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Post by marino13 on May 7, 2019 9:23:50 GMT -5
I think it's time to end the brand split. Rumor is that Fox now wants talent & storylines from RAW to appear on SD also. And supposedly USA wasn't happy about Roman leaving for another network. If all this is true, and since they're doing this wild card rule to compensate both networks and to help ratings, I say just end the split once and for all.
I'd put all the talent on both shows. Merge the championships at a major PPV like SummerSlam. Repackage and re-purpose talent to fill gaps. And then merge your writing teams to focus on better cohesive storytelling. This way, both networks are happy. Fans will have all the major names on each show. Both men & women tag divisions and the RAW Women's division would benefit immensely. And for the first time in a long time, WWE wouldn't be spread too thin.
Then I say send some talent down to beef up NXT. Apollo, Gable, Young, Alexander, Benjamin, Cross, Ali, Gulak, and a few others could help NXT far more than they could help the main roster at this point. Then maybe add a second hour to NXT. And with all that, anyone that wants out, let em go. If The Club, Revival, Harper, & Banks wants to go, so be it. If WWE puts all their eggs into one basket, they won't need them much anyway.
Just my two cents.
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Post by CM Poor on May 7, 2019 9:30:26 GMT -5
I agree, but I don't see it happening. As much as I feel AEW is being given too much credit, too early on in the game, their existence alone, alongside the continued operation of avenues like Impact and ROH, is all the reason WWE needs to maintain the stranglehold on its roster. I feel like everything you described would be to the utmost benefit of the end result product, but it would come at the cost of necessary releases in large quantities, which I just can't see them willing to absorb, given the prospect of potential competition.
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Post by kennyw86v2 on May 7, 2019 10:06:51 GMT -5
Merging the titles would do nothing good for anyone.
With only 1 major title, Kofi never gets his moment.
With only 1 womens title, nobody but Charlotte or Ronda is ever gonna be champ. This flavor of the month Becky crap isnt gonna last long.
Then we'd see half the roster disappear completely. Same people on raw and sd every week. Blah.
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Post by Triple S: POOR on May 7, 2019 10:16:17 GMT -5
There’s too much talent to end the split. Not mention ending the brand split won’t help with the downright awful booking and writing on the shows.
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Post by Lorenzo Alcazar on May 7, 2019 11:45:29 GMT -5
The brand split has been in my opinion a complete failure. The quality of the product has gone down considerably, I feel like we're in the second New Generation era without the goofy characters. I missed the initial split when I wasn't watching from 1997-2011, but I saw a lot of people on these forums clamoring to bring the split back and I'd very much like to give each of those people a noogie, probably same people in Mattel screaming for a Bunny figure. I keep writing/deleting/re-writing/deleting and I can't think of anything positive, everything I end up writing is just how negative I view the current product and strays from the topic of the split. I'll just leave it at that I hate the split and I see no redeeming qualities of it. Lorenzo Alcazar can testify with how much I complain and come off so negative in our texts, I feel bad, but I have trouble being positive about something I was once so passionate about. I feel like I'm stuck in a habit with watching and its the only reason why I do. It's true. The shows are really hard to watch. 2-3 hours of bad segments for maybe 1 or 2 good matches. Really, the best thing going on in WWE right now:
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Post by keegandimitrijevic01 on May 7, 2019 11:46:58 GMT -5
There's so much talent for one show. That's the problem. Just re-do the brand split. They need it
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Post by rkfastmo on May 7, 2019 11:48:25 GMT -5
The split was dissolving once the McMahons started running everything with no designated GM's and Charlotte inexplicably showed up on Raw to challenge Ronda. By October we will have the SuperShows back at best.
But deep down we all know the real reason the split is doomed: Vince's raging desire to see Roman Reigns holding both World Championships.
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WMWanimations
Main Eventer
Go Leafs Go
Joined on: Jul 14, 2009 12:15:47 GMT -5
Posts: 1,221
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Post by WMWanimations on May 7, 2019 12:10:27 GMT -5
Merging the titles is a horrible idea. With the largest roster they've had in years, they need two separate championships to feud over.
