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Survivor Series may be the only place in the WWE where you can see Superstars from Monday Night RAW and SmackDown LIVE competing against each other, but right here on Sportskeeda, you can see RAW and SmackDown LIVE do battle every week as we compare the two shows to decide which one was better.
We'll be looking at the best match of the night for both shows, the opening segment, the mid-card, the tag-team division, the main event and any surprises or shocks that may have happened on either show. Then, at the end of it all, we'll be able to tell you whether or not RAW or SmackDown LIVE was the best show for that week.
So without further ado, let's get started!
The Opening Segment
Raw
Monday Night RAW kicked off with General Manager Kurt Angle making his way into the ring to address the #1 contendership situation for the WWE Universal Title, following the no-contest between Braun Strowman and Kane, last week.
Both Strowman and Kane came out to state their case, leading to Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar also making their way into the ring. Angle then swiftly announced that the WWE Universal Title match at the Royal Rumble PPV would be a Triple-Threat between all three.
Lesnar then cleared the house and hit Kane with an F5.
SmackDown LIVE
SmackDown LIVE opened with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan in the ring, discussing the events at Clash of Champions. Daniel Bryan issued a fast-three count to give Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn a win over Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton and allowed them to keep their jobs.
Bryan kicked off with a recap of the Royal Rumble news and a match announcement before Shane O Mac came out and admitted that he didn't realise Bryan had stumbled to break up the count on Zayn, and he got emotional which is why he stopped at two.
Bryan explained his actions and then asked Shane to fire him if he had a problem. Shane said he didn't and the two left it there.
Who was better?
The SmackDown LIVE opening segment was expected to be a bit of an anti-climax, given the events that transpired at Clash of Champions, as I was expecting a little more tension and conflict between McMahon and Bryan. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that Bryan and McMahon's exchange lived up to the same hype that RAW managed to achieve by putting Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman and Kane in the ring together, so I have to hand this one to RAW
Winner: RAW
The Mid-Card
RAW
The Intercontinental Champion Roman Reigns was away on holiday and that's why he was absent from Monday Night RAW, however, Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan stepped in to fill the void. Rollins was supposed to be facing Joe one on one, but Jordan imposed and forced himself into a match with Rollins, with the winner earning an opportunity to face Joe. Rollins would have picked up the win in a pretty decent match, but Joe attacked both men after the finish.
We also had more video packages between Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt and the Drew Gulak vs Cedric Alexander match to determine the new #1 contender for Enzo Amore's Cruiserweight Title.
SmackDown LIVE
Bobby Roode and Baron Corbin were pretty much absent from the show, however, newly crowned United States Champion Dolph Ziggler took to the ring for a celebration, reminding the WWE Universe of all of his accomplishments before declaring that they are worth nothing, then, he left the United States Title laying on the ring-mat and he walked away.
Who was better?
Neither of the shows really had a mid-card match, with Reigns being absent and Ziggler not wrestling, despite the match between Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins actually being really good, I have to give this one to SmackDown LIVE. I'm genuinely intrigued to see where they take this new Dolph Ziggler development and whether or not has he really abandoned the US Title.
Winner: SmackDown LIVE
The Tag-Team Division
RAW
Monday Night RAW had several tag-team matches, including a surprise team-up, a big tag-team return and the six-man main event. First Finn Balor tried to take on The Miztourage in a handicap match, but, it was quickly changed into a tag-team match when Balor's friend and new 205 LIVE call-up Hideo Itami ran in to even the odds.
The Revival also made their much-anticipated return from injury with a victory over Heath Slater and Rhyno. Angle then told the losing team that they have to toughen up, meaning that Slater and Rhyno could be in-line for a push.
The tag-team champions were in the main event of RAW teaming up with Samoa Joe to take on The Shield (minus Reigns) and Jason Jordan. They picked up a victory.
SmackDown LIVE
Fresh off of a great Fatal Fourway Tag-Team Title match at Clash of Champions, The Usos, who retained their titles, took on Shelton and Gable in a non-title match. The champions were upset with American Beta (unofficial name) picking up a win.
Also on SmackDown, Rusev Day took on the New Day in what can only be described as a hilarious Christmas themed tag-team battle, that saw Rusev dressed as Santa handing out Rusev Day shirts. Kofi dressed as the Gingerbread Man running away from Rusev saying 'you can't catch me' and Aiden English getting a face full of whipped cream covered pancakes.
Who was better?
