Some REALLY good choices here. Frankly I'm kind of excited to see what they picked for the top 10 next week. If we're confining it to WWE matches, then I'd have to think Stone Cold's run-in during the Rock-Mankind title switch is #1 by a wide margin because that was one of the loudest noises of any kind, wrestling crowds or otherwise.
Some REALLY good choices here. Frankly I'm kind of excited to see what they picked for the top 10 next week. If we're confining it to WWE matches, then I'd have to think Stone Cold's run-in during the Rock-Mankind title switch is #1 by a wide margin because that was one of the loudest noises of any kind, wrestling crowds or otherwise.
Brock's comeback might top Austin's run in. And Styles and Taz were awful for RVD's big win.
ReplyDeleteI know it's kinds irrevelent but if WM X-7 was held like in a Raw sized arena then Austins entrance would be the loudest pop ever of all time IMO. Just watch the crowd explode.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your number one choice--say what you will about the Attitude era, and you'd probably be right, but the crowds were insanely passionate and their reactions were off-the-hook. I'd also be surprised if Eddie Guerrero's win over Brock for his first WWE title didn't crack the top ten.
ReplyDeleteGod, JR is good in some of those. "Jericho, Jericho, Jericho!!!!!"
ReplyDeleteBrock returning wasn't even close to that Austin pop!
ReplyDeleteWhere would Chris Benoit's Wrestlemania XX have ranked if it weren't obviously disqualified? Top 5?
ReplyDeleteThe crowd pops like 6 different times the 2 minutes he is on screen, it's amazing. I've never heard anything like that before.
ReplyDeleteHHH's return in 2002 at MSG would have to be right behind the Austin run-in for the Mankind title win.
ReplyDeleteSo many of these were recently mentioned right here....on this very blog. Somebody from WWE's been taking notes...
ReplyDeleteHow is Hogan slamming Andre all the way down at 20?!?!?!?! Really?!?!?!?!?
ReplyDeleteI was there that night sitting at 100 level, and it was one of the loudest things I have ever heard. You couldn't hear yourself think.
ReplyDeleteJust the visual of the crowd collectively losing their shit when the glass shatters is awesome
ReplyDeleteWhat the youngsters don't realize is that they can pick a random Raw out from Austin's era, and he would get MONSTER pops wherever he was at.
ReplyDeleteHogan's hulk-up against the Rock (WM 18) will be there... probably Eddy's win over Brock, too. And maybe Andre's WM 6 final face-turn (where he bitchslaps Bobby Heenan)?
ReplyDeleteWhat about the moment the word "Jericho" appears on the Titantron for the first time?
ReplyDeleteThe sound is impressive for a lot of these... but it's watching the crowd come collectively unglued that really makes them memorable. That's why I love that John Cena return at the Rumble so much.
ReplyDeleteNo chance of the Dallas six man tag showing up huh?
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I've seen that and love that MSG entrance set-up they had. It's unique.
ReplyDeleteI doubt they'll have a Bruno clip in the top ten, but if they do, it might be this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWqdNM_YG5k The MSG crowd's almost cultish, the way they're cheering for him to rip Arion's leg off.
ReplyDeletePlus, he FU'd Triple H out of the ring like a bag of garbage. Pretty satisfying, if you were one of the fans who really didn't want Triple H to win that match.
ReplyDeleteMSG should ALWAYS be set up like that. I love the 2000 Rumble there too with the taxi on top of the iconic short entrance way.
ReplyDeletewhy were they so excited?
ReplyDeletethey probably based the entire video on the thread we had about it
ReplyDeleteTotally agreed. I didn't even mind WMXX that much, but they have completely abandoned that style of entrance set now, as evidenced by Survivor Series '11. Not being from New York, that was the main reason I cared about a PPV being held in MSG, and I imagine it was the same for a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteYou remember the taxi cab and I remember the ramp made to look like a street and the steel doors for a curtain that guys had to side step out of.
I've been re-watching raws from the Attitude Era and the crowd is always deafening. Even random cities like Grand Rapids, MI sound like today's typical "smark" crowds.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much better now that they can show the old scratch logo and actually say WWF.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you know Triple H's MSG return from 2002 will be in there somewhere, probably the top 3. Rock's surprise return to help out Eugene, Mankind transforming into Cactus Jack prior to the Rumble '00 match again Triple H and the loudest CM Punk hometown hero pop should be in there as well.
Some bald headed guy named Steve, from Texas, was pretty well liked for some reason.
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty awesome. It should be at least top 5.
ReplyDeleteWhat was with the Backlund clip btw? It was like the Kurt Angle celebration when he beat Austin but much worse and way creepier.