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Post by greenjack1992 on May 7, 2019 12:14:22 GMT -5
No.
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Post by MKSavage on May 7, 2019 12:48:44 GMT -5
Merging the titles is a horrible idea. With the largest roster they've had in years, they need two separate championships to feud over. Really, the only merging that would happen would be the Universal and WWE title and the Raw and Smackdown tag titles. To me, and this is probably because I grew up in an era that only had one world champion, if you have to World Champions you really don't have A world champion. Hard to say that you are the best, as either the WWE Champion or the Universal Champion, when there is another guy out their with a world championship belt. They could merge the world titles, move some of the guys who aren't world title material down to the second tier titles (US Title and IC Title). You could also add another title to the mix that isn't a the World Title (or top belt) like the old T.V. title that WCW us to have which was defended every time there was a T.V. show. Also merge the Tag Team Titles for the same reason as the world title, their really aren't that many great tag teams that you need two belts. Plus you also have the Women's tag team titles. So that would leave you with the following: Men's WWE World Title Women's WWE World Title Intercontinental Title United State Championship Television Championship Men's Tag Team Championship Women's Tag Team Championship Currently, WWE has 9 championships on Smackdown and Raw, with this you would have 7 titles, so you're not really losing much. Plus, if the women's roster continues to grow they can add a mid card title for them like the IC or US or TV championship.
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Post by Jim Cornette’s Wendy’s Order🍔 on May 7, 2019 13:08:44 GMT -5
Keep the brand spilt. Just this week alone we've already seen why we need two shows with different rosters. On Raw, we have Roman F'n reigns taking up raw tv time that someone in the actual raw roster could have been used in and now he's going to get tv time on smackdown tonight. Same for Kofi and Daniel, they arnt exempt from this either. Keep the guys on their brand so everyone can get some tv time in some shape of form.
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Post by k5 on May 7, 2019 13:30:19 GMT -5
i think it is inevitable, but i don't think it's needed just yet. and as others said, with aew and the indies heating up, wwe needs to keep a lockdown with as much potential young talent as possible if they want to keep the massive foothold they currently have on the industry.
i also appreciate how much talent HAS to be used currently. people like sami zayn etc may suffer the most at the end of the draft.
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Post by Edge618 on May 7, 2019 14:14:15 GMT -5
The only successful brand split they ever had was the first, whenever the rosters were truly split. Smackdown and Raw were truly different entity's. Until they follow that formula again, brand split will never work because people can't buy in to the point of a split with people popping up on both shows.
The original brand split held weight because rarely a star would appear on the other show, and if he did it was a big deal. Commentators losing their minds, GM losing their mind, and a big angle took place.
Can't believe this made up "wild card rule" is best they can come up with.
That's what's piss poor too is their reasoning. I'd buy Vince coming out and saying "Roman Reigns(and whoever else) has signed a co-brand contract to be on both Raw and Smackdown. This doubles the work load and explains why other lower card stars may only want to work one show until theyre prepared".
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Post by IRS on May 7, 2019 14:56:26 GMT -5
There's so much talent for one show. That's the problem. Just re-do the brand split. They need it As someone who seems to be for the brand split, I want to ask a few things to someone to counter my views. What do you enjoy about the last three years since they reintroduced it? What do you feel they've done right? Why do you feel its a good decision to keep it going? As another person in favor of it, I feel it simply gives them a chance to showcase more talent. You would never have seen AJ hold the WWE Title for a year with only one title and Roman/Brock around. And most likely wouldn't see Hawkins/Ryder or Slater/Rhyno win the tag titles with only one set of champions. Prior to the brand split, SD was literally relegated to the exact same rematches from RAW and RAW recaps. SD's run from the beginning of the brand split until the first Shakeup was arguably the most consistently entertaining TV WWE has put on in years. Until they destroyed the brand's roster to beef up RAW, because Chuck forbid that anything receive praise over the 'A show'. And I don't think any of it really matters anymore, because most of the main roster is just a dumpster fire right now. Vince is just throwing crap at the wall hoping it will stick, but it just makes it worse every week.
