Original subtitles

What a way to make your debut.

The 2000s.

A new millennium that ushered in some new faces to WWE.

Oh, my God, Cole.

Look how big this man is.

He's huge.

Faces that would go on to become icons

of Sports Entertainment.

I'm John Cena.

Today, we look back at some of the most

spectacular debuts of the 2000s.

Holler if you hear me.

This is WWE's Greatest Moments.

If you smell--

Oh, my God.

What the hell are you doing?

Absolutely unbelievable.

Hulkamania is here.

Welcome, everyone,

to WWE's Greatest Moments.

I'm Michael Cole.

And in this edition, we're taking a look back at the most

impactful debuts of the 2000s.

Well, this is Randy Orton's debut.

I'm gonna wish the kid luck.

Hook of the leg.

Cradle.

There's two.

Oh.

He's got him.

What an upset.

The new millennium gave way

to a new era in WWE.

And it all started with one we never saw coming.

On a June 2002 episode of SmackDown,

Olympic gold medalist and former world champion,

Kurt Angle, issued an open challenge

to the locker room.

Sitting ringside on that fateful night,

I never would have imagined the impact this superstar

would have on our industry.

I am issuing a challenge to anyone in that

locker room that I've never wrestled before.

We were in Chicago, Michael Hayes told me that, uh,

I would be wrestling Kurt Angle.

A lot of times the key to success is being brave enough

to take the first step.

Who in the hell are you?

I'm John Cena.

What is the one quality that you possess?

Ruthless aggression.

Ruthless aggression promo.

I was given an opportunity.

I really tried really hard to make it

as difficult as I could for John Cena.

It was high action, it was non-stop,

and John rose to the occasion.

Ruthless aggression, tenacity by John Cena.

Does he have it?

No, Angle kicked out.

I-I had a great performance

with Kurt because Kurt's great.

He can make anybody look good.

Double chicken wing.

Look at this.

Kurt floating over.

Shoulders are pinned.

And Kurt Angle-

has pinned John Cena.

Cena gave Angle all he could handle and then some.

John's debut with Kurt Angle

is an unforgettable moment.

He got the rub from a Kurt Angle,

welcoming him into the fold.

We haven't heard the last of John Cena.

In 2006, audiences were introduced

to a straight-edge kid from Chicago named CM Punk.

You just got punked.

Holding an impressive background in various

combat sports, and displaying a multitude of charisma,

the excitement of Punk's debut

was off the charts.

And when WWE relaunched ECW as its third brand, we would find

out just exactly what this newcomer could do.

Don't let these tattoos fool you.

I'm straight-edge.

I'm a man of great discipline.

ECW got rebooted, and I think on the first show, my first, uh,

my first vignette ran.

I don't drink.

I don't smoke.

I don't do drugs.

My addiction is wrestling.

To me, the next generation of ECW superstars

started with CM Punk.

I got a lot of excitement

about this guy's debut that's coming out right now.

I'm interested to see how this crowd reacts and see if he's

getting a pretty strong response from the ECW fan base.

My goal was to show everybody

that I was the real deal.

Oh.

Oh, God.

Oh, flying knee.

That's it.

Oh.

And they let the world know, you're witnessing

the debut of a brand-new star.

Uranage right there.

Oh, look at this.

Submission.

He's got that armbar.

Justin Credible taps out.

Tapped out.

He tapped out.

My hard work would outshine everything,

and eventually, perseverance pays off.

I was off to the races.

That's a hell of a debut if I can say so myself.

This Umaga is a dangerous carnivore.

There might not have been another superstar

in the history of WWE as intimidating

as the relentless Umaga.

Oh.

Beating down superstars like Bobby Lashley.

And Bobby Lashley.

Oh, man.

On a 2007 episode of Raw, airing live from Milan,

Italy, the boss, Mr. McMahon, issued

an open challenge to face--

Umaga.

In a no-holds-barred Intercontinental

Championship match.

I can't imagine anybody being too eager

to accept that challenge.

No superstar from the Raw locker room

dared to take on Umaga.

So, McMahon did the unprecedented and opened it up

to the sold-out crowd.

Who wants to get into the ring with Umaga?

Who does?

Don't look down here.

When he put the open challenge out

to the audience, I rushed to the barricades.

I was in front row, so then he saw me.

How about you?

The guy beside me goes,

"No, no, he's gonna kill you."

He's not really gonna do this, is he?

I heard about the character that day,

playing an Italian guy.

Your name again is what?

Santino Marella.

I started wrestling kind of late, so I have to capitalize.

It was pretty intense.

Santino, think this over.

I remember saying,

"This is what you trained for.

This is what you prepared for."

Oh.

Oh, hello.

Oh.

Mr. McMahon is loving this destruction.

Look at this.

Bobby Lashley.

I remember running down to the ring.

Crowd was going crazy.

Lashley with a powerful spear.

And Lashley putting Santino on top.

Yes, ses, yes.

To this day, people that meet me will be

like, "Wow, what a debut."

And it was the first time it's ever been done in history that

someone came out of the audience and won a title.

Santino Marella is the Intercontinental Champion.

extremely volatile time n

in Sports Entertainment.

