The WWE shocked the world this week with the announcement that on July 19 SmackDown is not only going live, but it will also once again be a separate show. The ever so talked about brand split between RAW and SmackDown is now confirmed. This change will inevitably shake the entire WWE to its core. Let’s see what benefits the change could bring!
- More Championships
If SmackDown and RAW split, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship must too. Whether there will be a WWE Champion and a World Heavyweight Champion, or a RAW World Heavyweight Champion and a SmackDown World Heavyweight Champion, there will certainly be two equally prestigious big titles. This will create two main event scenes and two faces of the company.
On a midcard level, the US Championship and the IC Championship will probably be delegated to a show each. However, an addition might be made to one or both brands – a Cruiserweight Championship. The WWE has so many talented smaller guys, why not give them a title to fight for? If the Cruiserweight Championship comes to be but is limited to one show only, it can all be balanced by the addition of a Hardcore title on the other.
As for the Women’s Championship and the Tag Team Championship, they’ll probably end up being defended across both shows. This would create potential for a rivalry between the brands. Which brand is going to get more titles?
With all these possibilities on the card, the WWE will surely get much more exciting when RAW and SmackDown become separate entities.
- More Opportunities
It’s no secret that the WWE has a lot of talent that’s not being used properly. The lower midcard and the jobbers section are unfortunately brimming with great wrestlers.
With the brand split, the indie guys will get more space to breathe. Guys like Neville, Tyler Breeze, Apollo Crews, Darren Young and Zack Ryder will have doors opened for them. The smaller the roster of a show is, the more chances a person gets to step up and deliver. Therefore, many faces we barely ever see on TV will get the exposure they deserve.
More storylines will bring out more stars. That way a call up from NXT won’t sound like a death sentence anymore. The brand split will allow the main roster to accommodate NXT talent more efficiently.
It’s only a shame that Damien Sandow didn’t survive to see the change. He was so charismatic and so over with the fans that he would have undoubtedly made the best out of this new playfield.
- SmackDown Back to Glory
There was a time when SmackDown used to be THE wrestling show of the WWE. RAW was more about talk, drama and acting, while SmackDown was all about quality wrestling. When you think about it, SmackDown used to be what NXT is now.
However, with the brand fusion, SmackDown slowly withered away. In the beginning it was a lot of fun, seeing superstars you’d have never expected on the opposing show. Then, over time, RAW consumed any importance SmackDown had.
Nowadays nothing ever happens on SmackDown. It usually sets up matches for the following RAW or deals with “impromptu” tag team matches, merging a couple of storylines in one to fill the time.
The brand split will change everything. SmackDown will have the chance to redeem itself and become great again. The blue brand will finally come out of the shadow of the red brand and this will, without a doubt, rejuvenate both shows.
- McMahon vs. McMahon
It’s no coincidence that RAW and SmackDown are becoming two separate brands at the same time as Stephanie and Shane are both in power.
The brand split will lead to a McMahon split. It will be Shane vs. Stephanie and RAW vs. SmackDown. Which sibling takes which show is irrelevant. The one thing that matters is that a rivalry between Shane and Stephanie will guarantee an overall better product.
It’s a well known fact that RAW’s the A show and SmackDown’s the B shows. However, a McMahon vs. McMahon war would turn this into a fight between equals. It will be two A shows, clashing. That’s the influence a McMahon can have.
This will be much more than just a brand split because the two shows will be entwined in constant competition. The WWE will be brilliant once again.
What do you think? Comment below with your thoughts, opinions, feedback and anything else that was raised