10 Fascinating WWE SummerSlam 2011 Facts

5. A Well-Known Indy Star Acted As A Planted Fan During The Henry/Sheamus Match

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WWE.com

Mark Henry was receiving something akin to the Braun Strowman push in 2011, mauling his opponents in overtly-powerful ways. He won his match with Sheamus via countout after slamming the big Irishman through the ringside barricade in one of those gnarly visuals that inspire viral videos.

To sharp-eyed viewers, a familiar face was among the crowd that watched in shock and awe as Henry and Sheamus crashed through the barrier. His reaction was one of over-the-top horror, and he was planted there to give precisely that reaction to the spot.

The person in question was none other than Joey Ryan, who would refer to his reaction in a subsequent interview as a "Home Alone sell". He claims that Punk told him that the boys in the locker room popped big for his salesmanship. As a footnote, one night later at the Raw tapings, Ryan got a tryout match with Bo Dallas (then known as Bo Rotunda), though unfortunately for Ryan, he was not hired.

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Justin has been a wrestling fan since 1989, and has been writing about it since 2009. Since 2014, Justin has been a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine. Justin also writes for History of Wrestling, and is a contributing author to James Dixon's Titan series.