List of pop culture references in Warcraft/Cataclysm

Games

 * The quests in the Firelands Hatchery play like a 3D version of the arcade game Joust, including similar enemies and controls.
 * The quests in the Firelands Hatchery play like a 3D version of the arcade game Joust, including similar enemies and controls.


 * While on the quest Quest:The Protectors of Hyjal, Linken will sometimes say either "Oh, boy! I'm so hungry, I could eat a fire elemental!", which is a play off of a line said by Link in the infamous Legend of Zelda CD-i games, or "Excuuuuse me, princess!", which is Link's catchphrase in the Legend of Zelda cartoon.
 * While on the quest Quest:The Protectors of Hyjal, Linken will sometimes say either "Oh, boy! I'm so hungry, I could eat a fire elemental!", which is a play off of a line said by Link in the infamous Legend of Zelda CD-i games, or "Excuuuuse me, princess!", which is Link's catchphrase in the Legend of Zelda cartoon.


 * There's a quest chain in Hillsbrad Foothills started by Brazie the Botanist that is a homage to the game. The name of the last quest in the chain, Quest:Lawn of the Dead, was also the original name for Plants vs. Zombies.
 * The Singing Sunflower non-combat pet received for completing the quest chain is a reference to Plants vs. Zombies music composer Laura Shigihara, who was represented as a singing sunflower in the Plants vs. Zombies theme song's music video. At Blizzard's request, Shigihara also voiced the Singing Sunflower non-combat pet.
 * The Singing Sunflower non-combat pet received for completing the quest chain is a reference to Plants vs. Zombies music composer Laura Shigihara, who was represented as a singing sunflower in the Plants vs. Zombies theme song's music video. At Blizzard's request, Shigihara also voiced the Singing Sunflower non-combat pet.


 * in Azshara fights with the abilities and.
 * in Azshara fights with the abilities and.

Movies

 * Near the end of the Vashj'ir questline when the Naga assault Neptulon, Lady Naz'jar cries out "Release the Kraken!" to call upon the aid of the Leviathan Ozumat in defeating Neptulon.
 * Near the end of the Vashj'ir questline when the Naga assault Neptulon, Lady Naz'jar cries out "Release the Kraken!" to call upon the aid of the Leviathan Ozumat in defeating Neptulon.


 * The John J. Keeshan questline in Redridge Mountains is a reference to the Rambo series. John J. Keeshan is modeled after John Rambo, and Colonel Troteman is based off of Colonel Samuel Trautman.
 * The John J. Keeshan questline in Redridge Mountains is a reference to the Rambo series. John J. Keeshan is modeled after John Rambo, and Colonel Troteman is based off of Colonel Samuel Trautman.


 * In Uldum, Commander Schnottz has you run a series of quests and asks for 8 Idols. When you bring them to him, he cries out that he needed not 8 but "Nine, Nine, Nine, Nine, Nine!" (sounding like "nein", German for "no")
 * In Azshara, Blood Guard Aldo Rockrain delivers a speech to eight Horde soldiers that very closely resembles the recruitment speech given by Lt. in the movie, including the line "We're gonna march in there and do one thing, and one thing only: KILLING ALLIANCE!" (a reference to the line in the film "We're gonna be doing one thing and one thing only: Killing Nazis!"). Two of his recruits, Sergeant Dontrag and Scout Utvoch, are references to the movie's characters Sergeant Donny Donowitz and PFC Utivich.
 * In Azshara, Blood Guard Aldo Rockrain delivers a speech to eight Horde soldiers that very closely resembles the recruitment speech given by Lt. in the movie, including the line "We're gonna march in there and do one thing, and one thing only: KILLING ALLIANCE!" (a reference to the line in the film "We're gonna be doing one thing and one thing only: Killing Nazis!"). Two of his recruits, Sergeant Dontrag and Scout Utvoch, are references to the movie's characters Sergeant Donny Donowitz and PFC Utivich.


