man it really does kinda suck that these days it takes a big PPV or maybe a big city Raw/Smackdown (Chicago, NYC) in order for WWE to legitimately sell out the venue and not have to tarp off the upper decks. AEW is in the same boat ....
back during this time WWE could bring Raw and Smackdown to any random city every week and it would sell out or near it. they certainly weren't having to tarp off the upper levels. it's just a tale of the times ... WWE and WCW from 1997-2002 will likely never be matched again popularity wise.