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WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown Live are WWE's flagship shows and have been running on TV since 1993 and 1999 respectively. Traditionally, RAW has been WWE's favorite show. While SmackDown Live provides a "sports-oriented" show, RAW focuses on "storytelling".
Since the second brand split in 2016, both RAW and SmackDown Live are in head to head competition to provide better quality content for their audience. In the first year since the brand split (July 2016 to April 2017), SmackDown Live was the better show whereas RAW came back on top during the next cycle. After WrestleMania 34, Smackdown Live got some big stars like Samoa Joe, Jeff Hardy, and The Miz, and the competition is now even.
However, the weekly entertainment value of RAW and SmackDown Live varies every week. In this series, we would analyze both RAW and Smackdown Live every week and would proceed to conclude which show was better that week. Points would be awarded to each show on the parameters of match quality, promo quality, storyline progression, and non-repeatability. The brand with the better score will win the war.
So without further adieu, let's analyze this week's WWE TV and arrive at a conclusion.
Match quality
Being a 3 hours show, RAW has the luxury of having many matches whereas SmackDown Live has to be stingy in that parameter. RAW had a mammoth total of seven matches this week whereas its counterpart had just three matches. However, among those seven matches, only the Intercontinental Championship match between Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler was good.
On the other hand, SmackDown Live had just three matches - including the Women's battle royale to determine the third participant in the TLC match for the SmackDown Live Women's championship. However, that match was so good that people in the arena chanted "Thank you SmackDown". The rest of the clashes were not bad, but the main event was so overwhelming that SmackDown wins this clash.
SmackDown Live - 1
RAW - 0
Promo quality
The biggest hype for this week's SmackDown was the return of both AJ Styles and Becky Lynch - and both of them cut amazing promos. While Becky targetted Charlotte trying to impersonate her, Styles made proper shouts at Daniel Bryan for not being around during live events and SmackDown even after being the WWE Champion.
Samoa Joe also cut a brilliant promo against Jeff Hardy during the latter's 20-year anniversary celebration. Even someone like Mandy Rose looked brilliant while she questioned Paige's bias towards the latter's PCB teammates. The SmackDown roster was on fire this week on the mic.
On the other hand, RAW had a forgettable outing on the mic. Nia Jax and Ronda Rousey exchanged an underwhelming conversation. However, Baron Corbin came out as a proper heat magnet heel with his promos targeting Braun Strowman and rest of the locker room. However, this was not enough to surpass the straight fire promos from Lynch, Styles, Joe, and Hardy. Hence SmackDown easily earns a point here.
SmackDown Live - 2
RAW - 0
Storyline Progression
WWE is a sports entertainment business. Hence storylines carry a lot of weight in this company. Every episode of RAW and SmackDown Live builds towards a bigger goal.
This week, RAW was handicapped in this aspect. Their top star Braun Strowman was injured and their top title was not even on the show. Even their top rivalry between Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins took a step backward step since WWE turned Dean Ambrose from an interesting heel to a generic heel who hates the city he is scheduled to work in. The rivalry between the Authors of Pain and the team of Bobby Roode and Chad Gable is in a sad state since WWE is using Drake Maverick's urination as the focus of the story.
SmackDown Live decimated RAW in this department this week. The SmackDown Women's Championship match at TLC became the most exciting match at the event. Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio had a brilliant brawl, furthering their feud. WWE also sprout seeds of a rivalry between Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy, and Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura.
SmackDown Live - 3
RAW - 0
Non Repeatability
1. The trio of Baron Corbin, Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley laying waste on Elias and Finn Balor
2. Revival taking on the Lucha House party in a two on three handicap match, Seth Rollins vs Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental title
3. Finn Balor battling Baron Corbin
4. Mickie James and Alexa Bliss involved in a brawl against Sasha Banks and Bayley
All of these segments have been used before by RAW. It has become tough for the fans to distinguish between episodes of RAW since most of them are a copy of the episodes before. This repeatability has been a big problem for RAW throughout the year.
SmackDown, on the other hand, injected Asuka into the main event scene, gave a solid showing for Sonya Deville, a fresh feud between Samoa Joe and Jeff Hardy and another one in Rusev and Shinsuke Nakamura are on the cards as well.
SmackDown Live has been brilliant in this aspect as well.
SmackDown Live - 4
RAW - 0
Conclusion
Even with 3 hours under its disposal, RAW has been underwhelming this week whereas SmackDown Live was the polar opposite. While SmackDown made tremendous progress regarding storylines and fresh storytelling, RAW has not done anything worth noting. Even the matches on RAW were mediocre.
RAW has been rehashing the same content for a long time now. Even with such a stacked roster and limitless matchmaking possibilities, RAW forces the same feuds over and over again. The fact that a part-timer has taken their top championship hostage is not helping RAW either.
SmackDown Live was brilliant this week. With some fresh feuds, an excellent card for Tables, Ladders and Chairs 2018, and some good matches, SmackDown was the better show this week, by a long shot. The 4-0 scoreline was quite deserving for the blue brand and RAW needs to up its game before losing its fans.
