The importance of Crowds!

[Jim Tailbait]

Apologies to the community if there has already been a post regarding this.

It is apparent I am late with this but I simply wanted to allude to the fact that over the past week, the crowds have brought about a real buzz. Of course on Monday the rock will always generate good ovations, particularly in his home town, a return from any top star (Lesnar) from a former era will invoke a reaction as does the always "controversial" John Cena, as the E puts it.

However, much kudos should be given to the crowd at Mania and the following Raw for staying strong throughout, particularly on Raw. Apart from the aforementioned, it was a standardize with much of the same players, but the crowd made the whole show feel electric.

From the pop for the Rock and Lesnar, to the boos for John Cena, to the Yes! Yes! Yes! to the Si! SI! Si! and the Holy S**T chants that were once again prevalent, the fans were truly one of the stars of the show.

The proceeding question is, were the fans energetic due to the usual hype that comes around in this season, due a perceiving a real excitement with the current product or just an anomaly? Furthermore, do you see these type of crowds continuing.

IMO I certainly felt more of a buzz throughout the show, which generated real interest in the product and allowed me to watch an entire episode of Raw, without cutting through some of the less entertaining sections, ust to follow the crowd throughout.

Lastly, not encapsulated within the title of this post, but something I wanted to refer to was Brock Lesnar. I have always been a fan of his first run and certainly during his time in Japan and the UFC. I thought it was particularly cool how he circled the ring with Cena in it before going in. The sign of a true predator, who many will know can in fact truly beat anyone in the company - No doubt Lesnar is a true fighter and his strength, particularly at the time of his first run was unprecedented. Sure hoisting big show up and delivering an AA is impressive but in technical terms, it's an adjusted fireman carry, as opposed to the F5, which has always been my favourite finisher, (So yes I am biased to it) where the Big Show is lifted and spun around.

As always, with the very nature of a forum, please post replies, thoughts, opinions and comments...

[StraightEDGeSavior]

I couldn't agree more with you Jim. I think WWE needs crowds like they had on Monday Night, but there are many reasons why a lot of crowds aren't like that:

1. CENA FANS SUCK
I know that sounds like an ignorant post, but I was just at a Raw and all of these fresh "PG era fans" are the stiffest, most unaware audience members who only stand up when Cena comes out. I know that its good for business to keep it PG and family friendly, but come on nothing is better than seeing a riled up crowd of drunk dudes screaming about something that is actually relevant, not kids cheering when Cena takes down the bad guy. I was at the Raw after chamber, and trying to start "boots to asses" chants surrounded by fat slow kids with Cena shirts was one of the most frustrating things I've been a part of.

2. It was Raw after Mania
The fact that it was the Raw after mania, and many of the real fans must have stuck around for the Monday after Mania because no random crowd is that spot on with current affairs (especially the We want Lesnar and Daniel Bryan chants)...just imagine if all crowds started yelling YES YES YES and oooooooohhhhhhh before every move, the otherwise typical "Mark Henry 15 minute beatdown" match against punk was UNBELIEVABLY engaging thanks to the crowd

3. Stadiums SUCK
I understand the millions of dollars in revenue they aquire at the gate of big stadiums, but I feel like crowds haven't been as electric at Mania in the last few years because its hard to get a solid SOUND with a wide open stadium. Thats why i think crowds were also hot back in the attitude era, because they stuffed 18,000 people in a closed, tiny arena (which i actually prefer)...but by the looks of the direction of the company, they are making wrestlemania bigger and bigger for years to come, but heres some advice vinny mac: CLOSE THE ROOF

And to go back to your Brock marking out...couldn't agree more. SO glad that Brock got to return to a great crowd that gave him a bigger pop than the Rock has gotten since hes been back...honestly don't think I've heard a bigger pop since Stone Cold returned to special guest referee Trump vs. Vinny Mac

[PandaMassacre]

I was always a fan when crowds did stuff like this;;

[rhyno535]

IM going to put a clip too. This is how real fans of wrestling acts. Just look at the video.






I know that the wrestlers have a huge fan base but the crowd was just awesome.
One of the best raws and main event imo.

[Shaz11]

The You Suck chants were just legendary!

[PandaMassacre]

The You Suck chants were just legendary!

Haha!! That chant condemned Kurt Angle to being a heel for the majority of his time with the WWE. When he tried to be a face it just felt awkward to me.

[akbar]

kane's theme music is second to none...

[justinjackson1983]

1. CENA FANS SUCK
I know that sounds like an ignorant post, but I was just at a Raw and all of these fresh "PG era fans" are the stiffest, most unaware audience members who only stand up when Cena comes out. I know that its good for business to keep it PG and family friendly, but come on nothing is better than seeing a riled up crowd of drunk dudes screaming about something that is actually relevant, not kids cheering when Cena takes down the bad guy. I was at the Raw after chamber, and trying to start "boots to asses" chants surrounded by fat slow kids with Cena shirts was one of the most frustrating things I've been a part of.

So what your saying then is the "kids" that buy merchandise and cheer for their favorite wrestler are not real fans? they are only real fans if they shout yes,get drunk and blindly support the attitude era?

that's just being bitchy anyone who pays for their ticket can cheer Cena or anyone all they want and be just as much as a fan as the person in a cm punk T-shirt, maybe its less to do with cena fans being boring its more to do with some fans may be worried to cheer for certain wrestlers because older fans will be disrespectful.

(also I find it a bit cringe worthy a fully grown man is trying to get young children to shout 'asses' and one more thing considering you said they had a cena t-shirt on, you singing boots to asses which is a rock chant.....are you that surprised they didnt do it with you?)

[The Expendable]

This is an epic crowd

[El T Draino 316]

So what your saying then is the "kids" that buy merchandise and cheer for their favorite wrestler are not real fans? they are only real fans if they shout yes,get drunk and blindly support the attitude era?

that's just being bitchy anyone who pays for their ticket can cheer Cena or anyone all they want and be just as much as a fan as the person in a cm punk T-shirt, maybe its less to do with cena fans being boring its more to do with some fans may be worried to cheer for certain wrestlers because older fans will be disrespectful.

(also I find it a bit cringe worthy a fully grown man is trying to get young children to shout 'asses' and one more thing considering you said they had a cena t-shirt on, you singing boots to asses which is a rock chant.....are you that surprised they didnt do it with you?)

Agreed Justin. A fan like this actually thinks he's a better fan because he cheered the Rock at Mania. Posers cheered the Rock. REAL fans, real WRESTLING fans cheered Cena. I was at Mania, rowdy as hell, and loud as hell... for CENA. The guy eat sleeps and breaths the industry and the company. He's a class act. He's the epitome of what we want wrestlers to be - dedicated, hard working, and loyal to the industry. And it's cool to boo him during the biggest match of his entire life? Be sick of his gimmick, that's fine, but don't rip on his fans. It's trendy to boo Cena. It's trendy to cheer the Rock.

I know it was scripted when he said it, but that match MEANT more to John Cena - not for his 'wrestling career or standing', but as a man. I bet that was the toughest pill Cena's ever had to swallow getting pinned clean by the Rock at Mania. If there isn't a rematch with a Cena win on a stage just as big or bigger, I think Vince and Rock are pathetic for allowing that finish.