Jaida Parker's arrival on WWE Raw on Monday left the wrestling world buzzing about how bright her star might shine, not to mention its place among the other main roster debuts by NXT Superstars.
From two trios who shaped the future of the industry to individual stars who have gone on to have championship-filled runs on Raw and SmackDown, who are the Superstars with the greatest first-night impressions on the WWE Universe?
Find out in this countdown, based on the immediate impact of the debut while also considering historical context in the event of a tie.
8. The Women's Evolution Arrives
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Addressing the braggadocious claims made by the Bella Twins about championing the evolution of women's wrestling in WWE, Stephanie McMahon interrupted and introduced the next wave of competitors who would carry women's wrestling to new heights.
On the July 13, 2015 episode of Raw, the industry's most powerful woman introduced Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks to the uninitiated, kicking off the official Women's Evolution in WWE.
All three were still tied to NXT in one form or fashion, but it was clear their time on the main roster had arrived.
It was not nearly as dynamic a debut as others on this list, nor was it met with the energy or excitement that big-time arrivals by top-tier NXT women would be today, but it was essential to the renaissance of the women's division.
All Flair, Lynch and Banks did was go on to become three of the most decorated stars of any gender of their generation, with Flair and Lynch making history by becoming the first women to main-event WrestleMania four years later.
7. Sami Zayn
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The heart and soul of NXT during his time with the brand, Sami Zayn made an emotional and energetic debut on the main roster on the May 4, 2015 episode of Raw in his hometown of Montreal.
Answering John Cena's open challenge for a shot at the United States Championship, he was introduced to the crowd by Bret Hart and showed incredible energy as he exploded through the curtain.
Too much, as it turned out, as he suffered a dislocated shoulder before he even set foot in the ring.
Undeterred, he delivered a phenomenal performance against Cena despite the injury, earning a standing ovation in defeat.
Despite the loss, it was a tremendous first appearance from the future two-time WWE champion and evidence of the raw emotion he would consistently bring to his performances over the next decade-plus.
6. Paige
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There was little doubt Paige was destined for huge things on the main roster.
She was treated like a star from the moment she debuted on NXT television, defeated Emma to win the vacant women's title at the brand's first live event special on the WWE Network, and was among the most popular performers on the company's developmental roster.
Somehow, that still did not prepare fans for the impact she would have right out of the gate on the main roster.
On the heels of WrestleMania 30, AJ Lee was in the midst of an in-ring promo when the British competitor stepped through the curtain for the first time on Raw and confronted her.
After being slapped down by Lee, Paige accepted a championship match. A few minutes later, she fought out of the Black Widow, delivered the Paige Turner and won the title.
5. Jaida Parker
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The most recent entry on this list, Jaida Parker made her main roster debut in stunning fashion on the September 28 episode of Raw.
First surprising The Usos and Jacob Fatu with her appearance in a silver SUV, she claimed she was there to see Raw general manager Adam Pearce.
Fast-forward two-and-a-half hours and she was running over Jacob Fatu in the parking lot and feigning concern before uttering the words "No one's safe" and leaving with Royce Keys.
Not only did Parker's debut take place as part of a hugely significant angle in the middle of a main event storyline, but it was met with a big reaction from fans.
It remains to be seen where things head from here, but the former collegiate soccer player suddenly finds herself in the middle of a storyline featuring the biggest stars in the company.
It is even more impressive when considering that championship gold of any kind evaded Parker during her entire NXT run.
4. Kevin Owens
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Kevin Owens was the hottest star in NXT and one of the most exciting performers under the WWE umbrella. Much of that had to do with a dazzling debut that saw him beat CJ Parker (a.k.a. Juice Robinson) and then betray his best friend, Sami Zayn, later in the same show.
A great in-ring worker with an even better promo, Owens was an indie darling who had passed his first test by making an immediate impact in NXT.
There were real questions about how he would be treated on the main roster, though, thanks to long-running expectations of what a star in WWE looked like. Any concerns about his creative well-being on the main roster were eased on his first night there.
Owens debuted on the May 18, 2015, episode of Raw, interrupting John Cena and laying out the United States champion. The confrontation set up their match at Elimination Chamber, where KO would win and put an exclamation point on his momentous arrival.
3. The Nexus
6 of 8It may have been a different incarnation of the NXT that we know today, but it is impossible to forget the debut of Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, David Otunga, Michael Tarver, Skip Sheffield, Darren Young and Daniel Bryan.
Driven by revenge after being humiliated every week during the inaugural season of NXT, they attacked John Cena, CM Punk and everyone around the ringside area in a defiant and destructive Raw debut.
Bryan was even fired the next day for his brutal assault on ring announcer Justin Roberts, whom he choked with his own necktie.
Having left two of the top stars in the company lying and the ringside area utterly destroyed, they stood tall as the wrestling world buzzed about the potential creative plans for this new, invading force.
History tells us that the faction was neutered in relatively short order after Cena overcame the odds and defeated them two months later in the main event of SummerSlam. But their debut shook the foundation of the WWE Universe and left fans in awe of what might have been for the new generation of developmental performers.
2. Finn Bรกlor
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If fans did not know Finn Bรกlorย was a huge deal in NXT, they found out in short order when he made his main roster debut on the July 25, 2016 episode of Raw.
The former NXT champion earned a No. 1 Contender's match right away, defeating Kevin Owens, Cesaro and Rusev in a Fatal 4-Way. Later that night, the Irishman did the unthinkable, defeating Roman Reigns to cash his ticket to SummerSlam and a chance to become the inaugural Universal champion.
It was an emphatic statement from WWE that a Superstar was to be taken seriously as a main event performer right out of the gate.
Bรกlorย would go on to defeat Seth Rollins at SummerSlam that year and win the title. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury suffered during the match immediately put him out of action.
Still, one is hard-pressed to find a more impressive one-night arrival than that of the Bullet Club's founding member.
1. The Shield
8 of 8Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose exploded onto the scene in WWE at Survivor Series in 2012, interfering in the main event and assisting CM Punk in retaining the WWE Championship.
It was a momentous debut for the trio, who drove Ryback through the announce table, removing the challenger from the equation and allowing Punk to pin Cena in the Triple Threat match.
The WWE fans were intrigued by the group's arrival and eager to find out the reasoning for their actions. There was genuine intrigue about a WWE product that lacked it at the time.
Little did fans know that the three men who jumped the guardrail that nightโReigns, Ambrose and Rollinsโwould help define WWE's next era.
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