The positives and negatives of co-branded PPVs

With the introduction of the 'Best of Both Worlds' promo, members of the WWE Universe have had to come to terms with the fact that co-branded pay per views have returned. Now for some, that'll be seen as a good thing, whereas others will point to it as yet another problem that currently exists in the world of professional wrestling - and more specifically, WWE itself.

There are valid arguments on both sides of the coin, and it's interesting to think about the ramifications that these upcoming shows could have on the business. While it's not exactly a sign that the brand split is going poorly, it does make you wonder just how much of a success it's been in comparison to what some fans were expecting.

So with that being said, here are the positives and negatives of co-branded PPVs.

#1 Positive: For The Wrestlers

While this one may not be particularly relevant for a lot of people reading this, it still rings true. During the initial brand split setup, some of the guys and girls on Raw and SmackDown Live didn't get to see their friends from the opposite brand unless it was one of the big four pay per views. Their schedules didn't allow it which, in itself, is a little bit sad.

At least this way, they're able to check in with their pals more regularly. Sure, in an age of social media these kinds of communications are extremely accessible, but just think about what these people go through on a night by night basis. They put their bodies on the line for our entertainment, and sometimes they need a little bit of downtime with their comrades.

#2 Negative: Spotlight Issue

Will we get worn out? — EVERYONE needs to shine

Sometimes, there's just too much of a good thing. Other times, Superstars aren't being given the best opportunities for their career trajectory. In this entry, we're discussing the latter. While the Raw and SmackDown Live exclusive shows didn't exactly always blow everyone away, what they did do was provide lower-level superstars with a platform to elevate themselves.

Stories that otherwise would've been forgotten were given an opportunity to shine, and now, it feels like only a handful of snippets from both shows are going to be included. That may be an exaggeration, but it was one of the main benefits stemming from the brand split in the first place.

Sure, things were thinned out sometimes, but there's nothing wrong with shortening the shows every once in a while.

#3 Positive: Stacked Cards

Does more = better? — Does more mean better?

Let's be honest here, everyone loves a stacked card.

Heading into WrestleMania 34, it was difficult to find too many fans who were disappointed with things on paper. We had dream matches both in a nostalgic and a technical sense, we had variety, and we had everything in-between. Now, as we surge ahead with Raw and SmackDown Live combining on a month to month basis, the odds of more shows being 'stacked' have been increased.

We often complain about how WWE likes to gloss over storyline issues with great wrestling, and while we aren't getting away from how annoying that is, sometimes it works effectively. Hell, for a few years, most of their B-shows were great purely because of the performances that were being put on from the top of the card to the very bottom.

#4 Negative: Less Special

When the big four shows usually roll around, one of the main attractions since the brand split has been the fact that both Raw and SmackDown Live would be competing on the same night. We'd get the odd interaction backstage between the rival brands every now and then, and with Survivor Series, we were even able to see them go head to head.

Now, however, that's kind of been ruined. Take Backlash as a prime example - several of the matches that took place were inter-branded due to the Superstar Shake-Up. Now, aside from the travel packages and TakeOver specials, there isn't much that separates shows like SummerSlam and Survivor Series from the rest of the pack.

The Rumble and Mania tend to take on a life of their own, but still.

#5 Negative: Longer Events

One of the major complaints surrounding WrestleMania over the last two years has been that the runtime is just too long. Including the pre-show, the event has lasted seven hours in total over the last three editions of the showcase of the immortals, and that kind of thing can seriously impact the quality of the matches that take place later in the night.

While we aren't as opposed to this in comparison to some people, we do worry that the B-shows are going to suffer from fatigue. Obviously, there's no guarantee that more matches will be on any given card just because both brands are on there, but it's definitely one of the many, many worries we have as WWE prepares for an interesting PPV schedule throughout the remainder of 2018.

Edited by Raunak J