Alright, this is probably really stupid

[Mr. Nerfect]

But it's been on my mind for a while. Maybe there's something really obvious I am missing. I get that the WWE is marketing itself towards a younger crowd. But they still have elements to appeal to that older demographic, right? And why not? That allows them to maximise their profits and such. Now, a former member of the WWE creative team recently went on the record and said that the writers thought that John Cena would be "the guy" for the kids, while Orton would be "the guy" for older audiences.

In the recent draft, Orton was moved to SmackDown!. Now, I know that he is not as big a star as Cena (which I expect will be many people's answer to this question) -- but wouldn't Cena, a guy who is obviously marketed towards younger audiences -- be more beneficial on a show that airs on a Friday night? Older audiences would be out partying, etc. Children, however, would be home and ready to watch SmackDown! -- which has got some popular acts, but doesn't have that "kiddie attraction," like a John Cena or a Rey Mysterio.

Basically, my question is: Do you think that maybe the WWE should present SmackDown! as the younger show, and use RAW for more mature storylines? Would there have been more to gain if the biggest star in the WWE went to the Friday night show, while Randy Orton became the Apex Predator on Monday nights? They could still have moved over Rey Mysterio as a "kiddie attraction," on RAW, also to keep him on opposing brands to Sin Cara, who needs the edited environment.

[Shadrick]

In short yes. But being that Raw is the catalyst program, I don't see them taking the companies biggest attraction off unfortunately.

[Tazz Dan]

Stop making sense Noid.

[Mr. Nerfect]

See, that's probably it. But so far Cena and Orton haven't really done much for their respective brands. Aren't ratings and such dropping from the Rock-given spike? Cena on SmackDown! would at least be super fresh, and Cena's fans would follow him anywhere.

Is there any real benefit to treating SmackDown! as a B-show, and not another A-show with the chance to make the WWE a shitload of cash? When the draft came up, people said that Daniel Bryan should be moved to SmackDown!, because it's more of the wrestling show -- but Bryan's ruthless, no-frills wrestling style would actually suit an older, fans of MMA and old-school wrestling crowd. A Monday night, testosterone filled crowd. A heel character like Cody Rhodes, psychologically damaged, focused, dangerous sociopath has got potential -- but do kids really understand? Beyond him calling them ugly all the time. Rhodes' shtick would work brilliantly in front of an older crowd. Or for someone who has spent all day at the office, only to hear Rhodes insult every facet of our wasteful lives; wanting to see him get his teeth kicked in -- or laughing along with Rhodes, if you have a more detached view of the product.

[Asmo]

Must spread some rep. Good thought. I think it's to do with being seen as a family entertainment programme rather than just a kids show, though. If you're in to wrestling, then you tune in to Smackdown.

[Jura]

Maybe reverse it and have RAW for the younger crowd and SD for more mature audiences since I guess we're the minority. SD used to be the shiznit once upon a time.

[Emperor Smeat]

That would require a huge makeover of how the WWE treats both shows and I doubt the WWE wants to go through the effort and time to rework the shows to fit Cena's character.

RAW is seen as more skit and promo heavy while relying a lot on the main event/upper-mid card which helps Cena a lot more than Smackdown putting more emphasis on wrestling and using more of the lower card to help develop stars.

Orton was a much better fit for Smackdown because he already wrestles better than Cena and his face character shared a lot of similarities with Edge's badass style face. Orton's promos are not as strong as Cena's so it made sense to use the edited show to improve him than keep trying on the Live show.

Sheamus also benefited by having his heel character already being similar to Del Rio's over-confident and cocky character.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Maybe reverse it and have RAW for the younger crowd and SD for more mature audiences since I guess we're the minority. SD used to be the shiznit once upon a time.

I get what you're saying, but on Friday nights, more mature crowds have more mature things to do. Even the most obvious of wrestling fans has a social life, despite the stereotype we give ourselves. Who are home on Friday nights? Children. With their parents. The perfect "PG" audience.

Monday nights are perfect for more adult wrestling, since the start of the week is a great time for adult escapism (everyone wants to smack someone in the back with a steel chair on a Monday). Kids have school and shit.

I'm not saying that RAW would have to go back to the Attitude era, or anything -- but I'm just wondering if anyone else sees the benefits of maybe presenting SmackDown! less as the "wrestling show," and more of the "childish antics show," and RAW as the more "adult/wrestling oriented" show? Also, with the IWC (in general) preferring SmackDown!, we already have the show ruined with spoilers. Kids are less likely to look them up. And hell, when they do discover that, it's the day they officially graduate to the forbidden land of RAW.

Now, the WWE is the WWE, and people know this, and SmackDown! gets lower ratings partially because of the night it is on. So yeah, I can understand why the WWE doesn't want to put too many eggs in that basket. But perhaps the WWE resigning to it being the "B-show" is part of the reason it is looked upon as such? With some more focus on the brand, a bigger merch mover, Cena "revolutionising" the brand, etc. -- I think it could be done without hurting RAW, is my point.

[CSL]

It's not a bad thought but I doubt it's anywhere near as simple as 'show for younger, show for mature audience' with the current PG standard. When they went PG, it was PG across the board, not just for RAW/per show. Given how long and hard he apparently worked to get that PG rating, the reasons behind it and everything that it ties into it aka revenue/$$$, I doubt we'll be seeing any kind of 'mature' content anytime soon.

