Wrestling Legends Who Debuted in the WWE Before You Remember

Wrestling Legends Who Debuted in the WWE Before You Remember

March 22, 2025

By Ryan Porzl

The WWE obviously has had it's share of legends come through their doors over the last 70 years. Many of which became legends or saw their legendary careers enhanced by the WWE. However, what some may not know is many legends in the WWE actually would debut a lot earlier for the promotion before their legendary runs. In some cases, they first arrived when they were rookies paying their dues. In this article, we'll take a look at some WWE legends who debuted and worked for the promotion before you probably thought they did.

I don't own any photos, I found them on Google. Credit to WWE or whomever owns them.

Credit to Cagematch for dates.

Curt Hennig- Obviously, most longtime fans are aware of the man known as "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig. One of wrestling's greatest wrestlers as well as personalities, Hennig mostly became known for his 1988-1996 run as "Mr. Perfect", a wrestler who claimed to do everything perfectly. Hennig would enjoy two runs with the Intercontinental Championship with his second reign being the longest of the 1990s all the while engaging in big feuds with Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Shawn Michaels to name some. During periods of inactivity due to back issues, he would work as a color commentator calling major Pay-Per-Views as well as various WWF TV programs and also worked as a manager for Flair and a young Triple H. Many also remember his brief return in 2002. However, these were not the first time the Perfect one graced a WWE ring. Hennig debuted for the WWF on June 9, 1981 where he defeated a man named Fred Marzino on a WWF Championship Wrestling TV Taping (shown June 13th). At the time, Hennig was 23 and 2 years in the business so he didn't go too far. Hennig worked most of 1981 engaging in matches with WWE Hall of Famer Johnny Rodz, legends like Dominic DeNucci, Mr. Fuji, Mr. Saito, Killer Khan, and Strong Kobayashi, and long time prelim names like SD Jones and "Quickdraw" Rick McGraw. On an interesting note, as a possible sign the WWF saw potential in him, Hennig would actually get a few title shots during this run. On July 18, 1981, Hennig teamed with DeNucci to challenge The Moondogs for the WWF Tag Team Championship, even winning by DQ (which means they don't win the title). As a sign of things to come, Hennig also received a few shots at the Magnificent Muraco and the Intercontinental Title but came up short. After leaving in early 1982, Hennig returned in October 1982 where he didn't do much though he did form a short team with fellow second generation legend Eddie Gilbert and challenged the Original Tiger Mask (Satoru Sayama) for the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship on November 17, 1982. His last match would be a loss to Jose Estrada on February 19, 1983.

Big John Studd- Studd's one of the more interesting names on the list as he not only had a few runs before his big one, he even captured a WWE title. Studd's best known for his last two runs in the WWF. The first being his famous 1982-1986 run where he enjoyed a long feud with Andre the Giant while also being a frequent challenger for Bob Backlund and Hulk Hogan during their WWF Championship reigns and was managed by "Classy" Freddie Blassie and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Studd would also have big Wrestlemania moments including his bodyslam match with Andre at I and his confrontation with Super Bowl Champion William "The Refrigerator" Perry at 2. Studd also would have a cup of coffee return from late 1988 to mid 1989 where he resumed his feud with a now heel Andre while he was the babyface, he refereed Andre's match with Jake Roberts at Wrestlemania V, and he achieved his most famous victory by winning the 1989 Royal Rumble. Studd debuted in the WWWF on July 18, 1972 defeating Jerry Novak on a WWWF Championship Wrestling TV taping (shown July 22nd). During his first run, Studd wrestled as "Chuck O'Connor" and wouldn't do too much as he debuted right around the time he began wrestling so he was a rookie. That said, Studd would have matches with former champions like Sonny King to WWE Hall of Famers like Arnold Skaaland, Chief Jay Strongbow, and Gorilla Monsoon. He would also get a shot at the WWWF Championship on October 24, 1972 against Pedro Morales. After leaving the WWWF in 1973, Studd returned in March 1976 under a mask as part of the Executioners tag team along with mentor Killer Kowalski and managed by "Captain" Lou Albano. The team would be successful and tasted gold when they defeated Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi on May 11, 1976 for the WWWF Tag Team Championship. Studd and Kowalski reigned as champions for nearly six months before being stripped of the titles on October 26th when a third executioner (Nikolai Volkoff) interfered on their behalf. After being stripped of the titles, Studd and Kowalski would get many matches with new champions Chief Jay Strongbow and Billy White Wolf but were never able to regain the titles. Studd would wrestle his last match on April 25, 1977 losing to Bob Backlund before leaving. Along with the WWWF Tag Team Championship run, Studd also won Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Tag Team of the Year award for 1976 as part of the Executioners.

