WWE confirms Live Smackdown and Brand Split ****Keep it in here!****

[IrishCanadian25]

The WWE talent pool is deep, the star pool is shallow. There are a handful of guys who don't receive 50/50 booking and I'll hazard a guess they'll be on Raw. I mean a Styles lead Smackdown I cool and all, but it'll still be a nothing show.

I don't currently tune in to Smackdown OR the 3rd hour of Raw. If there are superstars I like only appearing on Smackdown, there's a greater likelihood I will tune in. If Mrs. IC25 gets sick of wrestling, I will go watch in the basement. Happy with that.

You're dead on about the talent pool vs the star pool, but part of the reason is that the star-potential cannot break out if they are being overshadowed by the other angles on Raw.

Either Main Event or Superstars - or both - have to go. If you MUST have a third TV slot during the week, give it to NXT. Steph runs SD, Shane runs Raw, Regal runs NXT, and there's the perfect balance. Not too much.

 

[Farese12]

Either Main Event or Superstars - or both - have to go. If you MUST have a third TV slot during the week, give it to NXT. Steph runs SD, Shane runs Raw, Regal runs NXT, and there's the perfect balance. Not too much.

I have a feeling main event and superstars are going to stay, and act kind of like velocity and Heat.

 

[AegonTargaryen]

There's potential here for both greatness and a royal clusterfuck. If the rosters aren't divided in a way that makes them seem more even, then it probably won't take long for things to start heading in the wrong direction. For instance, I'm sure that some feel that SmackDown could be the place for most of the younger, fresher talent to head but, at the same time, there'd probably need to be some veteran faces to lend star power and stability.

I already foresee AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, etc. heading to Smackdown. Though to be honest, I want Shinsuke to be on Raw. Perhaps either of Roman Reigns, Randy Orton and John Cena would most certainly be the veteran/recognizable face to lead the show?

Also, I had recently been wondering- with so much talent like Sheamus, Del Rio, and Rusev lost in the shuffle on account of the Creative mostly focusing on select storylines such as - Styles/Reigns, New Day, Women's title, etc, there's little hope for Baron Corbin or others.

But honestly, nothing could be better than two separate rosters at this point. Storylines/wrestlers will FINALLY be getting the deserved attention/focus since there would essentially be a Smackdown head writer, as distinct from Raw.

 

[HORRORHOLIC]

I don't like this idea at all. We already see the same matches over and over again. I just hope they don't have two world champions again.

 

[ShinChan]

I am happy about Smackdown going live. I have been wanting this since so many years. If WWE itself would care about Smackdown then only the audience would care about it.

I have no idea on brand split. As I hadn't witnessed the last brand split. Still hoping the best for all talented wrestlers.

No need for more Smackdown spoilers.

 

[The Warlord]

Now we're going backwards. Like the other poster said...if they split the titles its going to be worthless.

If they do this they need to recreate the monday night wars and not have guys go to another show. It would be nice to replace Smackdown with something new...or perhaps "Nitro."

 

[GOOZEKING]

I am not excited for the brand split at all. They can't even book a 3 hour raw right and you think they can do it with half the roster. My only hope is that they split Roman and cena. Can you imagine if cena was on smackdown.

 

[GhettoV1]

Maybe it's a last ditch effort to revive SmackDown or do a winning brand takes all at wrestlemania to merge back into one WWE. And leads to a two hour Raw and have Tuesdays and wednesdays superstars and main event tapings every 4-5 weeks and keep Raw live every Monday night.

 

[Kyphael]

I just had an epiphany.

Wrestlezone reported yesterday WWE had big plans for A.J Styles. He is not in the MITB (as of yet, he officially in fact lost a qualification match) and he is no longer in Roman Reigns' title picture.

I say Roman Reigns' title picture to emphasize the fact they might introduce a new World Title for SmackDown. Could A.J be their pick to be the inaugural SmackDown World champion? It would fall in line with another fan thought that SmackDown will be the "indy" show.

