4 reasons why SmackDown Live is faring better than Raw

2. Treatment of the women's division

Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Asuka

On Smackdown Live, we have in our hands a compelling story involving Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Asuka. At TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs), we will have the historic first-ever women's TLC match for the Smackdown Women's Champion.

"The Man" Becky Lynch, despite her recent unfortunate injury, is still one of the biggest attractions of the WWE. Charlotte Flair has always been one of the headlining athletes in the women's division for years. Admittedly, Asuka has been bogged down by the way she has been booked in 2018 with her loss at Wrestlemania 34 at the hands of Charlotte and her subsequent shift down the pecking order.

However, her victory in the Battle Royal on the 27th November episode of Smackdown Live has certainly given her a new lease of life, which she would look to capitalize on.

Sasha Banks and Bayley

On the other hand, on Raw, the women's division has been struggling due to the injury of Alexa Bliss. Despite the presence of Ronda Rousey, perhaps the biggest and the most high-profile signing in the history of the WWE, the quality of wrestling and stories have been found wanting. Currently, Rousey is being challenged for her Raw Women's Championship by Nia Jax.

However, Jax has gained a reputation of being one of the unsafest and sloppiest workers in the company, amplified by the injury to Becky Lynch right before Lynch's historic bout against Ronda Rousey. Then we have the underutilized talents of Sasha Banks and Bayley, who have been horribly booked over the past 18 months.

Instead of having them wrestle their hearts out and giving them a chance to be at the top, they are booked for 'Open Forums' which are filled with juvenile humour.

Post WWE Evolution, the women's division of the WWE is at a critical juncture at this stage. While the blue brand has been expertly showing off their skills as wrestlers and as believable characters, the red brand is lagging behind in character development and quality of wrestling.