The "From Stone Mountain, Georgia" effect

[Aceorton]

Watching some old Jake Roberts matches (pre-music), and the crowd starts buzzing the second the announcer says where he's from, before Jake has even appeared. It was a huge part of his mystique, a moment where everyone would go, "Ohhhhhhh, hell yeah, it's Jake."

Were there other billed hometowns that got this kind of reaction during intros? I feel like Sarasota, Florida, for the Macho Man might have had a tinge of this, as well as Mud Lick, Kentucky, for Hillbilly Jim. Maybe the Fiji Islands for Snuka?

It seems like there was a narrow window for this phenomenon on the national level, since once everyone had entrance music, that became the thing that triggered crowd identification instead.

[Celexa Bliss 54]

Maybe "from Amarillo, Texas" for the Funks? Or "from Berlin, Germany" for Fritz and Waldo Von Erich?

[mystermystery]

One of my favorites was:
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico for Cactus Jack

[BorneAgain]

Mar 15, 2024 11:05:35 GMT -5 Aceorton said:

Watching some old Jake Roberts matches (pre-music), and the crowd starts buzzing the second the announcer says where he's from, before Jake has even appeared. It was a huge part of his mystique, a moment where everyone would go, "Ohhhhhhh, hell yeah, it's Jake."

Were there other billed hometowns that got this kind of reaction during intros? I feel like Sarasota, Florida, for the Macho Man might have had a tinge of this, as well as Mud Lick, Kentucky, for Hillbilly Jim. Maybe the Fiji Islands for Snuka?

It seems like there was a narrow window for this phenomenon on the national level, since once everyone had entrance music, that became the thing that triggered crowd identification instead.

One of my favorite spins on this was whenever the crowd heard "from Calgary Alberta Canada" and got excited only to boo when Owen came out as opposed to Bret like at Wrestlemania X.

[mrpeacock]

The Fiji islands is for sure one. Just look up Sivi Afis debut in WWF. They announce him from Fiji and the crowd goes wild, they even announce him as “Superfly”. But as soon as it’s not Snuka the crowd dies.

[Ultimo Gallos]

A local one

"From Black Water Mississippi" and the crowd knows Nightmare Jeremiah is coming out.

Or "Hailing from Buzzard's Roost Mississippi" means Hillbilly Joe is heading to the ring,and that means it is time for me to take a smoke/pee/snack break. Cause after you seen 1 Hillbilly Joe match you have seen them all.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Anyone from Beverly Hills, California, automatically got booed.

[fg]

Mar 15, 2024 19:19:28 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

Mar 15, 2024 11:05:35 GMT -5 Aceorton said:

Watching some old Jake Roberts matches (pre-music), and the crowd starts buzzing the second the announcer says where he's from, before Jake has even appeared. It was a huge part of his mystique, a moment where everyone would go, "Ohhhhhhh, hell yeah, it's Jake."

Were there other billed hometowns that got this kind of reaction during intros? I feel like Sarasota, Florida, for the Macho Man might have had a tinge of this, as well as Mud Lick, Kentucky, for Hillbilly Jim. Maybe the Fiji Islands for Snuka?

It seems like there was a narrow window for this phenomenon on the national level, since once everyone had entrance music, that became the thing that triggered crowd identification instead.

One of my favorite spins on this was whenever the crowd heard "from Calgary Alberta Canada" and got excited only to boo when Owen came out as opposed to Bret like at Wrestlemania X.

On a side note, Vince looked dumb when Owen’s music played and the ring announcer announced Owen’s weight (227 lbs), he clearly thought Bret was coming out only to be surprised when Owen came out,

[CMWaters]

From the Double Cross Ranch in Amarillo, Texas...

[SmashTV]

Glasgow, Scotland for Piper, especially pre-music heel.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

One of my favorite ring introductions was at WrestleMania X where Bill Dunn went "FROM CALGARY ALBERTA CANADA!" and crowd popped big for Bret only for Owen to come out instead.

[Urn Anderson]

Howard Finkel’s “from Death Valley” was always great.

[Aceorton]

Mar 16, 2024 9:29:28 GMT -5 SmashTV said:

Glasgow, Scotland for Piper, especially pre-music heel.

Now that you mention this, "from Teheran, Iran" also got people worked up instantly. Finkel would drag it out. "From TEHERANNNNNN, IRANNNNN ..."

Glens Falls, New York, maybe, for Duggan?

[Rumble McSkirmish]

When Finkle belted out: :"From Grenoble in the French Alps!" The crowd always knew Andre The Giant was on his way.

[ianriccaboni]

Mar 15, 2024 19:47:18 GMT -5 mrpeacock said:

The Fiji islands is for sure one. Just look up Sivi Afis debut in WWF. They announce him from Fiji and the crowd goes wild, they even announce him as “Superfly”. But as soon as it’s not Snuka the crowd dies.

One of the all time crazy WWF moments for all (and there were many!) wrong reasons.

[mrpeacock]

Mar 16, 2024 17:00:35 GMT -5 ianriccaboni said:

Mar 15, 2024 19:47:18 GMT -5 mrpeacock said:

The Fiji islands is for sure one. Just look up Sivi Afis debut in WWF. They announce him from Fiji and the crowd goes wild, they even announce him as “Superfly”. But as soon as it’s not Snuka the crowd dies.

One of the all time crazy WWF moments for all (and there were many!) wrong reasons.

Made more inexplicable by him coming out to the Theme from Shaft.

[tafkaga]

"Making his spring residence in Palm Beach, Florida...."

[J. Hova]

Hogan always had music for his big run, right? Eye of the Tiger and then Real American. I'll always associate Venice Beach, California with Hulk (sorry Sting). I think during his initial run and in the AWA he was billed from NYC.

[salz4life]

From anywhere he damn well pleases.... Sid Vicious

[Stone Coke Miami Watson 🥃]

“And his opponent, from Hawaii…”
Everyone would flip out because they knew it was Ricky Steamboat