10 Best IMPACT Wrestling Debuts

It was something of a running joke for a while, the indie sensation or, more likely, a former WWE superstar turning up at Soundstage 21 at Universal Studios, Orlando with a slightly different name and look and imitation theme music, ready to entertain the hundreds stuffed into the IMPACT Zone.

Most of the big debuts were reserved for such stars, with homegrown or as yet unproven talents usually being introduced with little pomp or circumstance.

As TNA/IMPACT grew and attempted to compete as America’s number two wrestling promotion, they desperately sought out talent that their potential audience may have been familiar with from being on television with another company.

Everyone from the Basham Brothers, Orlando Jordan and Tomko to Daivari, the Heart Throbs and Marc Mero wrestled for the organisation over the years.

But we’re not here to talk about them!

No, we’re here to talk about actual stars, because TNA/IMPACT certainly had plenty of those on offer, too.

There’s no doubt that your Kevin Nashs, Booker Ts, Drew McIntyres and the like brought intrigue, but how did TNA handle their introductions and do their debuts make the grade here?

10. Jeff Hardy

By April of 2003, Jeff Hardy was beyond burned out and desperately needed a reprieve from falling off ladders for a while.

After being released from his WWE contract due to substance and disciplinary issues, the Charismatic Enigma – who was only 24 years-old at the time – decided to take a break from the business.

The door was open for a WWE return when his mind and body were fit and ready but Hardy had other ideas and showed up in TNA, land of decent pay for a much reduced schedule, for their second anniversary show on June 23rd, 2004.

Answering the open challenge of X-Division Champion AJ Styles, Jeff emerged to a thunderous ovation – well, as thunderous as a few hundred people in the Nashville Fairgrounds can be, anyway.

He looked like a star during his entrance and that carried over into the match itself, a nice taster of things to come as Hardy looked sharp while having a good, competitive match with The Phenomenal One.

In the end, Hardy didn’t win the title thanks to interference from Kid Kash and Dallas, but he did get to stand tall and make the save with a steel chair and a Swanton Bomb.

A genuine surprise and a good performance to boot, Hardy’s TNA inauguration helped raise hopes for a longer run to come.

10. Jeff Hardy

By April of 2003, Jeff Hardy was beyond burned out and desperately needed a reprieve from falling off ladders for a while.

After being released from his WWE contract due to substance and disciplinary issues, the Charismatic Enigma – who was only 24 years-old at the time – decided to take a break from the business.

The door was open for a WWE return when his mind and body were fit and ready but Hardy had other ideas and showed up in TNA, land of decent pay for a much reduced schedule, for their second anniversary show on June 23rd, 2004.

Answering the open challenge of X-Division Champion AJ Styles, Jeff emerged to a thunderous ovation – well, as thunderous as a few hundred people in the Nashville Fairgrounds can be, anyway.

He looked like a star during his entrance and that carried over into the match itself, a nice taster of things to come as Hardy looked sharp while having a good, competitive match with The Phenomenal One.

In the end, Hardy didn’t win the title thanks to interference from Kid Kash and Dallas, but he did get to stand tall and make the save with a steel chair and a Swanton Bomb.

A genuine surprise and a good performance to boot, Hardy’s TNA inauguration helped raise hopes for a longer run to come.

9. Tara

Another ex-WWE star and one now that, while she was certainly featured between 2002 and her exit in early 2009, perhaps doesn’t quite get her due considering her – pardon the pun – impact on the women’s scene during that period.

Victoria was as successful as she was because she was not only talented but she was different from the other quote-unquote divas that were en vogue at the time.

So it made sense that she would debut in TNA by attacking a trio of blonde-haired, blue-eyed bombshells.

The Beautiful People (specifically Knockouts Champion Angelina Love) were in the ring cutting a promo about a lack of competition on the May 28th, 2009 episode of IMPACT, when Victoria – now going by Tara – stormed the ring and cleaned house.

Tara’s debut wasn’t entirely a surprise since the company announced her imminent arrival ahead of time, but fans in the IMPACT Zone were thrilled to see her and reacted favourably as she slapped the lip gloss off of Madison Rayne and Velvet Skye before dropping Love with a Widow’s Peak.

After the beatdown, Tara got on the mic and said that she accepted Love’s challenge, setting up a programme between the two as she instantly jumped to top of the pecking order.

