WWE audiences have a history of occasionally veering away from the expected crowd reaction. Arguably the most famous of those instances came at WrestleMania 18 in Toronto, Canada.
The crowd in the Sky Dome were expected to be fully behind usual crowd favourite The Rock as he took on the dastardly ‘Hollywood’ Hulk Hogan in a dream match many felt would never happen. Wrestlers and pundits alike were shocked when the 68,237 in attendance placed their support firmly in the corner of The Hulkster, cheering him loudly for any offensive move whilst a shocked Rock was jeered by the masses.
Unexpected reactions also often take place during the Raw after WrestleMania, with fans in recent years singing the music of heel character Fandango, chanting the name of referee Mike Chioda during a match and leading a chorus of ‘Hes’ got the whole world in his hands’, a song usually used by villain Bray Wyatt.
So it perhaps should come as no surprise that during a WWE Live Event in Paris this past week, the audience surprised everyone by giving a huge babyface reaction to one of WWE’s most hated characters.
WWE Superstar Baron Corbin A Huge Hit In Paris
WWE Superstar Baron Corbin has spent his entire main roster career on the receiving end of negative reactions from the WWE Universe. The former WWE United States Champion is currently enduring a torrid run of defeats on television following a split from on-screen Manager John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield shortly before WrestleMania.
Many likely expected the recently returned Rick Boogs to add to Corbin’s woes with victory in Paris, but the former NFL offensive lineman picked up a shock win that was met with a huge babyface reaction from the Parisian crowd.
VOUS ETES INCROYABLES @BaronCorbinWWE#WWEParispic.twitter.com/QGX47qcQaN
— Sturry #CapucheClub (@Sturry) April 29, 2023
Corbin took to his Twitter after the match, seemingly taken aback by the unexpected reaction:
“Wow!!! Tonight was beyond INCREDIBLE!! Thank you #WWEParis I think I have to move here now bc this was a night I will never forget! #wwe”
It is yet to be revealed where Corbin will be placed in the latest WWE Draft, but the company could be tempted to capitalise on this surprising turn of events and attempt to turn the 2019 King Of The Ring into a fan favourite.