When did the “point at Mania” sign become a thing?

[mrbananagrabber]

And such an established cliche that it’s now “oh boys, I’m gonna do it, I can’t help myself” sort of thing.

When did this start?

[The Heartbreak TWERK]

[Chiral]

It was a thing WWE enforced for Rumble winners by the time Orton won (I need to watch the clip again where he gets pissed about standing and pointing in the wrong spot) but I don't know if that was the start. WM20 was the first road to Wrestlemania with the sign in the current placement. Or 21.

[Famous Rocking Chimes]

2008 is the first year I can recall the Rumble winner pointing at the WrestleMania sign, and it's escalated from there.

Nothing will ever top at the 2011 Rumble when Cena and Orton stared each other down while also looking at the WrestleMania sign and the crowd couldn't care one iota about what they were watching.

[crowley1986]

The rumble 04 when Benoit won the rumble

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Feb 25, 2019 13:59:32 GMT -5 crowley1986 said:

The rumble 04 when Benoit won the rumble

I don’t think he pointed to the sign, but that was the start of the WrestleMania sign itself being framed in a victorious camera shot.

[Nickybojelais]

Just another example of something that looked visually impressive the first time it was done. But in typical WWE fashion, it was repeated to such an extent that if you never see someone point to the sign again it'll be too soon.

[Hit Girl]

Feb 25, 2019 13:59:32 GMT -5 crowley1986 said:

The rumble 04 when won the rumble

[mrbananagrabber]

Feb 25, 2019 16:00:29 GMT -5 Hit Girl said:

Feb 25, 2019 13:59:32 GMT -5 crowley1986 said:

The rumble 04 when Bob Holly won the rumble

[BRV]

Feb 25, 2019 13:23:59 GMT -5 Famous Rocking Chimes said:

2008 is the first year I can recall the Rumble winner pointing at the WrestleMania sign, and it's escalated from there.

Nothing will ever top at the 2011 Rumble when Cena and Orton stared each other down while also looking at the WrestleMania sign and the crowd couldn't care one iota about what they were watching.

2011 was the first year it felt like they were aggressively emphasizing pointing at the WrestleMania sign. We had the hilarious John Cena versus Randy Orton staredown to zero reaction at the Royal Rumble as you mentioned, but they also basically booked a match (Triple H versus Undertaker) by having them not even deliver promos at one another, but rather stare at each other before staring at the sign.

[Gremlin]

It was the build up to Wrestlemania IV. Vacant first pointed at the sign when WWF President Jack Tunney stripped the title from DiBiase, after Andre sold it to him, and made the World Heavyweight Championship tournament.

[krozor]

The final Wrestlemania sign point should be Sin Cara, and the sign should short circuit, fall over, or explode when he does it. Possibly all three.

[Deleted]

I love how Rollins joked about it, “I said I wasn’t gonna do it but...”

It’s up there with the contract signing cliche. I think it was HHH or Punk who joked “Somebody will definitely not be going through the table” or something along those lines.

I dunno. I like these cliches getting acknowledged haha

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Feb 25, 2019 20:06:45 GMT -5 @negan said:

I love how Rollins joked about it, “I said I wasn’t gonna do it but...”

It’s up there with the contract signing cliche. I think it was HHH or Punk who joked “Somebody will definitely not be going through the table” or something along those lines.

I dunno. I like these cliches getting acknowledged haha

I really love moments like that too. I also like whenever Lawler would say 'who keeps putting all this stuff under the ring?'

[Mid-Carder]

Feb 25, 2019 13:23:59 GMT -5 Famous Rocking Chimes said:

2008 is the first year I can recall the Rumble winner pointing at the WrestleMania sign, and it's escalated from there

Yeah Cena is the first one I remember doing it, too