MikeRaw
Guest
This is something I think WWE is really, really lacking. Impact debuts. Guys who shoot to the top right away. When was the last time it happened? People will probably say Orton, Cena, and Batista, but none of them had impact debuts. All were in WWE for 3 years, making their way up through the midcard before being a title contender and main eventer. But if you look back, some of the best guys have shot up quickly through WWE's ranks.
Brock Lesnar- My personal favourite of these guys I'll list. He debuted in March 2002, and was basically a star right away. Sure, he had to squash the Hardy's, and feud with RVD first, but he was billed as a massive megastar from day one. He won the WWE Undisputed Title in August 2002, just months after his debut, and went on to become one of the most impactful superstars of all time.
Kane- He didn't waste any time. They booked him to feud with Undertaker right from the get go, as his debut featured him breaking in during Taker's HIAC match, and Kane was a big star and main eventer for the next 3-4 years. After that, he could've remained a top guy, but WWE's booking caused him to slide down the card (I'll make another thread about that). No doubt that he made a huge debut, and was a main eventer shortly after his debut.
Chris Jericho- Now, talk about an impact. He made his debut by coming in and interuptting The Rock, and engaging in a breif feud with him. From there, he would continue momentum, and eventually win the WWE title 9 months later.
Undertaker- He debuted at Survivor Series 1990, and although it took him a year to win the WWE Title, he was a huge impact from the start, disposing of Jimmy Snuka at Mania to start "The Streak", and feuding with Hulk Hogan, the biggest star of the time.
Kurt Angle- Angle debuted in November 1999, and immediately was a force. He was undefeated for weeks, and later went on to feud with one of the biggest stars in the company, Triple H, and eventually won the WWE Title from the Rock at No Mercy 2000, just 10 months later.
There's been many more too. But really, the last big impact debut was Brock Lesnar, and that was over 7 years ago. WWE has really been lacking this. It seems any time they use vignettes to promotes an upcoming superstar, that guy ends up debuting in lowcard matches, and stays there, with nothing to do, and eventually ends up as a midcarder for life, or released.
I think if they were to find someone, and determien that he is the next "THE Guy", they should just set their sites on pushing him. Slow, gradual pushes to the top are good, sure, but you can't have every single guy have a slow ride. Every couple years, you need a guy who you have debut with a bang. That ensures that he'll end up being a star, instead of rottign with nothing to do and being released, and also makes him seem credible, if he debuts witha bang.
Again, I'm not sayin' this should happen often. That'd be unrealistic, and show a lack of effort to build guys up, but every so often, there needs to be an impact debut, and there hasn't been one for 7 years and counting.
Anyone agree that WWE needs a few more of these than they have had over the past few years?
Brock Lesnar- My personal favourite of these guys I'll list. He debuted in March 2002, and was basically a star right away. Sure, he had to squash the Hardy's, and feud with RVD first, but he was billed as a massive megastar from day one. He won the WWE Undisputed Title in August 2002, just months after his debut, and went on to become one of the most impactful superstars of all time.
Kane- He didn't waste any time. They booked him to feud with Undertaker right from the get go, as his debut featured him breaking in during Taker's HIAC match, and Kane was a big star and main eventer for the next 3-4 years. After that, he could've remained a top guy, but WWE's booking caused him to slide down the card (I'll make another thread about that). No doubt that he made a huge debut, and was a main eventer shortly after his debut.
Chris Jericho- Now, talk about an impact. He made his debut by coming in and interuptting The Rock, and engaging in a breif feud with him. From there, he would continue momentum, and eventually win the WWE title 9 months later.
Undertaker- He debuted at Survivor Series 1990, and although it took him a year to win the WWE Title, he was a huge impact from the start, disposing of Jimmy Snuka at Mania to start "The Streak", and feuding with Hulk Hogan, the biggest star of the time.
Kurt Angle- Angle debuted in November 1999, and immediately was a force. He was undefeated for weeks, and later went on to feud with one of the biggest stars in the company, Triple H, and eventually won the WWE Title from the Rock at No Mercy 2000, just 10 months later.
There's been many more too. But really, the last big impact debut was Brock Lesnar, and that was over 7 years ago. WWE has really been lacking this. It seems any time they use vignettes to promotes an upcoming superstar, that guy ends up debuting in lowcard matches, and stays there, with nothing to do, and eventually ends up as a midcarder for life, or released.
I think if they were to find someone, and determien that he is the next "THE Guy", they should just set their sites on pushing him. Slow, gradual pushes to the top are good, sure, but you can't have every single guy have a slow ride. Every couple years, you need a guy who you have debut with a bang. That ensures that he'll end up being a star, instead of rottign with nothing to do and being released, and also makes him seem credible, if he debuts witha bang.
Again, I'm not sayin' this should happen often. That'd be unrealistic, and show a lack of effort to build guys up, but every so often, there needs to be an impact debut, and there hasn't been one for 7 years and counting.
Anyone agree that WWE needs a few more of these than they have had over the past few years?
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