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00:00What a way to make your debut!
00:03The 2000s.
00:04A new millennium that ushered in
00:06some new faces to WWE.
00:08Oh my God, Cole! Look at him!
00:10Get this man in! He's huge!
00:12Faces that would go on to become
00:14icons of sports entertainment.
00:15I'm John Cena.
00:17Today we look back at some of the most spectacular
00:19debuts of the 2000s.
00:23This is WWE's
00:25Greatest Moments.
00:29Who's your son of a man?
00:31Oh my God, what the hell are you doing?
00:34Absolutely
00:35unbelievable!
00:36Oh, baby!
00:44Welcome everyone to WWE's Greatest Moments.
00:47I'm Michael Cole, and in this edition
00:49we're taking a look back at the most impactful
00:51debuts of the 2000s.
00:53Oh, this is Randy Orton's debut!
00:54I'm gonna wish the kid luck!
00:57Hook to the leg!
00:58Greedle!
00:58He's got him!
00:59What an upset!
01:00The new millennium gave way to a new era
01:02in WWE, and it all started with one
01:05we never saw coming.
01:08On a June 2002 episode of SmackDown, Olympic gold medalist and former world champion Kurt Angle issued an open challenge
01:15to the locker room.
01:17Sitting ringside on that fateful night, I never would have imagined the impact this superstar would have on our industry.
01:26I am issuing a challenge to anyone in that locker room that I've never wrestled before.
01:33We were in Chicago, Michael Hayes told me that I would be wrestling Kurt Angle.
01:38A lot of times the key to success is being brave enough to take the first step.
01:42Who in the hell are you?
01:45I'm John Cena.
01:47What is the one quality that you possess?
01:52Ruthless aggression!
01:55Ruthless aggression promo.
01:57I was given an opportunity.
02:01I really tried really hard to make it as difficult as I could for John Cena.
02:10It was high action, it was non-stop, and John rose to the occasion.
02:17Ruthless aggression, tenacity by John Cena.
02:20Does he have to do it?
02:21I had a great performance with Kurt, because Kurt's great.
02:25He can make anybody look good.
02:27Double chicken with Linus, Kurt's full nova!
02:29Shoulders are pinned, and Kurt Angle has pinned John Cena.
02:33Cena gave Angle all he could handle, and then some.
02:36John's debut with Kurt Angle is an unforgettable moment.
02:41He got the rub from a Kurt Angle, welcoming him into the fold.
02:47We haven't heard the last of John Cena.
02:52In 2006, audiences are introduced to a straight-edge kid from Chicago named CM Punk.
02:58You just got punked!
03:01Holding an impressive background in various combat sports
03:04and displaying a multitude of charisma.
03:07The excitement of Punk's debut was off the charts.
03:09And when WWE relaunched ECW as its third brand,
03:13we would find out just exactly what this newcomer could do.
03:20Don't let these tattoos fool you.
03:23I'm straight-edge.
03:25I'm a man of great discipline.
03:28ECW got rebooted, and I think on the first show, my first vignette ran.
03:33I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't do drugs.
03:38My addiction is wrestling.
03:41To me, the next generation of ECW superstars started with CM.
03:47I got a lot of excitement about this guy's debut that's coming out right now.
03:51I'd be interested to see how this crowd reacts and see if they're getting a pretty strong response from the
03:58ECW fan base.
03:59My goal was to show everybody that I was the real deal.
04:04Oh!
04:07Oh!
04:08Oh!
04:09God!
04:09I need that to go!
04:11And they let the world know you're witnessing the debut of a brand-new star.
04:19Noggy right there!
04:20Look at that submission.
04:21Got that on board.
04:22That's incredible!
04:23Taps out!
04:24He popped out!
04:25Me, my hard work would outshine everything, and eventually perseverance pays off,
04:29and I was off to the races.
04:31That's a hell of a debut, if I could say so myself.
04:34CM! CM!
04:36CM!
04:38CM!
04:39CM!
04:39CM!
04:39Umaga is a dangerous quarterback.
04:42There might not have been another superstar in the history of WWE as intimidating as the relentless Umaga.
04:48Oh!
04:49Beating down superstars like Bobby Lashley.
04:52And Bobby Lashley!
04:53Oh, man!
04:55On a 2007 episode of Raw, airing live from Milan, Italy, the boss, Mr. McMahon, issued an open challenge to
05:01face Umaga.
05:03Umaga!
05:05In a no-holds-barred Intercontinental Championship match.
05:08I can't imagine anybody being too eager to accept that challenge.
05:12No superstar from the Raw locker room dared to take on Umaga.
