Wrestling matches are dynamic; the crowd is a crucial element of any bout and the performers often call audibles based on the audience’s reactions. As we saw on Friday’s SmackDown and Monday’s RAW, matches without an audience feel hollow. Near falls aren’t dramatic because you don’t hear the crowd’s response. Impressive counters or maneuvers fall flat for the same reason. These elements make or break matches. Imagine your favorite matches without the reactions to shocking kickouts or the applause when a fan-favorite wins a competitive contest. Personally, I think of Daniel Bryan’s unforgettable victory at WrestleMania 30; the deafening cheers made that moment legendary. Matches tell stories and the fan’s cheers/boos are crucial elements of the narrative. Without the crowd, these stories are incomplete. For a show like WrestleMania, this absence is particularly important.
Though we can’t quite predict what watching WrestleMania without a crowd will be like based on these two episodes, it’s WrestleMania; it’s the biggest show of the year, where tens of thousands of fans combine to create an electric atmosphere. As a fan, I look forward to this show all year along. The Super Bowl of Sports Entertainment is both the pinnacle of a year of storylines and the emphatic launch of the next 12 months of programming. Last year, Becky Lynch won the RAW and SmackDown Women’s titles in the main event; now, Baszler could dethrone her. Drew McIntyre is slated to slay the beast, Brock Lesnar, and become WWE’s new top guy. But these developments won’t feel nearly as special without the fans’ cheers. They’ll barely qualify as WrestleMania moments. No matter how much WWE dresses up the Performance Center, there’s no denying that this WrestleMania won’t be the spectacle it usually is.
Even the set won’t be as special as we’ve come to expect. Typically, WWE puts together a marvelous entrance stage that augments the extravaganza. But due to the restrictions caused by the coronavirus, we probably won’t get much more than the set-up used on RAW and SmackDown. WWE won’t be able to utilize its massive crew; due to the limitations of public gatherings and the emphasis on social distancing, the company will be working with a much smaller group of employees. So, practically speaking, it’s unfair to expect the usual splendor. Plus, because the Performance Center is much smaller than other arenas, there probably won’t be any fireworks at WrestleMania this year. Pyrotechnics can make wrestling events, and even individual matches, feel even more special. Usually, the Royal Rumble match seems like a big deal because the winner is greeted with an impressive fireworks display. In the confines of the Performance Center, WrsestleMania won’t feel nearly as theatrical as it usually does, but maybe that’s for the best; it’d be jarring to have tons of fireworks going off in an arena without cheering fans.
Lastly, we have to consider the fact that WWE won’t have its full roster on hand. It’d be unsafe to pack dozens of wrestlers together in the backstage area. That’s why we’ve gotten stripped-down episodes of RAW and SmackDown. RAW just practically devoted half the show to replaying the entire Men’s Royal Rumble match. Yes, this year’s edition was remarkable; I’ll never get tired of seeing Brock Lesnar dance to MVP’s theme song or Drew McIntyre yeet Ricochet out of the ring. But even for a company that’s unrivaled in its ability to fill air time with gratuitous video packages, this use of airtime was wasteful.
The necessity of working with a smaller roster could result in a shorter show because WWE will be unable to load the card with talent. Vince McMahon and other decision-makers will have to determine which wrestlers are essential for the show’s success. As a result, plenty of wrestlers could get left off the card. Just a few weeks ago, fans, myself included, were dreading an insufferably long show loaded with matches. Now, WWE will be forced to draw from a much smaller pool of talent and make some tough calls on which bouts are worthy of the card.
As a result, WWE will have to modify the way it books RAW and SmackDown for the next few weeks. These programs should focus on whichever matches end up making the cut for WrestleMania. There are plenty of ways WWE can still produce quality television despite the challenges caused by the pandemic. The company can make original content in the form of vignettes or video packages that go beyond what we’ve grown accustomed to seeing. Ultimately, the only limit is WWE’s imagination. If they get creative, they can still keep these feuds hot heading into WrestleMania.
In some ways, it’s a shame we won’t get a typical WrestleMania (with all the fanfare and theatrics) this year. First and foremost, the wellbeing of fans and wrestlers is the priority. Regardless of any external pressure, it’s worth noting that WWE is doing its best to take that into account. Surely, the event will feel less special in comparison to its predecessors. But at a time when sporting events, television shows and movies are all getting canceled/postponed and when the real world has been turned upside down, having WrestleMania at all and being able to escape by watching it is worth celebrating.
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