8 WWE Matches Where The Crowd Was The Star
6. Mabel Vs. Savio Vega (King Of The Ring 1995)
At least the prior matches occurred in the 2010s, with fans so jaded and in-the-know thanks to the internet. It was very damning of the WWE’s mid-90s product, when the average fan knew maybe a 10th of what they know now, that the crowd was hijacking PPVs.
In a King of the Ring tournament that featured Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker, Vince decided to give the main event rub to oversized and under-talented Mabel. Already a dismal show, the Philadelphia crowd decided they’d had enough in the final where Mabel defeated Savio Vega. Thus, Vince, and a national audience were treated to three unforgettable letters: E-C-W.
By 1995, Paul Heyman’s edgy, ground-breaking Extreme Championship Wrestling had become the go-to wrestling for the City of Brotherly Love, and Vince McMahon’s tacky cartoon starring overweight husks was just detestable. The hardcore Philly fans were sick of it, and they let the WWF know it.
Arguably, this is one of the most important hijackings in history, as it finally forced Vince to pay attention to what he originally thought was just a dingy outlaw promotion. With ECW and WWF’s relationship forming, it allowed the latter to find new talent as well as experiment with an edgier, more realistic tone, which eventually gave way to the vaunted Attitude Era. So, thanks Philadelphia, for hijacking Mabel vs. Savio Vega... not that you needed to be asked.