These have been hard times. Far outside of the hard times the late-great Dusty Rhodes spoke of about 31 years ago. Self-isolation, Stay-at-Home orders, social distancing, historic unemployment and the cancellation of leisure activities, including sports. These are trying times as loved ones are separated, work has been halted and social gatherings have been cancelled indefinitely. The one solace in the replenishing of a dilapidated spirt has been leisure time, and the escaping from our current reality to a place of euphoria. This pandemic has been unprecedented creating a new reality, or alternate universe as one might say, in creating a change in our day to day.

The best way to handle change is to adapt. WWE and AEW adapted their plans for live events to hold no fans. AEW Blood and Guts was postponed, and WWE had to adjust to a WrestleMania without the live spectacle for the grandest stage of them all. Each company did the best they could in the adjustments, and given the circumstances, tried to do the best in their ability to provide a product to stream and witness live on a weekly basis while a the affect of the pandemic was either inside or outside your doors.

A WWE PPV (pay-per-view) without a live audience, let alone a Live TV show, is the ultimate adjustment for company and fans. It’s easy to equate to watching a pick-up basketball game: no crowd, showboating, and some sick moves that those involved will only enjoy live in the vicinity; you vicariously. This years WrestleMania takes place on two nights, supposedly its too big for one night! Well it actually is. Between the Pre-Show and the Main Event with 16 matches, WrestleMania 35 was 7 hours. This is in comparison to the average PPV 3.5 hours. With this WrestleMania formula, there does risk fan fatigue throughout the event, since its entirely all sensory overload. Creating a two-night event for WrestleMania is the best way to go to showcase every feud, title and fan investment. Unfortunately, this historic two-night event, will be infamous to being a two-night crowdless biggest show of the year. WrestleMania normally sits as the reset of the WWE Universe, with the Raw after ‘Mania, being the hottest show of the year. Seeing which free agents signed with WWE, the call ups from NXT, superstar shuffles, and if the crowd is happy with a win or want a push for an amazing spot/WrestleMania moment. All of that is lost now, because of our stark new reality.

Its easy to complain and as well question the motives behind letting the show go on despite what’s going on in the outside, but it has and it will for today and tomorrow. While the Showcase of the Immortals, will only be witnessed “Live” via satellite (it was taped, think of Smackdown on Sci-Fi but without a crowd), those interested and vested, can view the matches as an exhibition of talent and its rawest forms. The road to WrestleMania hasn’t been a pretty one, but here we are, at the very first stop. Let’s see how this all plays out, and judge the events of the matches when they conclude.