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Post by PJ on May 7, 2019 15:22:41 GMT -5
Merging the titles is a horrible idea. With the largest roster they've had in years, they need two separate championships to feud over. Really, the only merging that would happen would be the Universal and WWE title and the Raw and Smackdown tag titles. To me, and this is probably because I grew up in an era that only had one world champion, if you have to World Champions you really don't have A world champion. Hard to say that you are the best, as either the WWE Champion or the Universal Champion, when there is another guy out their with a world championship belt. They could merge the world titles, move some of the guys who aren't world title material down to the second tier titles (US Title and IC Title). You could also add another title to the mix that isn't a the World Title (or top belt) like the old T.V. title that WCW us to have which was defended every time there was a T.V. show. Also merge the Tag Team Titles for the same reason as the world title, their really aren't that many great tag teams that you need two belts. Plus you also have the Women's tag team titles. So that would leave you with the following: Men's WWE World Title Women's WWE World Title Intercontinental Title United State Championship Television Championship Men's Tag Team Championship Women's Tag Team Championship Currently, WWE has 9 championships on Smackdown and Raw, with this you would have 7 titles, so you're not really losing much. Plus, if the women's roster continues to grow they can add a mid card title for them like the IC or US or TV championship. They don’t even need to merge the Universal and WWE title. Just switch the Universal Championship back to the World Championship. The only titles they would really need to merge are the tag titles. For the woman just turn one of the two main titles into a Woman’s Intercontinental Championship.
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Post by theoutlaw1999 on May 7, 2019 15:38:24 GMT -5
Compared to the original split this one has been an epic fail. You have 2 poor shows and the same matches each and every week. I admit Smackdown was good in 2016 but from the first shakeup it's been a mess. I would also say that the company was much better before the split returned. D Bryan Vs The Authority, the break up of The Shield and the rise of Seth Rollins were great storylines that had me hooked but we don't even get stuff like this anymore.
Another huge issue with the split is that it seems the WWE have lost interest in it. During the original one both rosters were strictly separated until around 2009 but we are only 3 years into this one and Raw vs Smackdown matches just seem to be common.
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Post by MKSavage on May 7, 2019 16:13:47 GMT -5
Really, the only merging that would happen would be the Universal and WWE title and the Raw and Smackdown tag titles. To me, and this is probably because I grew up in an era that only had one world champion, if you have to World Champions you really don't have A world champion. Hard to say that you are the best, as either the WWE Champion or the Universal Champion, when there is another guy out their with a world championship belt. They could merge the world titles, move some of the guys who aren't world title material down to the second tier titles (US Title and IC Title). You could also add another title to the mix that isn't a the World Title (or top belt) like the old T.V. title that WCW us to have which was defended every time there was a T.V. show. Also merge the Tag Team Titles for the same reason as the world title, their really aren't that many great tag teams that you need two belts. Plus you also have the Women's tag team titles. So that would leave you with the following: Men's WWE World Title Women's WWE World Title Intercontinental Title United State Championship Television Championship Men's Tag Team Championship Women's Tag Team Championship Currently, WWE has 9 championships on Smackdown and Raw, with this you would have 7 titles, so you're not really losing much. Plus, if the women's roster continues to grow they can add a mid card title for them like the IC or US or TV championship. They don’t even need to merge the Universal and WWE title. Just switch the Universal Championship back to the World Championship. The only titles they would really need to merge are the tag titles. For the woman just turn one of the two main titles into a Woman’s Intercontinental Championship. That is a route they can go, but that still gives you two "world champions" in one company. I still like the old way, having one world champion, one top guy that everyone is chasing. Having two world champions to me still says you have no world champion. But, that's just me.
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Post by rowdy1971 on May 7, 2019 16:25:29 GMT -5
lol they kinda did last night from what I read. I'm sure it'll stay "two brands" but these guys are just going to go back and forth. Just for nothing but pride the WWE won't end the so-called split. They won't admit it as another failure.
