10 Totally Insane Wrestling Crowd Moments
7. The Most Polite Crowd Starts A Riot
Generally, Mexican fans are rabid and earnest and receive the action with oscillating waves of noise not unlike a football match.
American fans are more performative, and while they will invest in the story, there's a sort of detached atmosphere that can feel ironic at times. They used to be far more heartfelt, but the psyche of the modern human being means that real "heat" is mostly a thing of the past. We went from real riots to ironic signs threatening to complain online.
Fans in the UK are hyper ironic. Everything has to be a chant. The classic between Tyler Bate and WALTER at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff was almost ruined by obnoxious chants that felt more patronising than supporting of the babyface.
The atmosphere in wrestling crowds has evolved over time, but in Japan, little has changed in contrast. Generally, they are respectful of the divide between audience and performer. The idea that they are quiet or reserved just isn't true; if anything, their being discerning makes it all the more vital and amazing when they really come to life in the frenzy of the stretch.
Which makes it all the more wild that the Ryogoku Sumo Hall crowd set cushions on fire and threw them into the ring when the debuting Big Van Vader defeated Antonio Inoki in a shocking five minutes in 1987. This wasn't necessarily driven by their hatred of the monster; a drunken set of fans celebrating 'forget the year' celebrations at a wrestling show were also wound up by the oppressive presence of bratty comic Beat Takeshi, whose lowbrow bullsh*t they loathed.
Basically, if the Miz ever attempts a run in the east, he's f*cked.