Report: WWE Moving A Step Closer To Ultimately Ending The Brand Extension

[Jack-Hammer]

According to a report on pwtorch.com, it looks as though WWE is going to be ending separate branded Raw & SD! house shows in the near future. The report states that WWE issued a survey to fans to get some feedback on their house shows.

So what this means is that, like we see on television, wrestlers who are "officially" signed to Raw will often appear on SD! house shows and vice versa. The WWE is in the process of coming up with new titles for the house shows rather than simply branding them Raw & SD! shows.

WWE has unofficially ended the brand extension on television for probably about 1.5 years now. SD! house shows, while drawing well, typically don't draw nearly as much as Raw house shows and that could be due to the perception, which has at times been cultivated by WWE itself, is that SmackDown! simply isn't as important as Raw. If they can do away with that, then it MIGHT potentially lead to an overall increase in house show attendance.

If this does indeed go down, then the only remnants of the brand extension left will the existence of two World Championships in WWE. Like most people, I think that the titles will be merged at some point in the future, which would put an end to the brand extension as a whole.

 

[MCMG]

I've always been a fan of the separate shows. It made each show different and more exciting as they were different. No-one can say that Smackdown has not gone down hill in recent months and I believe that is in part of the WWE trying to eliminate the brand extension. When each show is separate it allows feuds to grow and become more interesting as well as giving title belts a bit more prestige. The tag-team belts and Divas championship are the only titles that should be cross-brand.

People said that if a wrestler with little tv time could appear on both it would increase their exposure. Well all that is happened is the bigger names get two matches a week. If they were to unify the world titles I would go crazy. There are far too many top superstars in the WWE for there to be only one championship.

 

[Wrestling101]

That's too bad.....I think the WWE benefits greatly from being split, as it gives more people opportunities to get air time. If it were up to me, there would still be brand-specific PPVs for the non-major ones.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

I think this was inevitable. As JH alluded to, they're going to probably unify the WWE and world titles sometime soon. It would have been awesome to do that at Wrestlemania but now, I'm thinking maybe Summer Slam. The main event will be a championship unification match.

 

[fenderjapan]

If they want to mix the brands thats fine but there are far too many people for one set of titles. And while it would add prestige to the belts it would take away a lot of opportunities for rivalries.

I am a fan of the brand ext. and will be sad to see it go.

 

[Teddy Irving]

Dolph is entering at 1 or 2 in the royal rumble and is holding the WHC case, the merging of titles could very easily happen at Mania if Dolph wins the rumble, and it would be a huge boost for him and like Jericho he could then claim to have won both titles in a single night.

I am not saying I want to see this, but just that it is a possibility.

 

[The Average Guy]

Dolph is entering at 1 or 2 in the royal rumble and is holding the WHC case, the merging of titles could very easily happen at Mania if Dolph wins the rumble, and it would be a huge boost for him and like Jericho he could then claim to have won both titles in a single night.

I am not saying I want to see this, but just that it is a possibility.

Not trying to bash here but theres a couple things wrongs with this.

1)You're obviously assuming that Dolph wins the Rumble which in its self is a long shot.

2)You're saying at Wrestlemania that Dolph could stand tall either CM Punk, the Rock or John Cena with the belt? Not a chance.

3)If the WWE was going to unify the titles, it would probably be at a big event but would be the main program and would be heavily advertised and pushed

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

Last year, I remember somebody from WWE coming out and saying the only reason they haven't already merged the World titles is the existence of mutually exclusive Raw and Smackdown house shows.

I'm still not sure ending the brand split was a good idea. It's cool to see Raw and Smackdown guys on each others shows, but it now it's to the point where it just doesn't matter. The original goal, I'm sure, was to bring more focus to Smackdown and increase Raw ratings. Neither of those two things happened. Smackdown is even less successful, and with nothing to call its own, it's just not special in any way. The only thing that isn't shared between the two shows are the World title stories.

I truly feel like everything has fallen in quality since they merged the shows. ANd that goes all the way back to merging the PPVs. It's given WWE an excuse to be lazy with all their mid-card feuds, because they have 2 main events on every show that people will buy for. It used to be that they HAD to push each show and every story, because otherwise you ended up with a Smackdown PPV that had 4 or 5 garbage one-off matches that nobody cared about. The creative teams HAD to be on top of their game, or it meant losing lots of money.