9. Tara

Another ex-WWE star and one now that, while she was certainly featured between 2002 and her exit in early 2009, perhaps doesn’t quite get her due considering her – pardon the pun – impact on the women’s scene during that period.

Victoria was as successful as she was because she was not only talented but she was different from the other quote-unquote divas that were en vogue at the time.

So it made sense that she would debut in TNA by attacking a trio of blonde-haired, blue-eyed bombshells.

The Beautiful People (specifically Knockouts Champion Angelina Love) were in the ring cutting a promo about a lack of competition on the May 28th, 2009 episode of IMPACT, when Victoria – now going by Tara – stormed the ring and cleaned house.

Tara’s debut wasn’t entirely a surprise since the company announced her imminent arrival ahead of time, but fans in the IMPACT Zone were thrilled to see her and reacted favourably as she slapped the lip gloss off of Madison Rayne and Velvet Skye before dropping Love with a Widow’s Peak.

After the beatdown, Tara got on the mic and said that she accepted Love’s challenge, setting up a programme between the two as she instantly jumped to top of the pecking order.

8. Rhino

Add Rhino to the list of performers who didn’t quite reach their full potential when contracted to Titan Sports Incorporated.

After some initial promise during the invasion, The Man Beast then settled into a comfortable mid-card role, a bit of a shame after his impressive stint in ECW where he stampeded through the promotion like a…like a…well, like a Rhino I suppose.

After leaving WWE in 2005 over a smashed plant pot – not even kidding – most assumed that Rhino was TNA-bound.

And, sure enough, after his 90-day no compete clause had expired, that’s exactly where he showed up.

Running in after the conclusion of a brutal Dog Collar match between Abyss and Raven at the No Surrender pay-per-view, Rhino floored his former extreme running buddy and the then-NWA Champion with a big old Gore, seemingly at the behest of top heel Jeff Jarrett.

It was a great debut, capping off a stellar show and announcing that Rhyno was a mid-carder no more. In TNA, he would get the chance to become a main event player, something that a great many wrestling fans thought he always had the potential to be.

It also paid off a show-long storyline where Jarrett was attempting to rally the TNA troops in order to stand up to Rhyno and any other ex-WWE stars who may be on their way to take their spots.

8. Rhino

Add Rhino to the list of performers who didn’t quite reach their full potential when contracted to Titan Sports Incorporated.

After some initial promise during the invasion, The Man Beast then settled into a comfortable mid-card role, a bit of a shame after his impressive stint in ECW where he stampeded through the promotion like a…like a…well, like a Rhino I suppose.

After leaving WWE in 2005 over a smashed plant pot – not even kidding – most assumed that Rhino was TNA-bound.

And, sure enough, after his 90-day no compete clause had expired, that’s exactly where he showed up.

Running in after the conclusion of a brutal Dog Collar match between Abyss and Raven at the No Surrender pay-per-view, Rhino floored his former extreme running buddy and the then-NWA Champion with a big old Gore, seemingly at the behest of top heel Jeff Jarrett.

It was a great debut, capping off a stellar show and announcing that Rhyno was a mid-carder no more. In TNA, he would get the chance to become a main event player, something that a great many wrestling fans thought he always had the potential to be.

It also paid off a show-long storyline where Jarrett was attempting to rally the TNA troops in order to stand up to Rhyno and any other ex-WWE stars who may be on their way to take their spots.

7. The Road Warriors

In the early days, TNA didn’t have a television deal but rather offered weekly pay-per-views every Wednesday night.

In order to try and stay alive, let alone compete with other organisations, the company put together a roster of young up-and-comers such as Low Ki, AJ Styles and Amazing Red and more established stars with name value, like Scott Hall, Ken Shamrock and Curt Hennig.

In order to get people talking, they also routinely had stars from the past make surprise appearances.

Who better for that role than The Road Warriors, one of the most popular and successful tag teams of all time.

Though their best days were long behind them, Animal and Hawk could still provoke a reaction and, despite many years of bad booking and inconsistent performances, they had an inherent credibility that could really help an upstart group like TNA.

The Roadies made their TNA debuts on the December 18th, 2002 weekly pay-per-view, running out at the end of a three-way tag team match and taking out everyone in explosive style, including hitting a Doomsday Device and Animal busting out a top-rope splash to help America’s Most Wanted win the match.

It only led to one actual match in the promotion but it was a great moment and probably the last one for the team before Hawk’s untimely passing months later.