ReplyDeleteWhat is RVD vs Cena doing at only 19? The crowd MADE that match. I cant think of anything in either WWE or even ECW for that matter that was like that. Could there be a more perfect heel for an ECW arena than John Cena? Maybe WWE doesn't want to promote the "Cena Swallows" chant.
ReplyDeletePunk MIB has to be top 10
ReplyDeleteTo this day the Rock winning at Backlash 2000 give me goosebumps... amazing amazing reaction.
ReplyDeleteOne of my other favourite crowd moments ever was the Warrior's return at WM8.... the crowd are confused for the first few seconds then they realise what is happening and they literally explode both in shock and excitement.
so does YES YES YES *Knee* new champ pop get a spot in the top 10?
ReplyDeleteThose old NWA pops were INSANE. A Ricky Morton tag got a pop like Hogan dropping the leg.
ReplyDeleteAgreed...that slam made 93,173 IN A DOME sound like a completely rabid arena holding 15,000 people...
ReplyDeleteIt gives me goosebumps to watch the slam and hear that reaction...
Nikita Koloff turns face: the 2:48 mark.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/OmO-U7atifQ
My favorite right there.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how anything other than the IYH: Canadian Stampede entrances can be #1.
ReplyDeleteThey were confused as they were confronted with the 2nd Ultimate Warrior.
ReplyDeleteThe Hulk-out spot at WM18.
ReplyDeleteJericho's debut.
Jericho beating HHH on Hebner's fast count.
Hogan beating Sheik for his first WWF title.
Davey Boy pinning Bret at Wembley.
All they did was put make up on Kerry Von Erich.. pfff I could of done a more convincing job than that.
ReplyDeleteI think the first Ultimate Warrior died.
ReplyDelete'Twas a fine pop, but it was no pool, English.
ReplyDeleteAt least one of the Rock's comebacks, either 2002 or 2011.
ReplyDeleteWarrior destroying Honky Tonk Man to win the IC belt at Summerslam 88.
Plus, the monster roar for Austin coming to kick Bischoff's ass at No Way Out 2003.
Eddie Guererro winning the WWE title.
Hogan's first title win in 1984.
Also shows hypocrisy of Cena haters, you can tell the entire crowd popping huge then guys booing as if thinking "oh, wait, booing Cena's the cool thing to do."
ReplyDelete...Uh, I mean... it was a big pop, but it doesn't come close to a lot of others that have been brought up.
ReplyDeleteYou want huge pops, check this out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkSFsE5TtJs
Seriously, this is Martel and Santana having the entire crowd going nuts winning the tag belts, you don't see passion like that for a tag bout anymore.
I'm trying to think of a joke that involves Andre being really heavy and him dying afterword so the crowd was in shock and couldn't cheer quite as loud. Help me out here.
ReplyDeleteI'm too lazy to YouTube it right now, but I remember Batista turning on Triple H getting quite the reaction.
ReplyDeleteAlso I watched Taker/HBK from 25 again last night, and the kick-out of the first tombstone is never not surprising and the crowd is so emotionally invested in it.
Tazz was really bad. He has his moments but he was not at his best there. "I guess!" Come on.
ReplyDeleteThe one that I'm pretty sure will end up top of WWE's list and what comes to mind first (probably for everyone) Austin helps Mankind win the title.. so I've gone through youtube scouting 'top of the pops'... and I just don't think anything can touch it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbZllc-7sn8 Austin helps Mankind in HQ.... too this day I thought it was my TV sound going all tinny, you can't even hear the commentary. It has to win... and the pop level continues all the way through the chair shot to the pin... just a crazy awesome moment. When a roar makes you actually think there is something wrong with your TV it has to win!
It's still insane. Even after he turned heel and pulverized Rock with a chair, on the three-count gets a "FUCK YEEEAAAAGGGHHH!!!" reaction.
ReplyDeleteGenerally you're expected to be quiet at a funeral.
ReplyDeleteAnd the speed that Hogan military pressed the 850 pound Andre (which tore all seventy muscles in the Hulkster's back) caused a vacuum effect which sucked all the air out of the arena. And sound can't travel in space brother.
I feel semi proud.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the last time Taz had "a moment"?? He's awful.
ReplyDeleteYeah the bad thing about the huge venues is they don't trap the sound.
ReplyDeleteGive the public what they want, and they respond.
ReplyDeleteHe was great on commentary ten years ago. It's weird how once-good commentators turn to shit. I don't understand it.
ReplyDeleteBecause most Cena detractors like myself don't so much hate the guy as are burned out on seeing him.
ReplyDeleteI would think so. I'd say at least top 3.
ReplyDeleteI still remember watching that on Scramblevision (do you kids even know what that is??) and flipping out trying to see if it really was him.