05:15Umaga!
05:16It's not a white show!
05:17So McMahon did the unprecedented, and opened it up to the sold-out crowd.
05:24Who wants to get into the ring with Umaga? Who does?
05:27Look down here.
05:28And he put the open challenge out to the audience.
05:31I rushed to the barricades.
05:32I was in front row.
05:33So then he saw me.
05:34How about you?
05:36He got beside me.
05:37He goes, no, no.
05:38He's gonna kill you.
05:39He's not really gonna do this, is he?
05:41I heard about the character that day.
05:43I'm playing an Italian guy.
05:44Your name again is what?
05:46Santino Marella!
05:48I started wrestling kinda late, so I have to capitalize.
05:51It was pretty intense.
05:55Santino, think this over.
05:56I remember saying, this is what you trained for.
05:58This is what you prepared for.
05:59Oh!
06:00Oh!
06:02Oh!
06:02Oh!
06:04Mr. McMahon is loving this destruction.
06:07Look at this!
06:07Bobby Larson!
06:09I remember running down to the ring.
06:11Crowd was going crazy.
06:15Blasting a powerful spear!
06:17And Blastie putting Santino on top!
06:21Yes!
06:22Yes!
06:22Yes!
06:23To this day, people that meet me would be like, wow, what a debut.
06:27and it was the first time that's ever been done in history
06:30that someone came out of the audience and won a title.
06:32Santino Marella is the Intercontinental Champion!
06:38Still to come.
06:39Wait a minute!
06:40What the hell?!
06:42Look at this monster!
06:462001 was an extremely volatile time in sports entertainment.
06:50WWE acquired rival WCW,
06:53merging two of the biggest professional wrestling promotions on the planet.
06:58Fans were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time, five-time,
07:05five-time WCW Champion!
07:08Booker T.
07:09And at the 2001 King of the Ring, Booker didn't disappoint.
07:12As he set his sights on current WWE Champion, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
07:21We are at our main event to determine the richest prize in the game.
07:26Because a lot of the top WCW stars didn't go over to WWE,
07:31when top stars did come over, it was a huge deal.
07:36Wait a minute!
07:37What the hell?!
07:39Oh my God!
07:40I can't believe it!
07:41That's Booker T!
07:43He's the WCW Champion!
07:47I'm starting out with the biggest fish in WWE.
07:50I mean, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
07:52Doesn't get any bigger than that.
07:52Good luck!
07:53That's the mentality I brought in.
07:55Oh my God!
07:57The Sunwell Slam!
07:58Booker T!
07:59Just dropped Stone Cold!
08:01Right through the announce table!
08:03Stop this!
08:04Stop this!
08:05Stop this!
08:05Man, we've been fighting your ass for a long time.
08:08Now here you are in our living room.
08:10I'll never forget that moment.
08:12What the hell?!
08:14Here comes the security!
08:16Booker T!
08:17Came through the crowd!
08:19He's leaving through the crowd!
08:20It was a moment that I felt like was going to catapult me to that next level.
08:25Booker T has decimated the WWF Champion!
08:31Make me if you can survive if I let you!
08:37Throughout the 1990s, one of the biggest stars in extreme championship wrestling was none other than Taz.
08:43The human suplex machine had risen to prominence in ECW using his powerful Taz Mission Maneuver.
08:48Taz has won the ECW Championship!
08:53Which earned him two World Heavyweight Championships and two World Television Championships.
08:58But Taz was a big fish in a small pond and needed more competition.
09:02Meanwhile, in WWE, the 2000 Royal Rumble saw the self-proclaimed greatest athlete on the planet, Kurt Angle,
09:09hosting an impressive undefeated streak and offered a chance for anyone to try and defeat him.
09:16Now, concerning this so-called unnamed opponent.
09:21Now, I know you have to be pretty nervous coming out here and facing an undefeated American hero.
09:29So, come on out here and give it your all!
09:40There's Taz!
09:47My debut in the WWE at Master Square Garden.
09:52There was nothing like that pop.
09:54And Taz!
09:55I'm wishing he cried!
09:58Taz came right in the door, suplexed Kurt Angle all over the ring.
10:02Opening up for the offensive angle!
10:04Oh!
10:05I've never seen some places like this!
10:06This was probably one of the biggest debut nights in any pro wrestler's career.
10:15And Taz has done it!
10:18Taz took down!
10:20My hometown at Master Square Garden was the greatest moment of my career.
10:25An awesome moment.
10:27It was great.
10:29Man, what an impact for Taz!
10:32His first night in the WWF!
10:36Still to come.
