8 Superstars Who Won A Championship in Their WWE Debut

The toughest part of a Superstar's career in WWE could arguably be their introduction. Fans often very quickly decide whether to cheer or boo them, whether they are a babyface or heel. It can be when you are made or broken.

While a push could come very soon for a debuting Superstar, what could still arrive several months down the line is a Championship opportunity. In the eyes of many, both the fans and peers backstage, Championship matches are generally seen as being earned. But sometimes the WWE writing team can have big plans for a debuting Superstar right from the get-go, which more often than not involves a Championship victory.

That could be the case either for storyline purposes or company higher-ups seeing a lot of stock in a newcomer. Now and then we have seen a brand new Superstar make a huge statement in their debut match by not only being given a Championship match but becoming a Champion too. Here are eight times that a superstar has won a WWE Championship in their very first WWE main roster match.

#8 Paige, WWE Diva's Championship - 2014

In terms of this list, this one is probably the most famous of Championship debut victories.

This, of course, was not the first match Paige had ever had in WWE, as she spent the previous two years in NXT and was even the inaugural NXT Women's Champion. As far as WWE is concerned, however, this was her debut match.

Occurring the night after WrestleMania XXX on the always eventful post-Mania RAW, reigning WWE Diva's Champion AJ Lee came out to brag over her successful Championship defense the previous evening, and how it had been pretty much the entire WWE Diva's division being who she defeated in one night. She was then interrupted by reigning NXT Women's Champion Paige, who claimed she came out to congratulate her.

AJ responded by slapping her and challenging her to a title match, which Paige would surprisingly win in just a few minutes after catching the Champ off guard with a Paige Turner. Paige would hold the Championship for about two months before losing it back to Lee. She would trade Championship wins with Lee twice more in the coming months.

Paige winning the title, just went on to show you the quality of talent the WWE possessed in its developmental division. The NXT has been a driving force in giving the WWE an edge over other promotions in terms of talent push.

#7 Santino Marella, WWE Intercontinental Championship - 2007

Santino Marella would sign with WWE in 2005, where he worked for two years at OVW, before making his main roster debut on WWE RAW in 2007.

Although born in Canada, the Italian decedent was billed as being from Calabria, Italy as he sat ringside for RAW on April 16, in Milan. Vince McMahon had the then WWE Intercontinental Champion Umaga as his charge and was infuriated by the Italians' cheers for his rival, Bobby Lashley, who wanted to make an example out of them by giving a 'random' audience member a shot at the IC Championship.

He would select Santino Marella, who quickly gained a loud pop upon the pronunciation of his name. Umaga would dominate the majority of their short No Disqualification match. As it looked like he was about to call it a night, Bobby Lashley sprinted to the ring and annihilated the Samoan bulldozer. He threw Santino's near lifeless body on Umaga to get three counts and become Intercontinental Champion.

The plan was to book Santino as an underdog champion, who would often be manhandled in matches, but always find a way to win. This worked for a short time, but fans quickly turned on him and cheered very loudly when he lost the Championship back to Umaga at Vengeance that July.

Santino gained cult status in the WWE for the comedic relief he brought. He managed to stay relevant despite being a lower mid-carder.

#6 Ted DiBiase Jr., WWE World Tag Team Championship - 2008

Ted DiBiase Jr. was someone who WWE higher-ups had handpicked as one of the company's stars of the future. Being very young, skilled, having great looks, charisma and the son of one of the all-time greats, it's actually not all that surprising that DiBiase's first match saw him land gold.

The son of the 'Million Dollar Man' made his WWE main roster debut in May 2008, quickly showing similarities to his father. DiBiase then challenged WWE World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly to a title match at the Night of Champions pay-per-view, to face he and a partner of his choice, to be revealed at the event. Come the night itself, as DiBiase entered the ring, he claimed his partner was running late and asked for a few more minutes.

As Hardcore Holly was about to approach him, Cody suddenly pulled him back and nailed him with a DDT. DiBiase then announced Rhodes as his partner and hit Holly with the Million Dollar Dream to pin him.

It was quite heartening to see the sons of two WWE legends partner together despite how different and contrasting their old man's gimmick was.

#5 Carlito, WWE United States Championship - 2004

WWE SmackDown had debuted several new stars in 2004, but all of them - Luther Reigns, Mordecai, Kenzo Zuzuki and others - had all failed to shine in the opportunities they were given. But as soon as the first vignette aired for 'Carlito Caribbean Cool', later shortened to Carlito, we knew we were about to see someone different, someone cool. Carlito would made his WWE debut on the October 7 episode of SmackDown, where he would challenge the hen new WWE United States Champion, John Cena.

