Will bringing back the idea of having separate rosters and brand specific ppv's be a good or bad idea?

Question

So, I saw this article posted on WWE about the current GM situation for Smackdown and I was thinking to myself, "What's the point of even having a GM for both shows when all of the wrestlers just wrestle on both nowadays anyway?". I mean, they might as well just make AJ the GM of both Raw and Smackdown since it won't matter who is running Smackdown anyway.

Then it got me thinking, would it be best if they went back to having separate brands and brand specific PPVs as well as making specific announce teams for both Raw and Smackdown? I used to love when Raw and Smackdown would have feuds and rivalries with each other at PPVs like Survivor Series and I also like how each show seemed different. Different announce teams and story lines and everything. 

I remember MitB this year and how the briefcases had blue for Smackdown and red for Raw. What's the point of that if the world champs perform on both shows anyway? They might as well have just made them look like regular brief cases. I remember a few years ago when a wrestler, if he won money in the bank, could go to either brand and cash in and all of a sudden be a part of that particular brand. Like I remember Edge was on Raw one time and cashed in on Smackdown and all of a sudden, became a Smackdown superstar.

Do you think they ever will go back to having separate brands and all that. I heard in a commercial that John Laurinitis is supposed to fufill contract obligations or some BS like that and return for a match. Maybe this is setting up for a brand split again? Maybe he'll come back and have a bunch of wrestlers help him win the match and then it get's revealed that he is the GM of Smackdown and they are going to stop the whole Raw Super show idea and have two separate brands. Maybe they split up the announce teams and Cole and Lawler do Raw while Booker and Matthews do Smackdown and Matthews can be the heel announcer for that show. With brand specific PPVs, they now can make these rivalries mean something and have them last a bit longer and have several rivalries for both shows rather than just carry them in between  each show. 

What do you guys think, should they go back to splitting up the brands or is it fine how it is now?

John R · Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Although Smackdown is a great show, it lacks starpower, which RAW constantly borrows and ultimately takes away, such as Bryan and Kane in the past. 

Back then, you would have Undertaker, Edge, Triple H sometimes, Batista, CM Punk, Kane sometimes in Smackdown. This holds alot of star power, and created interesting feuds. RAW wasn't completely overshadowed, they had guys like HBK, John Cena, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, and Triple H. There was always a balance system, so one show doesn't hold too much starpower, and so the shows are always viewed within the same numbers. With brand feuds, this holds a pride and glory for a wrestlers brand home, which leads to interesting feuds for pay per views such as Wrestlemania and Survivor Series.

It is not fine how it is now. If you noticed, Smackdown main events consists of Sheamus, Orton, and other main eventers in Smackdown. These same guys OPEN THE DAMN SHOW FOR RAW, which means it is a minor event for RAW, and that a mid card event in RAW is about as worthy or important than a MAIN EVENT IN SMACKDOWN. 

Smackdown is full of Raw promos and Raw rebounds, which nobody gives two shits about. I certainly don't, because I watch RAW and don't need a fking reminder every now and then. The most sad thing is some feuds which are exclusively for RAW such as Lesnar vs Triple H, and Aj vs Punk vs Bryan will never have a major promo in Smackdown live in the show, and is only advertised in Smackdown's running time, which is wasteful.

I wasn't around for the beginning of this ultra gay brand extension or whatever the hell they call it, but it won't help Smackdown gain ratings. When did we ever see a Smackdown rebound on RAW?

Don't get me wrong though, Smackdown is a GREAT show, better than RAW I personally believe. What I don't like is that RAW uses Smackdown to gain ratings for itself. It is kind of like stealing if you ask me.

chanda · Answer

Excellent query, but like you stated...Most of the "recognized" WCW guys are being used in TNA or have moved away from wrestling. Seem at the 3rd ECW ONS exhibit, I suppose it has all of 3 - 5 guys that even have anything to do with ECW in any respect. Unhappy, after the 1st ONS used to be so great.

Will bringing back the idea of having separate rosters and brand specific ppv's be a good or bad idea?

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