10:37Oh my god, I'm Mickie James.
10:38I'm Raw's newest diva.
10:40Look at Mysterio!
10:42Oh my god!
10:44Who's that jumping out of the sky?
10:46He's the sensational, high-flying Rey Mysterio.
10:50Mysterio had already established himself as a household name across the globe.
10:54as a Lucha Libre legend.
10:56Oh!
10:57Incredible!
10:58Acai moonsault!
10:59The WWE Universe was buzzing at the announcement that Rey Mysterio was on his way to WWE.
11:05And I'll never forget sitting ringside for the Man of a Thousand Masks' highly anticipated arrival.
11:13Making his SmackDown debut, Rey Mysterio!
11:19For those of you who have not been able to experience a sensational high-flyer,
11:23you are in for a treat!
11:25When I set foot for the first time in WWE, it was so cool.
11:29Rey Mysterio taking the take on Chavo Guerrero in this Cruiserweight matchup.
11:34There was no doubt in my mind that we were gonna make magic that night.
11:39Top rope!
11:40Springboard!
11:40Come on!
11:41Come on!
11:41Cover!
11:42Three!
11:43Mysterio got it!
11:44But that wasn't the last of him we'd see that night.
11:47The main event of that episode was a steel cage match.
11:50It's now a four-on-two assault!
11:53Better get some more help out here!
11:55Who's this?
11:55Someone's coming out!
11:56It's Rey Mysterio!
11:58You know, I'll never forget that reaction when he started climbing up.
12:02Mysterio!
12:03What the hell is Mysterio doing?
12:05Look at Mysterio!
12:06Oh, my God!
12:07A tall body!
12:08Top of the cage!
12:09All of that just made things so special that night.
12:12Like, they made me look like a superstar.
12:16Mysterio's showing!
12:17He's in the WWE!
12:22WWE legend Trish Stratus has won over millions of fans throughout her Hall of Fame career.
12:26One of the greatest women champions ever!
12:29While she was universally adored by the audience,
12:32those sentiments were not exactly shared by those inside the ring.
12:35What about this move?
12:37What about Suplex?
12:38Yes!
12:39After successfully defending her women's title during an episode of Raw,
12:43an aggravated Victoria attacked Stratus after the match.
12:46But Trish was about to get some aid from a mysterious source.
12:53Trish is down!
12:54Who the hell's that?
12:55Who is that?
12:56Somebody out of the crowd?
12:57When we had this new character coming, there was a nice luxury of surprise.
13:01Who's this woman beating up Victoria?
13:03I was really nervous because I thought about the reaction from the people,
13:07all these factors get into your head and you're like,
13:09oh my God, I hope it's okay.
13:10She knows how to throw her right in!
13:12It was so awesome to hear and feel the people react.
13:16That was amazing.
13:17And who knew who this lady is using that women's title back to take Victoria off the apron?
13:22And now with a smile on her face, handing it back to Trish!
13:26I was so fortunate.
13:28Because I was immediately taken seriously and put into the top tier of female athletes.
13:34That woman can fight, let me tell you who she is!
13:37She made people sit up and take attention and it became water cooler talk.
13:40Hi!
13:41Hi!
13:42Oh my God, I'm Mickie James.
13:44Hi!
13:44I'm Raw's newest diva.
13:45I'm like your biggest fan.
13:46I mean, I've written you like a gazillion times.
13:49To be able to come in and be elevated to that level immediately was huge for me.
13:53I couldn't have asked for a better debut.
13:55It was an amazing and memorable debut by Mickie James for sure.
13:59I'm a little sick.
14:02In the late 1990s, WCW garnered unprecedented popularity, heralded by the brash and outspoken Eric Bischoff.
14:10I am the most powerful man in this industry.
14:14For 83 consecutive weeks, Bischoff's WCW beat out WWE in the Monday Night Ratings World.
14:26Bischoff's goal was to run WWE out of business, but WWE finally caught up and eventually bought out WCW in
14:332001.
14:34You've gotta squeeze the life out of your competition, just like I did to WCW.
14:41Surely this meant the WWE Universe would never have to see Bischoff ever again.
14:47Right?
14:52Within the next hour, I will name the new general manager of Raw.
14:58No one ever imagined who was gonna show up.
15:10Never in a million years thought I would see that.
15:14Allow me to introduce you to the new general manager of Raw, Eric Bischoff!
15:21Oh God!
15:22Oh my gosh! It's him!
15:24My first night in WWE, I remember walking out there and the reaction was priceless.
15:30I cannot believe this!
15:32I'm absolutely in shock!
