10 Best WWE Main Roster Debuts Of Former NXT Wrestlers

6. Samoa Joe

samoa joe seth rollins
WWE.com

Fans were left disappointed when WWE didn’t deliver on Samoa Joe’s debut at the 2017 Royal Rumble, but they didn’t have to wait much longer for his arrival. His Rumble omission was emblematic of the Rumble’s lack of surprises as a whole, but Joe’s Raw debut as placed him at the heart of one of the brand’s biggest storylines, and has him rubbing shoulders with two of WWE’s biggest stars.

Triple H’s in-ring promo was always going to draw Seth Rollins out from backstage, and The Game sprung a perfect trap. Samoa Joe hopped the barricade as soon as Seth reached ringside, and immediately laid into The Architect. After rag-dolling him around ringside, Joe rolled Seth to the inside, flattened him with a series of running Sentons, then put him to sleep with his patented Coquina Clutch.

Samoa Joe’s first Raw closed with the sight of him kneeling over a former WWE Champion, and aside from the Rumble, it’s hard to think of better debut for him. He was one of WWE’s most consistent heels last year, and placing him in the company of Rollins and Triple H should see Joe positioned as a major player immediately. Whatever the next few weeks hold, Joe’s debut was impactful and shocking in equal measure, and has given WWE the springboard they need to build their next big heel.

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Channel Manager

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.