5 biggest WWE pops in 2017

Is there anything more satisfying in professional wrestling than a live WWE crowd going absolutely nuts for something that's happening in the ring? I certainly don't think so. After all, a big pop is exactly the point of carefully constructing storylines for the viewing pleasure of fans all around the world.

2017 has had its fair share of big pops over the course of these past nine months and we figured now is a good time as any to look back on some of the most memorable moments of the year thus far. Today, we're here to celebrate some of the loudest crowd cheers the WWE has been able to prise out of its live audiences in 2017.

So, without any further ado, here is our list of the 5 biggest WWE pops in 2017:

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#5 The Undertaker confronts Brock Lesnar and Goldberg

In the build-up to the 2017 Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar and Goldberg found themselves face to face for first the time since WWE Survivor Series 2016. As if that hype was not enough, the WWE Universe lost its collective mind when the iconic gong of The Undertaker sounded.

The crowd went nuts, the lights went out, and when they came back on, The Phenom was in the ring to rapturous applause. Certainly, one of the biggest moments in wrestling to kickstart the year.

#4 Finn Balor returns

When Finn Balor was forced to give up his newly won WWE Universal Championship on the episode of Monday Night Raw following WWE Summerslam 2016, no one actually realised how long it would be before we saw The Demon return to WWE programming.

So, in April 2017, when the leader of the Balor Club made his long-awaited return to the squared circle, the WWE fans in attendance went absolutely nuts for him. It was great to finally see the Irishman back inside a WWE ring after eight months.

#3 Kurt Angle comes home

Kurt Angle finally came home to WWE after years in the wilderness when he headlined the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2017 the night before WWE Wrestlemania 33. It was a special moment to finally see Angle get the honour he fully deserved. But, was that the last we were going to see of the Olympic Gold Medalist?

That question was answered in resounding fashion the next night on the post-Wrestlemania episode of Monday Night Raw. Angle was announced as the new General Manager of Raw and the WWE Universe serenaded him with one of the loudest "You suck" chants in the history of the WWE.

#2) The Shield Reunion

When Seth Rollins put an end to The Shield, many thought that they had parted ways forever...until the build-up to WWE Summerslam 2017. For weeks on end, the WWE teased a reunion between Rollins and Dean Ambrose only for it not to happen.

On the go-home episode of Monday Night Raw before the Biggest Party of the Summer though they finally gave the fans what they wanted. The former brother finally reunited to a thunderous ovation from the audience members in attendance as well millions of fans all around the world.

#1) The Hardy Boyz return at WWE Wrestlemania 33

When the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship Ladder match at WWE Wrestlemania 33 was about to begin, The New Day came out to make an announcement that a fourth team was being added to the mix. Considering they were in wrestling gear, a lot of people that it was them.

Well, that was a popular belief until that unmistakable Hardy Boyz music hit and Matt and Jeff came out from the back. The entire arena lost its mind and fans gave us the absolute biggest pop of the year so far. It was a goosebump-inducing moment for WWE fans.