4 Ups & 8 Downs From WWE Raw (March 8)

Week after week, it’s becoming clear that WWE’s Empty Arena Era is bringing out the worst in the company, and Monday’s episode really highlighted those failings.

When everything started, fans optimistically pointed to the ability to edit matches to correct glaring mistakes, to control crowd response better, and to be more creative in how they present material. For decades, nearly everything has been produced in front of a live audience, limiting what could be done. We got cinematic matches that seemed like a revelation.

But these empty arena shows also are showing WWE’s worst inclinations, as they’ve gone to the extreme with the Randy Orton/Alexa Bliss/Fiend rivalry. And without actual crowd responses to this horrifically bad feud, they’re convinced that this stuff is gold.

It’s given rise to Shane McMahon getting to continue this unadvised feud with Braun Strowman in an angle that would be booed out of any building in normal times, but is being given new life because there is no fan feedback… unless you count the piped-in “Shane-O-Mac” chants.

Wrestlers are having bad matches that would be getting the silent treatment. Tag champs are being treated as jokes, but then that’s ignored the following week… because they have the straps.

Worse, those who are busting their butts week in and week out aren’t rewarded by fans with standing ovations and real chants celebrating their hard work. So matches like Drew McIntyre versus Sheamus aren’t getting the same accolades they might from a crowd.

Let’s get to it…