Chris Jericho's WWE Arrival and the Most Iconic Debuts in Wrestling History | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Emily Baldwin Some debuts are memorable because they create instant stars or provide unforgettable moments. The debuts of The Shockmaster and The Gobbledy Gooker definitely fall into the latter category.
Make no mistake about it: These were both disastrous segments. But that is part of what has made them so legendary over the years. Let's start with WWE's flop.
It was Survivor Series 1990. WWE had been hyping the hatching of a giant egg for weeks. No joke. When Hector Guerrero emerged in a turkey suit, nobody knew what to think. This was clearly one of the few ideas McMahon had that should have been nixed by somebody close to him.
Over the years, WWE has humorously referenced this segment and even had others dress up in the costume for anniversary shows and special occasions. It was ridiculous in every sense of the word, but nothing could top what WCW had in store a few years later.
Sting and The British Bulldog were preparing to reveal their mystery partner on A Flair For the Gold, an interview segment hosted by Ric Flair at Clash of Champions 24.
As Sting introduced The Shockmaster to the world, Fred Ottman came tumbling through a wall wearing a huge vest and a glittery stormtrooper helmet. It was one of those moments that can only happen on live television.
The Superstars on the stage had trouble containing their laughter as he tried to gather himself. To his credit, Sid Vicious continued to act serious, but you could see Booker T and Stevie Ray struggling to hide their chuckles.
Both of these debuts are still talked about to this day, which means—on some level—they worked. People might mock and laugh, but anything that is still being discussed 30 years later had an impact that cannot be denied.
Both characters have been immortalized as paintings by WWE's artist, Rob Schamberger, which speaks to how memorable those moments were.