John Cena has declared Lyon, France, as the greatest <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE crowd he has yet to experience, despite his long and celebrated career. This revelation comes ahead of his farewell tour stop at the LDLC Arena in Lyon on August 29, where he will perform in front of what he calls
“the greatest crowd in WWE history.”
Why Lyon Is Touted as the Ultimate WWE Audience
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Cena reflected on his extensive wrestling career and highlighted an often overlooked crowd in Lyon. Though WWE held the Backlash event there in May, Cena has never competed in front of that specific audience himself. His contemporaries frequently praise the fans in Lyon as the most passionate and intense he has never witnessed firsthand. Cena remarked,
“I’ve done a ton of stuff in my career, I’ve been in front of some crazy crowds, but I’ve never been in front of the crowd that our current roster calls ‘the Greatest crowd in WWE history’ in Lyon, France. All the stuff I’ve ever done in my career, I’ve never heard the so-called ‘greatest crowd in WWE history’, and it’s supposedly in Lyon.” —John Cena, Former Undisputed WWE Champion
This opportunity to finally witness the Lyon crowd will come during his farewell tour, as Cena will appear on the August 29 episode of Friday Night SmackDown in Lyon, two days before the Clash event in Paris. Cena is scheduled to face Logan Paul at the premium live event, adding yet another momentous occasion to his sendoff.
Iconic WWE Crowds That Have Left a Lasting Impression
While Lyon holds a formidable reputation among current WWE stars, many other cities are also renowned for their electric atmospheres and memorable crowd reactions. Notable locations include Toronto, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York City, and Boston, all of which have hosted moments that defined the WWE experience for fans and wrestlers alike.
One unforgettable crowd reaction happened during AJ Styles’ WWE debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble in Orlando, Florida. The surprise appearance and the crowd’s enthusiastic response marked a historic moment in WWE lore, cementing Styles’ arrival as “The Phenomenal One.”
John Cena himself has experienced a wide range of crowd reactions, not all of them supportive. At the 2006 ECW One Night Stand event at New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom, the audience showed their disdain during Cena’s WWE Championship defense against Rob Van Dam, an ECW Original. Fans waved signs saying, If Cena Wins We Riot, and chanted F—K you Cena as well as You can’t wrestle. When Edge interrupted the match and speared Cena through a table, the crowd erupted, later chanting Thank you, Edge. Ultimately, Rob Van Dam won the title, satisfying the vocal London crowd.
Another legendary audience moment took place in 2002 at Madison Square Garden. After an eight-month hiatus due to a quad injury, Triple H—known as “The Game”—returned on the January 7 episode of RAW. Fans responded with immense excitement, particularly when Triple H delivered his trademark Pedigree to Kurt Angle, who interrupted his return promo. This moment remains one of the most celebrated crowd reactions in WWE history.
What Lyon’s Crowd Means for WWE’s Future Events
John Cena’s anticipation of encountering the Lyon crowd reflects the growing global appreciation for WWE’s international fan base. The intense energy associated with the French audience sets a new benchmark for crowd interaction and engagement. As Cena concludes his storied career with high-profile matches like the one against Logan Paul in Paris, the significance of these enthusiastic fans will likely influence WWE’s choices for future international events.
Cena’s acknowledgment of Lyon as the greatest WWE crowd also shines a light on the evolving nature of wrestling audiences, whose passion and reactions can redefine the dynamics inside the ring. Observing how this crowd reacts to Cena’s farewell appearances will be closely watched by the WWE community, as it could shape how wrestlers and promotions approach global tours moving forward.
