Best "First-Time Evers"

[IrishCanadian25]

It's a simple question. I want to compile a list of some great "first times" in professional wrestling history, from any promotion, and then pick some of the best and put up a poll. Here's what I need you all to do.

1. Research and post a legit "First Tme Ever."

2. Post AT LEAST one reason why it deserves a spot in the poll.

3. Be prepared to defend / debate the merits of your choice.

I'll start.

Shawn Michaels - the first man to win the Royal Rumble from the #1 Entry.

Much ado about nothing, to be honest. The 1995 Rumble was weak because it featured the shortest time between entrants - only one minute. Also, the man Michaels last eliminated - Davey Boy Smith - drew #2, so technically he was in the ring just as long as Michaels. Austin and Benoit's accomplishments of the task were more impressive, though I'd still pick Flair's 1992 run as the greatest single Rumble performance f all time.

Pedro Morales - first ever WWF Triple Crown Champion.

Damn fine feat. Titles changed hands FAR less frequently in th late 70's and early 80's. Morales won the WWF Title in 1971, and didn't hold a different title for more than 9 years - when he captured the Tag Team Title (w/ Bob Backlund) and Intercontinental Title within 4 months of one another. His WWF Title reign also lasted nearly 3 years, and featured feuds with Larry Henning and a 75-minute draw against Bruno Sammartino. He was no transitional champion.

So let's get some other firsts together.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A NON-SPAM THREAD, SO YOU CANNOT SIMPLY LIST AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. YOU MUST STATE WHY YOU FEEL IT WAS SIGNIFICANT! IF YOU DO NOT, YOU MAY BE WARNED OR EVEN INFRACTED FOR SPAMMING, AND WE HATE DOING THAT.

 

[FromTheSouth]

I am going with Jim Duggan's victory in the first Royal Rumble.

First of all, Duggan, at the time, was either the second or third biggest face in the company. Its fortunate that he was chosen to be the winner, in that he was able to elevate the event to PPV status.

At the time, Duggan was at his peak, and unfortunately for him, it was downhill from there. He would lose a feud to Savage, and he would never get a chance to be the top guy because Hogan and Savage had a stranglehold on the belt and there was an up and comer named The Ultimate Warrior who was on the track to be next.

Duggan's victory in the first Rumble served two purposes. His star power made this battle royale a little better and the first Rumble provided Hacksaw with a memory and an achievement that years of bad breaks, bad booking, and terrible disrespect can never take away.

 

[Checkmate]

I'm going to go on a slightly different route and say:

Edge becomes the first man to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase and win the WWE Championship. (Also, he was the first man to win the Money in the Bank ladder match.)

At the time, John Cena was pretty much dominating the title picture. Hell, he WAS the title picture. After winning the WWE title at Wrestlemania 21, Cena pretty much beat everyone and defended the title successfully through January of the following year. However, it was at New Year's Revolution after Cena was victorious in an Elimination Chamber that Edge finally cashed in on a "weak" Cena to win his first major title.

While Edge's reign would later be viewed as little more than transitional, the pure shock factor is what makes this first time moment special. Combined with all the factors from the event:

- Edge previously wrestled a match the same night (vs Flair, loss by DQ)
- Cena started the Elimination Chamber match
- A huge anti-Cena crowd

This moment was truly played out to perfection. As for the aftermath, it developed Edge as a main event player and furthered the "Ultimate Opportunist" character. Character development is so key in this business and something I feel is not played out enough. This situation was handled beautifully. It made Edge come off as an opportunistic heel while Cena retained some credibility as a top face and champion.

 

[Big Time]

Actually, I was going to say Pedro Morales being the first triple crown champion, but since someone beat me to it, I'll go with my runner up: Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik winning the first title change in Wrestlemania history. The Intercontinetal match at the first Wrestlemania ended in a count out between Greg Valentine and the Junkyard Dog, and the World Title was not contested at all. Instead, the first men to win a title at Wrestlemania goes to Nikolai and Sheik for winning the tag team titles at a time when the belts really did mean something

 

[Mitch Henessey]

Shawn Michaels winning the first Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series 2002 has to be my pick. Not only was this match awesome, but it also featured a thrilling ending between him and Triple H. This was Shawn's comeback year, and just like his win at Summerslam 2002, this win had a "special" feel to it.

Also, this was the last time we saw HBK wear world championship gold. I know he lost the title back to Triple H at the very next ppv, but still, I believe seeing Shawn as world champion for a little while was just incredible because it's something we might never see again.