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The ThunderDome era in WWE is now approaching its end since the company has announced its return to the road later this month.
WWE's return to their live event schedule also means that live fans will be allowed in the arena for the first time in more than a year.
When the COVID-19 pandemic caused a lockdown all over the world, WWE was forced inside their Performance Center in March last year. They have since been able to make the best out of the current restrictions.
These restrictions are starting to ease all over the world and whilst many superstars and fans are excited to get back on the road, there are many things that WWE won't be able to do when live fans return.
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The following article looks at just six WWE storylines that wouldn't have happened if there were live fans in attendance.
#6. Would RAW Underground have debuted in WWE If there were live fans?
One of the more forgettable segments that debuted during the pandemic era was RAW Underground. The show was hosted by Shane McMahon and was basically a backstage fight club that allowed several of WWE's former MMA stars to show off their skills.
The show was short-lived and was recorded at the Performance Center with many NXT talents in the audience. After several COVID-19 outbreaks in the PC, the show was scrapped.
Since the whole show is filmed backstage and takes up most of the final hour of RAW, it's hard to imagine that WWE would have pushed this out in front of a live audience. It appears that one good thing that came from RAW Underground is current RAW Tag Team Champion Omos.
#5. Eva Marie's debut with Doudrop
Eva Marie's return to the WWE would have been an interesting one if there were live fans in attendance. Marie wasn't a popular star in the company ahead of her departure in 2017 and has since returned with Piper Niven as her enforcer.
Marie has given Niven an interesting new name on Monday Night RAW which has definitely created some discussion on social media. The fact that Piper is already well-known to the WWE Universe makes this a tough story for WWE to be able to play out in front of a live crowd.
It will be interesting to see how this story moves forward when the fans return since it's likely that "Piper" chants will hijack the segments.
#4. The Fiend/Bray Wyatt's feud with Braun Strowman on WWE TV in the Summer of 2020
Braun Strowman and The Fiend finally crossed paths in the Summer of 2020 with WWE's Monster Among Men going up against the former patriarch of The Wyatt Family. This should have been one of the feuds of the year. Instead, it was another forgettable part of the pandemic era given the way the storyline played out.
There were several cinematic matches between the two men, including WWE's first-ever Wyatt Swamp Fight. In the end, it was Wyatt who came out on top when he dragged Strowman under the water. This wasn't the end of their feud though. The two men battled again at SummerSlam and Wyatt was finally able to take the Universal Championship.
It was obvious that this feud was prolonged in order to fill time in the Universal Championship picture until Roman Reigns made his return to WWE. If the pandemic didn't happen then Reigns would have become the Champion at WrestleMania and the company would have had different plans for the title.
#3. Seth Rollins vs Rey Mysterio - WWE's first-ever Eye vs Eye match
The culmination of an intense feud between Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio happened at WWE's Horror Show at Extreme Rules in an 'Eye for an Eye' match last year.
This was the first 'Eye for an Eye' match in WWE history. It was made clear that one of the two men would have their eye extracted in order for the match to come to an end.
It wasn't the only strange stipulation that was part of The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, but it was one that definitely wouldn't have worked in front of a live crowd.
WWE had to ensure that Rey Mysterio was able to make it appear as though his eye had been extracted and the camera angles had to be timed perfectly. If there were thousands of fans surrounding the ring, this would have been difficult and at least one fan would have been able to see Mysterio being handed the fake eye and then putting it in place.
#2. Randy Orton vs The Fiend used several tricks that wouldn't have worked in front of the WWE Universe
Randy Orton's feud with The Fiend was one of the highlights of the pandemic era and it led to one of the most shocking moments in WWE history.
Following WWE's TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs event in the fall of 2020 Randy Orton set The Fiend alight in the center of the ring. It was later revealed that this was a pre-recorded part of the show and a dummy was used in order to create the best illusion, which wouldn't have been able to happen in front of a live crowd.
Many of the tricks that The Fiend used against Randy Orton in the weeks leading up to their match saw WWE utilize the fact that they were able to pre-record parts of the show.
The two men finally collided in front of a live crowd at WrestleMania 37. This was the last time that The Fiend was seen on WWE TV since Alexa Bliss seemingly betrayed her "friend."
#1. Alexa Bliss's transformation on WWE TV over the past year
Alexa Bliss has become a completely different person on WWE TV since the beginning of the pandemic and that's because the company has utilized the ThunderDome.
Bliss was able to take over The Fiend's feud with Randy Orton after he was set alight at WWE TLC and she was able to show off some of her powers. Bliss could change in the middle of matches or even throw fireballs, things that wouldn't be able to happen in front of a live crowd.
Bliss' new storyline with Lilly hasn't forced the former Women's Champion to use her superpowers as much as her past one with Orton. But since Lilly is a doll, how will this storyline continue in front of the WWE Universe?
The Fiend is expected to make his return in the coming months and could pick up where he left off with Alexa Bliss. However, WWE may be forced to present much of their feud in backstage segments or as part of a cinematic match.
