QUESTION - Which show do you enjoy more? RAW or Smackdown?

[Heyman]

QUESTION - Which show do you enjoy more? RAW or Smackdown?


For those of you who read my posts/threads (p.s. thanks to all ;)), it's pretty obvious that I enjoy RAW a lot more than Smackdown.

Although I feel that Smackdown has shown signs of improvement of late, I still feel that RAW is a much more watchable and enjoyable show.

Most people I talk to in real life, also tend to feel the same way (all of which would be classified as "marks").

So with this in mind, I wanted to know what you people think?

[mike627]

SD! just needs to let Paul Heyman book the show.

[Ferocious]

Most of my favourite stars are on SmackDown at the moment (Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, JBL, Rey Mysterio, Cena, Dupree,)

Yet I find the show almost unbreable. I cannot find an answer as to why the show as a whole is a bad show.

The actual booking of SmackDown is better than Raw IMO, However Raw seems to be the more polished show right now.

I have to agree with what Batista said inn a recent interview about the SmackDown guys not wanting to impress as much due to the show being taped, The 'Meh if I fuck it up we can reshoot' attitude is very visable when watching the show.

Thus I have opted for Raw.

The do have Edge and Batista afterall. :meh:

[Stickman]

Smackdown is just like WCW Thunder, second rate. It's not visually appealing, I mean come on, grey and blue does not come across well on TV. There's no shock factor, no swerves, nothing of interest ever happening. It's just a bunch of men in underwear going through the motions. Star appeal is lacking. Besides the Undertaker and arguably Kurt Angle, who's a credible wrestler on that show? Big Show maybe?

There's too many young mid card jobbers hanging around. Kenzo Suzuki is a worthless piece of shit yet there are many like him on the show. Nobody worth going to see. I'd go to see the Undertaker just because of the electricity in the air, but he's pretty much done.

I don't know what could be used to help Smackdown, maybe HHH, Flair, Y2J. Just somebody with charisma (not the "boring" and "you suck" charisma) as the top guy.

[John la Rock]

Raw is the only show that is worth watching

[Shaggy]

Untill Paul Heyman gets the chance to run smackdown the way he wants my choice is always gonna be Raw.

[Yashamaga]

Raw is the only show that is worth watching

[RemyRed]

I've been enjoying Smackdown more than RAW since around Survivor Series, mostly because they've got a lot of newcomers and only two real veterans (since the JBL character is fresh where as Undertaker, Kurt Angle are still the same) and I'm kind of tired of watching the same feuds over on RAW.

[Boondock Saint]

RAW. Although I watch both every week, RAW just has more...excitement to it.

[Aussie Skier]

Most of my favourite stars are on SmackDown at the moment (Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, JBL, Rey Mysterio, Cena, Dupree,)

Yet I find the show almost unbreable. I cannot find an answer as to why the show as a whole is a bad show.


Something to do with Dave Lagana I'd guess (he's the head writer of smackdown i believe).

[Aussie Skier]

I vote smackdown.

Although the show isnt as good as Raw, I find it...more,...homely, if you will.
I find it easier to get into and the wrestling is better on it.

Raw has dropped a bit since all these women have come on it, who, granted, are superb looking, BUT, if i wanna watch women, i can go on the internet, and see MORE than on wrestling too.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I voted SmackDown!. No doubt RAW is the only brand with direction, but if they got Heyman to write, and let the cruiserweights go, it would be amazing, IMO.

I love watching SD!, because even if it isn't exactly the most exciting as far as storylines go, it does have the potential and the wrestling to keep you interested.

[Funky Fly]

RAW is better. Apparently Gerwitz makes the final changes to the Smackdown script and it must be approved by him before showtime.

It is my opinion that Brian Gerwitz is secretly sabotaging the Show so that he can maintain his power on the writing team.

[V]

Raw for one simple reason, it's live.. this means

-No spoilers, smarks can still be surprised
-Wrestlers try harder on the spot
-Crowd will be more into it, knowing they are being seen on tv right then
-You don't get the "this arleady happend" feeling

there's so much more too, if smackdown was live, it would be just as good, or better than raw.

[Zen v.W.o.]

Raw, because it's the flagship show, it's been around since 1993, and part of it is the homely factor to it. The other part is that my fave wrestlers are all on that show. Smackdown barely keeps me intrigued. In fact I sometimes just read the spoilers and then decide if I watch it or not from them.

[CYCLOPTERSAURUS]

Smackdown, because HHH is on Raw. It's not so much that he's a bad wrestler (which, IMO, he has become), it's just that the whole show revolves around him, and it always will, so there are no long term surprises.

[Kapoutman]

Raw. Mostly because I find the feuds on Smackdown not appealing at all. They have wrestlers that I care about (Angle, Guerrero, Show, Dupree, Cena, Mysterio, RVD, Booker and so on) but they give the spotlight to Heidenreich, Undertaker, JBL and other guys I don't care about. It seems like every feud is generic.

Raw has feuds that seem fresh, they are developping their characters, the evolution of the wrestlers and everything. It is just better in my opinion. Sure, being live help, but it's not all. I remember when the Smackdown Six were the pinnacle of WWE. The show was still pretaped.

[#1-norm-fan]

Raw. It's got the atmosphere. Plus it's live and when you watch it you get this feeling like everybody is experiencing it right along with you. Wrestlers and all. Like a true big event. Smackdown just seems more like a run of the mill television show.

