WWE: 10 Most Inappropriate Stipulation Matches Ever
8. Empty Arena Match
During halftime of Super Bowl XXXIII, World Wrestling Entertainment presented a very special "Halftime Heat" featuring an Empty Arena match between The Rock and Mankind with the WWE Championship on the line. The match is fondly remembered by Attitude Era fans as being far better than it was. The action was flat thanks to a lack of crowd participation and instead of being the latest in a string of great matches between the two competitors, it fell short. Professional wrestling, more than anything, is live performance art. Sure, it features tremendous displays of athleticism but at its core, it needs to fan reaction to truly be successful. The men and women that step foot inside a squared circle thrive on the response they get from the audience. Without it, matches often fall flat and are definitely harder to get into and appreciate. Even the best commentary team on the plant cannot make up for a lack of crowd participation. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19ci1x_wwf-sunday-night-heat-01-31-99-mankind-vs-the-rock-empty-arena-match-wwf-championship_sport Empty Arena matches may be looked at as fun and effective ratings boosts but they hardly leave the impression that a great singles match in front of a hot crowd does.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
