10 Old WWE Gimmick Matches That Need To Say In The Past
9. Empty Arena Match
Professional wrestling is nothing without crowd reactions. It can be argued that some sects of the fanbase have become ‘too close’ to the action these days, and are more concerned with putting themselves over than the wrestlers, but their noise (or lack thereof) can make or break a match. If the crowd isn’t engaged, it can suck the life out of an otherwise great bout, even when watching from home.
Thus, the concept of an Empty Arena match is pretty daft. The first one took place back in 1981, when Terry Funk and Jerry Lawler battled across a barren Mid South Coliseum, with the gimmick making its way to WWE in 1999. Presented during the Super Bowl’s halftime break, the match saw WWE Champion The Rock put his belt on the line against Mankind, and it was predictably lifeless.
The duo spent just a few minutes brawling in the arena before spilling backstage. They fought through corridors, catering sections, and offices, with only the duo’s electric personalities keeping the bout from becoming a total disaster. In a sport that’s all about manipulating crowd reactions, Empty Arena matches are worthless.