10 Best Debuts In WWE History

1. Kane

Chris Jericho
WWE

His “brother” The Undertaker might’ve made a huge impact upon debuting in 1990, but Kane went one better in 1997.

‘Taker was deeply entrenched in a feud with former manager Paul Bearer at the time. After taking a fireball to the face at In Your House 14, a heavily-bandaged Bearer re-emerged and issued The Undertaker an ultimatum: reunite with me, or I’ll reveal your “biggest secret.” the Undertaker refused Bearer’s offer, and his old manager started tormenting him with stories of his long-lost brother Kane.

Bearer heavily implied that The Undertaker had accidentally killed his family after starting a fire at their funeral home, but Kane had survived. Though scarred mentally and physically by the event, Kane was coming to WWE, and The Undertaker had a huge target on his back.

Badd Blood came around that October, and Kane made his debut. Wearing a mask to cover his burned face and standing at an imposing 7ft, Kane interrupted his brother’s Hell in a Cell match with Shawn Michaels, delivering the Deadman’s signature Tombstone Piledriver, and costing him the match in the process.

Kane’s debut was the first time WWE had ever seen true vulnerability from The Phenom, who looked genuinely unnerved as he stared-down his younger brother. An outstanding, career-defining feud followed, and as far as debuts go, it’s hard to beat Tombstoning The Undertaker in the very first Hell in a Cell match.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.