That being said, I think WWE certainly did a better job in 2012 making the mid-card feel more important. I just don't think Smackdown got any better as a result.

 

[RicSpade]

The problem with the house shows is usually "Star Power" not the actual brand itself. I'm more likely to go see a Raw show because of guys like Punk or Cena because your likely to see atleast one of them. The reason Smackdown always looks like its hurting is because of the lack of face stars during its tours, Orton gets hurt so they try to bring in Cena, or Alberto is the only real face so lets bring Ryback and hell no via plane to that show after a RAW show because thats literally how bad it truly is at house shows. In the 90's it was easier to run your guys 300+ days on the road without all the extra jumps and it seems like it would be better for them in the long run to put them as a supershow again with all major players then spreading them out

 

[shooter_mcgavin]

While I loved the Brand Split from 2002 to 2008, since then the entire thing has just become pointless. Seeing as people are able to appear on both shows it needs to end already so to avoid confusion and unify the World Titles.

The challenge is still making RAW and Smackdown! unique shows. If not for it's roster perhaps its content. Maybe make Smackdown! the show where mid card titles are focused with some main eventers as well. We could have main events for the IC Title and US Title perhaps it can bring the title more prestige that it needs.

 

[The Decrypter]

The last thing we need is the World titles being unified. Having 2 separate World titles was one of the best decisions WWE has ever made. 2 main event scenes gives more opportunities for superstars to reach the top.

 

[The Butcher]

Last year, I remember somebody from WWE coming out and saying the only reason they haven't already merged the World titles is the existence of mutually exclusive Raw and Smackdown house shows.

I'm still not sure ending the brand split was a good idea. It's cool to see Raw and Smackdown guys on each others shows, but it now it's to the point where it just doesn't matter. The original goal, I'm sure, was to bring more focus to Smackdown and increase Raw ratings. Neither of those two things happened. Smackdown is even less successful, and with nothing to call its own, it's just not special in any way. The only thing that isn't shared between the two shows are the World title stories.

I truly feel like everything has fallen in quality since they merged the shows. ANd that goes all the way back to merging the PPVs. It's given WWE an excuse to be lazy with all their mid-card feuds, because they have 2 main events on every show that people will buy for. It used to be that they HAD to push each show and every story, because otherwise you ended up with a Smackdown PPV that had 4 or 5 garbage one-off matches that nobody cared about. The creative teams HAD to be on top of their game, or it meant losing lots of money.

That being said, I think WWE certainly did a better job in 2012 making the mid-card feel more important. I just don't think Smackdown got any better as a result.

HGR nailed it. Just wanted to "qft" that.

I'm posting to implore everybody to look on the bright side of this. The individual who re-unifies the WWE and World titles is going to be a made man. I'm already arguing with myself over who it should be. Also remember that there was no brand split during that late 90s, early 2000s period that everyone seems to have been a fan of. Raw and SmackDown found room for main eventers and midcarders, and both shows were faster paced and tighter as a result. And look at it as the brand split being put out of its misery. What we have left of it are vestiges.

 

[TheRocker035]

Personally I dont see the point in the branding at all. I do think it would be in the best interest of everyone to just make it WWE *Insert Cool Name Here* or maybe WWE Raw *Cool Name For M/W/F/S*

May make things more equal and less Moday heavy so to speak. I guess only time will tell

 

[SVTVenom46]

HGR nailed it. Just wanted to "qft" that.

I'm posting to implore everybody to look on the bright side of this. The individual who re-unifies the WWE and World titles is going to be a made man. I'm already arguing with myself over who it should be. Also remember that there was no brand split during that late 90s, early 2000s period that everyone seems to have been a fan of. Raw and SmackDown found room for main eventers and midcarders, and both shows were faster paced and tighter as a result. And look at it as the brand split being put out of its misery. What we have left of it are vestiges.

You are forgetting that that old era had legitimate competition, an entirely different audience, and a group of writers who knew wrestling. Not to mention, dozens of top level talent across the companies. That is gone - probably for good. We have guys writing for shows who have experience writing soap operas. McMahon sits on the throne with no realistic challenge. There's no incentive. There's no passion. There's no meaning in anything. It doesn't matter if there is one roster or three, four belts or twenty. Nothing will change until they are forced by competition or shareholder pressure. I won't even go into the stupidity of going public with a company like this.

