10 Loudest Pops In WWE Royal Rumble History
"Stone Cold! Stone Cold! Stone Cold!"
If WWE programming is programmed with the primary goal of delivering memorable moments (as the company themselves are won't to tell us), the Royal Rumble is an absolute goldmine.
Unexpected returns, surprise debuts, first-time showdowns, monstrous rampages: WWE's biggest signature match delivers each one with unmatched regularity. It's for this reason that it remains a major highlight on most wrestling fans' annual calendars. The Rumble doesn't always give us the winner we want, but it never fails to provide a few pop-worthy moments, even in 'bad' years.
The event is defined by such things, and WWE will be tasked with delivering twice as many as usual on January 28th, as the traditional men's match is joined by a women's version for the very first time. It's too early to tell how the bouts themselves will go, but the roof should be blown off Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center several times, particularly if the company deliver on rumoured appearances from Ronda Rousey, Batista, and more.
With Royal Rumble 2018 looming, let's take a look at some of the biggest eardrum-bursting, ground-shaking pops in the event's history, along with the moments that provoked them.
10. Chris Jericho's Return (2013)
Chris Jericho had been absent for five months prior to the 2013 Royal Rumble. A post-SummerSlam loss to Dolph Ziggler saw him not only fail to take 'The Show-Off's' Money In The Bank Briefcase, but cast into the wilderness, with his WWE contract terminated as per the match stipulation.
This was the company's way of writing him off so that he could spend the rest of 2012 touring with Fozzy. Everyone knew Jericho would eventually return, but nobody was sure when, exactly, and this is partly why his 2013 Rumble comeback went so well.
Ziggler was in the ring, having entered the bout at number one. 'Mr. Money In The Bank' cut a typical gloating promo, promising to score a second guaranteed title shot by going all the way to win the Rumble, completely oblivious to what was coming his way.
'Break The Walls Down' hit the PA system. Cue a huge pyrotechnic explosion, a monstrous crowd reaction, and revulsion from Ziggler, who struggled to contain his disappointment. Dolph had the last laugh in the end, though: both lasted a long time, but 'The Show-Off' eventually shook the Jericho-shaped monkey off his back by throwing him out on 48 minutes.