10 Wrestlers With Incredible First Years
6. Kane - WWE
A first twelve months so good that the character is now entering its twentieth year, Kane looked every bit like another monster-of-the-week for The Undertaker to vanquish when he famously burst onto the scene in October 1997 to cost his brother victory against Shawn Michaels.
After constantly getting the better of Undertaker in massive segments between October and their first huge match at Wrestlemania 14, Kane suddenly found himself as one of the top stars in the company.
Presented effectively as a virtually indestructible monster in the run up to his 'Mania defeat, Kane had credibility as a dangerous and mysterious character, and thus suffered little damage in the loss.
As 'The Deadman' spun off into a renewed war with old rival Mankind, Kane suddenly found himself headlining June's King of the Ring Pay-Per-View, winning the WWE Title from hottest-star-in-the-world Stone Cold Steve Austin.
Somewhat mirroring his storyline brother's brief dalliance with Hulk Hogan's World Title in 1991, he'd lose the title back to Austin the next night, but he'd not drop out of the spotlight, snaring the Tag Titles from the white-hot New Age Outlaws shortly after the defeat.
Kane would remain in and out of main events for the next several years, and stands out as a breakout star from the halcyon days of the Attitude Era.