 * A questline presented by Budd at Budd's Dig in Kelp'thar Forest revolves around a huge shark called Gnaws, a play on the movie title. The names of two quests, Quest:Dah, Nunt... Dah, Nunt... and Quest:DUN-dun-DUN-dun-DUN-dun reference the movie's musical theme, imitated with a human voice. An albeit unsuccessful attempt to kill Gnaws is to lure it into eating grubs loaded with gunpowder, which explodes when he bites it, a reference to the end of the movie, where the shark is killed by an oxygen tank exploding in its maw. Another obscure reference might be the fact that Gnaws' Boneyard is filled with orca remains. The boat in the movie was named after the, considered the only natural enemy of the great white shark.
 * A questline presented by Budd at Budd's Dig in Kelp'thar Forest revolves around a huge shark called Gnaws, a play on the movie title. The names of two quests, Quest:Dah, Nunt... Dah, Nunt... and Quest:DUN-dun-DUN-dun-DUN-dun reference the movie's musical theme, imitated with a human voice. An albeit unsuccessful attempt to kill Gnaws is to lure it into eating grubs loaded with gunpowder, which explodes when he bites it, a reference to the end of the movie, where the shark is killed by an oxygen tank exploding in its maw. Another obscure reference might be the fact that Gnaws' Boneyard is filled with orca remains. The boat in the movie was named after the, considered the only natural enemy of the great white shark.


 * Quest:A Bone to Pick mentions a cursed treasure that "makes everyone who touches it a skeleton" - a reference to the cursed Aztec gold in.
 * At the beginning of the Vashj'ir questline the ship the player is riding on is attacked by the giant kraken-like Leviathan Ozumat. The manner in which the scene begins, as well as the player falling the water and seeing the creature are all reminiscent of a similar scene in.
 * At the beginning of the Vashj'ir questline the ship the player is riding on is attacked by the giant kraken-like Leviathan Ozumat. The manner in which the scene begins, as well as the player falling the water and seeing the creature are all reminiscent of a similar scene in.


 * During the Horde introduction quest to the Twilight Highlands both Assistant Greely and Hobart Grapplehammer say "Have fun storming the Highlands!" which is a reference to Tracy Ulman and Billy Crystal's lines in The Princess Bride.
 * During the Horde introduction quest to the Twilight Highlands both Assistant Greely and Hobart Grapplehammer say "Have fun storming the Highlands!" which is a reference to Tracy Ulman and Billy Crystal's lines in The Princess Bride.


 * The entire Uldum revolving around Harrison Jones, Belloc Brightblade, Commander Schnottz and concluding with finding the Coffer of Promise in  is based loosely on, (though the final quest's name is a tribute to another Indiana Jones movie, ). The Coffer of Promise is similar to the , both in appearance and powers in the movie, as well as the secret it holds.
 * The entire Uldum revolving around Harrison Jones, Belloc Brightblade, Commander Schnottz and concluding with finding the Coffer of Promise in  is based loosely on, (though the final quest's name is a tribute to another Indiana Jones movie, ). The Coffer of Promise is similar to the , both in appearance and powers in the movie, as well as the secret it holds.


 * The quest Quest:A Great Idea in Tanaris will have the player catch a silithid bug. Upon quest completion, the questgiver Zeke Bootscuff calls over Narain Soothfancy to commune with the bug. Narain states "It's afraid." then yells "It's afraid!", a direct quote from the end of the movie, following the capture of the 'brain bug'.  The follow-up quest Quest:Just Trying to Kill Some Bugs, another direct quote, features a large explosion in a hive like the corresponding scene in the movie.
 * The quest Quest:A Great Idea in Tanaris will have the player catch a silithid bug. Upon quest completion, the questgiver Zeke Bootscuff calls over Narain Soothfancy to commune with the bug. Narain states "It's afraid." then yells "It's afraid!", a direct quote from the end of the movie, following the capture of the 'brain bug'.  The follow-up quest Quest:Just Trying to Kill Some Bugs, another direct quote, features a large explosion in a hive like the corresponding scene in the movie.


 * The faction-respective versions of Quest:The Hammer of Twilight state: "More important than that, the cultists have made a critical error: Cho'gall is personally overseeing its final construction. Many SI:7/Kor'kron died to bring us this information", an allusion to a similar line in.
 * is a (paraphrased) reference to a remark Han Solo made to Luke Skywalker in Episode IV: A New Hope.
 * is a (paraphrased) reference to a remark Han Solo made to Luke Skywalker in Episode IV: A New Hope.

