The Crowd at the Royal Rumble

[Deleted]

Jan 26, 2014 22:59:23 GMT -5 @akeem said:

I wasn't a fan of their antics during Cena/Orton, but what are you going to do it's Cena vs. Orton. They have the right to cheer or boo whoever they want, no matter how annoying. As long as they keep coming to the shows and watching them on TV, Vince doesn't give a f***.

and sadly without WCW he does not have too rightfully so...It goes to show in this day how much seperation between the fans and the company there really is...It's much less a universe then it is totalitarian rule

[Sparkybob]

I believe they can chant what ever they want. My only exception is chanting boring like 30 seconds into a match when you didn't eve give the wrestler a chance at all. Other than that, so be it.

[Renslayer]

If you piss a crowd off & don't give them what they want, expect harsh consequences.

[stealthamo]

I see it like this. A lot of people pay for tickets for something like this months in advance, not really knowing what they're going to get (aside from the Rumble match, that is), so if something is going on that they don't care for, they should absolutely let them know about it. In any other logical situation, people backstage would take into account what the crowd wants so they're not crapping all over the event (and future events).


But considering this is WWE, that's not gonna happen. So they shat all over it, and I got more schadenfreude-esque joy out of something in my life.

[Texas Tornado]

It's a flat out lie to say that the crowd was only going crazy for Bryan. They were out there cheering for all of the younger fresher faces and even some of the nostalgia stuff. They're just sick of the guys that have been on top for the last 10 years still being on top and that's the only stuff they were negative for. The reason they were hot for Bryan is because EVERYONE is hot for Bryan at this point and they want to see the company finally pull the trigger on him instead of toying around with it.

[thelonewolf527]

I absolutely hated this crowd and it ruined my enjoyment of some of the show. People talk about respecting the wrestling aspect of wrestling, but when a crowd doesn't even give two guys a chance to wrestle and instead chants random things during their match before the action can even begin, that's complete disrespect. Not to mention it was clear to me that this crowd loved the Royal Rumble up until they realized Bryan wasn't in it and then proceeded to boo everything in it outside of Roman Reigns eliminating 4 people. Hell, Sheamus got a GREAT reaction for the whole match, but once Mysterio came out, he got booed the rest of the way

[Slanted and Enchanted]

I don't even want to discuss this specific crowd because if the Royal Rumble happened in any other city, whether it was a 'smark' crowd or 'casual', the results would have been exactly the same. This Pittsburgh crowd was only a sample segment of the millions who watched and were fed up with what WWE has been offering us. I really hope tonight's reaction triggered something with the top people backstage though I sadly doubt it.

[DrizzlinShytes]

Not exactly a city known for hot crowds.

[Amazing Kitsune]

I honestly have mixed feelings about crowds like this--assuming it was a lot like the RAW after WM crowd as people in the thread described.

Yes, they should make their voice heard and have fun. Yes, they also add a lot to shows.

It still rubs me the wrong way, though. Sometimes they just seem like they're trying to hijack a show--and while some shows need hijacking--it sets a pretty bad precedent. At its worse, it comes off as entitled and overly smarky. Based on accounts(Meltzer, FAN posters, etc.)--and again, not my own knowledge--they crapped all over the Randy Orton/Cena match without ever giving it a chance. I understand why they felt that way they did, but it really rubs me the wrong way.

It's almost childish at that point.

[4TheGlory]

One of the pops of the night were for the New Age Outlaws winning the tag titles. They clearly weren't there just for Bryan.

Cheered only for heels? They popped for Punk, Sheamus, Kofi, El Torito, Goldust, and went crazy for Ziggler,

The crowd certainly was more smarky then usual but I honestly feel like thats not why a MASSIVE portion of the crowd reacted the way they did. I think people were genuinely pissed off by what they were seeing and feel like they were not getting the product that they were paying for. This was a rallying cry for a change in the WWE, unless they want more crowds absolutely hating their shows.

[Ginger Beer Man]

The reaction to Cena/Orton wasn't fair in terms of the match quality. But just like a large majority of people who follow the product, they were sick of seeing the same match headline another PPV. Especially when you factor in that its the lead up to Wrestlemania 30, you'd think the company would be making a little more effort than they are to build things up.

Of course tonight isn't the be all, end all. But it's not encouraging, more so if you're paying to see an event like the Royal Rumble, which is a known catalyst for run in of 'Mania.

[bearned]

If they are presented with a match they care about they won't react like they did to the Orton/Cena match. Pretty obvious for months the momentum was building behind Bryan and unless they are going for the mega slow burn on him until wrestlemania it stands to reason if you don't give people what they want then you'll get the reaction we saw tonight.

[BorneAgain]

Its an interesting period we're in with these crowds. Its almost as if there's a direct negotiation going on at live events, with the crowd only really willing to get into the show if certain things (in this case Daniel Bryan) are met. If not, then WWE gets to hear an entire arena crap all over their event.

Good or bad, its fascinating to watch.

[Deleted]

This is an honest question...Does a reaction like this for the status-quo hinder a guy like STING signing on after seeing how a company made guy returning like Batista was treated?

[Boo!]

The funny thing is if people think WWE are just going to give in. If anything to protect their product they're likely to do the opposite. Just look at how they've dealt with Cena. They know he makes them money so the crowd is irrelevant. THis is a similar situation only...in reverse...live crowd reaction is fast becoming very detached from relevance. Soon it'll all be brushed off as 'bizzaro world' and the opinion fans in attendance will be treated little more than eccentric background noise. Like when an elderly aunt says something a bit off-colour and everyone pretends thy didn't hear it.

[Amazing Kitsune]

Jan 26, 2014 23:12:24 GMT -5 Boo! said:

The funny thing is if people think WWE are just going to give in. If anything to protect their product they're likely to do the opposite. Just look at how they've dealt with Cena. They know he makes them money so the crowd is irrelevant. THis is a similar situation only...in reverse...live crowd reaction is fast becoming very detached from relevance. Soon it'll all be brushed off as 'bizzaro world' and the opinion fans in attendance will be treated little more than eccentric background noise. Like when an elderly aunt says something a bit off-colour and everyone pretends thy didn't hear it.

You get unjustly attacked for speaking your opinion far too often. While I'm not certain that this is completely accurate--there's a lot of truth in it.

[DrizzlinShytes]

Alvarez is online encouraging more hijacking by audiences

[BEARD]

Jan 26, 2014 23:02:18 GMT -5 berlynwright said:

i'm ok with crowd reacting to what they like/don't like but completely hijacking a good match (imo only) Orton/Cena?

This was my issue. I get the whole "the crowd paid for their tickets they can do what they want" but I feel it's just disrespectful to shit on two very good workers who have busted their arses for years, especially when they chanted "this is boring" barely two minutes into the match. Orton and Cena have been two of the best performers for the last few years.

The "We Want Divas" chant did make me laugh though.

As far as I'm concerned, I still own the title of being the best crowd for being in the Miami Raw crowd. Cheers lads.

[amaron]

Jan 26, 2014 23:17:02 GMT -5 DrizzlinShytes said:

Alvarez is online encouraging more hijacking by audiences

Good. PPVs are expensive and people should voice their displeasure.

[Deleted]

They didnt put their most popular wrestler in the Royal Rumble, instead he curtain jerked and lost. Crowd was PISSED.

Sometimes things are just that simple.