WWE: Top 10 debuts – Part 2

Part 1 can be found here.

5. Big Show

Vince McMahon once famously said that WCW didn’t know how to build a superstar as a ‘Giant’. Looking at Brodus Clay and Sweet T, I’m a little skeptical about the hypocrisy of Vince McMahon. But there was a point when Vince knew just how to get a giant over with the fans. Many remember how well Andre was booked. After him, there was someone else with an impressive height and a great physique, and he was none other than ‘The Giant’ aka ‘The Big Show’. When Big Show decided to jump ships from WCW to the WWF, Vince McMahon booked him to make his debut as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre PPV, during Steve Austin vs Vince McMahon Steel cage match! Big Show came from under the ring, tearing the canvas as the fans witnessed in shock, and toyed around with Austin. Although by chance Austin fell out of the cage and won the match, Show was made to look like an unstoppable monster for the first few years. Now that was one impressive debut!

4. Goldberg

Very few superstars have achieved the amount of success and fame in WCW as Bill Goldberg. Goldberg was built as an unstoppable monster, someone who could go through virtually anyone, and his undefeated streak became a stuff of legends. Many people have tried to build a guy like Goldberg, but no one could replicate what Bill had achieved. So when Goldberg signed a contract with the WWE, the fans couldn’t wait to see the monster destroying people once again. His debut was one of the most anticipated in WWE, and his very first rivalry was against one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time, The Rock. Although Bill won the World Heavyweight title soon after his debut, he was in the WWE for a very short time, due to the differences he had with the management, and then left the company. One can only imagine what could have happened if Goldberg had stayed back!

3. The Great Khali

One of the best ways to create a huge impact is to go after the biggest legend in the business. And when you do that during your debut, it creates a shock wave in the industry like no other. The Undertaker is arguably the biggest, greatest legend in the history of the business. He is the most respected performer, and one of the biggest names in the history of the sports entertainment industry. If a guy manages to take out The Undertaker, that would make the fans stand and take notice of him, and that’s exactly what The Great Khali did. With Shawn Daivari by his side, Khali made his way down the ramp and absolutely destroyed the legend known as The Undertaker. That was one moment when you realized that this phenomenon known as Khali was going to go places, and he soon won the World Heavyweight title!

2. Kane

At number 2 is another guy who took out The Undertaker during his debut. But this time, he was accompanied to the ring by Paul Bearer during the very first Hell in a Cell match, with The Undertaker taking on ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ Shawn Michaels. Kane came down as a stunned Undertaker looked on, and gave him a Tombstone piledriver, as Paul Bearer looked on with a smile on his face. This led to one of the best storylines and feuds in the history of the business, as a legend was born on that night. The Undertaker – Kane rivalry is unparalleled, and is often claimed to be the best rivalry in the business.

1. Chris Jericho

And the number 1 spot for the top debut goes to the one person who changed the face of WWF since his debut. Many would agree that Chris Jericho’s debut created the biggest impact, and was one of the most brilliantly executed storylines in the history of the WWF/E. Jericho left WCW and became the hottest free agent, and WWF did not waste any time signing him up. Jericho made his debut in a segment with The Rock, which became one of the most talked about, memorable debuts in professional wrestling history.