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Post by IRS on May 7, 2019 16:50:25 GMT -5
As another person in favor of it, I feel it simply gives them a chance to showcase more talent. You would never have seen AJ hold the WWE Title for a year with only one title and Roman/Brock around. And most likely wouldn't see Hawkins/Ryder or Slater/Rhyno win the tag titles with only one set of champions. Prior to the brand split, SD was literally relegated to the exact same rematches from RAW and RAW recaps. SD's run from the beginning of the brand split until the first Shakeup was arguably the most consistently entertaining TV WWE has put on in years. Until they destroyed the brand's roster to beef up RAW, because Chuck forbid that anything receive praise over the 'A show'. And I don't think any of it really matters anymore, because most of the main roster is just a dumpster fire right now. Vince is just throwing crap at the wall hoping it will stick, but it just makes it worse every week. I both do and don't understand the argument that it gives a chance to showcase more talent. Like I get it, but at the same time I don't. Its still five hours a week between Raw & Smackdown, and they'll still be showing the same people. The only difference is without the brand split they won't be relegated to the small pool of talent per show. Like there's what, four tag teams per show they ever use? Feels more like less. So imagine with no brand split a team will go from three choices to seven. They're still going to show the same talent, just gives them more opportunity to have something different. Last night you could of had The B-Team take the fall to the Viking War Experience instead of making your champs look weak. Without the split there is more opportunity for more variety. Its not like the brand split showcases more talent, when was the last time you saw Viktor on Raw? It was Jan. 21. So in the last four months he hasn't been on Raw, he's been on Main Event mostly, I don't know how not having the brand split would help? They're still going to show who they are going to show, it just opens the door for more feuds or something more random.
Take last nights Raw & last weeks Smackdown -
You're the booker, those are your only matches and only talent you can use for 1 week's worth of television, five hours of content. You could probably rearrange the matches to have better quality, like Rick O'Shea vs. Prince Devitt sounds pretty fun. I didn't add or remove anyone I just shuffled the deck a bit. Same length of match, same everything, just more opportunity for something more worth while.
Now the flipside to that, would Kofi had been champ? That's debatable. He got over in a feud with Daniel Bryan, not because he's on Smackdown only. That feud brought it out, you could have that feud on either show, makes no difference.
I think largely what it comes down to is the writing and the taboo rule that WWE hates quality over quantity. While I'm on my soap box, there are too many titles. WWE / Universal should be one and your main, United States / Intercontinental should be one and your secondary, Raw tag / Smackdown tag should be one and your only tag. I don't feel that everyone needs a title to show they're good or popular, not feeling stale and burnt out will do that. Sure AJ was champ for a year, and the most memorable thing for that run, for me, was that he got the belt off Jinder. Change my mind that the split showcases more talent.
Oh, I fully agree that WWE still didn't utilize the rosters to their full potential with the brand split. However, like you said yourself, they're still just going to use the same talent every week - so instead of a few different guys having some chance to get some TV time with the brand split, their chances will be absolutely obliterated without it. Sure, they could've had B-Team put over Viking Raiders if they were on RAW, too - but they wouldn't. Because Vince doesn't consistently utilize jobbers, other than for someone freshly debuting. I recall a period of about 4 months straight during 2013 where almost every single RAW and SD featured some variation of The Usos vs. The Wyatts and The Shield vs. Bryan/Hell No. And it seemed like any other TV time was taken up by 5 or 6 of the same guys every week. There's a reason so many people were begging to get the brand split back during that period, because reuniniting the rosters did nothing anymore exciting. At the end of the day, all of it comes down to the booking; brand split or not. If WWE were able to successfully put together some kind of quality product at all, it wouldn't be an issue. There's no reason to have a roster this deep and barely pay attention to half of it. Or not be able to come up with a single fresh storyline that hasn't been recycled a thousand times. It's all a mess, and I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel until Vince is gone. As it stands now, the brand split is bound for failure, and so is the new Raw Supershow when that happens.
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Post by Chip on May 7, 2019 18:45:33 GMT -5
there is ZERO chance that USA was "upset about Roman leaving"
this company DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND ROMAN REIGNS, and he doesn't bring in these massive ratings.
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