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The WWE Universe is finally returning to WWE television.
After being absent from Monday Night RAW, Friday Night SmackDown and WWE pay-per-views for over 16 months, live fans return to WWE programming this week on Friday Night SmackDown.
Friday's broadcast on FOX is seen by many as a turning point for WWE, putting the pandemic era of their programming in the past and beginning a new chapter.
The pandemic era of WWE television led to WWE producing episodes of Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown from an empty WWE Performance Center and the WWE ThunderDome on a closed set.
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Many of the WWE Superstars were forced to compete inside of an empty arena with no fans present for the first time in their careers. While some thrived under the different circumstances, other WWE Superstars obviously suffered.
A live audience is the lifeblood of any professional wrestling event. Without a crowd to feed off, many characters just haven't felt the same on WWE television.
With live crowds returning to WWE television this week, let's take a closer look at three WWE Superstars that are tailor-made for live crowds and two that aren't.
#5 Tailor-made: WWE Monday Night RAW Superstar Elias
Elias has been both a heel and a babyface during his career.
Irrespective of whether the former 24/7 Champion is a 'good guy' or a 'bad guy,' Elias always generates a loud response from the audience inside of an arena.
The WWE Superstar has several catchphrases such as 'who wants to walk with Elias?' and 'WWE stands for Walk With Elias.' All of which the live crowd are more than happy to cheer out loud in unision with Elias.
This is then usually followed by Elias serenading the WWE Universe with a song or the latest release from one of his several musical projects.
Elias's character has arguably been hurt the most by the lack of fans during the pandemic era of programming. Elias thrives off the response to his various catchphrases, songs and performances during his promos.
With no response, Elias' character has often felt cold and directionless. The character is a talented musician. As is the case with any great musical performer, if there is no crowd to perform to at a concert, the performance is likely to suffer.
Now that live fans are returning, Elias will once again thrive in front of the WWE Universe, as his character is tailor made to perform in front of a live audience.
#4 Not tailor-made: WWE RAW Superstar Jaxson Ryker
WWE Monday Night RAW Superstar Jaxson Ryker has certainly had an eventful past twelve months.
The former NXT Superstar made his debut on Friday Night SmackDown in April 2020 as a member of The Forgotten Sons faction. The gimmick saw Jaxson Ryker, Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler portray themselves as American patriots, with both Ryker and Cutler serving in the military in the past.
However, the gimmick was quickly dropped due to controversial political tweets made by Ryker later that year. Due to the public backlash from several WWE Superstars and fans on social media, The Forgotten Sons were quickly pulled from television.
Jaxson Ryker was then paired with Elias on Monday Night RAW in December 2020. After serving as Elias' back up for several months, Ryker seemingly turned babyface after Elias turned his back on his former tag team partner.
This has once again seen Jaxson Ryker talk about his military background, whilst feuding with Elias. The feud culminated in a recent strap match on Monday Night RAW, in which Ryker was left victorious.
Despite WWE presenting Jaxson Ryker as a babyface, it is clear on social media that many are still not behind the former Forgotten Son. Many still remember the controversial comments by the RAW Superstar and are yet to forget about them.
Therefore, despite WWE's best efforts in presenting Ryker as a babyface, it would appear that live crowds may not want to cheer him on.
#3 Tailor-made: WWE RAW Superstar Jeff Hardy
Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy has had an interesting path since returning from injury last year.
After missing several months due to a knee injury, Jeff Hardy returned to Friday Night SmackDown at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Hardy quickly entered a feud with Sheamus, highlighting The Charasmatic Enigma's past substance abuse.
This eventually resulted in Jeff Hardy defeating Sheamus in a Bar Fight on the July 24 episode of Friday Night SmackDown. Hardy then transitioned into a feud with AJ Styles over the Intercontinental Championship, leading to Hardy winning the title for the fifth time in his career. However, Hardy would quickly drop the title to Sami Zayn at Clash of Champions later that year.
Since then, Jeff Hardy has been drafted to Monday Night RAW during the 2020 WWE Draft. Despite feuds with the likes of Elias and Cedric Alexander, Jeff Hardy really hasn't done much of substance on the red brand.
Hardy himself announced last year that he had signed a new contract extension with WWE. As part of his new deal, it was announced that Jeff Hardy would bring back his incredibly popular "No More Words" entrance theme once live fans returned to WWE programming.
Jeff Hardy has made a career of taking risks and performing death-defying moves. Without fans being in attendance to spur Hardy on, the former WWE Champion's presentation hasn't felt the same.
Jeff Hardy has a rare and unique connection with the WWE Universe, hopefully with their return and the return of his old entrance theme, Jeff Hardy can once again become a prominent figure on WWE television.
#2 Not tailor-made: WWE RAW Superstar Alexa Bliss
Former WWE RAW Women's Champion Alexa Bliss has certainly undergone a transformation over the past twelve months.
After being seduced by "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt, Alexa Bliss began incorporating elements of The Fiend and Bray Wyatt's dual personality into her own character and psyche.
This led to Alexa Bliss accompanying Bray Wyatt to matches and also actively participating in FireFly Fun House segments. However, the pairing between Bliss and Wyatt didn't last too long.
After The Fiend made his miraculous return after being set on fire by Randy Orton, Alexa Bliss shockingly turned on Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 37 Night Two. Bliss distracted The Fiend, allowing The Viper to hit an RKO and defeat his long-time rival.
The following night on RAW, Alexa revealed she was now going solo and introduced the WWE Universe to her new 'friend,' a stuffed doll named Lilly.
Alexa Bliss' supernatural powers have continued to emerge on WWE television with Bliss shooting fire from the ringposts, hypnotizing people, vanishing into thin air, possessing Lilly to attack Shayna Baszler and much more.
Usually, because of the elaborate nature of Alexa Bliss' character, WWE is forced to pre-tape her segments in the ring in order to pull off the stunts required.
However, it's becoming clear that many fans on social media aren't buying into Alexa Bliss' supernatural powers and her stuffed doll Lilly. Should WWE attempt to continue to preserve with Bliss' segments in front of a live crowd, there could possibly be an incredibly negative reaction.
#1 Tailor-made: WWE SmackDown Superstar Big E
Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E experienced a significant amount of success despite having no crowds present for the past 16 months.
Big E was split up from The New Day during the 2020 WWE Draft as Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston were drafted to Monday Night RAW, whereas Big E was drafted to Friday Night SmackDown.
Despite being split from his teammates, many within the WWE Universe were excited to see Big E compete as a singles wrestler. Many have often stated that Big E possesses all the tools to be a future WWE World Heavyweight or Universal Champion, competing in the main event.
The singles success quickly followed as Big E captured the Intercontinental Championship for the second time in his career during the Christmas Day edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
Whilst Big E dropped the Intercontinental Championship to Apollo Crews at WrestleMania 37 Night Two, there is still a feeling that Big E is capable of achieving more in WWE.
Big E is one of the most charismatic performers on the WWE roster today. With his infectious promos and charisma inside the ring, he is tailor-made to perform in front of a live audience.
Hopefully, with live crowds returning, Big E can finally break through into the main event scene as a singles wrestler.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
