Ranking What Was Really The Best Wrestling Debut Every Year 1990-2021

22. 2000 - Tazz

Tazz Royal Rumble 2000
WWE.com

Monster pop.

An audience that knew what to expect and were red-hot on the prospect.

A white-hot product welcoming one of the more unique and credible wrestlers of the era.

A short highlight reel of a match that radiated genuine (and safely-worked) danger without relying on the actually very risky stunts of the time.

A real sense of star-making conviction, in that the undefeated and heavily featured Kurt Angle was the victim of the brutal suplex festival.

They f*cked it up because of course they did - Tazz wasn't tall, and it is that awful and simple - his MSG Rumble bow still pisses people off 21 years later.

That's how awesome it was.

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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!