10 Loudest Wrestling Pops You Didn't Know About

2. Finn Bálor Returns Home

Dean Malenko Ciclope
OTT Wrestling

A masterclass of pro wrestling production married to a wrestling moment as shocking as it was charged with emotion, Finn Bálor returned to Dublin ahead of Christmas in 2016.

WWE stars didn't just turn up to their local indie, no matter how hot that indie was. The production values that hyped his appearance were so exquisite that OTT barely felt like an indie at all: after a countdown, red lights flickered and the sound of a pulse reverberated from the PA. Shadowy images of a suited figure flashed on the big screen. The Tivoli Theatre was drenched in a bath of red light. With the anticipation ramped up, the remixed segue exploded into Bálor's WWE theme, and when the recuperating former Universal Champion made his entrance, the fans exploded. It was as if they were cheering a last-minute winner scored against the scum down the road.

As loud as the pop was, the crowd was library silent for his history lesson on the modern Republic of Ireland wrestling scene and plea to continue to support it. His manipulation of the crowd was expert. This was the antithesis of the "What?" chant.

Vince McMahon compared him to Super Mario three years later, on RAW, as part of his embarrassing main roster run.

Capital work.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!