Title unification and the future of Bragging Rights

[Dum Dum Dudley]

When Bragging Rights debuted last year, i was sceptical. I didn't believe that the concept would work today and i couldn't think of a way for the whole gimmick of Smackdown vs Raw could be expanded beyond the one tag match. But the introduction of US v IC champ match and the Divas vs Womens champ match added something more to the PPV and added the 'best of three' rules and i kept interest throughout the PPV.

But with rumours, and i must stress that it is only rumours, of the midcard titles being merged and the women's title already being merged; Is there any future for the Bragging Rights PPV? Can the PPV survive with just the 7 on 7 match or can other matches be created?

One idea i have is to split the 7 on 7 match down to a 6-man tag, a normal tag and a 1 on 1 match. The 6-man can be filled with the midcarders and can be a fast-paced opener similar to what TNA is doing with their tag title matches recently and getting the crowd pumped up. The tag match could feature two of the top stars from each brand; similar to HBK/Cena vs Taker/Batista from No Way Out 2007. The 1 on 1 can go either way; two upper-midcarders if the top stars are involved in the tag match and place the match as the 2nd match, or two main eventers if you can stretch the roster far enough.

In my opinion, i think the PPV may have run it's course. Using 14 guys in one match really limits Creative's options as the match could be featuring the same guys over and over again. I know many of you are saying that only R-Truth from Team Raw competed in this match last year and he was on Smackdown so it's a change but with Team SD! captained by The Big Show,and the fact guys like Kingston, Swagger and Cody Rhodes will probably qualify for Team SD!, the same guys are involved.

Also, with Survivor Series the following PPV, i just don't think that Creative can keep interest in a match that:
a) is more than likely going to feature the same guys
b) precedes a similar gimmick PPV that has more tradition and history, and creates excitement from the fact it uses the elimination rule
c) can't rely on champion vs champion matches anymore

 

[BigLuther]

One thing I really agree with is having a 6-man tag match. I think if Team RAW vs. Team SD was just 3-on-3, you could put more emphasis on the people actually in the match, and maybe do an actual storyline with one team screwing with another team. Having 14 guys in one match makes it so diluted, and having it just be "oooh I wonder which brand will win" isn't interesting at all. Make it 3-on-3! Do something simple like Team RAW invades Smackdown and locks two guys in their locker room and interferes in the third guy's match. Make it an angle! Make me wanna see these teams battle it out. Just saying it's RAW vs. SD doesn't make me wanna spend 40-50 bucks on a PPV.

Also, for the team match, there should be something on the line other than a trophy we'll never see again. Maybe.. off the top of my head, the winning show gets a random draft pick to add someone to their roster (ex: RAW wins, and gets to pick a SD guy to change brands). Or maybe the guy who scores the pin gets a World title shot, while the other two get tag title shots. I dunno, just make there be a point to all of it.

 

[WJDwjdWJDwjd]

I think their problem with this even is the MONTH in which is happens. I've been feeling (especially this year) that the multi-man tag matches have been way too prominent in the "E". I'm a huge fan of elimination matches, but not one at almost every PPV in a 5 month span. Just think, from SummerSlam to Survivor Series, there are 5 PPV's, the big matches on 3 of those 5 cards have or will be multi-man elimination matches. There have been many of this sort of match on Raw lately as well. If they moved this PPV AWAY from Survivor Series, maybe a fun Summer PPV a month or two before SummerSlam, it would have a great future. The other option would be to completely replace Survivor Series as a PPV which I personally would not be a fan of because of the immense history of Survivor Series.

As for the title unification, there is a point to that statement. Those are only rumors however. If it were to happen, I'm not sure how I would feel about continuing the best out of 3 line up they usually have unless they just have grudge matches between two wrestlers from different brands. They haven't even mentioned on TV a best out of 3 line up for the PPV anyway so the concept may already be gone.

 

[The Brain]

I agree that 7 on 7 is too much. That match is simply too crowded. I also agree the event is too close to Survivor Series. Last year as I was watching the event I remember thinking this should be Survivor Series. If the titles are unified I could see some triple threat championship matches on future shows. There could be a number one contender from both Raw and Smackdown and the champion defends against both in a triple threat.

 

[The Awesome One]

I like the concept, yet when do we ever see Smackdown 'Bragging' about their victory last year? I wouldn't mind if there was a brand war, yet that doesn't seem likely given that the brands could unify.
I agree with BigLuther - a little incentive needs adding, maybe a draft pick or a title shot. As for 'Bragging' we've probably only seen the trophy it twice in he last year.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think that Bragging Rights is a concept that the WWE can do without. We hear commentators sometimes talk about the rivalry between the Raw and SmackDown! brands but there's never been any legit substance to the "feud". Most of the time, the wrestlers are exclusive to their shows and have no on screen interaction with each other. When they do, it's usually for a special episode of Raw and there's still no real sign of any sort of brand rivalry even on those special episodes. There's just not any real build up to this sort of show. I have little doubt that the matches should be good but, after that night, things just go back to normal. I think it's the closest thing the WWE has to a throwaway ppv because nothing is going to happen at the ppv to make it stand out from any of the others and the consequences are virtually nil. The centerpiece is the 7 on 7 tag match and after it's done, everyone just goes back to their brand.

 

[Find'er Woo'er Ryder]

I like the 7 vs 7. It's something that only comes once a year in that ppv. But with the rumors of the unification and we can see the other 2 of the best of 3 challenge. Maybe instea of having a I.c champ vs us champ we can see a 10 person battle royal kinda like thy do at the draft. And the divas can comets in a 6 person tag. And then have a 4 on 4 tag match to replace the 7 vs 7.

 

[wrestlingking]

Well i'd agree with all you people actually since most of what you all have said is the same thing basically. Now its Bragging Rights, Raw Vs. Smackdown. Every match should be feature a wrestler from each brand. No same brand matches, Have WWE Champion vs WHC, IC vs US, then fill the others with the six man tag and other smackdown vs raw guys/divas. Do a tag titles match even in like a 4 team elimination with teams from both brands. WWE isnt creative these days, maybe since Freddy Prinze Jr came back to WWE he'll possibly write a few things to bring some life back to the product. WWE forgets about the concept of this PPV, why is Barrett facing Orton and etc for same brand matches. Nobody from the same brand should be wrestling eachother 1 on 1, thats why it's called "Bragging Rights" so the brand with the most wins shows their dominance.