WWE ending the brand split next: Good or Bad

[d_henderson1810]

I will be glad when the brand extension ends. The night it first happened, I told my brothers that the brand-split was a joke. I warmed to it when Bischoff and Stephanie would steal each other's talent, and you had to tune in see who would show up on the other's show.

Back then it was a big deal if someone invaded the other brand, as in the commentators saying "It's ...... from "Raw"! Get lost, you don't belong here" if the Raw wrestler appeared on "Smackdown". Now, if someone shows up on the other's show, it is no big deal. If the company doesn't care enough to keep the brands truly "seperate" then why should I care?

I never liked the brand extension, because the WWE acted like it was "The Monday Night Wars", and Raw and Smackdown were two seperate companies, trying to put each other out of business. Problem is, who cared who won, since WWE profits from it regardless.

Also, it limits feuds. I may think "I would love to see Wrestler X v Wrestler Y. Oh, hang on, they are on seperate shows, so I won't see it for a long time".

I put to you that a brand extension is why we see the same feuds over and over. You have C.M. Punk and Jack Swagger, neither of who have ever done a program with John Cena. These would be fresh and interesting feuds, but because they are on different shows, it won't happen anytime soon on PPV.Instead we may see Cena fight Randy Orton, Edge, Jericho or Sheamus for the hundredth time.

We have never seen the Undertaker v Chris Jericho on PPV, and I wouldn't mind seeing another Edge-Christian feud, but they won't happen anytime soon because they are on different shows. However, on one show, you could have anyone challenge anyone at anytime.

Some people argue that the top guys will dominate, and the others won't get a look in. I don't agree, and here's why:-

(1) You can extend feuds longer, and instead of having them fight at the next PPV, they could fight in three PPV's time, giving the stories more time to build. Also, it means that you have people fighting each other three or four PPV's in a row so often, and it will allow better matches on Raw.

(2) Maybe people have to "earn" their spot. Why should the mid-card guys automatically get a foot in the door? I propose using "Superstars" as a second show (ala "Heat") where superstars have "lesser" feuds, until they have a storyline worthy of PPV, and can step up to the better show. This way, being on "Raw" or "Smackdown" means more, it means you have made it.

(3) There will be a number of retirements in the next few years e.g. Undertaker, Kane, Rey Mysterio, Edge, Jericho and Triple H. The young guys can take their place, so they will get to main-event soon enough.

Also, WWE SHOULD cut some people. I call them list-cloggers. They aren't really involved in storylines or PPV builds, so why have them? I include the Great Khali, Hornswoggle, Goldust, Primo, Santino Marella (who has become a comedy character, but never has a meaningful feud), Chavo Guerrero (what has he done lately?) and the Bella Twins (who hardly, wrestle and are just there for comedy skits). None of these people sell out arenas, or put bums on seats. Let's keep the ticket-sellers, and "future-endeavoured" those who won't be missed.

I hope the brand extension ends soon. The sooner the better.

 

[Wade's Public Transit Bomb]

(1) You can extend feuds longer, and instead of having them fight at the next PPV, they could fight in three PPV's time, giving the stories more time to build. Also, it means that you have people fighting each other three or four PPV's in a row so often, and it will allow better matches on Raw.

When Cena and Orton fought each other from Summerslam to Braggin Rights, people were complaining it was too long.. And that was only half the TV time it would've gotten if it was done on both shows. Or a more recent one, Nexus wasn't even around for 3 weeks before that Texas crowd started chanting boring at the angle. How would having current storylines span both shows make them any more interesting for the general crowds?

Also, WWE SHOULD cut some people. I call them list-cloggers. They aren't really involved in storylines or PPV builds, so why have them? I include the Great Khali, Hornswoggle, Goldust, Primo, Santino Marella (who has become a comedy character, but never has a meaningful feud), Chavo Guerrero (what has he done lately?) and the Bella Twins (who hardly, wrestle and are just there for comedy skits). None of these people sell out arenas, or put bums on seats. Let's keep the ticket-sellers, and "future-endeavoured" those who won't be missed.

Actually, they love Khali in India, Hornswoggle is a great attraction for their target demo, Goldust is a much needed veteran you can use without "damaging" him, Primo is a great jobber, Santino sells a lot of t-shirts, Chavo is another veteran you can use to help younger guys, and someone backstage likes the Bellas enough that they recently celebrated two years on the main roster.

