Make the brands unique!

[chessarmy]

Is it just me, or do the Smackdown!/RAW brands feel like the exact same shows? Sure, Smackdown! usually has more wrestling, but all in all its pretty much the same show as RAW. I miss the good ol' days when WWE used to actually make the brands unique, back when the brand extention actually meant something.

They need to go back to the old formula of RAW having the women, and Smackdown! having the Cruiserweights. They need to work on making BOTH shows "can't miss", instead of this "RAW is the A show, and Smackdown! is the B show" crap. Both need to be treated with the same importance, they need to be different from each other, and the result will lead to higher ratings and more money for Vince.

Thoughts?

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

First off, you start by complaining about the brand extension. With the exception of the tag champions, and the two random appearances of Batista and CM Punk, the brand extension has been perfect the entire year since the draft. Seriously, this is something you shouldn't be complaining about.

Secondly, I don't see how WWE is treating Smackdown as a B show. Sure, we KNOW it is, but you wouldn't know it by booking.

And finally, I don't see how the shows are anything alike. You say Smackdown has more wrestling...that is a difference alone from the comedy/guest host filled Raw.

 

[-TJ-]

Don't forget Raw's 5 minute main events.

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

Yeah I mean, if these was talking about how the product needs improvement, then by all means, let's talk about that, because that's arguable, but I don't see how much more Raw can be different from Smackdown. The single fact that Smackdown is week in and week out wrestling heavy is more than enough to be set apart. We add to that the presence of unique characters like CM Punk, Chris Jericho and Undertaker when compared to let's say DX or Miz, and how Matt Striker pwns any commentator alive, and that's enough to set both brands apart.

BTW, if by any means Smackdown came out looking better when talking about the differences, well, that's because it is

 

[xtremebadass]

If WWE brings back the cruiserweights I think I will throw up, unless it was as good as the CW's in 2003. That was great TV. Matt Hardy V1...Mysterio...Kidman...Chavo....DUDE! That was good wrestling.

 

[Mat Awesome]

Raw should have always kept the attitude it had while it was Raw is War.
As for Smackdown, Smackdown should be cruiserweights and tag teams.
For NXT/ECW, drop the NXT, get some tables and chairs, and beat th crap out of eachother.
Now that is how the brands should be.

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

For NXT/ECW, drop the NXT, get some tables and chairs, and beat th crap out of eachother.

And let the wrestlers kill each other because they would have to do that every week.

 

[Mat Awesome]

And let the wrestlers kill each other because they would have to do that every week.

Ok not all the time, but at least make it so there is that feeling of intensity while you are watching. Don't make it so its place for rookies because that obviously fails alot. Look at Swagger and Evan Bourne.

 

[The Rated R CMStar]

Look at CM Punk and Kofi Kingston. Look at John Morrison and The Miz. Besides, Swagger and Bourne were built perfectly in ECW. It was Raw who raped them

 

[seX-Power]

Bourne wasn't built that well on ECW tbh. It wasn't booking that got him over, it was his own skill.

 

[Montana]

Actually i thought Bourne was more over on ECW and when he first got to Raw (not for long) before his injury. Now they haven't done much with him.


As for making the brands more unique, i think thats the great idea in concept. Give one brand the Tag titles say, and put more emphasis on that show. All tag teams go here. Make the titles means something, rather than just giving it to 2 main eventers so they can be on both shows. I like the cruiser weight idea, but the WWE has to run with it. Can't just throw a title out there, which is what they did for the most part. I think the WWE tried this strategy slightly before with Raw having more entertainment and SD having more wrestling, and it didn't work. They realized you needed a combo of each, and i think that's what we have now. But again, i concur with CMS, all WWE products could use improvement. I still think that lies with character development, and fueds at this point. The "hot" fueds just aren't there in my opinion. (True of all wrestling in 2009 imo)

 

[noumenon]

Gonna have to agree with CMS on this one. Smackdown and RAW are completely different animals as is. There are plenty of differences between the two shows. And I fail to see how adding Diva wrestling solely to RAW and Cruiserweights to Smackdown would differentiate the brands and further. If anything, both of those things would hurt both shows. A) Who the fuck wants to watch the Divas wrestle? With the exception of maybe 3 of them it's a painful affair. B) The cruiserweight division was never anything more than a vessel to further separate the smaller guys and isolate them on the roster.

I think anyone who watches even one episode of either show could point out the differences almost immediately.
RAW's awful comedy and celebrity themed shows are enough to set it apart and below just about anything else. RAW is a ratings whore at the moment and instead of actually trying to book a decent show they settle for B and C list celebrities to draw in the ratings. Wrestling? psssht...what's that?

 

[maty619]

Smackdown is so much better than raw imo, with the wrestling actually being important it makes the shows more exciting imo and i, personally look forward to smackdown more than raw. I like the idea of having the cruiserweight title back, perhaps they bring it back in a dark match at wm, it could be the second title for nxt (asuming they have it as a proper brand that gets people drafted to it).