 

[The Perfect Max]

I enjoyed the brand split for a while, but once the pay-per-views became multi-brand events starting with Backlash 2007, I felt that they should do away with it because I enjoyed that all the stars, from Raw and SmackDown were on the show. Of course, the split has some ups. Before they were merged into multi-events in 2007, the pay-per-views truly did showcase all each brand had to offer and it gave superstars further down the card and oppertunity. Now, not so.

In my opinion, the end of the brand split is the best way forward as it gives superstars more opportunities on more that one show, but its doubtful that most superstars will be on two shows in one week, some, but not all. Also, unlike some people, I feel it is unnecessary to merge the world titles. WWE should have two world titles, two mid card titles, a tag team championship and bring back the WWE Women's Championship. The divas championship is ugly and has meant nothing since 2008. The two world titles give more opportunities for other stars to hold the gold, but with two titles, the unpredictability increases, as does the length of reigns and two world titles can mean longer reigns.

I hope that the championships can have more prestige brought back in the brand split ends. It means the superstars can mix between the titles and change things up every now and then. I look forward to the official end of the brand split and how they deal with the House Shows.

 

[Toroc102]

I just can not disagree more with the notion that two world titles is somehow good for the WWE. All it does is dilute the competition so you have midcard guys competing for the World Title. So instead of having a real strong Main-Event Scene and a strong Mid card and a strong Tag-Division you have these guys picking which title they want to go for. WTF for? Its the same company. Would the UFC have two titles just to give guys more opportunities? This is supposed to be a competition dammit not a freakin baseball game where no one keeps score.

I hate the notion these days that everybody could become the WWE Champ. It just isn't that way, some guys are just midcarders and in my opinion all the brand split has done is force Mid-Carders and green wrestlers into Main-Event roles they aren't ready for. This needs to end, there can only be one top spot for it to mean something.

 

[Toroc102]

Personally I dont see the point in the branding at all. I do think it would be in the best interest of everyone to just make it WWE *Insert Cool Name Here* or maybe WWE Raw *Cool Name For M/W/F/S*

May make things more equal and less Moday heavy so to speak. I guess only time will tell

Didn't want to post a new post but I didn't see an edit button so....If this is deleted then so be it. EDIT:Strange, I can edit this but not the previous post.

I didn't understand what you we're saying before but basically you're saying that instead of Smackdown maybe it should be Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Raw or something to that effect right? If so I never thought about it that way, but its probably a pretty good idea. Back when Stone Cold and The Rock we're still around(well full-time, and The Rock never shows up on SD ayway) the Smackdown name made more sense, but if they changed the name to Raw and ended the split, I definitely think people would watch more.

As a matter of fact, and this is probably the main reason the brand split should be ended as a purely business decision, if there isn't a Brand Split, you have to watch SD or else you're missing half the storylines. That's how it was back in the day so it never mattered that SD was taped(maybe it being before everyone was on the internet had more to do with it, but I digress)you would want to watch more because it is related to the characters you care about. If SD is a separate entity than its always easy to pick Raw over SD since its obviously the Number 1 show. Like I said, its called SD but Rock aint showing up on it is he?

 

[TheRocker035]

Maybe they are deciding to drop the SD reference because the Rock's run in the WWE is slowly dwindling away in front of our eyes. I really enjoyed Rock in his prime, but all his jokes are tired and re used jokes just re worded. Of course the crowd loves him and we all respect the impact hes had on this company, but I do think Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday RAW would for sure gain more interest plus it would suggest to the casual fan that they all tie in together so, you're right, people would feel more obligated to watch.

This thread should be read by WWE and implemented. I think there are a lot of valid points made.

 

[bxbigshow]

If you bring them back together, unify the top titles (WWE/World) and keep the mid-cards separate. With the tag/diva's titles already unified it give a decent look of organization.
It's not boxing/mma where weight classes are involved...it's just confusing.

And the World Title always comes across as 'lesser' than the WWE.

