WWE: Ranking the 4 Greatest Rookie Years Ever

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1. Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle by far had the greatest rookie year in the history of the WWE. After winning Olympic Gold in 1996, Angle decided to conquer the professional wrestling world in 1999. Angle would make his anticipate debut at the Survivor Series 1999.

He defeated Shawn Stasiak in the match and then would then go undefeated for the next three two months. Angle would lose his first match in a controversial fashion when he lost to the debuting Tazz at the 2000 Royal Rumble.

Angle would rebound quickly as he would win the European Championship from Val Venis on an episode of Smackdown in February. A few weeks later Angle would win the Intercontinental Championship from Chris Jericho at No Way Out.

Angle would become the second man in history to hold both the European and Intercontinental Championships at the same time. Angle would hold the titles until WrestleMania 2000, where he would lose both titles to Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit.

Kurt Angle though would bounce back as he would win the King of Ring Tournament. The tournament was the largest King of the Ring of all time as it featured 32 superstars on the roster. Angle prevailed through five matches defeating Rikishi in the finals.

Angle would then a love triangle-esque feud involving Stephanie McMahon and her husband Triple H. Their feud would go on throughout the summer and the fall with the two claiming victories over one another.

Kurt Angles biggest accomplishment would come just 11 months after he made his debut when he defeated The Rock at No Mercy 2000 to win the WWE Championship. Angle would hold the championship until February where he would lose it back to the People’s Champion.

Next: Kurt Angle Telling Promoters He's Going Back to WWE

With three championships and a King of the Ring tournament victory The Olympic Gold Medalist certainly had the greatest rookie year of all time.