10 Best Ways Wrestlers Responded To Crowd Signs

9. John Cena - If Cena Wins We Riot

Jade Cargill Beer Break Fan Sign
WWE.com

One of the most famous signs in wrestling history, "IF CENA WINS WE RIOT" was the perfect way to capture the spirit and atmosphere of the main event of ECW One Night Stand 2006.

Emanating from the iconic Hammerstein Ballroom, that One Night Stand PPV was memorably headlined by Rob Van Dam challenging for John Cena's WWE Champion. With Van Dam the most popular star in the history of ECW, and Cena the encapsulation of what a WWE Poster Boy should be, the stage was set for something electric as these two did battle.

To say Big Match John was hated on that night would be a ridiculously huge understatement. Forget your 50/50 crowd response of "Let's Go, Cena!", "Cena Sucks!"; the Hammerstein Ballroom went to town on Cena with intense, persistent boos, continuous "F**k You, Cena!" chants and a sea of middle fingers directed towards the WWE Champion.

How did Cena react to all of this? He heard the boos, he studied the room, he saw the signs, and he absolutely lapped it up and played right into the audience's hands as everything they accused him of being.

If may not have solely been the "IF CENA WINS WE RIOT" sign that influenced John Cena at One Night Stand, but it for sure warrants a mention here.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.