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Smackdown started off stronger than expected, I was really surprised to see Ambrose, Styles, Cena and Orton all go to Smackdown but they are recognizable names and they'll draw in viewers to Smackdown. After that, they kinda gave the edge to RAW. Granted there's still a lot of NXT callups rumored to happen still so the rosters might wind up balancing out a bit better.
I think Zayn is better off at Smackdown. Owens is ready for the main event scene and RAW needs his talent, since SD has an already star packed main event scene.
Younger and fresher isn't going to bring in ratings. SmackDown needed established stars to compete with RAW, and they don't have nearly enough. Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews are nobodies who were complete wastes of draft picks. SmackDown needs more top stars NOW, not in the future.
Who is in SmackDown's "packed main event scene"? They have Cena, Orton, Ambrose, and...ummm...that's it. WWE has already shown they refuse to put Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, or Alberto Del Rio back in main events where they belong. Bray Wyatt doesn't have what it takes to be a main event talent. And all of the other main eventers got taken by RAW because SmackDown was too busy wasting draft picks on Baron Corbin and American Alpha.
Do you guys think the weak mid card line up on Smackdown! is a way to protect The Miz? I mean during his program with Cesaro, Owens, and Zayn, The Miz looked really exposed in those programs and perhaps they want to keep The Miz hot because of his relationship with Maryse and the Total Divas show.
Cena, Orton, Ambrose, Wyatt, and Styles is a fairly stacked main event scene.
Raw only has Rollins, Ambrose, and Reigns (who is suspended).
And let's not pretend Raw didn't waste draft picks on Charlotte and Finn Balor.
RAW also has Chris Jericho, The Big Show, Brock Lesnar (who at this point wrestles about as often as Randy Orton does), and Sheamus. That's seven main eventers to SmackDown's three (Wyatt is nowhere NEAR main event caliber, and Styles isn't there yet).
Who is in SmackDown's "packed main event scene"? They have Cena, Orton, Ambrose, and...ummm...that's it. WWE has already shown they refuse to put Dolph Ziggler, The Miz, or Alberto Del Rio back in main events where they belong. Bray Wyatt doesn't have what it takes to be a main event talent. And all of the other main eventers got taken by RAW because SmackDown was too busy wasting draft picks on Baron Corbin and American Alpha.
The whole reason of this re-draft was to make SmackDown relevant and equal to RAW again, and as far as I'm concerned, they failed. RAW has the VAST majority of the top talent. Instead of drafting top stars, the SmackDown showrunners decide to waste prime draft picks on nobodies like Baron Corbin? Completely idiotic, and it shattered the illusion of the picks not being scripted. Baron Corbin and American Alpha got drafted BEFORE the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Alberto Del Rio, The Usos, and Kane? Absolutely ridiculous. SmackDown needs more top talent.
WWE hasn't said whether or not there's a "trade period" following the draft, but every other draft has had one, so if there is, I think the problem can be solved by a multi-person trade to even things out a bit:
RAW receives:
1. Kalisto
2. American Alpha
3. Mojo Rawley
4. Apollo Crews
5. Tyler Breeze
6. Fandango
7. Erick Rowan
8. The Ascension
9. The Vaudevillains
10. Naomi
11. Baron Corbin
SmackDown receives:
1. Sheamus
2. Cesaro
3. The Big Show
4. The Dudley Boyz
5. Goldust
6. Paige
7. Mark Henry
8. The Shining Stars
9. Jack Swagger
10. R-Truth
RAW gets more of the young talent and internet favorites that they can promote to the casual audience to make them into bigger names for the future, and SmackDown gets more of the experienced veterans they need to get fans to watch the show in the first place. Both brands come out looking better and the major failing of the draft is fixed.
The veterans will bring in more fans than the nobodies that casual fans don't know. The young guys need to be on RAW, because that's the show casuals are going to watch. Get them known for the future. Right now, how are you going to get a casual fan who only watches occasionally, to tune in to SmackDown? "Come see SmackDown, live on Tuesday nights! We have Baron Corbin, American Alpha, Mojo Rawley, Kalisto, Tyler Breeze, and Apollo Crews!" The casual fan's reaction is, "Who in the flying f*** are those people?". Replace those names with the veterans I'd move over from RAW (where they're just going to be buried anyway), and even if 25% of the casual fans will tune in to see The Dudley Boyz or Sheamus or The Big Show, that's more than 0%. Casuals are going to watch RAW regardless, what's essential is getting them to watch SmackDown. Young nobodies they don't know won't do that.
With SD's main event it should bring eyes to the product. Cena has been on top for over a decade now, and his fanbase is huge, they will tune in, same with Orton. Just those two alone on SD should get it off to a good start. Add Daniel Bryan and you have three of the top guys in the WWE for the last few years appearing each week.
As I said before they will help the younger guys, just as the veterans on RAW will help their younger guys. I wouldn't be all doom and gloom right off the bat, wait and see how it turns out and what the ratings are. At least SD won't be a RAW repeat each week and that in itself is a blessing.
Well, that we agree on, but I don't see SmackDown as having a good main event scene. Wyatt isn't anywhere near main event quality, and Styles doesn't have the seniority for me to consider him a main event star.
Styles has been around longer than Cena, that alone makes me think he's worthy of a main event run. Just because you didn't spend all your time in the WWE doesn't mean you aren't worthy of one.
Spending 15 years in the little leagues is irrelevant to me. And since WCW closed, other than WWE there IS no other major leagues.