Not sure if it's been mentioned already, but Illhoof in Kara drops "The Lightning Capacitor", which is also Back to the Future related.
Puzzle Box of Yogg-Saron - When used one of possible phrases is "What can change the nature of a man" - referance to "Planscape: Torment". Also Mobius Band - obvious link to curious math object - Möbius ring a surface with only one side and only one boundary component.
What about the Felwood He-Man kitten (green and orange tribute).
You forgot a couple of the Star Trek homages, like Scooty, at the Gnomeregan transporter.
Movie reference: The music in the Vashj'ir zone is a clear homage to the theme music of the 1970 movie Tora! Tora! Tora!
Syrio's Gloves of Tutelage , Im pretty sure this is from game of thrones, the sword teacher guy :)''What do we say to death?''- NOT TODAY
I don't have any confirmation that it is indeed a reference, but my favorite Gin is (was) Tanqueray's Malacca Gin.And there's a small quest hub named Malaka'Jin in Stonetalon Mountains.
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Note that the vikings are in Cataclysm part of a questline in BadlandsLink here: First Sample: Wild Eggs
While its not a book, music or poetry, don't forget the famous internet meme! Moon Moon
http://www.wowhead.com/forums&topic=221787 :)
Tons of Game of Thrones / Song of Ice and Fire references that haven't been mentioned. Mightyena above may have nailed Syrio's Gloves of Tutelage, but that's just one of a great many. Others include but do not stop at:Summer (named after Bran Stark's direwolf) Everything about The Bear and the Lady FairShado-pan affiliated pandaren quoting the Night's Watch oath when you talk to them by saying both "We are the sword in the shadows." and "We are the Watchers on the wall." Frost King Malakk stating "Winter is coming" (the Stark family moto) on aggro.Sure there are many more out there, that's just what comes to mind off the top of my head.
wirt's leg had been one of my favorite tributes in wow, and i'd like to mention that wow has the 3rd leg as the other leg appeared in warcraft3 (somewhere around the echo islands if i can remember) thanx for this article :)
This is a very nice list of pop culture references. Its a very good read. One of my personal favorites that isn't on the list, is Wuu and Swar'jan in Feralas. References to the HBO series Deadwood.Thanks for this and keep more coming.
Thank you very much, I wanted this kind of infomration for a long while, references is one of the things I like the most in WoW, I'll be looking forward for more of these!
Great Nostalgia Trip! But here's a few more!MarioLarionLuigiMuiginAnd also the bloodpetals they are fighting.
another one to add, gary the snail that is the toy that drops off of the trash in tot. its a refferance to spongebob and his pet snail gary
Also don't forget the cooking trainer in stormwind. Steven Rybek - Under Siege anyone?The guy even has a black pony tail 'do.