It’s been two weeks since the “divorce” in WWE. The splitting brands and the new lifeline on a chance to make wrestling fun again.
If you have watched both Raw and Smackdown Live, you see a fresh look, a great vibe and the potential for this to be the best era this company has seen. Yes, potential is a dangerous word. But with the product as stale as it has been, the idea of more of the same old routine would have driven fans further away.
This is the way to go.
Despite all the greatness displayed by both sides of the field, Raw is winning the battle so far. It’s not even close. Here are five reasons for this sudden burst of greatness.
5: Seth Rollins and Finn Balor
Rollins is WWE’s best heel and best performer – for now. The idea to make Finn Balor an instant title contender is brilliant – and scary at the same time. We all thought he would be part of The Club when he made his appearance on the Raw main roster, but for now, he is the fan favourite the company needs him to be.
The potential of this match and feud is what the business needs. Speed, agility and off-your-seat excitement. There are few who can deliver like Rollins and few who are as gifted as Balor. My only fear is WWE tries to wrap this feud up too soon and the fans will feel cheated.
4: Moving Roman Reigns to the mid-card
The move to make Seth Rollins the top draw is still what is best for business. Reigns is still a solid competitor, one who has gotten better over the last year. But putting him in a situation to become a hero is going to finally make him a fan favourite.
WWE has been so concerned – mainly Vince McMahon – with making him the heir to John Cena, that the company has shoved him in our throats. To correct that, the creative team has given him an opponent that a large part of the audience hates – Rusev.
If Reigns beats Rusev and wins the United States Title in the process, fans will jump on his bandwagon. There has been such a buzz about rebuilding Rollins – but the company is doing the same thing with Reigns.
3: Better announce team
Essentially, WWE traded Corey Graves for JBL, but the fact there is a disconnection between the former World Champion and David Otunga is hurting Smackdown Live’s product. I could listen to Mauro Ranallo read the phone book and it would be excitingbut the other two on the team bring nothing to the table and are holding Ranallo down.
The connection between Graves, Michael Cole and Byron Saxton has been crisp and exciting. Saxton seems to be more comfortable in front of the camera and the back-and-forth between he and Graves seems more natural.
Whoever thought of this change should get a huge raise. If this was the only thing different from the brand split, it is well worth it.
2: A three-hour show
I never thought I would say this, but the third hour itself is kicking Smackdown Live when they are down.
From the first show two weeks ago, Smackdown Live looked rushed. The camera angles were off and the delivery between Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon looks forced.
The third hour is critical to wrestler development and allows storylines to build for a little longer. There is more time to tell the story, not save the program. The quality of the matches is therefore, better. This all may change where there is more brand vs. brand feuds but as of now, the extra 60 minutes means so much.
1: The winds of conflict are brewing
There is no way that both Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon can coexist forever. At some point, there will be a changing of the guard – and it won’t be the daughter of Vince McMahon making the exit.
The combination of the two WWE greats is fine for now, but when creative differences arise and get in the way of making wrestling great, you will see a whole new side of McMahon family values.
We keep waiting for Triple H to show up on television or the Chairman himself, Vince McMahon, to show Foley the door. It hasn’t happened yet, but come on – this is WWE.
Look for there to be a changing of the guard at general manager before the end of the year.