[Hired Hitman]

Smackdown Live thursday nights, that's what is needed!

[McLegend]

I enjoy watching RAW more then I do SD. The only reason I watch SD is because of JBL. Say what you want about JBL, but he's the most fun to watch in the WWE. Yes even more Entering then Y2J for all you Jericho marks.

[Mayo]

lol why would anyone even vote for Smackdown?

Definitely Raw because everything about it screams #1 show.

[Aussie Skier]

lol why would anyone even vote for Smackdown?

Definitely Raw because everything about it screams #1 show.

because maybe we're sick of the HHH show?

[The Answer]

Raw.Smackdown is decent but it just doesn't have that aura it that Raw has.I can go without watching SD for a week.Raw on they other hand no way,it's a must watch

[The CyNick]

I like SD more just because HHH isn't there. He totally ruins RAW for me.

[MVP]

2004 is the first year that I've ever liked RAW more than SD.

The fact that there is so much great talent not being used to its full potential, and producing a bland, almost unwatchable product instead just ruins it. I know RAW isn't that much better, but some of the feuds are well booked and exciting, and the wrestlers are just plain more entertaining.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

Only reason I chose SMackdown is I see a lot of non wrestlers fighting on Raw and such and not as much on Smackdown. [For example Coach, JR,] But other then that I would have chosen Raw.

[loopydate]

Since the new season of "24" started, I've stopped watching the first hour of RAW. SmackDown, meanwhile, I always make sure to tape. So, I guess that means SD.

Reasons I prefer SmackDown
<ul><li>Cruiserweights (even if they are booked poorly)
<li>Heel factions that aren't Evolution
<li>Deeper midcard
<li>From week to week, I'm not entirely sure who's going to be standing in the ring with the belt at the end
<li>Kurt Angle
<li>Velocity (okay, so that's a bad reason to vote for SD, but Velocity is the best national wrestling show)</ul>

Reasons I don't mind missing RAW
<ul><li>JR and King: Worst. Broadcasters. Ever.
<li>The Triple H Show
<li>The women (not counting Trish, Molly, or Vicky)
<li>No tag team division
<li>Did I mention JR and King?
<li>Or The Triple H Show?
<li>What about the women?</ul>

[Heyman]

<li>Deeper midcard


Can you please explain this one to me?

Truth be told, I cannot see how Smackdown has a deeper mid-card.

Thanks in advance. :y:

[loopydate]

Gladly. I'm counting "midcard" as anyone outside of the top 6/7 title contenders. So, on RAW I'm disqualifying HHH, Orton, HBK, Edge, Jericho, Benoit, and Batista. On SmackDown, that's JBL, Angle, Big Show, Booker T, Eddie, and Undertaker.

RAW's midcard
Kane
Shelton Benjamin
Christian
Muhammad Hassan
Gene Snitsky
Ric Flair
Eugene
William Regal
Maven
Tajiri
Rhyno
La Res
Steven Richards
The Hurricane
Rosey
Tyson Tomko
Val Venis

SmackDown's midcard
John Cena
Rob Van Dam
Rey Mysterio
Mark Jindrak
Luther Reigns
Carlito
Rene Dupree
Billy Kidman
Charlie Haas
Basham Brothers
Orlando Jordan
Chavo Guerrero
Dudley Boyz
Nunzio
Funaki
Spike Dudley
Paul London
Akio
Shannon Moore
Daniel Puder
Scotty 2 Hotty
Heidenreich
Hardcore Holly
Jesus
Kenzo Suzuki

RAW has some big names in Kane and Flair, but beyond their top five or six midcarders, there isn't much depth at all. You have a lot of unprovens (Hassan), burieds (Tajiri, Rhyno, La Res, Richards, Hurricane), and never-will-bes (Rosey, Tomko).

Once you get past Cena, RVD, and Carlito on SmackDown, you still have a ton of guys getting big rubs from main-eventers (Jindrak, Reigns, Bashams, OJ), guys with worlds of potential (Dupree, Haas), and I still haven't touched the cruiserweights.

That's why I think SmackDown has a deeper midcard.

[Savio]

Smackdown the past weeks have been better then raw IMO.

[RGWhat316]

Even though most of my favorites are on SmackDown like Angle, Cena, and Eddie, I just enjoy RAW better. I think its partly to do with the unpredictablity with being a live show.

[Loose Cannon]

Raw. Can't bare watching Smackdown.

[tucsonspeed6]

I smell a conspiracy theory coming on:


Ok, here's what I've got... See, HHH wants to make everyone think that he's the reason for the high ratings on Raw. He has Steph do everything in her ability to sabotage the show that he ISN'T on, and what do we get? Paul Heyman's gone, the roster is packed with older and permanantly injured wrestlers (Undertaker, Booker T, Angle, etc.) and those wrestlers who are capable of having really good matches are driven into the ground. Why else did HHH make the swerve "I'm going to Smackdown, wait, no I'm not" routine last March if not to say that any possible ratings Smackdown might have picked up were because of him instead of with the entrance of somewhat over guys like RVD switching shows. He'll pick an up and comer to feud with, which seemingly brings that wrestler above the class ceiling, but shortly after, where do they end up? Look at Shelton Benjamin. If Raw is HHH's pedistal, Smackdown is the ladder he uses to get up to it...