10 Best Rookie Years In WWE History

4. The Undertaker

Kurt Angle Intercontinental Champion
WWE.com

Debuting on the same night as the legendary Gobbledy Gooker meant The Undertaker was always going to face an uphill battle to get himself noticed, but believe it or not, he did.

Unveiled as the mystery final member of Ted DiBiase’s “Million Dollar Team” at Survivor Series 1990, The Undertaker eliminated Koko B. Ware and Dusty Rhodes en route to a debut victory over The Hart Foundation and Dream Team. Portraying his theatrical Deadman gimmick from the start, The Undertaker dominated from day one, and quickly captured the imagination with his dark aura and chilling mystique.

Taker was unlike anything the audience had ever seen before. A grim, unearthly 7-footer dressed all in black, he was soon joined by the ghastly Paul Bearer, and quickly became one of WWE’s biggest must-see attractions.

Defeating “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka at his first WrestleMania and then upsetting Hulk Hogan to capture his first WWE Championship exactly a year after debuting, The Undertaker was a groundbreaking superstar. From no-selling his opponent’s attacks to dishing out some brutal offense of his own, The Undertaker was made to look borderline untouchable from the moment he debuted.

He’d continue to grow and evolve throughout his legendary tenure, but from The American Badass to the Ministry of Darkness, everything The Undertaker has accomplished in this business draws heavily from his all-conquering debut year.

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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.