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WWE WrestleMania is the pinacle that any WWE Superstar looks to achieve during their career.
Many professional wrestlers view performing at WrestleMania as having "made it" in the industry that they love. By participating in a match on The Grandest Stage of Them All, a WWE Superstar is able to compete in front of a capacity stadium crowd and truly prove their worth to the WWE Universe.
Because the most professional wrestler's goal of performing at the Showcase of the Immortals, a match at WrestleMania can also be the culmination of a lifelong journey. So when a superstar makes their WrestleMania in-ring debut, it can be incredibly significant.
Unfortunately for some, there has to be a winner and a loser in a professional wrestling match. Therefore, not every WrestleMania in-ring debut for talent ends in victory.
Let's take a closer look at five WWE Superstars who lost their debut WrestleMania match.
#5 Sheamus (defeated by Triple H at WWE WrestleMania XXVI)
The WWE Universe witnessed Sheamus explode onto the scene in 2009. After making his debut as a member of the ECW brand in June, Sheamus had already won the WWE Championship by December.
By defeating John Cena in a Tables match at the Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view, the Celtic Warrior stunned audiences with his meteoric rise to the top in WWE.
Capturing the WWE Championship just 166 days after his debut, Sheamus became the third-quickest superstar to win a world championship after debuting in WWE history.
However, Sheamus eventually lost the WWE Championship at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in February 2010. The Celtic Warrior was eliminated by Triple H in the match which was eventually won by John Cena.
Sheamus then violently attacked Triple H on Monday Night RAW, setting up a showdown between The Game and The Celtic Warrior at WrestleMania XXVI. This would mark Sheamus' in-ring WrestleMania debut.
Unfortunately for Sheamus, the match did not go the way of the former WWE Champion. In an incredibly physical and stiff match, Triple H eventually left victorious, defeating Sheamus after hitting the Pedigree.
#4 Bray Wyatt (defeated by John Cena at WWE WrestleMania XXX)
WWE WrestleMania XXX was an historic show for a variety of reasons. The show featured the end of The Undertaker's legendary WrestleMania undefeated streak and Daniel Bryan completing the "miracle on Bourbon Street."
However, WrestleMania XXX is also historic for featuring the 'Mania in-ring debut of Bray Wyatt. The Eater of Worlds debuted on the WWE main roster the prior summer and quickly became one of the most unique and original characters in recent history.
The momentum of Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan, collectively known as The Wyatt Family, continued to build. This led to a WrestleMania showdown between Wyatt and the face of WWE, John Cena, on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
The match centered around John Cena's legacy, with Wyatt tempting Cena to finally turn to the dark side and possibly turn heel for the first time in over 10 years.
Despite the WWE Universe serenading Bray Wyatt with "he's got the whole world in his hands," John Cena prevailed and won the match. Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment and defeated Wyatt, meaning The Eater of World's WrestleMania debut ended in defeat.
#3 AJ Styles (defeated by Chris Jericho WWE WrestleMania 32)
Many in the WWE Universe often pondered whether AJ Styles would ever compete at a WrestleMania event. The Phenomenal One had become a staple of IMPACT Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling during his career but had never made it to the WWE.
That all changed in 2016 when AJ Styles signed with WWE and made his shocking debut during the 2016 Royal Rumble match. After making his debut, AJ Styles quickly entered a feud with Chris Jericho on WWE television.
Y2J had also recently returned to WWE. The WWE Universe were incredibly excited to see two of the best in-ring performers of their generation square off.
The two WWE Superstars faced off several times on television and pay-per-view, initially in friendly competition. After briefly forming a tag team, Chris Jericho turned on AJ Styles, turning heel in the process.
This led to a match between the two at WrestleMania 32. The match marked AJ Styles' WrestleMania debut. After a fantastic back and forth encounter, Chris Jericho was able to get the victory, hitting Styles with the Codebreaker to get the pinfall on his opponent.
While AJ Styles lost his WrestleMania debut match, he was able to quickly recover the following night on RAW. He became the No. 1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship after winning a Fatal Four-Way main event, pinning Jericho in the process.
#2 Sting (defeated by Triple H at WWE WrestleMania 31)
For years, the WWE Universe was desperate to see Sting compete inside a WWE ring, particularly at events such as WrestleMania. As the years continued to go by, many fans assumed they would never get to see the WCW icon compete on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
However, that all changed in 2014 when Sting made his shocking WWE debut at Survivor Series. The Stinger attacked Triple H and caused The Authority to briefly lose power in WWE. Billed as "The Vigilante", Sting continued to be a thorn in the side of Triple H and The Authority on WWE television.
This led to a match between Triple H and Sting at WrestleMania 31. It not only marked Sting's WWE in-ring debut, but also his WrestleMania bow too.
The match quickly descended into chaos as Triple H's WWE Attitude Era stable D-Generation X hit the ring to get involved in the encounter. However, the odds were evened when the iconic WCW faction the New World Order entered the arena to fend off DX. It was certainly a WrestleMania moment in which Monday Night Wars had seemingly come back to life.
Ultimately, Triple H was able to prevail after hitting Sting with a sledgehammer to get the victory. Many within the WWE Universe disagree with the outcome to this day, suggesting that Sting should have won his WrestleMania debut match.
#1 Triple H (defeated by The Ultimate Warrior at WWE WrestleMania XII)
When discussing WWE win-loss records, Triple H boasts one of the best of all time. However, The Game's WrestleMania debut certainly didn't go to plan.
Triple H debuted in WWE as Hunter Hearst Helmsley shortly after WrestleMania XI in April 1995. The future WWE Hall of Famer had a decent first year as a WWE Superstar, feuding with the likes of Bob Holly, Henry O. Godwinn, and Duke "The Dumpster" Droese.
However, it appeared that Helmsley's WWE career was truly about to skyrocket when it was announced that he would be facing the returning Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania XII in 1996.
The Warrior had been absent from professional wrestling for four years since departing the WWE in 1992. A match against a former WWE Champion such as The Ultimate Warrior was a huge opportunity for Hunter Hearst Helmsley during his WrestleMania debut.
But the match did not go well for Triple H at all. He started the match quickly, hitting the Warrior with his trademark Pedigree finisher. However, The Ultimate Warrior no-sold the move, immediately returning to his feet.
Warrior then dominated Helmsley, defeating his opponent in just 96 seconds. It certainly proved to be a night to forget for the future WWE COO.
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