Yes, going live and less competition might not be the “end all be all” for Smackdown becoming the number 1 show in WWE. Does it need to be? Maybe it just needs to be live and needs to be more important. WWE has been so repetitive and predictable on Smackdown because it got away with it. NO MORE! No more times can WWE “phone it in” on Thursday or Friday nights. The pressure is on and WWE needs to come to Tuesdays live and hard. Bring a new look, possibly a new color and a new attitude. Why is NXT so popular? It is DIFFERENT. Smackdown can do some of what NXT does and sprinkle in the “main attractions” to balance out a fine two hours of programming. Who else falls asleep in three hours of RAW? It’s very simple to, that is a fact.
At the end of the day, it might not matter because WWE now has competition in itself. Two live shows, back to back with two identities. Splitting the show could backfire, but it could also make stars that it did in the past. At one time, you had John Cena and Batista rise up the ranks. You had Edge and The Undertaker thrive while RAW relied on Triple H, Randy Orton (at times) and John Cena.
Michael vs. Mauro. Steph vs. Shane. The backstage battles are friendly, but important. Although the brand split was not great at points earlier in the 2000’s, it did create more superstars at a time where The Rock and Stone Cold were slowly exiting. Opportunity to find your next John Cena or Randy Orton is coming upon us. Even if we think we have them already, this is the time to make a drastic change. Kudos for the challenge, just don’t screw it up again.
Can Smackdown trump RAW and their Monday Night history going live on Tuesdays? @JoshIsenberg4 with your opinions!
