5 things WWE is doing to get by without a live audience 

SmackDown, RAW and NXT have been held in an empty Performance Center
SmackDown, RAW and NXT have been held in an empty Performance Center

WWE has been forced to make a lot of changes to their weekly programming due to the ongoing pandemic, the biggest of them being shows taking place in an empty Performance Center. Interestingly enough though, a lot of the changes have been positive and have really helped distract from the fact that shows are taking place in an empty arena.

With that being said and WWE roaring on with their weekly programming during the pandemic, here are five ways the company has gotten around not having a live audience.

As as always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to tell us what changes you have noticed lately.


#5 Arena lighting and set

WWE has made some interesting changes to their set at the Performance Center
WWE has made some interesting changes to their set at the Performance Center

WWE has made several changes to the sets of their weekly shows and while a lot of that was due to episodes being broadcast at the Performance Center, it also had to do with the fact that there is no live audience at the moment. With that being said, WWE seems to be doing their best to conceal that fact in a variety a ways and some of them are kind of working.

One perfect example of this is WWE putting a series of lighting rigs out where the audience would be and making it a part of the set. The company also seems to be dimming the lights a bit when it comes to the seating section, which is at least helping cover up the fact that they are in an empty arena.

WWE should be applauded for these changes and for at least trying to create a new atmosphere. Sure, it's not perfect and you still get the feeling that a crowd of people should be there, but it's considerably less noticeable with the changes that the company has made so far.

#4 Shorter matches

WWE isn't wasting their time with longer matches right now on RAW or SmackDown
WWE isn't wasting their time with longer matches right now on RAW or SmackDown

WWE has pretty much been forced to shorten the length of their live matches. Of course there are exceptions to this rule if enough of a story is being told throughout the match, but most matches don't last beyond eight minutes.

Now, there are two ways of thinking about this particular strategy employed by the company. On one hand, fans could be upset about only getting small doses of jam-packed, high-flying action. Or, they can see the bigger picture, and the bigger picture in this case is what these smaller sized matches are doing.

Only having short matches is creating a demand from fans for longer matches in the future, which is something the company can make good at WrestleMania 36 and beyond. Furthermore, not having one long match after another at least helps to distract from the fact that there is currently no live audience at the moment, which the company still needs to find a way around.

#3 More ringside commentary

The Miz and John Morrison absolutely killed it on commentary
The Miz and John Morrison absolutely killed it on commentary

WWE has had a slew of special guest commentators over the past couple of weeks. While it seems a little repetitive at times, it has at least allowed WWE to bring in some excitement during matches, which the live crowd would have otherwise added.

From The Miz and Morrison breaking down the tag team title match last week on Friday Night SmackDown, to Nikki Cross's glowing commentary during Alexa Bliss's match with Asuka, WWE has done a great job of putting the best voice out there and allowing them to act as an example of what the fans should be feeling at a particular moment.

In the end, it is an interesting way to shake things up and has proven effective in at least conveying some emotion during a match. It has also done a lot to help break up some of the longer matches that the company has done, which is essential in helping to distract from not having an audience.

#2 Airing old matches

WWE has a very good reason for airing older matches
WWE has a very good reason for airing older matches

While some might find airing old matches a little annoying, especially during WrestleMania season, it is a great way to give fans some backstory and fill time. For example, one of the main story arcs in the feud between John Cena and The Fiend is the fact that Cena buried him at WrestleMania 30, which is why it was so important to show that now.

Not only did that remind fans of the backstory behind Bray Wyatt's eventual rise and fall, it also helped explain just how The Fiend came into existence. Beyond all that, it helped to show Cena as a sort of gate keeper in the company and how Wyatt ultimately failed to unseat him the first time.

In the end, WWE accomplished a lot storyline-wise by re-airing this one WrestleMania match and they did it all without having to show an empty arena. If nothing else, it was a powerful form of storytelling, worked to absolute perfection, and it was a great way to get around the difficulties caused by the ongoing pandemic.

#1 More promos

The Undertaker's promo was nothing short of bone-chilling
The Undertaker's promo was nothing short of bone-chilling

Promo segments might not be everyone's favourite part of an episode of Raw or SmackDown, but it is an essential vehicle to help tell a story. It is also one of the storytelling devices that the company is being forced to rely on in the absence of fans and they have come up with some pretty great ones so far.

Of course, none of this compares to the electric energy that would be in the air if the WWE Universe was present, but the company is really giving it their best shot. In fact, between Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens' exchange on Raw two weeks ago, and Bray Wyatt's breathtaking Firefly Funhouse segment about John Cena, WWE is really upping their game here.

Again, it's not perfect, and anyone looking for it to be will only find disappointment. If they choose to invest in the words being spoken and the underlying messages that are being displayed however, they will be pleasantly surprised about how roped into the storylines they can still get.

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