Rookie Year
What wrestlers when watching them in action in their rookie year did you feel was going to go to superstardom?
What wrestler or wrestlers in their rookie year when watching them in action did you feel was going to go to superstardom? They had that Superstar quality about them which screamed they were going to be a World Champion someday. If not in the World Title picture, they would at least be in the main event. Pick any wrestler from any promotion you like.
I'm assuming you mean "rookie year" in the bigger promotions, not fresh out of wrestling school in some obscure indy promotion only a handful of people could watch.
Kurt Angle, first and foremost. If ever there was a "natural" in pro wrestling, Angle is him.
Dustin Rhodes. In MUCH better shape than his father, and a much better wrestler, I was pretty sure Dustin would go on to win the NWA/WCW World Title at some point in his career. He doesn't have Dusty's charisma, and way with words, but Dustin is an excellent all-around performer.
Barry Windham. The son of Black Jack Mulligan. I got to see Mulligan many times, and I thought Barry was more athletic and a better wrestler than his father.
Ultimate Warrior. I didn't get to see him in The Blade Runners with Sting, but I saw him in WCCW as The Dingo Warrior. With that body and strength I knew he would be a big-time main eventer.
The Midnight Rockers. I thought Jannetty would be the bigger singles star as he was the more talented of the duo (in my opinion), had the better mic skills, and was the "leader".
Sheamus. I was immediately very impressed with the big Irishman the first time I saw him (in ECW). His rise came quicker than I figured, but I knew he was a main eventer waiting to happen.
Nikita Koloff. One of the most impressive rookies I've ever seen. He was an evil Russian version of Road Warrior Hawk.
The Road Warriors. Dick The Bruiser and The Crusher may have been the prototype (huge muscular brawling tag team) but The Road Warriors were a completely new type of tag team and gimmick. The only way they could NOT be major stars would be if they just walked away and quit.
Scott Steiner. Long before he bloated up to become Big Poppa Pump, he was Scott Steiner, Rick's little brother. Extremely athletic, agile, strong, quick, fast, and an excellent mat wrestler who was innovating new moves and "updating" old moves right and left. Scott was extremely fun to watch and the fans were impressed with him from the beginning.
The Great Muta. A modern version of The Great Kabuki, Muta was younger, faster, stronger, more high-flying, more athletic, more creative, more exciting to watch. Being Japanese, not speaking English, face painted, Gary Hart doing the talking for him, the colored mists he used in the ring, created a very mysterious and enigmatic performer. He was destined to become one of the all-time greats.
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