What if A.J's program with Reigns impressed Vince so much, coupled with the influx of talent from the indy's (Zayn, Owens, Neville, etc who deserve but cannot have a run with guys like Cena, Reigns, and even Orton returning) and he just said "all right, let's put them on a live SmackDown and see how they do!" That's just like Vince. He's always said he gives opportunity, so it's he's almost daring these "indy darlings" to out do RAW in the ratings in a live platform on the SAME channel.

Styles, Rollins, Zayn, Owens, Wyatt (and later Finn) spear head SmackDown while Cena, Reigns, Orton, Ambrose, Ziggler, and Miz spear head RAW. I'd watch SmackDown over that. lol

 

[Trill Co$by]

As long as the titles don't get split then I don't mind too much. If they do then it makes the titles pointless due to the various unifications and un-unifications in the past few years. Still think a brand split isn't needed now-a-days but hey ho.

I sort of see the point here, but at the same time I'd much rather they split the titles later on down the road. Right now, I'm fine with the IC title being on Raw and the US being on Smackdown exclusively, or vice versa. It gives more prestige to the titles, which something that they will need if they're going to legitimize this brand split.

Also, they need to divide the Pay Per Views again, or maybe offer exclusive brand Live Event Network specials. I feel like we got more development with separate Pay Per Views, and this would be no different. The problem is, I don't know if I'd rather them give us NoC or Survivor Series as one of the four cross-promotional PPVs.

 

[Inferno Prince]

I sort of see the point here, but at the same time I'd much rather they split the titles later on down the road. Right now, I'm fine with the IC title being on Raw and the US being on Smackdown exclusively, or vice versa. It gives more prestige to the titles, which something that they will need if they're going to legitimize this brand split.

Also, they need to divide the Pay Per Views again, or maybe offer exclusive brand Live Event Network specials. I feel like we got more development with separate Pay Per Views, and this would be no different. The problem is, I don't know if I'd rather them give us NoC or Survivor Series as one of the four cross-promotional PPVs.

MY thoughts exactly. We need brand exclusive events again, with the Big Four and the MITB match the only exceptions. Two month builds for title matches and feuds would bring so much more meaning. It's been ridiculous trying to bring real momentum into so many feuds when they only have three or four weeks to work on before the match.

 

[BringThePain834]

Uhhh....whatever.

There will be a draft, Raw will be loaded to the top, Smackdown will be the place for NXT talent to move up and guys that won't be on Raw. And in a year, we'll read on PWInsider or the Observer about how Vince only cares about Raw, despite everyone in WWE saying "We have no B Shows" publicly. There may be a brief period of about a year where Smackdown is awesome, but that will stop and Smackdown will be irrelevant again. Dave Meltzer will write a long piece about how live Smackdowns are a money sink that aren't drawing good numbers, and will go back to being taped.

And the cycle will continue. And here's why else this news worries me.

They haven't figured out how to make a 3-hour Raw entertaining with the roster they have and now they're removing people from the show.

Also, fans that can barely sit through a 3-hour show on Mondays now have to try and sit through 5 hours of WWE programming on back-to-back nights. If the current product was good and really entertaining, this would be great news. I'm sure for some people it is. I just don't think it's good news for enough people.

Whatever. I knew this was coming eventually when The Network stuck around, and as far as that goes this is a really smart move. It's a step toward the future as we as a society move away from cable television. But for now it's going to be really, really tough.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

The WWE talent pool is deep, the star pool is shallow. There are a handful of guys who don't receive 50/50 booking and I'll hazard a guess they'll be on Raw. I mean a Styles lead Smackdown I cool and all, but it'll still be a nothing show.

This but they have to go Heyman/SD circa 2003. Separate writing team and both of them fighting for the spot of the no 1 brand. I dunno how that will stroke egos at the A show but a Styles led SD could become smtg special.

