Waking up in your own bed, going to work, coming home to sleep in your own bed. These are feelings that we take for granted. A WWE Superstar seldom gets to do that (we unfortunately seldom get to travel the world and have the adrenaline rush of a screaming and adoring fans). But every so often the stars align and the WWE rolls into a Superstar's hometown.
When that happens, no matter what is going on in the storylines, said wrestler comes into the show as a conquering hero, and that is an added adrenaline rush that can’t be beat. If you’re the hometown hero, the extra pep in your step can help make any match an instant classic, if not for the pop you receive alone.
10 Bret Hart - In Your House: Canadian Stampede
Bret Hart’s global popularity might have fractured in 1997 when he became a heel, but nothing could take the luster off The Hitman or the Hart family in Calgary. The family’s fans were ready for war at the Canadian Stampede when the Excellence Of Execution led his family against Austin, Shamrock, Goldust, and the LOD. The entire Foundation was getting such an eruption from the Calgary crowd that JR couldn’t help but comment on the emotion and passion pouring into the arena on this night.
9 The Rock - WrestleMania 28
Despite living all over the world growing up, The Great One found himself playing college football for The Miami Hurricanes. After that, The Brahma Bull made his home in the cruise capital of the world.
WrestleMania 28, which was the once in a lifetime original collision between The Rock and John Cena. It was the only time ever in WrestleMania history that a main eventer got to perform in his hometown at The Showcase Of The Immortals.
8 The British Bulldog - SummerSlam 1992
Unfortunately for other countries, years ago it wasn’t always that easy to host an event outside of the States, but the company was somehow able to pull it off when they brought the hottest party of the summer to Wembley Stadium. Rather than showcase the WWE Title in the evening’s main event, the WWE chose to put the focus on two of the best technical wrestlers in the business.
In the last match of the night, Bret Hart put his Intercontinental Title on the line against his brother-in-law, England’s own beloved British Bulldog. The Hitman was able to carry a staph-infected Davey Boy to his best match and greatest reaction ever from over 80,000 of his countryman.
7 Kurt Angle - Unforgiven 2001
A mere 12 days after America suffered the biggest terrorist attack in the nation's history, wrestling fans would look to a real-life American Olympic hero for a huge feel-good moment. Unforgiven 2001 emanated from Pittsburgh’s Mellon Arena. Kurt Angle came out to a hometown hero’s welcome as he challenged "The Bionic Redneck" Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWE Title.
The Steel City came alive for Angle in the match’s closing moments, waiting for The Machine to score the victory. Not only did the crowd in the arena erupt for the victory, but the Angle family and the WWE locker room stormed the ring to celebrate and American wrestling fans got the touching moment they needed after the heinous attacks of September 11, 2001.
6 Stone Cold Steve Austin - WrestleMania X7
After spending the better part of a year and half on the shelf, rehabbing a broken neck, Stone Cold Steve Austin triumphantly returned and won the 2001 Royal Rumble, landing him on a collision course with arch-rival, The Rock. The Reliant Astrodome came completely unglued when the glass shattered the challenger and native Texan Austin stomped his way to the ring. They never stopped cheering on The Bionic Redneck in his quest to reclaim the WWE title, even as he turned heel right before their eyes. Nobody in Texas cared that day, their hero had returned.
5 Goldberg - WCW Monday Nitro July 6, 1998
Goldberg might have been born and raised in Oklahoma, but he played football for Georgia and later on The Falcons, making Atlanta his adopted home. As his gladiatorial music rang out throughout The Georgia Dome, “Da Man!” as Bobby Heenan would call him readied himself for combat.
The energy was palpable and growing as he neared the ring and his pyro kicked off. As with great Nitros and Raws of the day, the crowd started raucous and got even rowdier, especially when Goldberg hoisted Hollywood Hogan up for the Jackhammer, becoming the undefeated WCW champion.
4 Shawn Michaels - Royal Rumble 1997
Despite being considered a babyface territory, the WWE fans booed Shawn Michaels out of Madison Square Garden at the 1996 Survivor Series and cheered the dastardly madman Sid as he won the WWE Title. But Good Ol’ HBK was back home in San Antonio for what was then, the biggest Royal Rumble of all time. Many of the 60,000 fans that filled the Alamodome came there to see their hometown boy(toy) make good and avenge the beating that Sid delivered to José Lothario and regain the WWE Title.
3 Sami Zayn - Monday Night Raw May 4, 2015
There’s wrestling in front of your hometown and there’s making your main roster debut in front of your hometown, your home country, and facing John Cena for the US title. To top it off, Sami Zayn was announced by the legendary Bret Hart on this night to take on Cena in the US Title Open Challenge. Zayn was so amped up that the poor guy injured his shoulder just by revving up the crowd during his entrance. But even with one good shoulder, The Underdog From The Underground put on one of the greatest debut matches of all time.
2 Daniel Bryan - Raw, February 2016
He might not have wanted to throw in the towel, but due to health concerns, there was no way at that time that the WWE was going to let Daniel Bryan back in the ring. It might have been bittersweet, but there is seldom a chance to end your career in your hometown.
Daniel Bryan got to do that when he rolled into Seattle and the Yes Movement rang throughout the arena for the American Dragon’s tearful goodbye.
1 CM Punk - Money In The Bank 2011
The stage could not have been written any better had anyone tried to write the story. The iconoclast heel, CM Punk, had turned the entire wrestling industry on its ear with one promo. Several weeks later he planned to defeat John Cena for the WWE Title and leave the company with the gold, all in his hometown of Chicago. Seldom does a Superstar get to win the title in their hometown, much less a defining storyline like Punk’s. No matter what heat there is between Punk and WWE, no one can ever doubt the magnitude of this moment.