Top 10 best WWE RAW debuts of all-time

WWE Monday Night RAW has witnessed some of the most awe-inspiring debuts of all time

The wrestling world is focused on WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night RAW. The longest-running weekly episodic show in television history is set to move to streaming giant Netflix. The occasion will be celebrated with a grand debut show, which will take place on Saturday, January 6th, in Los Angeles, California.

In the rich history of WWE RAW before moving to Netflix, the red brand has seen some of the most memorable debuts of stars, some of whom became top marquee names in the business.

Here are top 10 best WWE RAW debuts of all time, ranked by us:

10. Veer Mahaan

WWE had been hyping the debut of one of the toughest superstars from the native land of India, Veer Mahaan for months after repackaging him as a singles star.

The wait for finally over on the RAW after WrestleMania 38 when the Lion of India arrived and decimated The Mysterios single handily, leaving behind a dominant first impression.

9. Braun Strowman

The RAW after the 2015 WWE SummerSlam, the fans were introduced to the ‘Monster Among Men’ Braun Strowman. He suddenly appeared in a match as part of The Wyatt Family’s feud with Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns and decimated both men with his bare hands. Following the destructive, he pledged his allegiance to Bray Wyatt and his family, joining them as their ‘Black Sheep.’

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8. The Wyatt Family

Following their successful emergence in WWE NXT, Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper, and Erick Rowan made their way to debut on Monday Night RAW in 2012. Upon their eerie arrival, the trio targeted the Big Red Monster, Kane and launched an assault on him. This marked the beginning of the tenure of one of the most popular and successful factions in the modern era of WWE.

7. Sami Zayn

John Cena‘s US Open Challenge presented a huge opportunity for young upstart Sami Zayn in 2015 on RAW. Introduced by WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart, Zayn answered the challenge and brought the fight to the Cenation Leader. Despite coming short and suffering an injury early in the match, Zayn proved his worth on his debut night, setting the tone for an accomplished career he has had so far.

6. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar was viewed as the next top star for WWE during the Ruthless Aggression era. After impressing the higher-ups with his collegiate background and OVW stint, Lesnar made his debut on the RAW after WrestleMania 18 episode in 2002. Joined by Paul Heyman as his manager, The Beast wiped off a field of superstars, making a dominant impact upon his arrival and leading the fans to take notice.

5. Kevin Owens

The John Cena US Open Challenge became a major opportunity for Kevin Owens to make a strong debut on RAW in 2015. Owens, who was the NXT champion then, came out to the ring and declined to face Cena. As he turned around, Owens laid out the 16-time WWE Champion with a massive Pop-Up Powerbomb and took down the face of WWE on his very first night on the main roster.

4. The 3 Horsewomen

WWE CEO Stephanie McMahon decided to call for a huge change in the women’s division on the main roster after #GiveDivasAChance trended worldwide for many days. She altered the landscape by bringing three of the four NXT FourHorsewomen, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch, onto the main roster.

The NXT women aligned with their respective factions, and their first sight signaled the start of the movement that came to be known as the Women’s Revolution.

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3. Chris Jericho

For weeks, WWE had been hyping the arrival of the ‘Millenium Man’ to WWE. On a 1999 episode of Monday Night RAW, as The Rock stood in the ring, the countdown to the millennium came to an end with the lights going out. As they came back, it was Chris Jericho who showed up, much to the excitement of the fans, as he mentioned the famous words, “Welcome to RAW is Jericho.”

2. Goldberg

Following The Rock’s high-profile victory over his rival, Stone Cold Steve Austin, at WrestleMania XIX, he came to address the audience on the RAW after Mania. Tired of being disrespected by the fans, The Brahma Bull announced that he was leaving. Just then, a loud music hit and there was WCW Icon Goldberg walking towards the ring. He stood toe-to-toe with The Rock in the ring and took him down with a thunderous spear in one of the most memorable debuts in RAW history.

1. The Fiend

The WWE Universe was familiar with Bray Wyatt for a long time. However, on a July edition of Monday Night RAW in 2019, as Finn Balor was celebrating his win, the lights went out, and an eerie atmosphere engulfed the arena.

When they came back, it was Bray Wyatt’s new and demonic alter ego, The Fiend, standing in the middle of the ring, with Balor in position for Sister Abigail to take him down. This was the first appearance of Wyatt’s new gimmick, which ultimately became highly popular among the fans.

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