Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of Battle of the Brands from Smark Out Moment, where we compare this week's episodes of Raw and SmackDown and determine which one of the two was the better show.

BATTLE OF THE BRANDS:

RAW vs. SMACKDOWN

FACTOR 1: CROWD

Both shows were in Cali this week with Raw being in the WWE favorite Staples Center. Staples Center is usually on fire especially with a Brock Lesnar appearance, and seeing him get choked out definitely got them ready for Great Balls of Fire(worst PPV name EVER). So, in terms of crowd, Raw gets the win.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 2: COMMENTARY

I really enjoy the SmackDown commentary group. Byron and JBL already have a history together from their Raw days, but adding in Tom Phillips has been a home run. I love the guy and he is the future of the company at this position and I think they all know it. I love that Raw has Corey Graves getting more and more involved with storylines like Big Cass and Enzo, but they're third wheel being either Booker T or the eventual David Otunga is going to be a little weak in my opinion. SmackDown wins.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 3: MATCHES

All three main television shows(Raw, SD Live, and NXT) were all main evented by women. Raw had a women's #1 contender gauntlet match, SD Live had another Women's Money in the Bank ladder match, and NXT had a last woman standing match with Asuke and Nikki Cross. The NXT match won by far, and I would choose the ladder match over the gauntlet match. Honestly, other than those matches Raw and SmackDown were both rather weak in my opinion. Raw had a good six man tag with Finn & The Hardy's taking on Elias Sampson joined by Cesaro & Sheamus. SmackDown had a Women's Championship match that lasted 15 seconds along with Baron Corbin taking on Sami Zayn again. So, thanks to Baron and Sami, SmackDown gets the win.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 4: PROMOS

The only thing I have to say here is.. Lavar Ball. WOW. I understand with WWE being in Laker country that they want their newest star to be involved with pop culture, but man this was bad. Bad in the best way. It was weird how they somehow had the Ball family tie into Miz vs. Ambrose, but they did it. It was hilariously awful. We go from hilariously awful to a good promo from Enzo & Cass. They kind of milked the two being "brothers" but Cass is getting great heat and involving Corey Graves in the smallest way is a good addition. Paul Heyman cut a good promo only to be followed by a good segment where they build Samoa Joe to be Lesnars toughest test to date with a coquina clutch that knocks him out.

SmackDown had a good promo to start the show with Daniel Bryan, and then with Randy Orton later on in the show. But even with all of that I think Raw did a much better job.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 5: STORYLINES

This is where things get fun for me. I love certain storylines on both shows. The main event on Raw is money. I've been saying since Samoa Joe was introduced to NXT that he and Brock Lesnar on a collision course that is going to be fantastic, and so far they've proved me right. They've done it 100% the right way making Joe and Coquina Clutch look like a true threat to Lesnar which hasn't happened since an aging Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell. The Miz and Dean Ambrose desperately need a change of scenery away from one another even though it still isn't a bad feud. The Raw women's scene has seemed watered down to me and I am far from disappointed with how they've handled Bayley in recent months. Oh yeah, Braun Strowman is back and his awesome feud with Reigns can finally continue.

SmackDown still has Jinder and Randy at the top, which is okay but I just know this is going to lead to Randy Orton vs. John Cena at SummerSlam because I just don't see WWE pulling the trigger on Jinder headlining SummerSlam with anybody. And I am pretty excited about that Punjabi Prison match. I know Baron waits in the background with his Money in the Bank briefcase, but he seems to be in line for a feud with Shinsuke Nakamura. Which the best thing about that is that after Shinsuke is done with this I think he is in line for a U.S. Championship chance. Which is currently held by Kevin Owens and I hope to be facing AJ Styles at Battleground. There is a battle royal to see who faces KO next week, but I think the obvious choice is AJ. The SmackDown tag team scene is doing okay too with The Usos up top, but with no clear challengers. Also, I'm ready to see some new faces in the Women's Championship picture, and it seems that new face is Carmella. Which, I'm not totally on board yet, but they have some time to prove me right!

All in all, with Strowman & Reigns starting up again, and Joe vs. Lesnar being a main event I have to go with Monday Night Raw.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 6: SCHEDULING / PACING

I didn't get the chance to watch the shows live this week, so I watched them on Hulu. That gives me how long the shows run without commercials in it. Raw lasted one hour and forty minutes without commercials in what is regularly a three hour show. SmackDown lasted an hour and a half in what is normally a two hour show. Big difference there.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 7: VISUAL PRESENTATION

This section is so difficult to assign a winner to because neither show is really different from the other anymore. But on Raw they have better transitions, less awkward periods, and just an overall better presentations.

WINNER: Raw

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

I so desperately want to take a point from Raw for the Lavar Ball thing.. But honestly it made me laugh and that counts for something.

POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+0 / -0) / SmackDown (+0 / -0)


With Joe and Lesnar along with Strowman and Reigns just tops everything for me. Thats two money feuds that are just something of a dream for me at this point. I love the Punjabi Prison stuff, and Baron being Mr. Money in the Bank but I can't get past the two Raw main events. They get the 4-3 win this week.