Bull Nakano- Nakano is one of two female Hall of Famers on this list who debuted before most did but had a short first run. To many, Nakano had one run in the WWF which ran from 1994-1995 where she feuded with Alundra Blayze over the WWF Women's Championship. Nakano would even enjoy a run with the gold, winning the title on November 20, 1994 and holding it till she lost it back to Alundra on April 3, 1995. However, that wouldn't be the case as she competed for the WWF nearly a decade before. In March 1986, Nakano wrestled three matches for the WWF teaming with fellow Joshi legend Dump Matsumoto as the Japanese Devils. Her debut match was March 8, 1986 at a show at the Boston Garden teaming with Matsumoto in a losing effort to Dawn Marie (the Survivor Series 1987 one not the ECW/WWE valet) and Velvet McIntyre. Their second match was March 11th on a Prime Time Wrestling taping (shown April 21st) defeating Candice Pardue and Susan Starr. Their last match would be at Madison Square Garden on March 16th defeating Velvet and Linda Gonzalaz.

Jim Duggan- Being from Glen Falls, New York, it probably shouldn't shock people Duggan started in WWF earlier than known. Duggan's best known WWF run was his 1987-1993 run as a popular midcard attraction who engaged in feuds with Harley Race, Dino Bravo, Randy Savage, and Yokozuna. Though he never held a championship, Duggan did win the 1988 Royal Rumble thus etching his place in history and was one of the more memorable characters during his six year run. Duggan would later appear during the 2000s/2010s as an occasional nostalgia act. Duggan first worked for the WWF on October 5, 1979 defeating Moose Monroe at a WWF live event in his home town of Glen Falls. Duggan would work for the WWF for a little over a year but because he was still new to the business (debuting in 1979), he was mostly in the undercard and didn't challenge or win any titles. Duggan would score wins over the likes of Johnny Rodz, Baron Mikel Scicluna, and Hussein Arab (the future Iron Sheik) while coming up short against names like The Wild Samoans, Sgt. Slaughter, Ken Patera, Stan Hansen, and Hulk Hogan. His last match for the promotion would be on February 7, 1981 teaming with Frank Savage in a loss to future tag team champions the Moondogs.

Ted Dibiase- Few wrestlers were as memorable in the 1980s than Ted Dibiase. Dibiase is best known for his 1987-1993 run as the selfish and greedy "Million Dollar Man" where he gladly flaunted his money and all he could get from it or all the things he could make people do for it. Dibiase was one of the biggest talents of his time from main eventing Wrestlemania IV to having legendary feuds and matches with Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, Virgil, Legion of Doom, Natural Disasters, and Steiner Brothers. After his career ended due to injuries, Dibiase then worked for the WWF from 1994-1996 as a color commentator and manager where perhaps his biggest achievement was introducing WWF audiences to the future "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. As far as most fans know, Dibiase won his first title on February 7, 1992 when he and IRS won the WWF Tag Titles from LOD. As far as they know, Dibiase didn't win a singles title until he won the WWE 24/7 Championship in 2019. However, neither were correct. In fact, Dibiase's big 1987-1993 run wasn't the first time he competed in the WWF and it wouldn't be the first time he tasted WWF/WWE gold. Dibiase first debuted in the WWWF/WWF in 1979 and upon entry would be awarded the WWWF North American Championship (a predecessor to the Intercontinental Championship). Dibiase's debut would be on February 14, 1979 when he wrestled two matches at a Championship Wrestling TV taping defeating Tony Russo (shown February 17th) and then Bob Colt (shown March 3rd). Dibiase would work for the WWWF/WWF throughout 1979 fending off challenges from Nikolai Volkoff, Johnny Valiant, Jimmy Valiant, Hussein Arab (The Iron Sheik), Johnny Rodz, and Baron Mikel Scicluna before losing the title to Pat Patterson on June 19th during a Championship Wrestling TV taping (shown June 23rd). After losing the gold, Dibiase would engage in rematches with Patterson as well as challenge Patterson for the IC Title but came up short. He would also team with Dominic DeNucci for several Tag Team Championship matches against the Valiants but lost. His last WWF match would be fascinating in retrospect. On December 17, 1979 Dibiase would lose his last match against a man who was making his Madison Square Garden debut. That man making his MSG debut: Hulk Hogan.