15:34Nobody knew, the announcers didn't know, and a lot of the talent didn't know.
15:39You see heated rivals and suddenly they're aligned.
15:43Eric Bischoff is our new boss here on Raw!
15:47The crowd was in shock. I enjoyed every second of it.
15:53I am here to put the E in WWE!
16:02Up next is our final two moments in the countdown.
16:05What will take the number one spot?
16:06Oh, he's really here!
16:08This pop-a-pop!
16:09Up!
16:11Up!
16:14Throughout the 1990s, two of the biggest stars in their respective promotions were undoubtedly Goldberg and The Rock.
16:21Goldberg dominated WCW, amassing an incredible 173 win streak and a couple of world championships to boot.
16:29We have never seen a man quite like this!
16:32On the WWE side, The Rock electrified this industry like none before him and claimed a couple of world titles
16:40himself.
16:40The Rock would forever be the people's champion!
16:45Throughout his career, The Rock had accomplished it all.
16:48He wrestled all over the world, earned over a dozen titles, and beat every opponent.
16:53Well, almost every opponent.
16:58So now, at 30 years old, The Rock has done it all!
17:01He now says, it's over!
17:06The Rock, he was already at a level that few could ever attain at that point, let alone how far
17:13he's come.
17:15The Rock will tell you this one!
17:17Oh, look!
17:18Oh, my God!
17:20It's him!
17:22Goldberg is here!
17:23Making the debut on Raw was surreal.
17:26It can only happen once.
17:28Oh, my God!
17:29He is here!
17:31And Goldberg is coming to the ring!
17:34Huge pyro standing there in the smoke.
17:36He stops for a moment and blows it out.
17:39Because he is, in real life, a fire-breathing dragon.
17:44Someone like that, being my first opponent, it was an honor and a privilege.
17:49You wanna know who's next, eh?
17:51Oh, no!
17:55You're next!
17:57What?
17:57Oh, that's so low!
18:00Oh, no!
18:00Goldberg, take it down!
18:01Oh, my God!
18:03Goldberg just feared The Rock!
18:05With two individuals such as he and myself, that's all you need.
18:11People want to see it.
18:13Goldberg may have broken The Rock in half!
18:17To jest now time for our number one moment,
18:19and it's one that truly decimates the competition.
18:22Before Brock Lesnar became the beast incarnate we know today,
18:26he was simply dubbed...
18:27The Next Big Thing!
18:30The WWE universe had never seen a specimen quite like Lesnar.
18:35One could only fathom what kind of havoc the beast could wreak
18:38inside the squared circle.
18:40This massive human being is scary!
18:42It was during a hardcore title match
18:44between Al Snow, Maven, and Spike Dudley
18:47when Lesnar decided to strike for the very first time
18:50inside a WWE ring.
18:55Boy, there's nothing finesse about these hardcore matchups.
18:59Hey, wait a minute.
19:00Oh, no.
19:00What the hell?
19:02That's the hottest free agent.
19:05Boom! Brock Lesnar!
19:07I don't know who it is, but what's he doing out here?
19:09I knew that I had that opportunity in front of me,
19:12but if I didn't seize the moment
19:14that I would never be there again.
19:16And that's exactly what I did.
19:17Look at this monster!
19:19This guy is scary strong!
19:22Oh, God!
19:22The strength!
19:24That is a scary strength!
19:27That little spike is being broken in half!
19:30I knew all of him.
19:31I'd been looking into their minor league,
19:33and I was like, I've heard of this guy.
19:34I've heard big things about this guy.
19:36But there was no thing in the world
19:37that was going to stop him reaching the top.
19:38Look at who's at ringside with Brock!
19:41Oh, my God!
19:42Paul Heyman at ringside!
19:44What sets Brock Lesnar apart from everybody else?
19:47Everybody else is everybody else.
19:50And Brock Lesnar is Brock Lesnar!
19:54There's no one like him!
19:56Brock Lesnar is an animal!
19:58I'm not a superstar.
20:01I'm an ass-kicker.
20:02I am Brock Lesnar.
20:05I think he is the next big thing!
20:08Brock Lesnar immediately established himself
20:11as a dominant force within WWE.
20:14And it seems like he's only grown stronger with time.
20:17The wild decade of the 2000s
20:19pioneered a new era of ruthless aggression
20:21that catapulted WWE
20:23into the sports entertainment giant that it is today.
20:28Well, that'll do it for this edition
20:29of WWE's Greatest Moments.
20:31I hope you've enjoyed the look back
20:33at some of the most spectacular debuts
20:35of the 2000s.
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