But be fair, what about guys some of the other guys who "still need time"? People on the internet go crazy for John Morrison, but he has been around for five years and still sucks. MVP is in the same boat. Carlito and Shelton were in it too before they got axed. It would surprised me if either got released tomorrow. Or what about the guys who are void of all charisma and ring presence despite the pedigree (Tyson Kidd and DH Smith)..



The problem just with going "Oh, just fired the guys who suck or aren't needed" is that as fans we can never tell what the WWE are thinking when they decide to push or keep someone. We can speculate until we are blue in the face, but that unpredictability has really made me support the brand split. I don't know what I would do if someone as awful as Drew or Michelle was to get pushed on Raw. lol

 

[Just2Sweet]

The WWE has too many wrestlers under contract for them to compete for so few titles. The brand split gives tv time for up and coming stars like Miz and Jack Swagger to be able to get time to elevate themselves and become players. If the brand split ends, we will have all the main eventers from smackdown (tongue in cheek) Kane, Mysterio trying to prove they can hang with orton, cena, edge when they obviously can't. The up and comers will just get squashed by super cena or orton. on the plus side, kids on the smackdown side can buy some sweet purple and gold John Cena shirts

 

[Just2Sweet]

i agree and disagree with Sarcy. MVP sucks and is falling into that Matt Hardy abyss of indifference. MVP could light John Cena on fire, and still not get a reaction from the crowd. I disagree with his assessment of JoMo. He just needs a bad ass, DGF, heel turn to get him back on track. I see a heel JoMo and Miz running the WWE this time next year

 

[Super Strudel]

Tis true, tis true .... WWE did do alright by having one world title and one IC title, while working three shows (Raw, Smackdown, Heat). And all talent did appear on all shows.
That being said, if the rumours are to be believed, there would be one world title, one mid card title, one tag team title and the women's championship.
During the three-show all wrestlers set up, the WWE/F also had the European Championship, Light Heavyweight/ Cruiserweight and Hardcore Championships.
Obviously the rumours are just that. And obviously we haven't got the story entirely right.
But if they are to kill the brand split (something I am against) then there is a lot of wrestlers who are going to be struggling. Sure there's more fueds, but what are they fighting over? The booking over the past half a decade or more points to some incredibly lacklustre television, with a lot of people being lost in the shuffle.
Smackdown has done a fantastic job of taking in wrestlers and elevating them to the next level. CM Punk is a prime example. Jeff Hardy is another. Jack Swagger is at the lower end of the success scale, but it's ok, because he hangs out there with Rey Mysterio.
Point being, if everyone appears on every show, and the number of belts is fewer than it was the last time this was the case, a few things are going to happen.

1. A lot of wrestlers will get the dreaded FE.
2. A convuluted upper mid card, making it increasingly difficult to break into the main event scene. This can be a good thing, for sure, but it can also make for very stale TV while they get there.
and ....
3. Forums will experience a boom period, as the posts fly through the roof, as people complain their favourite wrestler has not been seen for a couple of weeks, only to reappear in a segment with Goldust and Santino.

 

[The Idiot]

This is something I have been saying for YEARS. Having multiple titles waters down the value and prestige of being a champion. Have 2 shows limits the feuds and storylines that can be made.

People are worried about the mid card wrestlers...that's what having Sunday Night Heat was for...to showcase them. Not only that...but having this show back and airing it right before a PPV would possibly create interest and get people to buy the PPV. Its what the UFC does on SPIKE with their preliminary show and it works.

They can lengthen RAW to a 3 hour show, or 2 and a half hour show which would give more time to create storylines and have longer, better matches. Just like someone else said...we don't have to see the same match 3 or 4 times before having it on PPV. Who cares...we've seen it before so why buy the event? More superstars would help.

The Draft was a joke. Nobody stayed on their brand anyways...so why the hell does it matter? WWE needs to focus more on creating better feuds, storylines and bringing prestige back to the titles. World, IC, and tag titles is IT. No more than that. Call me old school but having endless amound of titles is a JOKE. The WWE needs to bring the art of "competition" back to the WWE.

