#2 Making the brand split work
The brand split, ever since its advent, has revitalised the product and provided a shot up the arm for the numerous fans that were beginning to tire of the repetitive nature of programming that the WWE had been shoving down their throats.
If through nothing else, then at least through the kayfabe competition between the brands that is fuelled by a sibling rivalry; a rivalry that is perhaps syphoned off a fabric of reality that doesn’t really meet the eye.
One gets the sense that more than just through storylines, both SmackDown and Raw truly want to outdo one another in terms of how much product appreciation and traction each brand can garner from fans.
This only bodes well for the WWE in the long term as competition on an equal footing often begets improvement. While Raw still holds on to the mantle of ‘flagship’ show and attracts the big names on paper, SmackDown has quietly perused a roster perceived to be underwhelming to its fullest potential.
While star attractions like Brock Lesnar and recently, Goldberg, steal the headlines for Raw, SmackDown’s revolutionary segment, Talking Smack, chips away steadily, week after week, at the hearts of hardcore pro-wrestling fans.
The WWE has to continue feeding both brands unequivocally if they want this healthy yet competitive dynamic to continue. To quote a notoriously overused phrase, it is what is truly best for business.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
