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Due to the unfortunate health crisis that's gripping the globe, WrestleMania 36 is going to look and feel like a completely different show than we're used to seeing every year. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the United States government to issue new guidelines when it comes to mass gatherings. It's been recommended that no more than ten people be in a room at a time - which means having over 70,000 screaming fans inside Raymond James Stadium this year was a no go.
This has forced WWE to make a number of changes to the presentation of WrestleMania, including holding it in front of an audience of zero at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Several matches have been dropped from the card due to the new health guidelines - for example, both of the annual battle royals. It's also been reported that the show itself won't actually be live this year. Instead, all the matches will be recorded ahead of time during the week.
Finally, it's been announced that WrestleMania will be a two night event - starting Saturday April 4th at 7pm. Now, it can be argued that the better option would have just been to postpone the company's biggest event of the year, but WWE management has always had the mindset of "the show must go on." WWE wants to put on that show for the fans in these troubling times, and they should be commended for it. Besides, a great opportunity lays before the WWE.
I think the necessary changes to WrestleMania 36 could have a positive and lasting effect on future WrestleManias. Here are five permanent and positive changes we could see next year in Los Angeles and beyond.
#1 WrestleMania stays a two night event
Since the announcement was made, WWE has been using the line "too big for one night" to sell it to the audience. That line is absolutely 100% true, and it's been true for years now. Take WrestleMania 35 for example. Last year's Showcase of the Immortals had 16 matches. The Kick-off Show started at 5pm EST and Becky Lynch didn't pin Ronda Rousey to end the main event until well after midnight.
Last year's WrestleMania was a 7 1\2 hour show and that's with a quarter of the card covering 15 minutes combined bell to bell. That's a long time to ask even the most hardcore wrestling fan to sit and stay engaged.
Moving the show to two nights will allow that 7 plus hours to be split into two 3-4 hour shows - a much more reasonable time frame for the audience. You want the crowd to be alive and energetic, not fighting off sleep through the last 3 matches of the show. Let the fans leave early on the first day and come back refreshed the next night.
We won't get to see the effect the two night show will have on the live audience this year, but as someone who gets up for work early on Monday mornings, I'm sure going to be happy I get to go to bed sooner this year.
#2 Fewer squash matches and time cuts
There are other added benefits to a split show besides letting the audience rest up and soak in the barrage of entertainment over two days as opposed to one. If WWE went to a permanent two day show, it would create more time and opportunity for talent to shine on the biggest stage of them all.
At last year's WrestleMania, Samoa Joe successfully defended his U.S. Championship against an injured Rey Mysterio in just one minute. Mysterio had a legitimate ankle injury and many believed that's why the match was so short, but it was later reported that the match was cut down for time restraints - and the show still went 7 1\2 hours.
That's not nearly as bad as WrestleMania 29 when an Eight-Person Mixed Tag Match featuring Tons of Funk, The Funkadactyls, Cody Rhodes, Damien Sandow, and the Bella Twins was cut from the show entirely due to time restraints.
With two separate shows, there should never be a reason to cut a match down (or entirely) if other matches run long. Each Mania show should feel like a slightly longer NXT TakeOver. Both nights should feature 6-8 matches were each feud gets their proper amount of time to play out in the ring.
A duel night show, in theory, should also provide more opportunity for talent to get on the card in an actual match - as opposed to just being shoehorned into a battle royal. How about taking it a step further? How about split brand Mania events? One night for RAW and another for SmackDown - with some NXT sprinkled in if the company desires. It could work.
#3 More pre-recorded content
Matt Hardy may be gone (from WWE, I mean), but may the spirit of his creativity live on in others inside the company. It's been heavily reported that WrestleMania 36 will be filmed ahead of time and run on replay April 4th and 5th. With no live audience present and an uncertain future regarding government regulations, this is probably the best call the company could make if they want the event to run as scheduled.
With matches being recorded ahead of time, it provides WWE the unique opportunity to film content that could otherwise not be performed in front of a live audience. Not too dissimilar to Matt Hardy's famed Ultimate Deletion match.
One match that seems destined for special treatment is the phenomenal match up of AJ Styles vs. The Undertaker. On this week's RAW, Styles challenged the Deadman to a "Boneyard Match." I have no Earthly idea what that is, but color me intrigued. I wouldn't put it past WWE to film this match in an actual graveyard. The possibilities for this match are wide reaching.
Another match with endless possibilities is The Fiend vs. John Cena. Wyatt is one of the best in ring performers in the business. The emotion he portrays in a match is hard to equal. He's also one of the best creative minds in the company. Give him a blank canvass, the ability to add special effects and an rock solid revenge angle with John Cena and watch the magic unfold. Rumors are that this match will indeed be heavily produced.
Now I'm not saying that if these matches are huge successes that we'll see whole shows recorded again, but it very well may open the door for more special production matches in the future. Maybe even at WrestleMania 37.
#4 Greater focus on wrestling with fewer bells and whistles
WrestleMania has become such a spectacle, that every year WWE tries to pack the show with more and more entertainment - musical acts, celebrity appearances, guest hosts and the like. It's a big part of why the event is constantly strapped for time and has gotten longer every year.
Having a special musical act or two is fine, and would be no different than the NFL Super Bowl, but some years have felt like the wrestling was taking a back seat to the rest of the pomp and circumstance.
This year, that will not be the case. While WrestleMania 36 will have a special guest host in former NFL star Rob Gronkowski, a number of other celebrity appearances have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other extra curricular plans are being scrapped as well. So with a lack of music acts, special entrances and guest appearances there's really only one thing they can focus on - the wrestling.
My hope is that the WWE Superstars just ball out in these matches at WrestleMania 36 and show those in charge backstage that the extra flash and flare isn't needed. WWE is first and foremost a wrestling company and maybe this year's show is exactly what they need to remind them of that.
#5 Permanent end of Annual Battle Royal Matches
Due to the aforementioned restrictions on mass gatherings in the United States, the number of superstars allowed in a ring has been capped. So naturally, due to health concerns, both the Men's and Women's Battle Royals will not be taking place this year. It's just not safe to have 30 men and women in the ring at one time. Let's be honest though, is the absence of these two matches really such a bad thing?
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal started out on fire. Cesaro won the inaugural event 6 years ago at WrestleMania 30. It was a match that showcased a number of big names such as the Big Show, Rey Mysterio, Sheamus, Mark Henry, Drew McIntyre and all three members of the New Day. It was a really entertaining match that included a patented Kofi Kingston elimination safe and a crowd popping moment when Cesaro lifted the Big Show out of the ring to claim victory.
It was a solid foundation for a match that could have become a true staple for years to come. However by WrestleMania 31, just one year later, the Battle Royal had been relegated to the pre-show. Year after year, the winner received very little more than a large trophy. Fans quickly lost interest, as it was apparent the only purpose the Men's, and the later added Women's, Battle Royal was to get more talent on the card. Or, in the case of last year, it was used to set up some weird angle with Braun Strowman and two guys from Saturday Night Live.
With the matches being cancelled this year, WWE has the opportunity to just let them fade away into the history books. I don't believe many fans would complain if neither Battle Royal returned next year in Los Angeles.