ReplyDeleteIf the Backlund clip isn't a work than that is pretty insane. Also don't remember HBK beating HHH for the title being that loud.
ReplyDeleteUnderrated one: The Hart Foundation winning the titles from Demolition at Summerslam '90. The crowd already went nuts when they saw the Road Warriors walk out, then got even LOUDER when Bret and Jim hit the shoulderblock-rollup combo for the pin. Jim's reaction only makes it better.
ReplyDeleteSince some of you have brought up some underrated crowd pops, I have to bring up the crowd pop that Hogan got when he finally accepted Andre The Giant's challenge for the big match at WrestleMania 3. I remember when they showed the crowd, literally everyone was standing and just going beserk. Hogan's impassioned "YESSSSSS!" only made that moment better.
ReplyDeleteScramble vision was wonderful as a kid. I remember putting on Wrestlemania X8 expecting to get scramble vision. My cable company at the time must have screwed up because it came in perfectly clear. Despite this I still turned it off after the Hogan-Rock match.
ReplyDeleteOdd one, but Shane McMahon's return at "No Way Out, 2000" has always stuck with me.
ReplyDeleteI hope they use HHH vs Rock Ladder match. When HHH grabbed the title, it was the biggest pop he's ever received.
ReplyDeleteJericho's debut....Austin's run-in at Backlash 2000, helping Rocky....CM Punk at MITB 2011 in his hometown...Undertaker's return at Judgment Day 2000, taking out Vince and company....Hogan/Rocky WM18....Flair's return to Nitro in NC back in '97......Mankind winning the title on RAW, putting butts in the seats.....possibly Edge's mid-air spear to Jeff Hardy in TLC II...any number of Naked Mideon appearances.
ReplyDeleteAgreed with conventional wisdom that Austin's run-in in Worcester to help Mankind beat Rock for the title has to be #1 and not even by a close margin.
ReplyDeleteYou could easily have an all-time "top 10 pops in Montreal" and "top 10 Austin pops" that would match right up there with any all-time top 10.
ReplyDeleteZiggler at the Raw after WM winning the title was epically loud and wild. D.Bry at SummerSlam before the shenanigans was pretty loud as well, and very wild.
ReplyDeleteZiggler title win pop
ReplyDeleteAny time is a good time for WHO'S YOUR DADDY, MONTREAL? Glad to see it make the list.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna have to say some of the ones in the top ten are gonna be Austin helping Foley win, Y2J debut, Punk winning at MitB and maybe Canadian Stampede entrances.
ReplyDeleteThat quick turn around from love to hate with Cena in that match was pretty amazing. As soon as the fans realized he was winning it was all over.
ReplyDeleteThat crowd was just excited to hear "Girls In Cars" played again!! Yeah baby!!!
ReplyDeleteThat was one of my favorite all-time markout moments. Seeing him come down that aisle with Dusty blew my mind.. and a lot of other people's minds too.
ReplyDeleteThat Backlund clip looked like a Jerry Sandusky Support Group pep rally.
ReplyDeleteHogan didn't slam Andre.. that was a hip toss!!
ReplyDeleteHow about when Lesnar suplerplexed Big Show through the ring at a Smackdown? The one where they collapsed the entire ring for the first time...
ReplyDeleteYouTube sucks so I couldn't get this to load all the way, but if it isn't on there, i'd have to go with the Undertaker's debut. That stunned silence is more memorable than a lot of loud pops. Just looking through the crowd at all the people who don't know what to make of him and are just slack jawed was really cool.
ReplyDeleteOne that has kind of fell through the cracks is Cena appearing on the Highlight Reel as Raw's #1 draft pick. I believe Jericho has said that's one of the biggest pops he's heard in his WWE career.
ReplyDeleteThe hulk-up spot had grown men turn into 7 year olds
ReplyDeleteI wish WCW had competent sound people so I could better gauge moments like DDP hitting the Diamond Cutter on Goldberg or this, which is just a crazy pop:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb7QOUdkadw
Figuratively.
ReplyDeleteJust cold. And funny.
ReplyDeleteThe reason why they abandoned it is because the MSG staff got rid of that entryway when they renovated the building in 2011 (fucking Dolan). The last Raw they had in there before 2011 had the classic set-up from those two Royal Rumbles.
ReplyDeleteI hope they don't put the HHH return as one of them. While it's clear that he did receive a substantial pop, they had his music blasting so loudly that I don't remember the crowd being significant. But that's a memory that's 11 years old, so maybe I'm wrong.
ReplyDeleteStill, I'm with a couple of the earlier posters on the Canadian Stampede entrance. They gave an Austin-like pop to Brian Pillman, and then somehow they only got louder with Anvil, louder with Bulldog, even louder with Owen, and participated in organized hysteria when Bret came out. The entrance pops are something to behold because the audience knows its coming but go batshit anyway.
