So, Smackdown is leaving the CW

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by Noid I dunno about that, aye. Making SmackDown! live would be an added expenditure for the WWE, but it adds a sense of "urgency" to the show, I believe. With Smackers going on the air live, and Michael Hayes continuing to write the show, I think you'd have the most exciting televised wrestling show going. Being live would just generally move SmackDown!'s stock up slightly as being less of a "B show," which could make it more of a desired place to work for guys like Shawn Michaels and Triple H. As far as the ratings go, figures don't like, but I will say this: Just because ratings didn't go down when SmackDown! became "Friday Night SmackDown!," that doesn't necessarily mean that there won't be a change if the show changes timeslots again. Let's say SmackDown! airs live every Tuesday: This might change ratings because everyone might still be in a "wrestling mood" from Monday. When there's a PPV on, that's 6-7 good solid hours of wrestling, which for a fan might make it a lot easier to digest (assuming the programming is good). The WWE could also promote the hell out of it, and make moving back to even Thursdays a big deal. "Now you can watch SmackDown! and go out on Friday night," "Really? Wow, that sounds a little better than what it was, I might view now because I can do so consistently because my Thursdays are boring." You are also moving to a new network, with perhaps a new marketing campaign. There is no reason to assume that there is no way anything about the way the show is perceived will change. I don't know if I'm making a clear point, because I'm fairly intoxicated, but basically I don't believe that SmackDown! moving to Fridays is necessarily equal to SmackDown! moving to Thursdays.

All the evidence says no. Reason says no. You can hope for something to the contrary, but there is no logical reason to believe any of this true.

Originally Posted by .44 Magdalene Smackdown might be the better option for up-and-coming guys, where they can avoid the politics and not be overshadowed... but Batista's main complaint was that he was a big fish in a small pond. You can only get so far up the ladder on the B show--to really make friends and play the game to pull the strings, all the shit's on RAW.

It's a better option to a certain point.

Originally Posted by .44 Magdalene Also, WWE has shown many times that they intend for it to be this way. One guy wrestling really well on Smackdown isn't going to make Vince suddenly wake up and realize that there's some good shit on that program.

Indeed.