WWE acquired rival WCW, merging two of the biggest professional

wrestling promotions on the planet.

Fans were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the five-time,

five-time, five-time, five-time.

Five-time WCW Champion.

Booker T.

And at the 2001 King of the Ring, Booker didn't disappoint

as he set his sights on current WWE Champion,

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

We are at our main event to determine

the richest prize in the game.

Because a lot of the top WCW stars didn't go over

to WWE, when top stars did come over, it was a huge deal.

Wait a minute.

What the hell?

Oh, my God.

I can't believe it.

That's Booker T.

He's the WCW Champion.

I'm starting out with the biggest fish in WWE.

I mean, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

Doesn't get any bigger than that.

That's the mentality I brought in.

Oh, my God.

The sidewalk slam.

Booker T just drove Stone Cold right through

the announce table.

Long live the WCW, you son of a bitch.

Now, we've been fighting your ass

for a long time.

Now here you are in our living room.

I'll never forget that moment.

What the hell?

Here comes the security.

Booker T came through the crowd.

He's leaving through the crowd.

It was a moment that I felt like was gonna catapult

me to the next level.

Booker T has decimated the decimated

the WWE Champion.

Beat me if you can.

Survive if I let you.

Throughout the 1990s, one of the biggest stars

in Extreme Championship Wrestling

was none other than Tazz.

The Human Suplex Machine had risen to prominence in ECW,

using his powerful Tazmission maneuver.

Tazz, Tazz has won the ECW Championship.

Which earned him two World Heavyweight

Championships and two World Television Championships.

But Tazz was a big fish in a small pond

and needed more competition.

Meanwhile, in WWE, the 2000 Royal Rumble saw

the self-proclaimed greatest athlete on the planet,

Kurt Angle, posting an impressive undefeated streak

and offered a chance for anyone to try and defeat him.

Now, concerning this

so-called unnamed opponent.

Now, I know you have to be pretty nervous coming out here

and facing an undefeated American hero.

So, come on out here and give it your all.

It's Tazz.

My debut in the WWE at Madison Square Garden,

there was nothing like that pop.

And Tazz not wasting any time.

Tazz came right in the door,

suplexed Kurt Angle all over the ring.

Opening up for the offense on Angle.

Oh.

I've never seen suplexes like this.

This was probably one of the biggest

debut nights in any pro wrestler's career.

Ring the bell.

And he's done it.

Tazz has choked out the Olympian.

My hometown at Madison Square Garden,

the greatest moment of my career.

An awesome moment.

Oh, it was great.

Man, what an impact for Tazz.

His first night in the WWE.

jumping out of the sky? t

He's the sensational high-flying Rey Mysterio.

Mysterio had already established himself as a household name

across the globe as a lucha libre legend.

Oh.

Incredible Asai Moonsault.

The WWE Universe was buzzing at the announcement

that Rey Mysterio was on his way to WWE.

And I'll never forget sitting ringside for the Man

of a Thousand Masks' highly anticipated arrival.

Making his SmackDown debut,

Rey Mysterio.

For those of you who have not been able

to experience the sensational high-flyer,

you are in for a treat.

When I set foot for the first time in WWE,

it was so cool.

Rey Mysterio set to take on Chavo Guerrero

in this cruiserweight matchup.

There was no doubt in my mind that we were

gonna make magic that night.

Top rope springboard hurricanrana.

Oh.

Cover.

Three.

Mysterio got it.

But that wasn't the last of him

we'd see that night.

The main event of that episode was a steel cage match.

It's now a four-on-two assault.

Better get some more help out here.

Who's this?

Someone's coming out.

It's Rey Mysterio.

I'll never forget that reaction

when he started climbing up.

Mysterio up high.

What the hell is Mysterio doing?

Look at Mysterio.

Oh, my God.

A crossbody from the top of the cage.

All of that just made things

so special that night.

Like, they made me look like a superstar.

Mysterio showing he's in the WWE for good.

WWE legend Trish Stratus has won over millions

of fans throughout her Hall of Fame career.

One of the greatest women's champions ever.

While she was universally adored

by the audience, those sentiments were not exactly

shared by those inside the ring.

What about that move?

The Northern Lights suplex.

She got it.

Yes.

After successfully defending her

women's title during an episode of Raw,

an aggravated Victoria attacked Stratus after the match.

But Trish was about to get some aid from a mysterious source.

Trish is down.

Who the hell's that?

Who is that?

Somebody out of the crowd?

When we had this new character come in,

there was a nice luxury of surprise.

Who is this woman beating up Victoria?

I was really nervous because I thought

about the reaction from the people.

All these factors get into your head and you're like,

"Oh, my God, I hope it's okay."

She knows how to throw a right hand.

It was so awesome to hear

and feel the people react.

That was amazing.

And whomever this lady is, using that women's

title belt to take Victoria off the apron.

And now with a smile on her face handing it back to Trish.

I was so fortunate because

I was immediately taken seriously and put

into the top tier of female athletes.

That woman can fight, let me tell you, whoever she is.

She made people sit up and take attention.

And it became water cooler talk.