I think what was even more amazing was during the match I think when Bret Hart was pummeling Stone Cold in the corner, the crowd was so loud, the camera was shaking...now that's some crowd noise!
ReplyDeleteI just watched that match on the "Best of IYH" set - oddly, the crowd noise was pretty subdued. I then popped in my VHS of the event, and it was every bit as loud and rabid as we all remember.
ReplyDeleteAnybody else experience this? Seemed so weird that they left the blood and head-shots in, but (apparently) messed with the audio. Am I alone on this?
A great one I haven't seen mentioned yet is Vince returning to Raw to knock out HHH in the back before clocking special referee Shane McMahon and counting Rock's pin of Big Show. Can't remember the year off the top of my head. Biggest pop Vince ever got, though.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking about? All the recap videos I've seen of that Royal Rumble show Cena eliminating Carlito to win that Rumble. I was always under the impression that Triple H just eliminated himself out of respect.
ReplyDeleteI love him during Eddie's title win. At first he's trying to chastise Eddie's cheating after Eddie DDT's Brock on the belt, then he eventually just says "fuck it, this is too awesome of a moment" after Eddie hits the Frog Splash.
ReplyDeleteYou ARE wrong. HHH's pop was so huge it was drowning out his blaring music. And it went on and on for like five minutes with barely a lull. Deserving of being in the top 5 for sure, and moreso than the Canadian Stampede entrances you mention.
ReplyDeleteNope, that'd be his '02 return by a good margin.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good one, but not nearly as big as people act.
ReplyDeleteWatching that RVD title win clip, have to say its pretty cool that they announce him as ECW Champion first.
ReplyDeleteWhen was the Rock title win at no.11? Can't place the timeline.
I'm almost positive it was at Backlash 2000, when the McMahon-Helmsley Regime was finally beaten by the forces of good... er, great.
ReplyDelete"Triple H is the toughest son-of-a-bitch I've ever faced!" he cried, as he threw himself over the top rope.
ReplyDeleteAgreed - one of the best sustained reactions ever.
ReplyDeleteYea iv always felt that was about the loudest pop ever
ReplyDeleteIt's not just the noise but the way people are flailing around jumping on top of each other losing their shit
ReplyDeleteOkay, fair enough. However, I distinctly remember being underwhelmed by the ensuing promo with starting off with "justin who the hell I am" and the blockbuster announcement!!!!!! that he was entering the Rumble. That probably colored my view of the pop he received.
ReplyDeleteAustin's intros in 98 and 99 could be the top 40 if they wanted. I've never seen or heard a wrestling crowd pop in such unison for a guy before.
ReplyDeleteI was at msg. It was decent but more of a oh shit pop. Crowd wanted rvd to win. Also Steiner's debut earlier in the night totally was the pop of the night. Crowd went nuts live.
ReplyDeleteYeah. The actual nature of the return was underwhelming even if the reaction definitely wasn't.
ReplyDeleteThat Jericho pop should have given them a hint that maybe they should have run with him at the top, instead of waiting a couple of years. But I guess that wouldn't have been good for business.
ReplyDeleteWere they cheering because Jericho won or because HHH lost and the person that beat him was inconsequential?
ReplyDeleteNo it was literally. The Hoosierdome was never the same.
ReplyDeleteAustin's run-in at Backlash 2000 got a bigger pop than Rock when the title in the match. I think it was probably Austin's best one ever, maybe his run-in for Mankind's first title win being a close second.
ReplyDeleteJericho was OVER. I'm watching the episodes of Raw and Smackdown when he was feuding with Chyna. Fans were firmly behind Jericho while he was bashing Chyna's thumb with a hammer and hiding behind a concussion excuse.
ReplyDelete2000
ReplyDeleteSarcasm aside, your last sentence is probably true. The HHH/Rocky main event at Backlash got the highest PPV buyrate ever for a B-Show up until that point, I believe.
ReplyDeleteY2J was over, that's indisputable, but I think they made the right decision at the time. Looking back, even though he always seemed to come out on the losing end of it, Jericho's on-and-off feud with Trips in 2000 was probably the best thing to happen to his career at that point until his series with The Rock in late '01.
The 2002 HHH/Jericho feud is an entirely different matter, however.
I still remember my dad knocking on my bedroom door and informing me that The Ultimate Warrior had died. He barely even watched wrestling at the time, so I have no idea where he would have heard that rumor.
ReplyDeleteI always thought it was Steve DiSalvo playing the second Ultimate Warrior
ReplyDeleteAnother amazing Vince pop was when he returned to save Linda from Steph and HHH during the period where he was first "banned" from WWE.
ReplyDelete