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

25. 1997 - Kane

Kane Debut
WWE.com

It's gotta be Kane, even if the daft bugger nearly performed his first Tombstone away from the hard camera. And to think, he's become even more dumb now having absorbed countless unprotected chair shots, and he's in charge of people.

The scene at Badd Blood followed a brilliant months-long slow-burn. It was so compelling that Vince had to create an excellent monster to match the horror that fans had conjured in their mind. That he did. Kane's mask was great. He looked like a blank void underneath it, but it was colourful and TV-friendly. He was also a colossus of a man whose freak strength was put over expertly.

And iconically; in all-time great wrestling work, he removed the Cell door from its hinges before attacking his storyline brother.

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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!