| Mr. Nerfect |
12-07-2012 11:37 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cool King
(Post 4050782)
I kind of miss the brand split.
I miss the days when Raw and SmackDown were in competition with each other and you actually felt like you were watching a different show when you watched Raw and SmackDown.
These days, when I watch SmackDown, I feel like I'm watching some kind of "spiritual successor" of that past Monday's Raw. Also, maybe it's just me but it feels like recently SmackDown has shown less matches and more Raw Recaps and SmackDown Recaps of the previous week. The same can be said for Superstars but I think I've already mentioned my thoughts on Superstars recently. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I like JBL on commentary on SmackDown. To me, he makes it feel like those days again when he says stuff like "This is what we do on Friday nights!" and his referencing to SmackDown as the "A Show" and all that.
Also, it doesn't help that sometimes you have the same guy wrestling on Raw and SmackDown. For example, you might see a Rey Mysterio match on Raw, then another one just four days later on SmackDown and then you sometimes get a recap of what Mysterio did just four days ago on Raw and you're left thinking something along the lines of "I've seen this stuff before this week". Sort of a repeat of a repeat of a repeat.
During the brand split, you would tune in to either show knowing who to expect and that would probably be why you would tune in. To see the guys you liked, and I don't know how to explain it but it would feel like that was "their turf" so to speak. It made it even more entertaining when they would appear on the other show unannounced. It would feel "weird" seeing them on the opposing show's stage for example. Then the Draft Lottery would happen and you would hope that the guys you liked being on a certain show, wouldn't be drafted or vice versa. Also the reaction you would give of a pick that you would think would be weird coming true, come true. For example, when J.R was drafted to SmackDown or when Carlito was drafted to Raw in 2005. You would think "What?" and it would be a "weird thought" thinking of them as being part of that brand and appearing on the show.
Now, it's a lot "calmer" these days. You tune in to a show and expect to see pretty much the same as what you saw on the other show.
I don't know, It's somewhat hard to put into words and maybe I'm not making much sense because of it, but it was a thought that came into my head just now and I felt like sharing it.
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I'm on the same boat with this. I know that when the brand split was around, people would complain and say it needed to end, but if used correctly, it could be absolutely great for the WWE.
First, take all the two-strikers in the WWE and have them work exclusively on SmackDown. This means that if they're fired, it won't really impact the WWE's main bread-and-butter show. Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio, R-Truth and William Regal being SmackDown exclusive already gives that show some big names and unique personalities.
The World Heavyweight Title picture would then be exclusive to SmackDown. So Big Show, Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler would then only be seen on the blue brand. Throw in Sin Cara, who could use the polish by continuing his work with Rey Mysterio; Hunico, who could appeal to the Hispanic audiences; Camacho, who is aligned with Hunico; Alberto Del Rio, who is another big star that always just seemed "better" on SmackDown; Ricardo Rodriguez, and potentially his El Local alter-ego; The Usos, who would be kept away from Roman Reigns so their family link need not be explained; and AJ Lee, who could rebel against Vickie Guerrero and sign exclusively with SmackDown, and you've already gone a long way into giving the show its own unique identity.
RAW could still remain three hours. Basically, everyone else would be a RAW Superstar, and you could give matches a lot more time. You could also have "NXT Showcases," where guys from NXT come up and try to prove their worth to whoever the RAW General Manager is. The undercard and mid-card would get a strong chance to show themselves off on RAW (with stars that the WWE sees a more profitable future in being sent to SmackDown, as sort of a transition period between being a mid-carder and a main eventer), and there could be a strong focus on segments dedicated to things like the tag team division. |