While we are talking about change...I would also get rid of alot of the slapstick comedy they seem to have on their shows. I don't watch every week (in fact I rarely watch anymore) but I remember their product looking more like something on comedy central than professional wrestling. We all know it's scripted...just like we know movies are scripted. Vince...you're not insulting our intelligence by having serious storylines. Having these storylines makes us want to tune in week after week because we can't miss what's about to happen next. What happened to that, Vince?? Maybe he's not the one to blame...but he is the one who employs the writing staff. FIX THIS.

This is just the tip of the iceberg....there's so many changes I would make it's not even funny. But this rant is long enough.

Good day

 

[DaBadGuy]

I will be glad when the brand extension ends. The night it first happened, I told my brothers that the brand-split was a joke. I warmed to it when Bischoff and Stephanie would steal each other's talent, and you had to tune in see who would show up on the other's show. ".

Thank you, your post alone pretty much is what my response was going to be to everyone who keeps saying this is a bad idea.

Back then it was a big deal if someone invaded the other brand, as in the commentators saying "It's ...... from "Raw"! Get lost, you don't belong here" if the Raw wrestler appeared on "Smackdown". Now, if someone shows up on the other's show, it is no big deal. If the company doesn't care enough to keep the brands truly "seperate" then why should I care?

I never liked the brand extension, because the WWE acted like it was "The Monday Night Wars", and Raw and Smackdown were two seperate companies, trying to put each other out of business. Problem is, who cared who won, since WWE profits from it regardless.

Also, it limits feuds. I may think "I would love to see Wrestler X v Wrestler Y. Oh, hang on, they are on seperate shows, so I won't see it for a long time".

The Brand Split was a great idea in 2002 tell about 2005 because the brands were actually "seperated". The WWE doesn't treat or care about trying to keep the Brands Split like it should be so its very pointless to keep it.

I put to you that a brand extension is why we see the same feuds over and over. You have C.M. Punk and Jack Swagger, neither of who have ever done a program with John Cena. These would be fresh and interesting feuds, but because they are on different shows, it won't happen anytime soon on PPV.Instead we may see Cena fight Randy Orton, Edge, Jericho or Sheamus for the hundredth time.

We have never seen the Undertaker v Chris Jericho on PPV, and I wouldn't mind seeing another Edge-Christian feud, but they won't happen anytime soon because they are on different shows. However, on one show, you could have anyone challenge anyone at anytime.

I keep saying this I garuntee will see the same 6 man tag for at least another 2weeks on Raw leading up to the PPV. And I used Taker vs Cena as an example and someone actually actually had the nerve to get an attitude over an example of the matches we could see without a brand split.

Some people argue that the top guys will dominate, and the others won't get a look in. I don't agree, and here's why:-

(1) You can extend feuds longer, and instead of having them fight at the next PPV, they could fight in three PPV's time, giving the stories more time to build. Also, it means that you have people fighting each other three or four PPV's in a row so often, and it will allow better matches on Raw.

Thats what I was saying you get better build up without a brand split. You don't have to see the same matches every week

(2) Maybe people have to "earn" their spot. Why should the mid-card guys automatically get a foot in the door? I propose using "Superstars" as a second show (ala "Heat") where superstars have "lesser" feuds, until they have a storyline worthy of PPV, and can step up to the better show. This way, being on "Raw" or "Smackdown" means more, it means you have made it.

Once again you proved my point, So what if its a harder road to success for certain mid-carders to get a shot at a World title. For one not all mid-carders are meant to be World Champion and you also made a good point for Superstars to be for the mid and lower mid carders. Thats what they use it for anyway and thats with a brand split.

(3) There will be a number of retirements in the next few years e.g. Undertaker, Kane, Rey Mysterio, Edge, Jericho and Triple H. The young guys can take their place, so they will get to main-event soon enough.

Your like the only one on here who's seeing eye to eye with what I'm trying to say. I was going to bring these up but I wanted to here everyone elses opinions first. As you said Jericho is taking a break soon, Taker is on his last legs, Kane probably won't win the title anymore after this, Edge always has health issues aswell as Triple H, and Mysterio has no buisness winning or competing for a World title anyway. And for the people who keep saying that the mid-carders want get a push or be lossed in the shuffle look at this. Here are the WWE's main mid-carders

(The Miz, John Morrison, R-Truth, Ted DiBiase, Daniel Bryan, pretty much all of the Nexus, Christian, Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston, Cody Rhodes, Matt Hardy, and MVP.)