7. The Road Warriors

In the early days, TNA didn’t have a television deal but rather offered weekly pay-per-views every Wednesday night.

In order to try and stay alive, let alone compete with other organisations, the company put together a roster of young up-and-comers such as Low Ki, AJ Styles and Amazing Red and more established stars with name value, like Scott Hall, Ken Shamrock and Curt Hennig.

In order to get people talking, they also routinely had stars from the past make surprise appearances.

Who better for that role than The Road Warriors, one of the most popular and successful tag teams of all time.

Though their best days were long behind them, Animal and Hawk could still provoke a reaction and, despite many years of bad booking and inconsistent performances, they had an inherent credibility that could really help an upstart group like TNA.

The Roadies made their TNA debuts on the December 18th, 2002 weekly pay-per-view, running out at the end of a three-way tag team match and taking out everyone in explosive style, including hitting a Doomsday Device and Animal busting out a top-rope splash to help America’s Most Wanted win the match.

It only led to one actual match in the promotion but it was a great moment and probably the last one for the team before Hawk’s untimely passing months later.

6. Scott Steiner

Add Scott Steiner as another whose WWE career had so much promise but ended with a whimper. Injuries were the main stumbling block for the Big Bad Booty Daddy, who was released in mid-2004.

It’s surprising that it took him as long as it did to wind up in TNA but when he showed up at the end of the Destination X pay-per-view in March 2006, he looked like a man reborn.

Reborn with even more muscles and a huge new tattoo covering his ample chest.

Like a great amount of debuts on this countdown, Steiner first appeared at the end of a show-closing brawl as a surprise.

As Sting cleared the ring of Team Canada, America’s Most Wanted and Abyss to lock the Scorpion Deathlock on Double J, the Genetic Freak decided a real man was needed and came in to batter Borden.

Scotty looked to be having a whale of a time as he threw his old co-worker around with suplexes and locked in the Steiner Recliner, allowing Jarrett to crack him in the head with the old balsa wood special.

So began a long journey that included two near-death experiences, impossible math and even the occasional wrestling match or two.

6. Scott Steiner

Add Scott Steiner as another whose WWE career had so much promise but ended with a whimper. Injuries were the main stumbling block for the Big Bad Booty Daddy, who was released in mid-2004.

It’s surprising that it took him as long as it did to wind up in TNA but when he showed up at the end of the Destination X pay-per-view in March 2006, he looked like a man reborn.

Reborn with even more muscles and a huge new tattoo covering his ample chest.

Like a great amount of debuts on this countdown, Steiner first appeared at the end of a show-closing brawl as a surprise.

As Sting cleared the ring of Team Canada, America’s Most Wanted and Abyss to lock the Scorpion Deathlock on Double J, the Genetic Freak decided a real man was needed and came in to batter Borden.

Scotty looked to be having a whale of a time as he threw his old co-worker around with suplexes and locked in the Steiner Recliner, allowing Jarrett to crack him in the head with the old balsa wood special.

So began a long journey that included two near-death experiences, impossible math and even the occasional wrestling match or two.

5. Team 3D

Unlike Steiner, Rhino and the ilk, the Dudley Boys more than measured up to their potential in WWE, becoming one of the most over acts in the company between 1999 and when they left just after ECW One Night Stand in 2005.

Though staler than two-week-old bread at their time of departure, there was no doubt still plenty mileage left in the team. They just needed a change of scenery. And a change of name.

Once again TNA had the sense to debut their newest acquisition in a big-time setting and the newly-christened Team 3D introduced themselves to the Orlando faithful at the end of Impact’s Spike TV premiere on October 1st, 2005.

Brother Ray and Brother D-Von marched to the ring and dispatched America’s Most Wanted before turning their attention to Jeff Jarrett, headbutting him right in the Double J’s with a little help from Kevin Nash.

After the babyfaces had commandeered the six-sided ring, D-Von challenged AMW to a match on next week’s show.

Overall, this was a fantastic surprise and the segment had a lot of crowd head. The Dudleys looked more up for it than they did during the entire last year of their WWE run and the people at home had another reason to tune in next week.

5. Team 3D

Unlike Steiner, Rhino and the ilk, the Dudley Boys more than measured up to their potential in WWE, becoming one of the most over acts in the company between 1999 and when they left just after ECW One Night Stand in 2005.

Though staler than two-week-old bread at their time of departure, there was no doubt still plenty mileage left in the team. They just needed a change of scenery. And a change of name.