Television

 * During the Twilight Investigation quest line in Stormwind, a quest Quest:The Old Barracks will have you meet with Jack Bauden (Jack Bauer) who says "I'm Jack Bauden, this is the longest day of my life."
 * The main quest chain in Westfall has players interacting with wisecracking Lieutenant Horatio Laine, assisting him while investigating several crimes in the area. Horatio Laine is based off of Horatio Caine, a character from CSI:Miami. In episode teasers, Caine would begin to speak a particularly ominous (or humorous) line, pause for a moment to put on his sunglasses, and then finish the sentence.
 * When entering Nespirah during Quest:Nespirah, Earthmender Duarn says "Her body appears even larger from the inside." (you can hardly grasp Nespirah's size from the outside while being rather close to it) which is a reference to the TARDIS actually being larger on the inside, which is often stated by characters in the show. Also, the shape and color scheme of Nespirah's inside seem similar to that of the TARDIS in series 1-4 of the.
 * The Jewelcrafting Cataclysm dailies in Orgrimmar/Stormwind reference characters and events from the series heavily:
 * Quest:A Present for Lila - Lila has purple hair, is a ship captain and apparently only has one eye (left) but is still attractive, which are attributes of as well. Bonder (Curver in the Alliance version) is apparently a thief, which his friends are oblivious about, and likes drinking, which describes . "Bonder" was also how a fraud psychic called him in a séance.
 * Quest:Elemental Goo and Quest:The Latest Fashion! mention (A) Professor Barnsworth and (H) Dr. Vernstrom, which stand for and, rival scientists and mortal enemies. While The Latest Fashion! mentions disregard for the dangers of science/magic, as well as finding "other" uses for inventions that have proven to be dangerous, a trait of Farnsworth, the "hand stuck in jar" joke in Elemental Goo's completion text might refer to the series' "heads in jars".
 * Quest:Nibbler! No! - Nibbler is a direct reference to Leela's pet of the same name, which can (and will) devour and digest anything, while its droppings are too heavy to lift.
 * Both the quest name and description text of Quest:Ogrezonians in the Mood reference the title and plot of the episode, and also mentions "Azeroth Express", a play on Planet Express, the delivery company of the series' protagonists.
 * In the Horde camp of Dragonmaw Port in the Twilight Highlands there is an NPC named Gregor that is a Dragonmaw Medicine man, named after Dr. Gregory House.
 * When clicked upon, male Goblin NPCs sometimes say "G.T.L, friend...Gambling, Tinkering, Laundry!" This is a reference to the cast members of Jersey Shore, who use the acronym G.T.L to stand for "Gym, Tanning, Laundry."
 * When you talk to the Horde Negotiator which you accompany for Quest:Madness, he says "Hey, does this red shirt make me look expendable?", a reference to the, a term coined for stock characters in the series that die early on in the episode.
 * The quest (most likely) references the episode  where Homer attempts to purchase cursed frozen yogurt. The episode features a dialogue repeating an alternating "that's good" followed by a "that's bad" set of statements. Both the episode and the quest refer to a cursed item.
 * In Southern Feralas, near the Steam Pools, you can find a Goblin resort. This is where you can find Gordon Tramsay, , which is a clear reference to, the host of the American cooking competition show.
 * In the Horde camp of Dragonmaw Port in the Twilight Highlands there is an NPC named Gregor that is a Dragonmaw Medicine man, named after Dr. Gregory House.
 * When clicked upon, male Goblin NPCs sometimes say "G.T.L, friend...Gambling, Tinkering, Laundry!" This is a reference to the cast members of Jersey Shore, who use the acronym G.T.L to stand for "Gym, Tanning, Laundry."
 * When you talk to the Horde Negotiator which you accompany for Quest:Madness, he says "Hey, does this red shirt make me look expendable?", a reference to the, a term coined for stock characters in the series that die early on in the episode.
 * The quest (most likely) references the episode  where Homer attempts to purchase cursed frozen yogurt. The episode features a dialogue repeating an alternating "that's good" followed by a "that's bad" set of statements. Both the episode and the quest refer to a cursed item.
 * In Southern Feralas, near the Steam Pools, you can find a Goblin resort. This is where you can find Gordon Tramsay, , which is a clear reference to, the host of the American cooking competition show.
 * The quest (most likely) references the episode  where Homer attempts to purchase cursed frozen yogurt. The episode features a dialogue repeating an alternating "that's good" followed by a "that's bad" set of statements. Both the episode and the quest refer to a cursed item.
 * In Southern Feralas, near the Steam Pools, you can find a Goblin resort. This is where you can find Gordon Tramsay, , which is a clear reference to, the host of the American cooking competition show.
 * In Southern Feralas, near the Steam Pools, you can find a Goblin resort. This is where you can find Gordon Tramsay, , which is a clear reference to, the host of the American cooking competition show.
 * In Southern Feralas, near the Steam Pools, you can find a Goblin resort. This is where you can find Gordon Tramsay, , which is a clear reference to, the host of the American cooking competition show.