Jesse Ventura- The man who claimed to tell it like it is had quite the in-ring history before achieving his biggest fame on the headset. Ventura is best known for his 1984-1990 run where he was among many to make the pilgrimage to the WWF just as Vince began his national expansion. Originally, he came in a wrestler and a challenger for Hulk Hogan's WWF Championship. Then in September 1984, Ventura would be sidelined with blood clots in his lungs and he began to make the transition to color commentary. While, Ventura would return to the ring, he made no impact and retired by March 1986. However, Ventura would achieve bigger fame as a commentator voicing various WWF TV shows to the Saturday Night's Main Events to most of the Pay-Per-Views of that era. Along with Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Ventura would change the game as far as wrestling commentary by becoming one of the first pro heel commentators in wrestling history. However, Ventura made a name in the WWF long before that. Ventura debuted for the WWF in 1981 managed by "Classy" Freddie Blassie. His debut match was a win over Steve King on October 13th during a Championship Wrestling taping (shown October 31st). Ventura's run would occasionally see him continue his AWA tag team the East-West Connection with Adrian Adonis where they scored wins over former champs Tony Garea and Rick Martel. However. he mostly was used as a singles wrestler being both a frequent opponent for WWF Champion Bob Backlund as well as Intercontinental Champion Pedro Morales challenging for both titles. Ventura would work for the WWF until June 1982 finishing up with losses to Andre the Giant, Tony Atlas, and future tag team champions Jay and Jules Strongbow with his last match being a loss to Atlas on June 12, 1982.

Molly Holly- Molly is like Bull Nakano in this list. Both are female HOFs, both appeared for the WWF before many thought they did, and both their first runs were short. Molly is best known for her 2000-2005 run where she debuted as the upbeat and happy-go-lucky member of the Holly Cousins alongside cousins Hardcore and Crash. After a run as The Hurricane's sidekick Mighty Molly, she reinvented herself as a prudish heel where she achieved her biggest success. Molly held the WWF Women's Championship twice as well as the Hardcore Championship once while engaging in memorable matches and feuds with Trish Stratus, Lita, and Victoria. However, this run wasn't Molly's first in a WWF ring, nor was it the first time she competed for the Women's Championship. In September 1998, very early in her career, Molly made two appearances for the WWF under the name Starla Saxton. He first match would be on September 28, 1998 during a dark match for a Shotgun Saturday Night taping where she challenged Jacqueline for the recently revived WWF Women's Championship but came up short. She then made her first televised appearance on September 29th for a Sunday Night Heat taping (shown October 11th) where she again came up short against Jacqueline in another title match.

