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ebruary 2020 was the last time WWE was on a full touring schedule. Like everything else, WWE too was heavily affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. WrestleMania 37 marked the first time WWE put on an event with a large capacity of fans.
WWE recently announced that they would be going back out on tour starting in July. The tour will start in Texas and mark the return of fans on a regular basis. The lack of fans has impacted the show and their return could mean big things for certain superstars.
The reaction of the fans makes a huge difference at an event. Fans will let everyone know which superstars they like and which ones they dislike. For example, Daniel Bryan’s popularity with the fans led to the YES! Movement, which was one of the reasons why he was put in the main event spot.
Their input really has the ability to influence how far a superstar’s growth will be within the company. WWE has been able to use big-name stars throughout the pandemic, but no one has benefitted from the lack of fans. Here is a list of 10 WWE Superstars who will benefit massively once fans are back in attendance.
#10 WWE SmackDown Superstar Jimmy Uso
Jimmy Uso’s recent return to SmackDown was long-awaited since his brother Jey joined forces with Universal Champion Roman Reigns. It was speculated that Jimmy would be joining Jey in his alliance with The Head of the Table, but so far, that does not seem to be the case.
Jey Uso benefitted heavily from SmackDown’s time in the ThunderDome, but now that live crowds are coming back, this could be Jimmy’s time to shine. Jimmy Uso could gain a lot of fan popularity as he could stand up to Reigns like his brother did before.
If we get a Uso vs. Uso, Jimmy will most likely be the babyface in the situation, and the live crowd would be behind him. This could also mean a full return of The Usos as a tag team, who have always been a fan favorite with the crowds.
#9 Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy is a former world champion and tag team wrestling legend. Lately, he has been sitting in a weird limbo on Monday Night RAW and could benefit from a strong singles run as his career is starting to wind down.
Jeff was recently trending on Twitter as fans talked about how he was their favorite wrestler. They also pleaded with WWE to bring back his old “No More Words” entrance music. A return to live crowds would be the perfect time to bring this back.
There is no doubt it would get a massive pop from the crowd and even have some fans singing along with the music. That aspect alone would be a reason for WWE to put Jeff Hardy back in the spotlight.
Hardy has also said that there are still a few things that he has left to do in the company before he bids his final farewell. This might be a good opportunity for WWE to give this legend a chance to finish off his career strong.
#8 Rick Boogs
Rick Boogs recently debuted on WWE Smackdown as a rockstar performing Shinsuke Nakamura's entrance music. He was rarely seen on NXT but is well known for his personality and guitar skills.
WWE also put Boogs in a few of their recent promotional materials, which shows they have faith in him as a personality. His looks and character only help his potential of becoming a fan-favorite among the WWE Universe and the pairing with Nakamura builds his credibility.
Imagine him appearing in front of a live audience, getting large amounts of fans to play the air guitar. With a live crowd cheering him on from the start, it could mean big things for Boogs.
Boogs was being compared to Elias after his debut on SmackDown. It would be interesting to see those two collide in the future. Putting on some type of Battle of the Bands using a live crowd as the judges.
There are a lot of possibilities for Boogs after making his debut, but there is no doubt that the crowds are going to go crazy for him.
#7 WWE SmackDown Superstar Liv Morgan
Liv Morgan has been a fan favorite in WWE for quite some time now. After a long absence from TV, many were hoping that the rumors were true and she was going to return as a Sister Abigail-like character alongside “The Fiend”. Instead, she returned as a part of this weird angle with Lana and Bobby Lashley.
Throughout the last year, she has been paired with Ruby Riott, reforming The Riott Squad. Morgan and Riott have both been lost in the shuffle since then. Morgan has been very vocal over social media, stating that she has what it takes to be a top performer and just needs the chance. Fans have also come to her defense in saying that they want to see more of Morgan on WWE TV.
The return of live crowds might be the time to give Morgan the push that her character desperately needs. Money in the Bank is coming up and having Morgan win as a surprise would be the perfect way to boost her character.
She could marinate with the briefcase for a bit and use it to carry her popularity. Ultimately, it could lead to a championship opportunity for Morgan. As long as she stays a face, the crowd will most likely be behind her.
#6 WWE SmackDown Superstar Aleister Black
Aleister Black was off of WWE TV for quite a long time but appeared on last week's SmackDown to attack Big E during an Intercontinental Championship match.
