The 2020 Money in the Bank match was a dumb, ridiculous spectacle with tons of fan service and an action film soundtrack. But most importantly, it was funny and entertaining. It felt surprisingly spontaneous for something that was pre-taped. WWE needs to do more matches like this for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The dialogue between the fans and performers is indispensable in a professional wrestling event. This is not a dramatic play, where the audience sits quietly and holds its applause for the final bow. In professional wrestling, fans respond--immediately and viscerally--to what they see. The performers, in turn, have to listen to the fans and adjust their acts accordingly. Speed up. Slow down. Play to the crowd or taunt them. It's an interactive medium.

Take away this interplay, and it's hard for even longtime wrestlers to know how to react. And on a general, week-to week basis, WWE's programming has suffered as a result. We're getting matches that are technically great but lacking that difficult-to-define intensity that results from a live crowd.