Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes three years ago today at WrestleMania 39 to retain the Undisputed Universal Championship. It was a surprising outcome to many who thought Rhodes’ victory was a shoo-in, including Rhodes, who sat dejected in the ring.
But no one took the loss harder than one fan in Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium.
In a clip that has gone viral
countless times over ever since that fateful April 2 day, this “Cody Crusader” goes off. Sitting more than a hundred yards away in the upper club section, he hit his seat several times as the Tribal Chief’s music played.
As Reigns heads up the ramp, the fan stomps, shouts, and storms down the steps to yell at the champ and pummel the glass barricade as fireworks go off.
Is the behavior over the top? Sure, especially for pro wrestling, where the outcome is predetermined.
But what I see is passion, the kind of emotion associated with “real sports.”
In 2004, my 62-year-old mother lost her mind when her beloved Yankees blew a 3–0 series lead to the Red Sox in the ALCS. When the Sox went on to beat the Cardinals to win the World Series, she stormed out of the living room like a petulant child as my father, amused by it all, refused to change the channel.
Countless scenes like that still play out in homes and arenas across the country as sports fans root for their favorite teams. But it’s become a rarity in pro wrestling.
That makes me sad because, in the era I grew up in, the audience lived and died by the results. Sure, match quality mattered, but the moments and the outcome mattered more.
Fans in Atlanta were outraged when Ole Anderson turned on Dusty Rhodes. The crowd at Dallas’ Reunion Arena was fit to be tied when the Freebirds cost Kerry Von Erich the world title. At Madison Square Garden, a spectator leapt from his seat to help Randy Savage fight off Ted DiBiase and DiBiase’s bodyguard, Virgil.
When I’m invested, I still react the same way. I was livid when my Tribal Chief got eliminated from the 2025 Royal Rumble. Similarly, my wife and I couldn’t contain ourselves in a packed theater when Reigns prevailed in this year’s Rumble.
But today, passion often gives way to appreciation. Heels get ha-ha’s instead of heat. Audiences seemingly enjoy the show more than they feel it.
The times, they do change, as the saying goes.
Or do they?
We’re all friends here, most under usernames, so be honest: Do you cheer like wrestling is real? Do you yell at your TV like those viral fans, such as SoFi Guy? Or do you save all that venom for the booking?
Sound off in the comments.
