10 Best WWE Rookie Years

8. AJ Styles

Wrestling fans were already acquainted with AJ Styles - who was 38 when he began his rookie year in WWE - from his time with TNA and NJPW. A star in his own right long before being signed by Vince McMahon, the 'Phenomenal One' was always going to have a pretty easy task of getting over with his new audience, but few expected him to have such a successful opening twelve months.

AJ earned one of the biggest pops of the year when he entered the 2016 Royal Rumble at number three, and although his turn in the match was cut short by Kevin Owens at the half hour mark, he had made quite an impression on his first night as a WWE employee. He followed it up with a match against Chris Jericho in his first WrestleMania, before beating John Cena at SummerSlam and winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the following month's Backlash.