Who was better? Does this question really needs to be answered when the SmackDown LIVE show had a spot where Xavier Woods went through Rusev's Santa sack and pulled out a pair of Rusev's boxer briefs, and then those very same boxer briefs were thrown into the crowd? No, no it doesn't. SmackDown LIVE wins. (The Usos vs Shelton/Gable match was good too)
Winner: SmackDown LIVE
The Women's Division
RAW
Asuka picked up a win against Alicia Fox and nothing else really happened... EXCEPT A WOMEN'S ROYAL RUMBLE ANNOUNCEMENT. Absolution vs Sasha Banks, Mickie James and Bayley main evented the show, until, it devolved into chaos with Absolution getting disqualified and the women's locker room emptying into the ring to take down Paige and her cronies.
Stephanie McMahon then made her way out to the ring and highlighted all the ways that these women had broken boundaries and records this year, before announcing that next year there will be a women's Royal Rumble match.
SmackDown LIVE
Charlotte cut a promo about the women's Royal Rumble match before Naomi walked out and announced her entry into the match. The Riott Squad then interrupted, leading to an impromptu, albeit brief, tag-team match that saw the SmackDown LIVE women's champion and Naomi pick up the win.
Who was better?
The RAW women's division is arguably better at the moment, the Riott Squad just aren't competing when compared to Absolution, Asuka is kicking butt left, right and centre, and nothing SmackDown LIVE could have done that would have competed with the Royal Rumble announcement
Winner: Monday Night RAW
The Main Events
RAW
I know that the women's six-man match was technically the main event of the show, but that was just a vehicle to make the Royal Rumble announcement, so I'm going to disregard that, as it would clearly be the best main event.
RAW featured the six-man tag-team match between Jason Jordan, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins vs Samoa Joe, Sheamus and Cesaro. The match was really good and hit all of the storytelling beats it needed to, Jason Jordan came across as inexperienced, impulsive and impetuous, Joe was calculative and dangerous and, of course, Rollins hit that dive that inadvertently injured Ambrose's arm.
The extension of the backstage beatdown with Joe snapping Ambrose's arm in the travel case was a nice addition as well, and really sold Ambrose's injury and future absence from the show.
SmackDown LIVE
There was no real story here other than Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles getting a modicum of revenge against their heel opponents with Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and Jinder Mahal picking up losses.
Who was better?
The SmackDown LIVE main event was a bit bland, didn't further a storyline and didn't really do anything special or memorable even though it gave us tag-team pairings we'd never seen before. Whereas, the RAW main event helped to further develop several storylines, as well as give us a genuine shock
Shocks and Surprises
RAW
RAW actually had a ton of surprises, big announcements and cool moments. We had the Universal Title match announcement for the Royal Rumble, Ambrose being written off the show, the Women's Royal Rumble announcement, the return of the Revival tag-team and Hideo Itami's surprise run-in to help Finn Balor against the Miztourage.
SmackDown LIVE
The blue brand had the announcement that Naomi was the first woman to compete in the Women's Royal Rumble and we had the Dolph Ziggler mic-drop moment, where he seemingly abandoned the US Title in the middle of the ring and potentially retired.
Who was better?
Monday Night RAW clearly had the best shocks and surprises with a main roster call-up, a return from injury, an injury to Ambrose and, of course, that historic announcement about the Women's Royal Rumble. It's not really even a contest.
Winner: Monday Night RAW
The Best Match
RAW
The single's contest between Rollins and Jordan was the best match of the night although the six-man tag-team match wasn't far behind. Jordan really showed off his in-ring talent as well as put in the right amount of character to get his 'entitled son of the General Manager' gimmick over.
Samoa Joe being at ring-side and interacting with both men throughout the match really helped to sell everything, as did his post-match beatdown of both Rollins and Jordan.
SmackDown LIVE
SmackDown LIVE was a bit thin on the ground in terms of memorable matches, but I'd give the best match of the night to the Christmas contest between The New Day and Rusev Day. It may not have been technically outstanding, but I defy anyone to find a more entertaining holiday gimmick match this side of Halloween.
Who was better?
I'm going to have to give this victory to Monday Night RAW as I really enjoyed the contest between Rollins and Jordan, as much as I loved the Christmas tag-team match. This also means that this week Monday Night RAW was better than SmackDown LIVE. Check back next week to see if SmackDown can even out the odds.
Winner and best show this week: Monday Night RAW
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