The Little Things In Life: A Case For WWE To Bring Back Pyro

When it comes down to it, I’m a simple man. Although I oftentimes put out all my thoughts and opinions on how WWE should book its stories and angles, I still tune in every week regardless. There comes a point though, when a real stand needs to be made. When years of tradition and good old fashioned thrills could be erased, someone needs to say something.

I noticed it a couple of months ago when I was watching Smackdown. I’ll never forget the moment. AJ Styles, one of my favorite wrestlers, was about to make his grand entrance. Hood down, he sauntered onto the ramp slowly. His entrance music was about to reach its climax. He leaned over to ready his signature pose. And nothing happened. The explosions that used to surround Styles on the ramp were nowhere to be found. It was heartbreaking. I said to myself that it must be the arena. The arena must have a low roof or something that would prevent them from shooting off their usual pyrotechnic displays. Then, on Raw the next week, it happened again. The shocking booms of fireworks beginning Neville’s entrance were no longer there. Another one of my favorite entrances had been ruined. Surely, they would allow Brock Lesnar to keep the pyro in his entrance though? After all, he is the Universal Champion and a special attraction competitor, right? All too sadly, I was wrong. Brock’s usual bouncing on the ramp commenced and his arms flew down with nary a single explosion to punctuate them. His leap to the ring apron left an empty feeling now. Why has WWE soiled some of my favorite entrances? This was the only question I was capable of asking. It couldn’t be budget cuts, could it? I would assume some needless Network shows would get it the axe before one of the longstanding traditions of the sport. Unfortunately, I assumed wrong. Budget cuts have taken down the long standing institute of pyrotechnic displays for wrestler’s entrances.

Now it’s true, that there was once a time without pyro. A time where Hulk Hogan’s theme would hit and his walk to the ring was all that was needed to ignite the crowd. That was the dark ages though. Since the 90’s, a lot of the greatest entrances in WWE had been punctuated by pyro. What would The Dudleyz have been without the firework from the rafters to introduce them? How would Batista have been received if he couldn’t light up the ramp with his thumbs before he entered the ring? If Goldberg came to the ring and sparks didn’t fly and his punches didn’t contain the echoing booms of fireworks, would he still even be Goldberg?

I suppose in reality, all of these people would have excelled even without pyro. It just feels wrong to me to think of some of their biggest moments if they didn’t have it though. Wrestling has always been a theatrical display meant to entertain the audience. It just seems like now, WWE has taken away the soul of the theatrics.

Maybe this whole thing is just a ruse though. Maybe I’m just a guy who is easily entertained by flashy lights and explosions. Maybe, just maybe though, I’m a guy who you know is right. You know deep down that you’re gonna miss the big productions that entrances used to be, and that’s just wrong. So please WWE, bring back the pyro. Put the theatrics back into sports entertainment.