Music

 * In Mount Hyjal, there are two NPCs named Rio Duran and Ian Duran, who are Gilnean worgen. Duran Duran was a British rock group, and two of their hits were "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf". Rio Duran also quotes lyrics from "Hungry Like the Wolf" while the player is on a certain quest.
 * In Mount Hyjal, there are two NPCs named Rio Duran and Ian Duran, who are Gilnean worgen. Duran Duran was a British rock group, and two of their hits were "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf". Rio Duran also quotes lyrics from "Hungry Like the Wolf" while the player is on a certain quest.


 * The names of the achievements, and  are based on lyrics from the song.
 * The names of the achievements, and  are based on lyrics from the song.


 * The quest is a reference to the song "Always" by Erasure, which in itself was popularized by its use in the Adult Swim online game, which is referenced as well by the "rainbow" theme of the quest.
 * The quest is a reference to the song "Always" by Erasure, which in itself was popularized by its use in the Adult Swim online game, which is referenced as well by the "rainbow" theme of the quest.


 * In the quest Quest:Disrupting the Rituals the Twilight Inferno Lords sometimes say "I just want to set the world on fire" which is a homage to The Ink Spots' 1941 song "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire", which became famous due to it's usage the 2008 RPG .
 * In the quest Quest:Disrupting the Rituals the Twilight Inferno Lords sometimes say "I just want to set the world on fire" which is a homage to The Ink Spots' 1941 song "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire", which became famous due to it's usage the 2008 RPG .


 * The questQuest:Magnets, How Do They Work? is a reference to the song "Miracles" by Insane Clown Posse. A line from the song in question, "Fuckin' magnets, how do they work?" became an internet meme.
 * Psychopathic Hatchet might be a reference to the group's label which they run named "Psychopathic Records" featuring a man with a hatchet as their logo.
 * Psychopathic Hatchet might be a reference to the group's label which they run named "Psychopathic Records" featuring a man with a hatchet as their logo.


 * 's name is seemingly a reference to the song "Skullcrusher Mountain" by Jonathan Coulton. One of the quest rewards for the associated quest, Quest:Skullcrusher the Mountain is Coulton's Crushers (Alliance).
 * 's name is seemingly a reference to the song "Skullcrusher Mountain" by Jonathan Coulton. One of the quest rewards for the associated quest, Quest:Skullcrusher the Mountain is Coulton's Crushers (Alliance).


 * The female goblin /flirt "If you liked it then you should have put a larger, more elaborate ring on it" is a reference to the song "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)". The female goblin /dance is also based on the choreography from the "Single Ladies" music video.
 * The female goblin /flirt "If you liked it then you should have put a larger, more elaborate ring on it" is a reference to the song "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)". The female goblin /dance is also based on the choreography from the "Single Ladies" music video.


 * In Vashj'ir, there is a rare mob named Lady La-La, a sea witch model that sports crazy glasses and an unusual headpiece. The names of the special abilities she uses against the player are called Briny Romance ("Catches the enemy in a briny romance") and Siren's Song ("Cause all nearby enemies to just dance!").
 * The worgen female's /dance is based off of the music video for "Poker Face".
 * The worgen female's /dance is based off of the music video for "Poker Face".


 * The Vashj'ir quest Quest:What? What? In My Gut...? is a reference to the viral music video "What What (In the Butt)" by Samwell.
 * The Vashj'ir quest Quest:What? What? In My Gut...? is a reference to the viral music video "What What (In the Butt)" by Samwell.


 * The Deepholm Quest Quest:All Our Friends Are Dead is a reference to Turbonegro's 2005 song "All My Friends Are Dead".
 * The Deepholm Quest Quest:All Our Friends Are Dead is a reference to Turbonegro's 2005 song "All My Friends Are Dead".

People

 * Liam Greymane's speech before The Battle for Gilneas is similar to Winston Churchill's speech to the House of Commons during the Battle of Britain.
 * Liam Greymane's speech before The Battle for Gilneas is similar to Winston Churchill's speech to the House of Commons during the Battle of Britain.


 * When completing the quest Quest:Crisis_Management in Uldum, Schnottz's Bodyguard yells during an attack by several collosi to "Hide your vives! Hide your children! Zhey're killink everyone up in he'ah!". This is a reference to Antoine Dodson, who became an internet celebrity from a viral news video in which he was discussing an attempted rape on his sister. Said video included Dodson uttering the line "Hide your kids, hide your wives, and hide your husbands, because they're raping everybody out there."
 * In Patch 4.2, a second reference was added to the daily quest . After mounting up, it will say "Hyjal kids, Hyjal wives! They're lancing everyone in here!"
 * In Patch 4.2, a second reference was added to the daily quest . After mounting up, it will say "Hyjal kids, Hyjal wives! They're lancing everyone in here!"