Black is a former NXT champion but has yet to shine on RAW or SmackDown. Black made his debut on the Red brand a few years back, teaming with Ricochet, but they were split up in the draft and his career hasn’t been the same since.
It is no secret that Black has unbelievable athletic ability but just has not had a chance to show how skilled he is on a larger scale. The return to live crowds will be his chance to prove himself and get the crowd behind his character.
Black's mysterious nature and dark look are why crowds attracted to him in NXT. He has since strayed away from that for a while, but this would be a great time to bring back the mesmerizing entrance that helped make his character.
It appears that Aleister Black is currently a heel in the company, but with the right story, the crowds will still cheer for his character.
#5 Ricochet
Much like his former tag team partner, Ricochet is a superstar who has yet to reach his full potential in WWE. When crowds were last in attendance, Ricochet was in the WWE Championship picture, where he competed against Brock Lesnar at Super ShowDown in February 2020.
After losing that match, it was downhill for Ricochet.
Ricochet briefly feuded against The Hurt Business and then sat on the sidelines with nothing major going on. He is now in a storyline with United States Champion Sheamus, which could be big for Ricochet. Since Sheamus just recently became the WWE United States Champion, it is possible that these two might feud for a while.
Being a fan favorite, Ricochet as champion with the return to live crowds could make him a big draw for WWE. His high-flying ability and his arsenal of moves have proved to keep live audiences on the edge of their seats. This transition could put Ricochet back in the position he was in before the pandemic.
#4 Returning WWE RAW Superstar Eva Marie
Eva Marie is all set to make her return to WWE. They have been playing vignettes for her over the last few weeks but have yet to announce an official date for her return. There is a good possibility that she returns to WWE before July, but the return to live audiences will be good for her.
Marie goes down as one of the most hated wrestlers in recent years, with fans greeting her with boos and “you can’t wrestle” chants. Many believed that Marie was only hired for her looks and her spot on Total Divas. Sticking with that character could place her as a top heel before she even has a chance to wrestle.
Again, fan reactions have been known to help boost a superstar’s career, even if they are getting a negative one. Fans want to see the people they do not like get defeated by the ones they do. This could prove that Marie will be a huge draw just because fans will express their hatred for her character.
#3 WWE NXT Champion Karrion Kross
Karrion Kross is currently the NXT champion and has his real-life girlfriend, Scarlett Bordeaux as his manager. Kross is considered a future star and many stars have expressed their interest in competing against him. He has an exciting entrance and his original push was only stopped due to an injury.
Now that he is back and healthy, Kross and Bordeaux are characters that could carry a whole show. They have the main event looks and athletic ability; all they need is the opportunity to shine on a larger stage.
With WWE returning to a live audience, it could be time to shift Kross and Bordeaux from NXT to the main roster. Their entrance alone will have the fans engaged and it could mean a big push right out the gate on a different brand.
Kross would fit into the main event picture no matter what show he is on. Scarlett's in-ring abilities have yet to be shown in WWE, but she could make a difference in the women's division as well. It could even be interesting if Kross were to stay the NXT champion and compete on either RAW or SmackDown just to build interest in them.
#2 WWE SmackDown Superstar Big E
Over the course of the pandemic, WWE SmackDown Superstar Big E has really come into character. Since splitting from his New Day brothers Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, Big E has really shined as a singles competitor.
Big E recently lost the Intercontinental Championship after a decently long run with the title. It appears he is going to start steering away from the IC Championship picture and therefore, a return to live crowds could mean bigger things for him.
Fans have been clamoring for Big E to get a shot at the Universal Championship or even the WWE Championship if he were to switch brands. Long story short, the WWE Universe wants to see him in the main event picture and as the face of the company.
Big E has now proved he can do it all and has continued to stand out throughout his career. A WWE or Universal Championship run is most likely inevitable, but with fans calling for it now, the shouts are only going to become louder once the crowds are back.
#1 Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch has not been on WWE TV ever since she relinquished the RAW Women's Championship in May 2020 due to pregnancy. Lynch and Rollins were blessed with a baby girl named Roux.
With crowds returning soon, it would the best time for Becky Lynch to return to WWE. After all, it was because of the fans that she became such an icon and became The Man. Her attitude and change in character took her to the top and made her the face of the company.
The return to a live crowd and her popularity should instantly put her in a storyline for the RAW or SmackDown Women’s Championship. Given that WWE is returning to live events just in time for SummerSlam, she would be a perfect fit as one of the show's headliners.
