WWE Survivor Series 2015: Remembering Greatest Debuts in Event's History

Over three decades, Survivor Series has become recognized as the home to the most controversial moments in wrestling history thanks in large part to the infamous Montreal Screwjob in 1997.

One look at the long and illustrious history of the event, though, reveals it has been the setting for countless memorable debuts.

The Undertaker and The Rock, two of wrestling's greatest icons, kicked off their in-ring careers at the November extravaganza. One of the great gimmick bouts also was birthed at the same event.

While the events of the 1997 show will never be erased, it is time Survivor Series became recognized as one of the most unpredictable events in WWE history thanks as much to the monumental debuts and history-making first times as anything else.

In preparation for the November 22 pay-per-view, and the potential for yet another gigantic debut, relive these five instances of WWE Superstars, events and matches leaving a phenomenal first impression, remembered in chronological order.

The 1987 Survivor Series

In 1987, business was booming for WWE and Vince McMahon with Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant at the top of the card. On the heels of a history-making WrestleMania, McMahon introduced Survivor Series as a way to further pad his pockets and help the machine roll forward.

With the tagline of "The Biggest Event Since WrestleMania III," the event packed its card full of elimination tag team bouts featuring the biggest and brightest stars in professional wrestling.

Headlined by Team Hogan vs. Team Andre, the show would be a smashing success as fans plunked down their hard-earned money to witness the latest chapter in the rivalry between the legendary stars.

Andre would emerge with his arm raised in victory while the chairman of WWE would smile largely, knowing his company was so hot he could book a show exclusively made up of glorified tag bouts and still get a full house.

The Undertaker (1990)

The greatest and most memorable debut in WWE Survivor Series history took place in 1990, when "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase introduced to the world the mystery partner he had discovered to complete his team. The sound of an organ filled the arena and the greatest phenomenon WWE has ever known stalked toward the squared circle led by Brother Love.

He was The Undertaker, and at that event, he celebrated Night 1 with Vince McMahon's pro wrestling empire by dismantling and eliminating Koko B. Ware and pummeling the legendary "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes.

Sure, he got himself counted out because his appetite for punishing his opponents overwhelmed him, but it was clear to everyone watching that the wrestling world had just gotten a taste of a Superstar who would define an era in WWE history and go on to become one of the biggest stars the industry has ever seen—thankfully without the aforementioned Brother Love, who never really fit the character's tone.

The Tale of Two Debuts (1996)

The 1996 Survivor Series is widely considered one of the best installments of the classic pay-per-view event thanks to a five-star classic between Bret Hart and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, not to mention an extraordinarily emotional match between Shawn Michaels and Sycho Sid for the WWE Championship.

It was also home to two very different WWE debuts.

One would alter the course of wrestling history, introducing the world to a young blue chipper whose athleticism and pure charisma would captivate audiences and help him become one of the premiere talents of the Attitude era.

The other was Flash Funk.

Funk, a former star in both World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling as 2 Cold Scorpio, was given a flashy entrance, two beautiful and leggy dancers and a bright outfit to wear in hopes he would become a big star for WWE at a time when they were in desperate need of all of the star power they could muster during the Monday Night Wars.

History tells us that did not happen despite all of the pomp and circumstance that went into the character that evening in Madison Square Garden.

Luckily for Vince McMahon, Rocky Maivia would hit huge, one day becoming etched in the annals of WWE as not only one of the greatest stars in company history but one of the most recognizable figures in pop culture.

Rocky Maivia may have arrived in the sports entertainment world with a much more downplayed entrance than Funk, and he may have been considerably greener than his much more experienced peer, but it was clear he had that special something right out of the gate.

He had in-ring charisma and, more importantly, the full support of WWE Creative. 

On his first night, he became the sole survivor for his team by knocking off Goldust and Crush and earning the first of many high-profile victories in his Hall of Fame career.

Known simply as The Rock to most fans, he would become wrestling's Most Electrifying Man and one of Hollywood's premiere leading men.

The Elimination Chamber (2002)

In 2002, Triple H was Raw's world heavyweight champion and the heel around whom the entire show was booked. As such, there were no shortage of challengers to his title, including former best friend Shawn Michaels, who had knocked off the Game back at SummerSlam in August to complete wrestling's most improbable comeback.

With so many quality challengers to the Big Gold Belt, and a return to Madison Square Garden for the first time in six years, the show demanded something huge.

It got it in the form of a massive new gimmick bout titled the Elimination Chamber.

A gigantic structure of steel, chain and bulletproof glass, the match was home to some of the most punishing and violent action ever witnessed.

Triple H, Michaels, Chris Jericho, Kane, Booker T and Rob Van Dam experienced tremendous pain and suffering as they bumped on the unforgiving steel.

Michaels would win the title, Triple H would prove his toughness by competing 35 minutes with a bruised and swollen trachea and the Elimination Chamber would cement its status as one of the most unforgiving contests in all of the WWE Universe.

The Shield (2012)

The main event of the 2012 Survivor Series was a molten-hot Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship pitting titleholder CM Punk against John Cena and Ryback.

It would not be the performances of those three Superstars that left fans buzzing, though. Instead, it would be the shocking arrival of three hot newcomers from developmental that would take the wrestling world by storm and, unbeknownst to fans at that time, set up the future of the industry.

Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins hopped the guardrail, wiping Ryback out by putting him through the announce table with a triple powerbomb.

Even the embarrassingly uncool turtlenecks worn by the three young stars was not enough to ruin what was a monumental moment for them and WWE as a whole.

From that night on, the trio known as The Shield would dominate WWE programming for the three years that followed, both as a well-oiled team and singles stars determined to state their claim to the status of "future of WWE."