 * Ghostcrawler (mob) is a rare spectral crab and spirit beast located in the Abyssal Depths of Vashj'ir. He uses the ability Nerfbat.
 * When doing the quest Forged Documents on the Alliance side, there is an option to turn the quest in to the horse trainer Darlene Stokx in Stormwind. Upon turning in the quest, one of the things she says is "I must have been tipsy the night I promised you a pony. Take your money and no hard feelings, okay?" This a possibly a reference to the "Ghostcrawler promised me a pony" meme that sprung up on the official forums.
 * is another Ghostcrawler reference, this time in reference to a joke on how hard he would be nerfing Paladins.
 * is another Ghostcrawler reference, this time in reference to a joke on how hard he would be nerfing Paladins.


 * There's an NPC in Twilight Highlands called Mia the Rose, which is a reference to porn actress and WoW player Mia Rose. Rose plays a night elf female.
 * There's an NPC in Twilight Highlands called Mia the Rose, which is a reference to porn actress and WoW player Mia Rose. Rose plays a night elf female.


 *  and 
 * The cooking trainer in Stormwind, Robby Flay, and cooking vendor Bario Matalli are both references to Chefs Bobby Flay and Mario Batali respectively.


 * Master Craftsman Omarion, a quest giver and artisan leatherworking, blacksmithing, and tailoring trainer at Light's Hope Chapel, shares the same name as R&B artist Omarion.
 * Master Craftsman Omarion, a quest giver and artisan leatherworking, blacksmithing, and tailoring trainer at Light's Hope Chapel, shares the same name as R&B artist Omarion.


 * A dwarf NPC at Kirthaven in the Twilight Highlands that shares the quest Quest:Words and Music By... who is a reference to his real life counter part of the same name: Russell Brower, who is the Director of Audio at Blizzard.
 * A dwarf NPC at Kirthaven in the Twilight Highlands that shares the quest Quest:Words and Music By... who is a reference to his real life counter part of the same name: Russell Brower, who is the Director of Audio at Blizzard.


 * On Kezan, towards the end of the questlines on the island, there is a Goblin NPC named Vinny Slapchop, who is noted as an Entrepreneur. He can be seen yelling and peddling wares, which include a Slap Rock.
 * On Kezan, towards the end of the questlines on the island, there is a Goblin NPC named Vinny Slapchop, who is noted as an Entrepreneur. He can be seen yelling and peddling wares, which include a Slap Rock.

Literature

 * The Maximillian of Northshire questline in Un'Goro Crater caricatures medieval knights fables in a way very similar to the adventures of Don Quixote, especially as Maximillian mistakes e.g. dinosaurs for dragons and male blood elves for damsels. Also, one of the quest rewards is Toy Windmill, a direct reference to the novel.
 * The quest Quest:Four Heads are Better than None tasks you to collect the four heads of two ogre mages, named Za'brox and Beeble'phod, alluding to, who has two heads as well. In the quest objectives, the head items are even ordered to form the original name.
 * The quest Quest:Four Heads are Better than None tasks you to collect the four heads of two ogre mages, named Za'brox and Beeble'phod, alluding to, who has two heads as well. In the quest objectives, the head items are even ordered to form the original name.
 * The quest Quest:Four Heads are Better than None tasks you to collect the four heads of two ogre mages, named Za'brox and Beeble'phod, alluding to, who has two heads as well. In the quest objectives, the head items are even ordered to form the original name.

Other

 * The achievement is a reference to a viral video of a man commenting in awe while filming footage of a double rainbow. Also, the freaked out imps in the quest  quote the same video.
 * In Deepholm, the quest is an obvious reference to Trogdor. Both the quote "Stop him before he earthinates the countryside!" and the reward Earthinating Peasant Leggings further the pun.
 * In Deepholm, the quest is an obvious reference to Trogdor. Both the quote "Stop him before he earthinates the countryside!" and the reward Earthinating Peasant Leggings further the pun.
 * In Deepholm, the quest is an obvious reference to Trogdor. Both the quote "Stop him before he earthinates the countryside!" and the reward Earthinating Peasant Leggings further the pun.