Carlito deemed Cena as a poser and a punk who wasn't cool, and laid him out, leading to a Championship match between the two in the main event that night. Carlito would hit Cena with his own chain to pin him and become Champion. He would hold it for a month before losing it back to Cena, due to Carlito suffering a shoulder injury.

Carlito would also go onto win the WWE Intercontinental Championship during his Monday Night RAW debut the following year.

#4 Gail Kim, WWE Women's Championship - 2003

Gail Kim is arguably the greatest women's wrestler of all-time. However, you wouldn't know this based on her WWE career, despite her inclusion on a list like this.

Gail Kim would sign with WWE in October 2002 and spend just eight months at WWE's developmental OVW before making her main roster debut. Kim would make her WWE debut on the June 30 episode of RAW in 2003 where she competed in a Battle Royal for the WWE Women's Championship. Kim would win the match and Championship, last eliminating Victoria. She would hold the Championship for just a month, having one successful defense over Molly Holly, before losing it to her in July.

In a move that made no sense, Kim turned heel the following week and aligned herself with Holly. Kim would be released by WWE in 2004, after disagreements over the direction of the women's division. She would go onto have a failed return to WWE in 2009 and a much better career as a multi-time Women's Knockout's Champion in Impact Wrestling.

#3 Joey Mercury, WWE Tag Team Championship - 2005

Joey Mercury would sign a deal with th WWE in 2004. During his stay in WWE's developmental scene, he would form a tag team with Tough Enough Season 3 winner John Hennnigan, then known as Johnny Nitro. Along with manager, the devious Melina, the trio debuted on SmackDown on the post-WrestleMania 21 episode in 2005. MNM would challenge reigning WWE Tag Team Champions Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero for their titles the following week, where they were successful in their pursuit.

MNM would hold the WWE Tag Team Championships on three occasions and have some memorable matches with the Hardy Boyz, and Brian Kendrick and Paul London. After a several year absence from WWE, Mercury returned in 2010, where he appeared on TV as a lackey for CM Punk, and then again for Seth Rollins in 2014 - 2015. MNM's first Tag Team title win was a Championship debut win for just Mercury, as Johnny Nitro had previously wrestled on RAW in 2004.

#2 Jerry Lynn, WWE Light Heavyweight Championship - 2001

As a former ECW Champion and very talented performer, many had high hopes for Jerry Lynn. While Lynn signed with WWE at a time when the company was signing several former stars of both ECW and WCW, he still made it to television a couple of months before the invasion angle began, which should have been enough time to find his footing.

It seemed like things would be just fine for Lynn, on paper at least. The plan was for then WWE Light Heavyweight Champion Crash Holly to make an open challenge at Backlash 2001, which would see Lynn answer and emerge victoriously, and this did happen, mostly. Due to time constraints, the match was moved to Sunday Night Heat, before the pay-per-view began. While this was seen as a little disappointing, Lynn still came out on top as the new Champion.

Lynn would hold the Championship for just about a month before losing it to Jeff Hardy. During his short time as Champion, he did manage to have several successful Championship matches, although they mostly occurred on WWE B shows like Heat and WWF Metal. Lynn went down with an injury a few months after losing it, and never returned to TV. He joined TNA in 2002, becoming a pioneer for the X Division.

#1 Christian, WWE Light Heavyweight Championship - 1998

After a few years on the independent scene, Christian would sign with WWE in 1998 and would make his main roster debut that very same year. Christian would debut at WWE Breakdown in September 1998, distracting Edge in a match.

Christian would hang around Gangrel for a month, interfering in other matches and forming an alliance with Edge, but wouldn't make his in-ring debut until the first WWE Judgment Day pay-per-view, in October. It was here that Christian would challenge and defeat Taka Michinoku for the WWE Light Heavyweight Championship, ending his then historic 10 month reign.

Christian would hold the Championship for just a month before losing it to Gillberg. At the time, it was thought that a talent like Christian could help elevate the struggling division, but it wasn't to be. Christian would go onto have a very memorable career, both in tag team and singles, holding multiple Tag Team and World Heavyweight Championships.

Christian is also one of the pioneers of the much decorated ladder matches that helped cement his position as a WWE legend along with Edge.