Bad News Brown- Like "Superstar" Billy Graham, Bad News Brown is another guy many could consider "20 years too soon". An Olympic level judoka turned wrestler, Brown was one of many to be considered one of wrestling's toughest guys. His confrontation with Andre the Giant where he called The Eighth Wonder of The World out for a fight over Andre's use of the n-word only for Andre to back down is legendary. Brown is best known for his 1988-1990 run in the WWF where he engaged in feuds with Bret Hart, Roddy Piper, and Jake Roberts all the while facing "Macho Man" Randy Savage for the WWF Championship and even facing Hulk Hogan on a Saturday Night's Main Event. Perhaps his peak in the promotion was winning a 20 man battle royal in the opening match at Wrestlemania IV. However, this wouldn't be the first time the man from Harlem competed in a WWF squared circle. Brown (under his real name Allen Coage) actually debuted for the WWWF (soon to be WWF) in January 1979 with his first match being a win at a WWWF live event against a man named Steve King on January 20, 1979. Brown wrestled for the WWWF/WWF for several months in 1979 but like many on this list, this was early in his career so he didn't go too far. Brown would score wins over legendary prelim talent such as SD Jones and Frank Williams while also facing WWE Hall of Famer Johnny Rodz as well as legends like Tony Garea, Larry Zbyszko, Dominic DeNucci, and Baron Mikel Scicluna. Brown's last match of this tenure was his biggest when he teamed with Joe Joe Andrews to challenge New Japan's Seiji Sakaguchi and Riki Choshu for the NWA North American Tag Team Championships at Madison Square Garden on December 17, 1979 in a losing effort. Brown would somewhat return to the WWF for two shots in November 1984 when the promotion ran two co-promoted shows with the Hart Family's Stampede Wrestling. For these shots (as Bad News Allen), he defeated former Stu Hart son-in-law Ben Bassarab and former WWF prelim wrestler "Quickdraw" Rick McGraw.

Greg Valentine- Valentine is another interesting one as the irony is that his early and forgettable runs saw him perhaps came the closest to the big prize. To WWF fans, Valentine is best known for his 1984-1992 run where he held the Intercontinental Championship and the WWF Tag Team Championship with Brutus Beefcake all the while engaging in memorable feuds with Tito Santana, Ron Garvin, the British Bulldogs, and the Rougeau Brothers. Valentine first appeared for the WWWF in 1975 for two matches defeating El Olympico on April 14th on a WWWF on HBO special and then lost to Victor Rivera on May 19th. Valentine's first big run would see him compete from December 1978 to October 1979 where he was managed by The Grand Wizard of Wrestling. He scored wins over longtime prelim names like SD Jones and Frank Williams to champions like Dominic DeNucci, Tony Garea, and Ivan Putski while feuding with Chief Jay Strongbow. He was a frequent challenger to Bob Backlund's WWF Championship and Ted Dibiase's North American Championship. After leaving, Valentine returned to the WWF in June 1981, reuniting with Wizard and it was this run where he perhaps came his closest to being the WWF Champion. On October 19th, Valentine challenged Backlund for the WWF Championship. After the referee was briefly taken out, Backlund would score the win only for the dazed referee to raise Valentine's hand and declare him the winner. Due to the controversy, the title was considered vacant in New York. A rematch would occur on November 23rd where Backlund defeated Valentine. For the MSG crowd, this was for the vacant title but WWF would consider this a standard title defense as the vacancy is not recognized. Valentine continued into 1982 when he continued chasing Backlund and also challenged Pedro Morales for the Intercontinental Championship many times but came up short. His last match would be June 28, 1982 at MSG in a loss to Tony Atlas.

Bobby Roode- We'll last look at a more modern example. Roode is best known to WWE fans for his current WWE run since 2016 where he first appeared in NXT and enjoyed a run with the NXT Championship before a good run on the main roster enjoying runs with the United States Championship, the RAW World Tag Team Championship with Dolph Ziggler, and the 24/7 Championship before retiring and now working as a producer. Roode actually worked for the WWE on and off from 2001-2004 mostly doing prelim work. His debut match was a win against Larry Destiny on a dark match before RAW on January 29, 2001. Roode would continue working for the WWE until 2004 mostly here and there and only for b or c level shows like Sunday Night Heat, Velocity, and Jakked where continued to work as a preliminary talent losing to the stars. During his run, Roode would face the likes of Perry Saturn, Albert, Billy Kidman, Al Snow, and Sean O'Haire. Roode would even get a title match, teaming with Tyson Dux to challenge La Resistance for the World Tag Team Championship during a Heat on July 7, 2003 (shown July 13th). His last match was a loss to Matt Hardy on an episode of Heat on May 24, 2004 (shown May 30th).