 

[TempestH]

The last thing we need is the World titles being unified. Having 2 separate World titles was one of the best decisions WWE has ever made. 2 main event scenes gives more opportunities for superstars to reach the top.

The World Heavyweight Title is lower in prestige than the WWE Title. IT's only used to test new stars and give thank you reigns to veterans. Everyone knows that the real stars hold the WWE Title. The World Heavyweight Title is a glorified midcard title. While the World HEavyweight Champion is a "World Champion" on paper, he's not "the top guy in the company". The WWE Champion is the top guy.

A world title should be the biggest moment in a wrestler's career. Not a stepping stone to the WWE Championship, and that's what the WHC has become.

I think that's why they gave the Intercontinental Title to Wade Barrett, and they're giving the current United States Champion, Antonio Cesaro such a huge push. That way the midcard titles will be seen as more prestigious once the world titles are unified.

 

[Prince Punk]

they need to either A. Do a true brand split and just push the diva's and Tag Teams between shows (which i think is great for tag team's as it gives them exposure) and Actually take the time to build stars... The only star they have been really building over the past couple of years is Dolph Zigglar (Punk grabbed them by the balls and made himself) I think at this point you have enough talent that you could do a true brand split and smackdown would have Main event level talent. It's just letting them be showcased instead of burried. That or you need to just end the brand extention crap, unify all the titles bring back the european title and pray you can somehow make new stars while force feeding your main event players each week.

 

[Ruthless-RKO]

I don't mind if they end it once and for all, but I can't see them unifying the titles. I don't know why, I have seen it being argued before about doing so, but it wouldn't make sense, the big gold belt already plays 2nd best to the wwe title now anyways, and as many people have said, it's the *new* intercontinental champion, or what it used to be back in the late 80's

 

[DirtyD79]

I just can not disagree more with the notion that two world titles is somehow good for the WWE. All it does is dilute the competition so you have midcard guys competing for the World Title. So instead of having a real strong Main-Event Scene and a strong Mid card and a strong Tag-Division you have these guys picking which title they want to go for. WTF for? Its the same company. Would the UFC have two titles just to give guys more opportunities? This is supposed to be a competition dammit not a freakin baseball game where no one keeps score.

I hate the notion these days that everybody could become the WWE Champ. It just isn't that way, some guys are just midcarders and in my opinion all the brand split has done is force Mid-Carders and green wrestlers into Main-Event roles they aren't ready for. This needs to end, there can only be one top spot for it to mean something.

Exactly it just smacks of the politically correct everybody gets a trophy bullshit that's been stinking up our society for years. Even if they did a separate brand for every single day of the week there will still be guys and gals not getting TV time. Sometimes it's a simple case of getting lost in the shuffle, most times though it's because quite frankly that kid just ain't ready for primetime.

And like you said some wrestlers just aren't meant to be main eventers. When I was a kid two of my favorite wrestlers were The Big Boss Man and The Berzerker. Would you actually try to sell a show with that as your main event? They were great as mid carders but they weren't guys to build the company around.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

Ultimately, the brand split was a bust from the moment they decided not to keep WCW as a seperate company. Raw and Smackdown never had the same aura as WWE v WCW would have had and in reality, all it has done is dilute the concept of titles to the point where they are almost meaningless as everyone has to have a turn. First end the house shows, then go back to the traditional WWF model, 2/3 singles belts tops and one tag title.

I can see them using Ziggler to do it, as they used Jericho before and he was "unproven" at the time but I can also see them using The Rock to do it, as it would bring a lot of mainstream exposure and that's one thing they would need to make the change stick.

 

[JBK2008]

The brand extension has been gone for a while now for the most part. When it first went into action back in 2002 or so, it was meant to give superstars more chances to be seen as the WWE roster as a whole was just too crowed to all be on one show every night. Over the years, whether it's been over exposure or only certain superstars getting the majority of the limelight, death, what have you, the rosters have gotten smaller and the talent just hasn't been what we're used to seeing.

The brand extension was great at time, but the rosters are soo watered down and while we may see the sames guys on tv more often, it'll force the mid card guys to step up. My concern is the titles. Will the u.s and i.c be merged since it seems the wwe and world titles are on the verge as well? Sure a lot of good can come from the ending of the brand extension, but only if the mid card can still get some time to shine on all the shows.