They need to make an absolutely beloved star soon.

 

[GOOZEKING]

If they are doing this then I want smackdown and raw to actually be equal with equal star power. First of all you have to seperate super reigns and super cena. You can't have two super heroes on 1 show and if reigns is really the guy then he should stay on raw and cena should go to smackdown. Second of all you put aj, the club, and fin balor on smackdown, maybe you put bray in there too. For raw you get Owens, Rollins, Ambrose, zayn, and reigns as the top people.

 

[The Yes Guy]

The brand split is a tricky thing to pull off as the rest have said. But I have my questions:

1. If there was an impending brand split, why release talent like Barrett, Sandow & Cody. They wouldn't have faced the 'lack of Creative direction' anymore. And they were extremely over; something you need to carry a show.

2. Many people here are opposed to the title split. But it would be very impractical to not have different world titles. What would the top guys fight for when the WWE Champ is busy in a feud on the other show. Because face it. The IC title will never be as prestigious as a World title.

And then there's the problem of lack of stars.

 

[BringThePain834]

I would hope that guys like Cena, Reigns, Rollins, Rock, Undertaker, Triple H, Lesnar, etc. are on both shows, because really, they should be.

 

[BestSportsEntertainer]

Like many storylines and ideas in wrestling, this could be really good or really bad. Just depends on the direction WWE goes in. For this angle to be successful, one thing must happen. Smackdown and Raw must be seen as equal. Equally talented rosters. Also the same running time so Raw needs to go to 2 hours.

I'm assuming Shane will run Raw and Stephanie and HHH will run SD. Remember when Shane said he wanted "control of (just) Monday Night Raw"?

Regardless I'm excited.. and cautious. This could be great or terrible. Only time will tell.

 

[BestSportsEntertainer]

I would hope that guys like Cena, Reigns, Rollins, Rock, Undertaker, Triple H, Lesnar, etc. are on both shows, because really, they should be.

It's not a brand split if each roster has the same wrestlers.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

So, we're back to "creating our own competition"? Didn't work then and probably won't now but both being live is a step forward. Tuesday is logistical, the talent are gonna be asked to sell more shows under their brand on Smackdown possibly working a second show on a Monday. So it makes sense that they run loops Sat-Tuesday for both rosters, with RAW being the second show on a Tuesday.

Is it the right thing?

Not sure, it probably makes sense as to why some guys didn't fancy renewing deals or wanted out. I doubt this is a shock to the roster and would have been talked about for some time rather than a snap decision. Ironic in some ways as guys like Barrett, Cody and Ryback could have in theory "done well" but I think it shows that there is still only gonna be one champion and a secondary on each brand so there really wasn't any chance to "lead the brand".

The biggest signal of this is probably the 2 "PPV level" shows a month they've done for a while now, in effect making a month end House Show a PPV level event. That way both brands get a big event each month, with RAW and Smackdown potentially alternating the House Show/Traditional and creating their own PPV's again rather than those house shows... with only WM, The Rumble, Summerslam and possibly Night Of Champions being shared.

They're doing a draft, which will pop a rating. I am guessing this will be on Cena's return night, would make sense and add to occasion but I've a feeling NXT guys will be added to the mix too - so Balor and potentially Joe could be drafted for example.

If they're gonna do it, they have to do it down the middle talent wise with no favourites for RAW. My guess is Cena moves to headline Smackdown like Trips never did, he and Rusev can headline for the US title there and it sell shows for example.

Saying it'll be an "indy darling" split is probably wrong. There'll be a mix of both on the shows but you might see more guys in "contender matches" and maybe even a WWE ranking system for each in place that feeds into the titles and especially the World.

Yes, the World titles... Tag and singles.

These should stay seperate and in essence there should be two feuds ongoing at a time... a #1 contender on each show and the champs now have to defend TWICE a month rather than the old 30 day rule... so Reigns might feud with Jericho on SD and Rollins on RAW and have to defend at both their PPV/Network events in a month.

