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

I always enjoy when the shows are in the same arena and city. It shows you which one has the better draw, and which one resonates more with the fans. Raw is definitely getting more heat, interest, and reaction so they get the W.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 2: COMMENTARY

Michael Cole was out this week, and replaced by Tom Phillips. With Cole being out of town for his son's wedding both crews were manned by Phillips and Graves which is my current favorite pair. Each had a different third wheel, but I still think Raw had the better crew.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 3: MATCHES

SmackDown just doesn't have high profile matches anymore. There was a time when we were seeing Styles and Cena, but now we have Orton and Aiden English? I feel like Roode and Kanellis should be a much bigger deal, but damn Kanellis just isn't resonating or we just don't care. He should be a much bigger deal.

Strowman and Rollins was fun, and seeing Strowman beat big names is best for business. I'll go on the record saying that Elias has a big time future in the WWE, and Roman and Miz had a cool match for the most part but I'm tired of the DQ cop-outs for matches.

All-in-all Raw had better matches, but SmackDown just needed matches of note in general. I hated that neither show had a legit main event and ended in a promo and a brawl respectively.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 4: PROMOS

SmackDown had three promos. They had one with Shinsuke to start out the show, and it just wasn't good. For whatever reason, they don't play to his promo strengths like they did in NXT. The second was Shane-O-Mac adding the Falls Count Anywhere stip to the Hell in a Cell match. Which part of me finds ironic since they can't really go anywhere being in the cell.. Third wasn't really a promo, but a brawl between Shane and KO throughout the arena that was really well done.

Raw was highlighted by Enzo Amore closing the show with the mic. Which I hate that. I like closing with the matches, but if anyone is going to talk us out it should be Enzo. He cut a heel promo that was very well done running through the 205 Live crew. He is a truly a master on a microphone, and his one promo destroys the main three SD promos I highlighted above.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 5: STORYLINES

Shinsuke & Jinder, KO & Shane, AJ & Baron.. That's the three main storylines from SD Live, and I'm interested in them all to small extent. KO & Shane has been done very very well, but Shinsuke & Jinder has really fallen flat. Shinsukes inability to cut a promo is hurting it, and Jinders repetitive promo style isn't helping. Oh! Can't forget about New Day & The Usos. I'm really enjoying what these guys are doing here. The tag division across all wrestling has been wonderful lately.

Raw has a champion that isn't there(which I hate), but others have held things up. I love Seth and Dean as champs and mixing with The Bar is great. The Miz is the perfect IC Champ and his little feud with Reigns could be really good too. Braun Strowman is what is getting my attention. He is the MVP for the entire WWE so far. Everything he touches is gold. WHat about that Enzo Amore with that heel touch? I like it. Raw is heating it all up for the W.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 6: SCHEDULING / PACING

SmackDown has the better scheduling and pacing still.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 7: VISUAL PRESENTATION

In this category, I've changed things up. It isn't about being physically different because the sets and the rings are the exact same. Now I go off what I find was visually appealing to me, and Braun Strowman running guys over makes all the difference.

WINNER: Raw

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

Nothing.

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


SmackDown just hasn't been good lately. Not in the slightest. They need someone new on top, which will come when Shinsuke wins at HiaC. But I still don't believe Shinsuke helps too much. Bobby Roode should be next in line if it isn't John Cena or AJ Styles & Shinsuke at WrestleMania. Raw is using all their stars to their potential, and it is showing with the interest it is drawing. Raw right now is just plainly better, and thats all there is to it. Putting Jinder down in the midcard, and maybe making him US Champ like they did with Rusev may help out a lot more. He had a good run as champ, but it is time for a change.