Real Reason WWE Used Fake Crowd Noise On This Week's Raw
Backstage update on WWE piping in fake boos during Brock Lesnar, Cody Rhodes segment.
WWE felt it was in a "no-win scenario" regarding crowd reactions on this week's episode of Raw, regardless of how they chose to deal with the issue - according to WRKD Wrestling.
The outlet reported on Tuesday that with Jacksonville, Florida a considerably quieter crowd than the raucous San Juan, Puerto Rico audience that Backlash 2023 enjoyed on Saturday, WWE felt that regardless of whether or not it piped fake noise into the building, it couldn't win.
Per WRKD Wrestling:-
Production at last night’s #WWERaw from Jacksonville, Florida was aware of the lackluster crowd responses compared to this weekend’s events.
AdvertisementWe heard it described as a “no-win scenario,” either they use the filler crowd noise or they broadcast the silent crowd on TV. pic.twitter.com/IqC5ou5UbL
— WRKD Wrestling (@WRKDWrestling) May 9, 2023
Backlash played out to one of the loudest, most engaged wrestling crowds WWE will enjoy all year. By contrast, Raw was close to silence at points, failing to get up even for the show's biggest stars. This included the Cody Rhodes/Brock Lesnar beatdown segment, the reaction to which was stark.
Elsewhere, Fightful Select reports that people within WWE didn't feel like the artificial noise was necessary, as the promotion "heavily piped in audio" during Brock and Cody's interactions. Lesnar cost 'The American Nightmare' his World Heavyweight Championship tournament participation by attacking him during a Triple Threat with The Miz and Finn Balor, then continuing the beatdown after the bell. Rhodes defeated Lesnar via roll-up at Backlash.
Piped-in crowd noise was a fixture of WWE programming during the COVID-19 pandemic's peak periods, compensating for the lack of fans in attendance. The market leaders have continued to utilise it wherever it feels is necessarily post-lockdown.