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

20. 2002 - Brock Lesnar

brock lesnar debut
WWE.com

Brock Lesnar almost took Spike Dudley's head off his shoulders when he first roared onto the scene.

It wasn't iconic or loud or shocking or anything like that. The fans didn't really know what to make of him, which is understandable. He was among the first true developmental recruits. But the scene compensated for this by dragging poor Spike into his maw. After flattening Maven through a trash can, he caught Spike and drilled him to the floor with a short-arm lariat to the neck.

How Spike's brain didn't turn to actual mush following that sickening power bomb barrage, Jesus wept.

The fans got onside by the end. They were more sickened and stunned than electrified, but in that sense, it worked.

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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!