10 Most Heated WWE Crowd Reactions Ever
Euphoria and rage. Mostly rage; we are talking about wrestling fans.
Wrestling crowds are as criticised as the matches today - a natural consequence of their insistence on becoming part of the show.
They're almost invariably an obnoxious bunch. There used to be a time when, if fans weren't moved by the product, they would receive it with silence. That, sadly, is no longer always the case. The ever-present "CM Punk!" chants dogged even Seth Rollins - a man who, it should be remembered, many wanted to supplant Roman Reigns as the chosen breakout babyface of the Shield faction. He was also stricken with a recurrence of a knee injury. He was a walking (well, hobbling) figure of sympathy, and a phenomenal in-ring talent. But he was still met with a callous reaction during what was meant to be a heart-wrenching moment.
This is a relatively modern phenomenon; as a result, much of this list is compromised of moments vocally rejected by this indulgent audience. The power is in their hands. Whether or not that is a healthy development is irrelevant. It's a matter of fact.
Reassuringly, the majority of it isn't. Those fans are so often impervious to manipulation, but are still easily manipulated; it just takes a master to conduct them.
10. Monday Night RAW - March 22, 1999
Steve Austin was so hot during his run as The Man in the Attitude Era that his crowd reactions probably warrant a list of their own - but this was perhaps the most memorable moment of the epic, industry-shaking Mr. McMahon rivalry.
The Rock had already riled the crowd with his typically peerless stick work, promising to end the career of the "biggest piece of Texas trailer park trash walking God's green earth", before McMahon installed him as guest referee for that night's Steve Austin Vs. The Big Show main event. This naturally displeased Austin, prone to laying waste to the ring and dropping everybody in his proximity with the Stone Cold Stunner.
But this was the WrestleMania XV go-home show. It needed something to drive last minute orders, and Austin delivered, driving to the ring in a Coors Light beer truck - nearly removing the TitanTron from the arena rafters in the process.
McMahon sold it with his mouth agape. Austin filled that mouth with beer as the crowd went bananas even by Attitude Era standards. The selling of McMahon, Shane and The Rock made it - they swam in the bath like beached fish in a scene so good it actually excuses the obnoxious calls by cave-dwelling message board morons to BRING BACK TEH ATTITUDE ERA.