The What chant grew out of Stone Cold Steve Austin's WWE promos, where he would pause after each line and let the audience shout the word back at him. That back-and-forth turned a simple question into a crowd chant that fans carried from arena to arena, and later into wrestling highlight clips, reaction videos, and meme edits. Its appeal has lasted because it works without context: one word instantly frames confusion, defiance, or disbelief, making it an easy drop-in for creators riffing on wrestling, sports, and everyday arguments.