10 Most Heated WWE Crowd Reactions Ever

2. Money In The Bank - July 17, 2011

John Cena Crowd Reactions
WWE.com

If not fate, then the events of and leading into July 17, 2011 were massively serendipitous. CM Punk was so single-minded in his talent and work ethic that he created the catchphrase "luck is for losers" - but that his massively anticipated challenge of John Cena's WWE Heavyweight Title just happened to take place in Chicago betrayed his bluster. Fortune had favoured his brave decision to threaten his departure in the months prior to it.

The reaction to even the promise of his entrance was seismic. When he made his appearance - even on second, third, eleventh viewing - the pop still lifts every fine white hair on your neck. It really was as special as its instant mythology conveyed it as. Punk's crowd appeals created a new metric for the geiger counter. He stood on the turnbuckle, whipping his home city crowd into a borderline rabid state.

The storytelling in the match itself was equally powerful. To underline the theme of escapism - he wasn't really leaving at midnight, but you wouldn't have guessed, based on the once in a lifetime reaction - he found a counter to every last move and retread of Cena's repertoire.

That reaction was somehow sustained over an epic thirty-five minute duration. Watching it back six years later is almost rewarding enough to excuse the subsequent retconned mess of missed opportunity.

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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!