[CSL]

And I think RAW should always be the flagship show aimed at the core audience-which for a while now has been the 'youth'. The network it's on, the fact it's live, revenue etc, they have to put what draws the most in that slot.

I think they way things are atm, Smackdown more of a 'wrestling show' on the smaller network with Orton as the top guy, a decent supporting cast and the chance to build other guys around that is a pretty good direction for it to be going in. Naturally they'll change their minds in 6 months and change it up but I'd say the shows are in decent shape atm structure and personnel-wise.

[The Naitch]

Smackdown in 2003 when it was dominating RAW felt like the whole show had a 'team effort'

It wasn't really one guy carrying the load. You had an equal dose of Brock, Angle, Benoit, Taker, Eddie, Rey, everything worked together like a machine...like a team. They need to duplicate that same formula today. Not just have Smackdown be carried by Orton with a supporting cast. In 2003, everyone felt (and were pushed) as equals

[Sixx]

Isn't the more mature audience busy watching football on Monday?

[The Naitch]

The whole mature Attitude_style will never be seen again, Vince never wanted it in the first place. It was a last resort

[Droford]

Youd think the show that starts at 8pm would be the kid show and not the one that runs til 11:15pm

[XL]

I suggested an adult/kid orientation split in the thread about reinventing WWE. It'd be tricky but the idea would be to try and "catch all" of the potential audience.

If WWE were all that bothered about SmackDown they may have sent Cena across in the draft. I think Raw would remain steady with it's rating without Cena (unless somebody can grab the ratings from the periods he was injured to sink that theory) whilst SD would benefit from the Cenation following him across to the Blue Brand.

[JimmyMess]

As long as Smackdown is being taped to air later it can't be the program for the target audience. Thats how I feel anyways

[XL]

Care to explain why?

[The Naitch]

Sorry if I'm going off topic but to solve this problem, they should just unify the rosters and we get to see everybody twice a week like in 2000. What would be the C-show will now be the B show. It could be something else, don't know what though, as long as it's not WWECW.

[The Naitch]

I would've loved to see them do a "WWE owned" WCW, from the get go. Just like how Zuffa now owns Strikeforce, where they'll still keep it seperate. YINNO WHAT I MEAN? Too bad Vince has a ego with shit like this.

[XL]

Actually, that was Vince'e exact plan: to run WCW as a seperate entity. But he couldn't find TV time for the show (I believe).

[The Naitch]

Actually, that was Vince'e exact plan: to run WCW as a seperate entity. But he couldn't find TV time for the show (I believe).

I wonder if he could've used Smackdown's timeslot (UPN at the time) for a WCW show?

WCW Smackdown :shifty:

[XL]

Sorry if I'm going off topic but to solve this problem, they should just unify the rosters and we get to see everybody twice a week like in 2000. What would be the C-show will now be the B show. It could be something else, don't know what though, as long as it's not WWECW.
Pretty sure the ratings for SmackDown were low compared to Raw even back then when the storylines carried over. As far as I can remember there was only a short time when SD was seen as an equal to Raw - when Lesnar was the main attraction/Heyman was booking.

[XL]

I wonder if he could've used Smackdown's timeslot (UPN at the time) for a WCW show?

WCW Smackdown :shifty:
I dunno. Maybe the agreement with the network was for a WWE branded show specifically.

Either way, I think the final nail in the coffin of a seperate WCW brand was the Booker T - Buff Bagwell Raw Main Event.

[whiteyford]

I remember reading that the plan was to turn Raw into Nitro and run it seperately, but im not sure if i buy into that, Smackdown maybe but not the flagship show. If they'd gave Buffs spot to Lance Storm like they had planned who knows though.

[Cool King]

Yeah, Jericho mentions it in his book.

I think he pinned the blame on Bagwell for the planned "WCW Brand" not going ahead.

[Testicle]

That and none of the big WCW stars came over in the summer of 2001, they were still on past contracts and waiting them out.

So Vinny didn't have the patience to wait for Hulk, Nash, Goldberg, ect. and did the brand extension.

[MoFo]

Smackdown essentially was WCW for a while anyway, you had the same belts (World, US, Cruiser), and a good portion of ex-WCW guys on there too ie Booker T, Rey & the cruisers.

[The Naitch]

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[Ultra Mantis]

Having Hudson and Arn on commentary was just as detrimental as putting Bagwell in the match.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Pretty sure the ratings for SmackDown were low compared to Raw even back then when the storylines carried over. As far as I can remember there was only a short time when SD was seen as an equal to Raw - when Lesnar was the main attraction/Heyman was booking.

Those were the days. SmackDown! actually seemed like the A-show at the time. RAW, granted, was also in a bit of a slump. I'm not trying to hate on the guy, but at this point in time, whether it was his doing or management being afraid to try something new -- Triple H dominated as a heel, and just wasn't setting the world alight. There wasn't really a top face that had his number or anything.

It sucks that Heyman and the WWE clash on so many things, because I honestly believe he could really be a HUGE asset for the WWE. Even in a PG environment. He knows how to book guys to their strengths. The things he could do with essentially everyone on the SmackDown! roster? It's scary.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Having Hudson and Arn on commentary was just as detrimental as putting Bagwell in the match.

Hudson at least had experience doing it. I think Arn Anderson was the problem on the announce team not Scott Hudson.