Once again TNA had the sense to debut their newest acquisition in a big-time setting and the newly-christened Team 3D introduced themselves to the Orlando faithful at the end of Impact’s Spike TV premiere on October 1st, 2005.

Brother Ray and Brother D-Von marched to the ring and dispatched America’s Most Wanted before turning their attention to Jeff Jarrett, headbutting him right in the Double J’s with a little help from Kevin Nash.

After the babyfaces had commandeered the six-sided ring, D-Von challenged AMW to a match on next week’s show.

Overall, this was a fantastic surprise and the segment had a lot of crowd head. The Dudleys looked more up for it than they did during the entire last year of their WWE run and the people at home had another reason to tune in next week.

4. Pentagon Jr.

Finally, a wrestler who hadn’t once wrestled for WWE that IMPACT bothered to give a proper decent debut to.

Rather this time it was an independent star with some serious buzz. You know, the type of person that they should have been building the company around in 2018.

Pentagon’s debut was supposed to be against his favourite opponent, Fenix, who also happens to be his brother, at the Redemption pay-per-view.

When Alberto El Patron was kicked off that event, IMPACT management decided to make the siblings challengers for the World Title, taking on Austin Aries in a triple-threat match.

Looking every bit the star he had in Lucha Underground, Pentagon wowed the audience with his moves, timing and overall presence and, amazingly, beat Aries for the title to become one of the most unlikely IMPACT World Champions ever on his very first night in.

After the bout he embraced with Fenix in an emotional moment.

Though the good times didn’t last too long – Pentagon dropped the title back to Aries at a television taping two nights later – it was a great way to be introduced to a new promotion and created a memorable moment at a time where the company could desperately use every one they could get.

4. Pentagon Jr.

Finally, a wrestler who hadn’t once wrestled for WWE that IMPACT bothered to give a proper decent debut to.

Rather this time it was an independent star with some serious buzz. You know, the type of person that they should have been building the company around in 2018.

Pentagon’s debut was supposed to be against his favourite opponent, Fenix, who also happens to be his brother, at the Redemption pay-per-view.

When Alberto El Patron was kicked off that event, IMPACT management decided to make the siblings challengers for the World Title, taking on Austin Aries in a triple-threat match.

Looking every bit the star he had in Lucha Underground, Pentagon wowed the audience with his moves, timing and overall presence and, amazingly, beat Aries for the title to become one of the most unlikely IMPACT World Champions ever on his very first night in.

After the bout he embraced with Fenix in an emotional moment.

Though the good times didn’t last too long – Pentagon dropped the title back to Aries at a television taping two nights later – it was a great way to be introduced to a new promotion and created a memorable moment at a time where the company could desperately use every one they could get.

3. Christian Cage

Yes folks, it’s another former WWE star jumping to TNA. I know, I know. You had your break with Pentagon, but now it’s back to business as usual.

Christian’s signing and debut was heavily hyped and justifiably so. He was coming in off the back of a stellar year where he rightly should have been given a bigger push but was probably dizzy and depressed after repeatedly smashing his head on the glass ceiling.

Captain Charisma walked out at the Genesis pay-per-view to cut a promo less than two weeks after his final on-camera appearance in WWE.

Making allusions to his frustration with how his time in WWE ended, declaring his intention to become NWA Champion and scolding Jeff Jarrett for wearing white pants after Labour Day, his initial promo hit all the major points before Team Canada came out and offered him a spot in their stable.

Given the remainder of the show to mull it over, Christian came back out during the melee after the main event and revealed that he was wearing the red and white t-shirt, indicating that he would be joining the group after all.

It was a setup, of course, and the CLB showed his true colours by nailing an Unprettier and helping the Dudleys put Jeff Jarrett through a table.

Fans loved this and Christian looked like a big star right from the off.

3. Christian Cage

Yes folks, it’s another former WWE star jumping to TNA. I know, I know. You had your break with Pentagon, but now it’s back to business as usual.

Christian’s signing and debut was heavily hyped and justifiably so. He was coming in off the back of a stellar year where he rightly should have been given a bigger push but was probably dizzy and depressed after repeatedly smashing his head on the glass ceiling.

Captain Charisma walked out at the Genesis pay-per-view to cut a promo less than two weeks after his final on-camera appearance in WWE.

Making allusions to his frustration with how his time in WWE ended, declaring his intention to become NWA Champion and scolding Jeff Jarrett for wearing white pants after Labour Day, his initial promo hit all the major points before Team Canada came out and offered him a spot in their stable.

