UPDATE (6:28 p.m., Monday, March 16): This story has been updated to reflect that WWE has announced the relocation of WrestleMania 36.

The last time Americans faced a crisis of this magnitude, professional wrestling, believe it or not, served as our first true escape from an unthinkable reality.

That was in 2001.

Just two days after the September 11 terrorist attacks, World Wrestling Entertainment’s SmackDown broadcasted live from the Compaq Center in Houston. The sold-out crowd of over 16,000 was among the first mass, public gatherings since the horrific events of the Tuesday preceding.

The show sent a message to the world about the strength of our nation’s resolve: That we would not panic or live in fear, and that a day would come when we could reclaim some sense of normalcy.

Wrestling aside, that crowd was heard loud and clear.

When SmackDown went on the air last Friday night, there was no crowd. And that was the point.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the associated need for social distancing forced the promotion to move their weekly program from its scheduled stop in Detroit.

Instead, WWE and its wrestlers went live from the company’s training facility. The sea of empty chairs couldn’t cheer for the flips, dives and powerslams.

It was kind of weird, and maybe came across as somewhat futile in nature.

Yet, 2001′s show seemed to echo. Many of the circumstances were similar.

A majority of public events have been cancelled. 19 years ago, national security had to be evaluated. This time, society is attempting to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Sporting events, then, like now, were the first communal gatherings to receive the ax. The NCAA has cancelled all spring collegiate athletics and March Madness basketball. The NBA, NHL, MLS, XFL and their respective minor league affiliates have suspended play. The Players was nixed and The Masters postponed. MLB’s opening day will be delayed.

Baseball needed only three days to bounce back from September 11th. Don’t expect a quick turnaround for pro-sports this time.

But, our country’s other favorite pastime — pro wrestling — doesn’t have an offseason. While the industry’s predetermined outcomes and theatrics may have a limited appeal, wrestlers will be the only athletes performing on television in the coming weeks.

We’ll have to get used to that.

Pro wrestling filled a void before, albeit, a brief one. Maybe pro wrestling — a “silly” entertainment product often disrespected for its “fakeness” — can help us through crisis once again. Live audience, or not.

He’s back with a Swanton 💣!!! With a little help from @IAmEliasWWE. Welcome back to #SmackDown @JEFFHARDYBRAND pic.twitter.com/h0FV3QYKjr — WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) March 14, 2020

Now, if you think watching pretend fights is needless, watching pretend fights take place in front of zero spectators won’t feel any less needless. Quite the contrary. Realistically speaking, if you’ve never watched pro wrestling, coronavirus cabin fever probably isn’t enough to make you start.

After all, pro wrestling certainly isn’t as popular as it was in the early 2000′s. A ratings casualty of a media landscape now saturated by too many options... oh, and the internet.

Then again, live sports are really the only thing keeping cable networks afloat these days. Pro-wrestling companies currently find themselves in a paradoxical situation. Networks will be desperate for their programming. While every other sports league pauses, companies like the WWE have a chance to broaden their audience, competition free.

That’s no reason to champion a virus. Let’s call it making the best of a bad situation.

Pro wrestling is objectively entertaining, in a not-so-serious, escapist, bizarrely fascinating kind of way. We could all use some suspension of disbelief right about now.

“This show will be different from anything you have ever seen before...,” WWE Executive Vice President Paul Levesque said to open Friday’s SmackDown. “... Sit back, relax, and if you can, forget about the world around you ... and let us put a smile on your face.”

So, how is all of this possible? Why are pro-wrestling companies preparing to continue live broadcasts?

Unlike pro-sports and their outsourced media infrastructures, large pro-wrestling companies like the WWE can produce in-house. It’s just a matter of pulling their talent and production teams off the road. Weekly broadcasts such as Monday Night Raw and SmackDown will presumably air from WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando for the foreseeable future. Necessary personnel only.

WWE has not formally announced the cancellation or relocation of the upcoming Monday Night Raw at the new Dickies Arena in Fort Worth (March 23), but next week’s show scheduled for Pittsburgh is being moved.

As a precautionary measure against COVID-19, we are relocating next week’s AEW DYNAMITE show on March 18 from Rochester, NY, to Jacksonville, FL. pic.twitter.com/4OGpiRW1oU — All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) March 12, 2020

All Elite Wrestling — WWE’s primary competitor — has a unique relationship with the city of Jacksonville, Florida. Company president Tony Khan also co-owns the NFL’s Jaguars, meaning he has plenty of space to broadcast AEW Dynamite Wednesday nights on TNT. AEW’s next two shows have effectively been moved from Rochester, NY, and Newark, NJ, to AEW’s home base. These events will be closed to the public.

Many questions remain for pro wrestling, especially at this time of year.

WWE’s WrestleMania 36, scheduled to take place on April 5, was expected to draw over 80,000 fans to Tampa. After nearly a week of deliberation, the company announced that pro-wrestling’s “Super Bowl," like its weekly live programming, would be moved to Orlando. No fans will attend.

A record crowd of 101,763 fans from all 50 states and 35 countries at WrestleMania 32 at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (Brandon Wade/AP Images for WWE) (Brandon Wade / AP Images for WWE)

Hundreds of wrestlers — performers who do not work for companies with big TV contracts — will miss vital paydays as the virus prevents indie shows from taking place.

And then there’s this prospect: What if one wrestler contracts the virus, and unknowingly infects an entire roster?

Only time will tell if wrestling for empty stadiums is enough.

Pro wrestling isn’t going to replace the magic of college basketball in March, and watching Raw or SmackDown is no consolation for the athletes who won’t get to compete.

However, the coronavirus has put wrestling back in the spotlight, for now. One shining moment the squared-circle hasn’t experience in awhile.

That is, if we’re willing to watch something different. It might help.

Reece Kelley Graham is a digital producer, staff writer and pro-wrestling contributor for The Dallas Morning News.

Twitter: @ReeceKelleyG

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