10 Terrible Wrestling Debuts (That Led To Awesome Careers)

1. Triple H

Triple H Intercontinental Champion
WWE.com

The Debut:

Much like whether or not AEW is competition - "We need you in the foxhole to go up against those guys who can do what they want!" - Triple H didn't know his ar*ehole from his elbow on his WWF debut in 1995. Or his heel from his thigh, anyway, as he misplaced a kick in the direction of his convicted paedophile of an opponent. In the guise of a snooty blue blood, Trips failed to project much superiority or class in a squash match that resonated as more awkward than dominant.

The Career:

From Hunter Hearst Helmsley to Triple H, the man matured from aristocrat to ring general (by way of douchebag) to etch his face into the Mount Rushmore Of Legendarily Sly Politicians. He had to back up his backstabbing and...other stabbing to justify his ruthless career and he did, patchy big match record aside; for a white-hot period in the year 2000, and an epic run as that decade crept into the next, Trips perfected the scintillating, timeless drama of the WWE Style at its best with performances of expert timing - and just the right tone of melodrama.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!