Given the remainder of the show to mull it over, Christian came back out during the melee after the main event and revealed that he was wearing the red and white t-shirt, indicating that he would be joining the group after all.

It was a setup, of course, and the CLB showed his true colours by nailing an Unprettier and helping the Dudleys put Jeff Jarrett through a table.

Fans loved this and Christian looked like a big star right from the off.

2. Sting

After WCW was bought by WWE in March 2001, Sting was one of the big stars that fans were dying to see come into the fold as part of the Invasion.

Didn’t happen, of course, because The Icon still had a guaranteed contract with Time Warner where he could get paid handsomely to stay home and hang out in his attic, gazing moodily out of the window and keeping watch in case any nWo showed up.

When the deal expired, he dabbled with some international tours and looked WWE-bound at one point but negotiations broke down and he headed to Nashville instead.

Showing up as a surprise for TNA’s first anniversary show, Sting teamed up with Jeff Jarrett, first coming out to deck some dweebs after the opener and then to face AJ Styles and Sean Waltman in the main event.

After getting a predictably massive reaction, the Stinger put in a shift and looked motivated and, though the match fell apart a little towards the end with all the outside interference, he came out of the other side of it on the winning team.

Sting returned later in the year for a few more matches before becoming a regular fixture from 2006 onwards, and he became undoubtedly one of the most important stars in that time and really helped TNA become a true alternative.

2. Sting

After WCW was bought by WWE in March 2001, Sting was one of the big stars that fans were dying to see come into the fold as part of the Invasion.

Didn’t happen, of course, because The Icon still had a guaranteed contract with Time Warner where he could get paid handsomely to stay home and hang out in his attic, gazing moodily out of the window and keeping watch in case any nWo showed up.

When the deal expired, he dabbled with some international tours and looked WWE-bound at one point but negotiations broke down and he headed to Nashville instead.

Showing up as a surprise for TNA’s first anniversary show, Sting teamed up with Jeff Jarrett, first coming out to deck some dweebs after the opener and then to face AJ Styles and Sean Waltman in the main event.

After getting a predictably massive reaction, the Stinger put in a shift and looked motivated and, though the match fell apart a little towards the end with all the outside interference, he came out of the other side of it on the winning team.

Sting returned later in the year for a few more matches before becoming a regular fixture from 2006 onwards, and he became undoubtedly one of the most important stars in that time and really helped TNA become a true alternative.

1. Kurt Angle

1969: Man walks on the moon

1971: Man walks on the moon…again

Then for a long time, nothing happened. Until Kurt Angle made his debut in TNA, on the October 19th, 2006 episode of IMPACT.

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t quite as historic as Neil Armstrong and the lads mucking about in space, but it was the most significant moment in TNA to that point and undoubtedly the best debut in the company’s history.

Our Olympic Hero had exited WWE in a cloud of controversy and most assumed that he would be taking some time away from the ring to address his injuries and personal issues.

So it was a real surprise when Angle showed up just a couple of months after his highly-publicised release, headbutted and Angle Slammed NWA Champion Samoa Joe and then engaged in a fiery pull-apart brawl to end the show.

Angle looked the business coming up through the ramp draped in an American flag and sporting an IMPACT-branded mouthguard.

The fans in attendance were clearly elated with the whole thing and the prospect of Kurt having a match with the Samoan Submission Machine got the wrestling world buzzing.

1. Kurt Angle

1969: Man walks on the moon

1971: Man walks on the moon…again

Then for a long time, nothing happened. Until Kurt Angle made his debut in TNA, on the October 19th, 2006 episode of IMPACT.

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t quite as historic as Neil Armstrong and the lads mucking about in space, but it was the most significant moment in TNA to that point and undoubtedly the best debut in the company’s history.

Our Olympic Hero had exited WWE in a cloud of controversy and most assumed that he would be taking some time away from the ring to address his injuries and personal issues.

So it was a real surprise when Angle showed up just a couple of months after his highly-publicised release, headbutted and Angle Slammed NWA Champion Samoa Joe and then engaged in a fiery pull-apart brawl to end the show.

Angle looked the business coming up through the ramp draped in an American flag and sporting an IMPACT-branded mouthguard.

The fans in attendance were clearly elated with the whole thing and the prospect of Kurt having a match with the Samoan Submission Machine got the wrestling world buzzing.