This is a good post. I do have a couple of points to raise to you though. I would first like to say that at one point, that is about 1 year ago, there was not a Friday that went by that I did not tune into Smackdown. Many people claim that it is a lacklustre show but I most definitely disagree. I think the 2008 draft was very kind to Smackdown by bringing the like of Triple H Friday nights. I must admit that of there is a superstar on any brand that I am a fan boy of, it is The Game. The reason I have put fan boy in parenthesis is that I can still see the negative aspects of Triple H. However I digest. As I say, the 2008 draft was generous towards Smackdown. I think by bringing Triple H, Umaga and Jeff Hardy to Smackdown was inspired and I would not be surprised if the rating of Smackdown did not go up even if it was a small amount. For me Smackdown has just become a victim of My Network TVs insecure scheduling. Since the 2009 draft, when Triple H, MVP and the Big Show were drafted onto Monday Night Raw, I have not tuned into Smackdown once. This is a shame. I also have to admit that even during the attitude era, even during the Monday Night Wars, Smackdown was most certainly my favoured show. I never cared for Raw in all honesty. The problem was that Raw just a little chaotic for my liking. I just couldnt keep up with it sometimes. A little segment, that is the Raw Rebound did me just fine. Smackdown was much easier to keep up with and since then it was the most readily available show for me in the UK and as such became my favoured show.
Now that is out of the way I would like to raise issue with some of your points. I must also make clear that even though I constantly tune into Raw now and dont watch Smackdown as much. Smackdown certainly still holds a place in my heart. In this argument I sit on the fence as an observer looking in at the product as it is now. The first point I would like to raise is that I think you are semi-right in your first point that Edge and Jericho are the best heels in the business. I say semi-right because although they certainly are great heels and very entertaining in the way they present themselves and their angles, I am not sure about them being a better heel than Randy Orton. I think that most people on this forum would agree with me that Orton is probably the best heel in the business. However, I agree with you that a face turn for Edge would be a good idea. I think Smackdown fans would like to Edge as a face also. After a lengthy spell as a heel with Lita and then Vickie, it would be very refreshing to Edge as a face again.
The second point I would like to raise is, I dont necessarily think that Smackdown is going to become a farm of young talent getting pushes. I think the only one who is going to get a really good push this year will be CM Punk. I think this is unfortunate because I am really big fan of both Dolph Ziggler and John Morrison but I just cant see them getting a push this year. I knew that Ziggler was not going to beat MVP last week but I would really like to see him get a really big push. To illustrate my point I would like to point to the main event of last weeks Smackdown show. This was supposed to be a new Smackdown. A refreshed Smackdown and if this was actually the case why have the same main event guys in the fatal-4-way. It makes no sense to me really as a fan. I mean if they had taken out Mysterio who obviously wasnt going to win because he is already wearing a strap and we take out Kane, who, in my opinion could have had a really good feud with Umaga. Then they could have put in Morrison and Shelton Benjamin. That would have left the number 1 contender match as Benjamin vs. Morrison vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Jericho. This to me is much fresher than the line up that they started with. To me its obvious that its gonna be the top heel vs. the top face on Smackdown for a while, that is Edge vs. Jeff Hardy. As you mentioned priory, this is quite fresh and I really would like to see this one progress with time. I hope you can see my point. My main gripe about it is that Kane was in that match. Who here doesnt agree that Shelton Benjamin deserved it more? Probably just for his spots at Wrestlemania 25. You have named a lot of good feuds in that point and a lot of them are really fresh ideas that I like. Good point.
My third point is I agree whole heartedly with you about the balance of the commentary team. In my opinion it will probably be as good as Micheal Cole and JBL. For me that is the best commentary team that Smackdown has had in a while anyway. I must admit that when J.R was moved to a more Colour Commentary spot, I was a bit apprehensive about what the product would be. J.R is a legend without a doubt and for me it was a big gamble. However, I think it has paid off. I think that both Grisham and J.R even each other out well and I gives Grisham a bigger role than he had prior to this. In my opinion, under the guidance of Jim Ross, Todd Grisham will become a very competent commentator.
My next point is to take issue with you that Raw will suck. It is a well made point but it is wide of the mark in my opinion. One of my reasons for saying this is that now that Raw is undoubtedly the number 1 brand in the WWE. Vince and the rest of the creative team will most definitely focus more on that particular show. I would be very surprised if we did not see some really good angles and storylines coming out of Raw in the near future. I think it is also important to add that with Triple H probably going to be out for a little while and John Cenas involvement with the Big Show at the minute, the ME scene is not as packed as I though it was going to be. However, I do think that MVPs involvement in the main event will be very limited though unless he drops the Unites States championship. I am really looking forward to see what WWE Raw gives us over the next year. I also think that the direction of Raw over the next couple of months will give us a fair indication of where WWE is going as a company. It is the main show now more than ever and it has to lead from the front in my opinion. I dont think it is fair to say that raw will suck though. I have to agree with you that some of the angles, that is HHH/Orton has become a little stale and I am hoping that the match between Shane and Orton will be the last we see of it for a good few months.
I dont want to be a misogynist but I wish the divas competition was taken out of the WWE for a while at least. I am like a lot of people who were very disappointed that the Divas were included in the draft. It seems to me that the Diva matches have just become the sleeper matches of any of the shows. I mean sure they are good to look at etc but in all honesty they are not technically gifted in the ring and that is why I watch wrestling in the first place, for wrestling matches of a good quality. I think that WWE.com has the right idea. The divas are very beautiful women and they should be shown that way, not boring me with lacklustre matches. This is the same for Raw, Smackdown, ECW and Superstars. I am really sorry to say that ladies. So yeah, I agree with you that bringing Melina to Smackdown is going to be a reason to watch it because she probably one of the better Divas at wrestling. Also her boobs are indeed awesome.
I agree with you to an extent that there is some reason to be watching Smackdown every week but if I had to choose between Raw and Smackdown, for me the choice is clear. The way that Smackdown has been left now, with reduced ME talent and probably creative that will suffer over the next year has broken my heart. I dont want to seem melodramatic but it really does hurt me that a show I used to adore and watch every scrap of every week has been reduced to a glorified B show that the WWE are trying to pawn off as a legitimate top show.
The main reason that I have to watch Smackdown now is in defiance of what it has become. I will probably go back to Smackdown at some point and I would urge all the WWE fans on these boards to do the same. I understand it is hard for some Americans to see the show but for the sake of the Smackdown brand and indeed the WWE, Smackdown needs to be on the same level as raw. It would keep viewers entertained and would make fans like me tune in again. Just my thoughts though.
Also sorry for the long response but I am very passionate about the brand. Thank you for reading.
I would kill just to see that Jericho/Taker feud...and possible Jericho/Edge.