Hi, hi.

Oh, my God, I'm Mickie James.

Hey.

I'm Raw's newest diva.

I'm like your biggest fan.

I mean, I- I've written you like a gazillion times.

To be able to come in and be elevated to that level

immediately was huge for me.

I couldn't have asked for a better debut.

It was an amazing and memorable debut

by Mickie James, for sure.

In the late 1990s, WCW garnered

unprecedented popularity.

Heralded by the brash and outspoken Eric Bischoff.

I am the most powerful man in this industry.

For 83 consecutive weeks,

Bischoff's WCW beat out WWE in the Monday Night Ratings War.

Vinnie Mac, I'll be waiting for you.

And I'm gonna knock you out.

Bischoff's goal was to run WWE out of business.

But WWE finally caught up and eventually

bought out WCW in 2001.

You've gotta squeeze the life out

of your competition.

Just like I did to WCW.

Surely, this meant the WWE Universe would

never have to see Bischoff ever again.

Right?

Within the next hour,

I will name the new General Manager of Raw.

No one ever imagined who was going to show up.

Booker T.

It's so good to see you again, my friend.

Never in a million years thought I would see that.

Allow me to introduce you

to the new general manager of Raw, Eric Bischoff.

Oh, God.

Oh, my gosh.

It's him.

My first night in WWE,

I remember walking out there and the reaction was priceless.

I cannot believe this.

I'm absolutely in shock.

Nobody knew.

The announcers didn't know.

A lot of the talent didn't know.

You see heated rivals and suddenly

they're aligned.

Eric Bischoff is our new boss here on Raw.

The crowd was in shock.

I enjoyed every second of it.

I am here to put the E in WWE.

1990s, two of the biggest stars e

in their respective promotions

were undoubtedly Goldberg and The Rock.

Goldberg dominated WCW, amassing an incredible 173-win streak and

a couple of world championships to boot.

We have never seen a man quite like this.

On the WWE side, The Rock electrified this

industry like none before him and claimed a couple

of world titles himself.

The Rock will forever be the People's Champion.

Throughout his career,

The Rock had accomplished it all.

He wrestled all over the world, earned over a dozen titles

and beat every opponent.

Well, almost every opponent.

So now, at 30 years old,

The Rock has done it all.

He now says, it's over.

The Rock was already at a level that few could

ever attain at that point, let alone how far he's come.

The Rock will tell you this right now--

Oh, look.

Oh, my God.

It's-it's him.

Goldberg is here.

Making the debut on Raw was surreal.

It can only happen once.

Oh, my God.

He is here.

And Goldberg is coming to the ring.

Huge pyro, standing there in the smoke.

He stops for a moment and blows it out.

Because he is, in real life, a fire-breathing dragon.

Someone like that being my first opponent.

It was an honor and a privilege.

You wanna know who's next, eh?

Oh, no.

You're next.

What?

Oh, God.

"Oh, is that so?"

Look at that.

And Goldberg taking down The Rock.

Goldberg just Speared The Rock.

With two individuals such as he and myself,

that's all you need.

People want to see it.

Goldberg may have broken The Rock in half.

It is now time for our number one moment,

and it's one that truly decimates the competition.

Before Brock Lesnar became The Beast Incarnate we know today,

he was simply dubbed--

The Next Big Thing.

The WWE Universe had never seen a specimen

quite like Lesnar.

One could only fathom what kind of havoc The Beast

could wreak inside the squared circle.

This massive human being is scary.

It was during a hardcore title match between

Al Snow, Maven, and Spike Dudley, when Lesnar decided

to strike for the very first time inside a WWE ring.

Boy, there's nothing finesse

about these hardcore matchups.

Come on.

Come on.

Hey, wait a minute.

Oh, no.

What the hell?

That- That's-

That's the hottest free agent.

Oh.

Brock Lesnar.

I know who it is, but what's he doing out here?

I knew that I had that opportunity in front of me,

but if I didn't seize the moment, then I would never be

there again, and that's exactly what I did.

Look at this monster.

This guy is scary strong.

Ooh.

Oh, God.

Look at the strength.

That is- That is a scary strength,

and little Spike is being broken in half.

I knew of him because I had been looking

into their minor league, and I was like,

"I've heard of this guy.

I've heard big things about this guy."

There was no thing in the world that was gonna stop

him reaching the top.

Look at who's at ringside with Brock.

Oh, my God.

Paul Heyman at ringside.

What sets Brock Lesnar apart from everybody

else, everybody else is everybody else,

and Brock Lesnar is Brock Lesnar.

There's no one like him.

Brock Lesnar is an animal.

I'm not a superstar.

I'm an ass kicker.

I am Brock Lesnar.

I think he is The Next Big Thing.

Brock Lesnar immediately established

himself as a dominant force within WWE,

and it seems like he's only grown stronger with time.

The wild decade of the 2000s pioneered a new era of ruthless

aggression that catapulted WWE into the Sports Entertainment

giant that it is today.

Well, that'll do it

for this edition of WWE's Greatest Moments.

I hope you've enjoyed the look back

at some of the most spectacular debuts of the 2000s.