Ever since the inaugural Survivor Series event in 1987, the PLE has stood as one of WWE’s most significant shows of the year. WWE has presented the Survivor Series event annually without interruption, cementing its place among the company’s “Big Four” pay-per-view events. While we’ve witnessed various iterations and formats of Survivor Series over the decades, it has consistently remained an exciting event on the WWE calendar.
Given the prestige of Survivor Series, the event has produced countless memorable moments throughout its history, including several iconic debuts that left lasting impressions. As we approach the 2025 edition and anticipate more unforgettable moments, let’s revisit five Survivor Series debuts that remain unforgettable to this date.
5. Kurt Angle (1999)
After signing with WWE in 1998, the Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle finally stepped into a WWE ring at Survivor Series 1999. WWE built anticipation for the debut through weeks of promotional vignettes, setting the stage for Angle’s first official match against Shawn Stasiak.
Stasiak put up a fight against Angle, but Angle picked up the win, hitting him with the Olympic Slam. Angle would quickly gain a lot of success in the WWE, as he had one of the best rookie years in WWE history, even winning the WWE Championship in 2000. While the debut match itself isn’t much special, it kicked off the career of a future WWE Hall of Famer who is considered one of professional wrestling’s all-time greats.
