Now that the brand extension has been in effect for a little bit, it is clear that Smackdown is gaining the upper hand.
The blue brand has had a strong first PPV, and the storylines presented gives a refreshing aura about the show. Smackdown is more pro wrestling oriented and it was like that even in the original brand extension. The roster has certainly been reaping the benefits from it.
Along with the positive attributes, several careers seem to have resurrected.
Also read: Vince McMahon reveals the success of Smackdown Live since the brand split
Heath Slater, The Miz and Bray Wyatt are some of the revitalised talents that come to mind. Others such as James Ellsworth and Alexa Bliss are benefitting from quality TV time thanks to their involvement with their respective Championship storylines. All seems right on the blue brand, with good reason.
I find the show much more enjoyable versus Raw. Two hours of my time is well spent and I find myself more entertained throughout.
Perhaps it is because there isn’t as much to follow on Smackdown as there is on Raw. I seem to get lost on Raw all the time; I feel like there is so much going on that it’s hard to keep up with it. Whatever it is, it is a good thing that the two shows are different in their own right.
What are some of the reasons why Smackdown is better than Raw in the new brand extension? I came up with five reasons as to why it is overall better than the flagship show.
#1 Working with what they have
Raw got the most of the talent pool while Smackdown didn’t get near as many for their roster. However, with the show only being two hours it was certainly for the best. Even though the lack of depth is one of the negatives for Smackdown, the positive thing here is that they work with what they have.
For example, having Ellsworth involved with Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles was a good idea to extend their feud past No Mercy.
Also read: 5 things RAW does better than Smackdown Live
Another example is with Alexa Bliss and Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. Even though Lynch had a small injury last month, Tuesday night’s controversial finish in Glasgow adds drama and excitement to the Women’s Championship.
The secondary feuds are benefitting as well. One of my favourite feuds right now is Nikki Bella and Carmella. I couldn’t even put Nikki Bella and favourite in the same sentence a year ago. Not having her in the title picture helps her overall and it also helps establish Carmella as a legit threat to the Women’s Division.
#2 Potential for fresh feuds
With AJ Styles alone, there are plenty of opportunities for some dream matches down the road once his program with Ambrose is complete.
I’ll ingrain it into everyone’s head again how much I would LOVE to see him and Randy Orton clash. It is bound to happen and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this on the WrestleMania card in Orlando. Honestly, it should be on the card in Orlando.
Speaking of Orton, his feud with Wyatt is definitely worth watching right now. Having Orton under his thumb, Wyatt is exercising the same kind of power that he had over Daniel Bryan three years ago. Wyatt absolutely needed a feud with someone of Orton’s magnitude to breathe life into his character.
Both Women’s Division feuds are great right now, and with Survivor Series on the horizon, WWE would be looking to plant seeds for future feuds.
#3 Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon
When it comes to the General Manager and Commissioner of the brands, I enjoy this group more versus Mick Foley and Shane’s sister Stephanie.
It certainly helps that fans can see Bryan in his new role and he is still insanely over. The strong, emotional confrontations with The Miz are must-see TV with both men bringing out the best in each other.
These were perfect roles for both men, who fans love. Bryan can still be a part of WWE this way, the same goes for McMahon. McMahon is now wrestling for Team Smackdown at Survivor Series. While it may not be a good idea, it does accentuate the fact that he is willing to take one for the brand.
#4 Resurrecting careers
There and pros and cons to the lack of depth on the Smackdown roster. One of the pros is breathing new life into the talent that Smackdown has.
As stated earlier, talent such as Slater, Wyatt and The Miz have seen a tremendous change in direction since the brand extension. Slater’s storyline of being unsigned was actually a good move, and becoming a sleeper winner along with Rhyno to the Tag Team Championships was icing on the cake.
The Usos are so much better to me as heels, and their mean streak was much needed for the Samoan twins.
The Miz’s work with Daniel Bryan is gold; the Talking Smack segment will be talked about for years to come. That promo showed why The Miz is underrated and that fans shouldn’t sleep on the former reality star. Both men display passion in their roles, which is why their confrontations are great.
Possibly with Survivor Series we may see some roster changes should talents on either brand win at the event. I, for one, would love to see someone like Sami Zayn go to Smackdown.
Now only if the brand could find a good storyline for Apollo Crews.
#5 Two hours is enough
Many fans find that three hours of Raw can be draining, especially in the third hour if the show has been lacklustre. The great thing about Smackdown is that the brand makes use of their talent and takes advantage of the time they have. The fact that it is live brings excitement for the audience as well.
Perhaps Raw can take notes from the sister brand on these points. Smackdown is no longer the secondhand show, it is the show to watch. While the brand is definitely not perfect, they are most certainly faring better than Raw. Their motto seems to be one of higher risk, higher reward. It has worked in their favor so far!
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