10 Most Heated WWE Crowd Reactions Ever
3. ECW One Night Stand - June 11, 2006
What is astonishing about the sheer volume generated by the hatred directed towards John Cena at the second ECW One Night Stand event is that there were only 2,460 people in New York's Hammerstein Ballroom.
The natives somehow made even more noise than a packed arena housing five times their number. The intimate acoustics doubtlessly helped - but Cena's position, as a trademark "WWE guy" and persona non grata, created an atmosphere as unique as it was toxic for Rob Van Dam's challenge of his WWE Championship.
Cena played his role perfectly, playing into the dynamic and subverting it when he kept tossing his t-shirt into the crowd. He feigned obliviousness, but he knew exactly what he was doing: manipulating the audience into a state of delirium more so than hatred. The match itself was plagued by botches - much like an honourable mention, his match with Triple H at WrestleMania 22, it doesn't really hold up - but it only added to the singular presentation.
As Cena made his entrance, the camera panned to a sign bearing the slogan "If Cena Wins We Riot". It has become a wrestling cliche in the years since - but the unique atmosphere was such that the possibility wasn't as remote as it is now. At least, before Cena displayed a grasp of psychology belying his reputation.