WWE: Kharma and the Best Superstar Debuts in the History of the Company

I felt like writing this slideshow because I am very impressed with how WWE is handling the introduction of Kharma.

WWE has shown little to no interest in making its Divas division any better, but with Kharma they have had well-made vignettes and numerous attacks to showcase her dominance.

Kharma is not the first person to turn heads with a great debut, though.  Many superstars in the past have had great buildups to their eventual introductions to the audience.  Sin Cara is another who recently debuted and had weeks of video packages to get fans excited for him to appear.

With that being said, this is a list of what I feel are the best debuts in WWE history.  They are in no particular order and I am not sure how many I will have listed by the end of the slideshow, so strap in and enjoy.

Chris Jericho's Y2J Countdown

When Jericho left WCW, he was a rising star who had yet to make that leap into superstardom.  When he signed with WWE, they helped him make that leap by putting together one of the most intriguing introductions in wrestling history.

For weeks, WWE ran video packages highlighting a countdown.  Many thought it was the year 2000 countdown, but eventually fans realized the timers didn't match up and we were counting down to something else entirely.

One Monday night on Raw, The Rock was giving one of his trademark promos when the countdown finished.  There was nothing for a moment, and then a blast of pyro and a jarring heavy metal song began to play.  On the stage stood a man who would become the Ayatollah of Rock n Rolla.  Chris Jericho.

This is one of the best buildups to a debut in the history of wrestling and it is one of the more memorable moments in both Jericho and The Rock's careers.

The Undertaker Survives All Comers

While his debut did not involve a long, drawn-out process of playing videos and announcers hyping his appearance, he did leave an impression.

Introduced as the final member of Ted Dibiase's Survivor Series team, The Undertaker left an indelible mark on the industry when he mowed through every superstar on the other team.

His size and intimidating persona made him an immediate force to be reckoned with.  His legacy has built into that of legend and every time he steps in the ring, the fans know they are in for a treat.  I have seen him at several house shows throughout the years and I can say with full confidence that he tries just as hard when the cameras are not rolling.

Undertaker is said to be retiring soon, but his first appearance in the WWE will never be forgotten.

John Cena Answers the Call of Angle

This was as unconventional a debut as I can recall, and maybe that's why I think it is one of the best.

Kurt Angle called out the entire SmackDown locker room one night, and instead of one of his well-known rivals coming to answer the challenge, it was an unknown guy in plain trunks with a crew cut.

Cena took to Angle with all his might and drove the Olympic gold medalist to the brink of defeat before losing to an amateur-style pin.  His strength and ability to adapt quickly made him into a fan favorite as he took on the persona of a rapper.

Throughout the years, Cena has evolved into what is essentially him playing himself, which is the best thing someone playing a character could do.

Once he showed up on SmackDown, I knew we were seeing the beginnings of a future star, but I had no idea just how big his career would become.

Santino Marella Performs a Miracle in Milan

Santino after the Milan Miracle

Hear me out.  I know his career has panned out into that of a gimmick comedy act, but his debut was incredible.

Playing a fan pulled from the stands to fight the monster Umaga, Santino portrayed that fantasy every sports fan has where they get pulled from the stands to win the big game.

When he first entered the ring, I was sure he had some wrestling experience, but I was unaware of his actual talent, which I later found in some videos of his matches in developmental.

When he defeated Umaga with help from Lashley, he won the intercontinental title and became an immediate fan favorite in the Italian venue. 

His current path is one I am not sure he can get off of, but his debut is still one of my favorites to this day.

Kane Showing His Brother Who's Boss

When Paul Bearer first told The Undertaker that his brother was alive, I was not sure what to think.  The storyline sounded like something out of a B-horror movie, but I was willing to see where it went.

Then Kane showed up during Undertaker's match with Shawn Michaels in the first-ever Hell in the Cell match.  He came out to ominous music and proceeded to rip the door off the cage, making for an instant impact on those who were watching.

He cost his brother a victory over HBK, and started one of the longest-running feuds in WWE today.  Kane wore a mask and one sleeve to cover up the damage he sustained during a fire that supposedly killed The Undertaker's parents.

Showing similar powers to the Taker, Kane became a top heel very fast.

While some may argue that this can't count as a debut because of Kane's past as Isaac Yankem and as the faux Diesel who was brought in by Jim Ross, this was the debut of his character, not necessarily the athlete playing him.

The Shock Master

Just kidding.

But seriously this is one of the funniest moments, not just in wrestling, but in all of television history.

There you have it: My list of the best debuts in WWE history.  Do you think anyone had a bigger impact in their debut? If so, let me know in the comments section.

Thanks for reading.