I am also guessing this means 2 MITB winners again, because that means they can have the two scenarios that leaves open... a double cash in for the same match or a successive one...

 

[THTRobtaylor]

The brand split is a tricky thing to pull off as the rest have said. But I have my questions:

1. If there was an impending brand split, why release talent like Barrett, Sandow & Cody. They wouldn't have faced the 'lack of Creative direction' anymore. And they were extremely over; something you need to carry a show.

2. Many people here are opposed to the title split. But it would be very impractical to not have different world titles. What would the top guys fight for when the WWE Champ is busy in a feud on the other show. Because face it. The IC title will never be as prestigious as a World title.

And then there's the problem of lack of stars.

The answer is to make both guys "#1 contenders" like in the old days when the IC champ was just that. You build it around rankings like UFC/Boxing, they are fighting for contention to the US and IC titles and thus the chance to get a title shot. There is MITB that can be used for the secondary titles going forward...

As for guys like Cody and Barrett, Barrett always said he would be out in 5 years and he is... Cody knew that this system was coming, they both did, so does Ryback and it's probably painfully apparent to them that it wouldn't improve their situations at all... They have that "jobber" tag and all that would happen is they are putting people over live on SD as opposed to live on RAW.

 

[BringThePain834]

It's not a brand split if each roster has the same wrestlers.

I think that those guys I mentioned are realistically at the level where they're too valuable to be made exclusive to just one show. I also wouldn't always have them work both shows. and I think it would also save us from listening to the IWC going all "WWE is limiting who can feud with this person", etc. I mean yeah, they'll still complain, but that's just one less thing they have to complain about. Lesnar being able to appear on both shows would be good because it wouldn't restrict who WWE could put a feud with Lesnar together with. Let's say Orton, Owens, etc. go to SmackDown and Lesnar were to go to Raw. Neither of those feuds would be able to happen, and that would be disappointing. Same thing for Cena. He's good for really putting someone on the map, like he did with Kevin Owens. And if he were to become US champ again, he can have that open challenge and there wouldn't be any restrictions on who would be able to accept it.

 

[Inferno Prince]

I think that those guys I mentioned are realistically at the level where they're too valuable to be made exclusive to just one show. I also wouldn't always have them work both shows. and I think it would also save us from listening to the IWC going all "WWE is limiting who can feud with this person", etc. I mean yeah, they'll still complain, but that's just one less thing they have to complain about. Lesnar being able to appear on both shows would be good because it wouldn't restrict who WWE could put a feud with Lesnar together with. Let's say Orton, Owens, etc. go to SmackDown and Lesnar were to go to Raw. Neither of those feuds would be able to happen, and that would be disappointing. Same thing for Cena. He's good for really putting someone on the map, like he did with Kevin Owens. And if he were to become US champ again, he can have that open challenge and there wouldn't be any restrictions on who would be able to accept it.

In the case of Brock Lesnar, I doubt he's going to be assigned to a brand at all. Brock comes and goes as he pleases and feuds with whoever the company deems best. He'll appear on whatever show his next opponent is on and that'll be that.

 

[MERPER]

This is great news. Called it months ago. It's needed, and if they handle it correctly will be awesome.

 

[L@RISANO]

I hope this is all going to be played out in a shoot-styled storyline where Shane vs Stephanie/HHH can happen. Vince can finally take a back seat and allow his son and daughter to run a show each with equally strong rosters and see who does a better job at making it all work perfectly.


As JH said in his comment; This can be great or it can be a royal clusterfuck that can backfire big time come SummerSlam.


Stay tuned.

 

[Aquaman6686]

The Brand Extension was the best thing in WWE history, and ending it was one of the worst. But I don't think WWE has the roster depth to pull it off right now, unless they're actually going to make their veteran talent MEAN something again.