Out of all of their mid-carders the only one's who seem more than likely take a leap to the main event scene soon are The Miz, John Morrison, Drew McIntyre and maybe Christian. R-Truth is good but I don't see him ever being World Champ, Ted DiBiase needs a real gimmick before holding the World Title, Daniel Bryan hasn't even held a title yet, other than Wade Barrett none of the Nexus have a chance of being World Champ any time soon, Dolph Ziggler still needs time to grow before being World Champ, Kingston needs a real charcter, Rhodes is good but doesn't have the look, Matt Hardy is out of shape and is pretty much a jobber now, and MVP doesn't even get t.v time. So alot of their mid-carders have time to grow or don't have a chance of being a World Champ anyway it goes. And as I have been saying with the possibility of Jericho, Taker, Kane, HHH, retiring soon along with Edge's health then this opens up 5 spots for some mid-carders to take that next leap to main event status.

Also, WWE SHOULD cut some people. I call them list-cloggers. They aren't really involved in storylines or PPV builds, so why have them? I include the Great Khali, Hornswoggle, Goldust, Primo, Santino Marella (who has become a comedy character, but never has a meaningful feud), Chavo Guerrero (what has he done lately?) and the Bella Twins (who hardly, wrestle and are just there for comedy skits). None of these people sell out arenas, or put bums on seats. Let's keep the ticket-sellers, and "future-endeavoured" those who won't be missed.

So you lose a couple of wrestlers big deal. As I said they'll more than likley lose nothing but lower and mid-card talent who barley gets T.V. time anyway. You can't make every wrestler happy in this buisness.

I hope the brand extension ends soon. The sooner the better.

 

[MrHashasheen]

Also, WWE SHOULD cut some people. I call them list-cloggers. They aren't really involved in storylines or PPV builds, so why have them? I include the Great Khali, Hornswoggle, Goldust, Primo, Santino Marella (who has become a comedy character, but never has a meaningful feud), Chavo Guerrero (what has he done lately?) and the Bella Twins (who hardly, wrestle and are just there for comedy skits). None of these people sell out arenas, or put bums on seats. Let's keep the ticket-sellers, and "future-endeavoured" those who won't be missed.

I agree with all of those with the exceptions of Goldust and Guerrero. Goldust is pretty much behind-the-scenes and rarely does television appearances, while Guerrero could be used in FCW to train newer wrestlers.

 

[daniel bryan mark]

Ending the brand split is a bad idea.

Most of you guys complain about Cena and Triple H hogging the title picture on Raw, while you love Danielson, Bourne, and CM Punk. Without the brand split, Cena and HHH will be on both shows, along with Mysterio, Taker, Kane, Orton, Sheamus, Barrett and Nexus, and the Miz. Danielson, Bourne, and Punk, among others, will be buried under all that talent.

You guys want there to be a tag team division, too. With all the talent stated above and the other midcarders I didn't mention, there will be no room.

 

[TwistofRKO]

Is this legit, or just a thought that popped into your head during a shower?

If so, I like it. Its run its course as two separate brands. There isn't enough talent to justify both belts anymore. The whole thing is growing stale already, losing time for younger talent isn't really true, they'd have SD! to themselves, like WCW used to do. You cant get too emotionally invested as a company when the flagship show is pulling in 3.3s every week. Showcase your main stars on one show, let the other show be what be what it truly is, a B-show, and run with that. Nobody goes to SD! now to see Big Show anyways. When Jeff Hardy left, SD! died. Let it die as a real brand.

The brand split was stupid anyways. The last two drafts were jokes. Wouldn't SD! draft someone like Orton or Cena (non-champ)? Bragging Rights is really stupid, because the talent was all over the place up until the PPV promo period last year, and then they pretend they have brand loyalty? This isn't 2003 Smackdown vs RAW, this is an era with a handful of stars who should all be showcased to give us one very good show rather than two bland ones.

But I'm calling BS on this rumor.

 

[Ellila]

I think this 1 brand thing is not going to happen. its because when there are 2-3 shows WWE gets more ticket's sold and Tickets sold = A s*** load of money. if they would have only one show they would get only 1/3 of the profit they could get