his throne.
Matt was spotted sharing the burden of that throne alongside his brother, Jeff Hardy. A few years after that, the Hardy Boyz came together to take on the Tag Team Division in WWE and the rest is history.
Matt Hardy has stated that he is all set to perform inside the squared circle once again and is waiting for a phone call. He is expected to return to WWE before the year ends.
It is interesting to note that Matt is keen on pursuing a single’s run upon his WWE return. He believes he can be more creative with his character and would like to experiment with his gimmicks.
#4 Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose is another former WWE Superstar listed here who is currently signed with All Elite Wrestling. There, he performs under the name Jon Moxley and is one of the biggest stars in the promotion.
Ambrose had a magnificent run in WWE as both a single’s contender and as a member of the S.H.I.E.L.D.
But before he became a huge sensation in the pro-wrestling business, Ambrose would take on jobs that facilitated WWE backstage segments.
Back in 2006, Ambrose appeared as one of the druids during The Undertaker’s mesmerizing entrance. The former World Champion was briefly spotted next to The Deadman who was on his way to deal with Kurt Angle.
In the years that followed, Ambrose clawed his way to the top of the roster and went on to become one of the most loved Superstars during his time with WWE.
Ambrose, or Jon Moxley as he is now known, is one of the most charismatic performers to have graced the squared circle. He brings a perfect amalgamation of brutality and humor which keeps the fans entertained – something that would have seemed like a far-fetched dream for him back when he was just another druid for The Undertaker.
#3 Cesaro
Cesaro is yet another WWE Superstar who was first spotted in a segment that involved D-Generation X. Back then, he was donning the uniform of WWE security as he tried to defend Shane McMahon during the latter’s feud with the stable.
In the video, Cesaro can be seen in a hilarious encounter between Shane and Triple H accompanied by Shawn Michaels. He deserves major props for keeping a straight face during the conversation.
Years later, Cesaro returned to WWE and went on to win the United States Championship on the main roster. He also teamed up with Sheamus and went on to become a six-time Tag Team Champion.
Currently, Cesaro portrays a heel gimmick that has seen him step up in the build-up of important matches. Unfortunately for him, the Swiss Cyborg is criminally misused and deserves a bigger push. He has a massive fan-following who would love to see him engage in meaningful feuds on the main roster.
#2 CM Punk
Arguably the biggest name in modern-day pro-wrestling, CM Punk has a bittersweet history with WWE that still prompts supportive chants for the ‘Best in the World’. But before Punk went on to take the business by storm, he was just another extra involved with the backstage crew.
Back in 2006, CM Punk appeared as an extra during John Cena’s entrance at WrestleMania 22. Cena entered the arena in a car that had a few ‘gangsters’ hanging out by the side, carrying dummy guns. He was set to face Triple H in the main event of WrestleMania and that was the first time when Punk saw the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’ up close.
WrestleMania 22 was hosted by Allstate Arena and five years later, CM Punk returned to the building as a Superstar. He went on to beat John Cena for the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank and walked out of the same building as a Champion.
Now, that’s poetic…
#1 Alexa Bliss
One of the most popular female Superstars in WWE, Alexa Bliss made a name for herself in the business by defying all conventional ideas associated with the women roster. She is brilliant on the mic and knows how to work the crowd.
Before she became a 5-time Women’s Champion, ‘Little Miss Bliss’ appeared as an extra during Triple H’s entrance. In 2014, Bliss was spotted playing the role of one of The Game’s servants as he walked towards the ring at WrestleMania 30.
Soon after that, Bliss found herself performing inside the squared circle at the ‘Grandest Stage of Them All’. First, she lost her title to Naomi in a six-pack challenge. Next year, her 223-day long title reign came to an end at the hands of Nia Jax as the latter picked the first title of her wrestling career.
Also, Bliss was the host of WrestleMania 2019 as her injury forced her to maintain distance from the in-ring action.
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