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

Neither show was over-the-top great, and that means neither crowd was either. When the matches were good, which Raw had a few, the Raw crowd was into it. For that, they get the win here.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 2: COMMENTARY

I am struggling more and more to see any distinct differences in these commentary teams. You can tell they have outlines as commentators since both shows sound so similar. If I am goin strictly off personnel, it's Raw.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 3: MATCHES

The only important matches on SD Live were Lana beating Billy Kay for a spot at the MitB.. Yes, Lana is in a ladder match.. The Good Brothers got the win to earn a tag title shot at Money in the Bank. And the main event was fun with Jeff Hardy and Daniel Bryan going one on one with Bryan getting the win.

Elias vs. Bobby Roode with Elias winning, Ziggler vs. Gable with Ziggler winning, Natty getting a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match, and Strowman beating Finn in the main event headline Raw. All in all, Raw had the better line up of matches.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 4: PROMOS

When it comes to promos, it was yet another rough week. Sami and Bobby Lashleys "sisters" (dudes dressed as women) was awful. Like, really bad. I knew it would be, and it was awesome because it was so awful. Then, a contract signing. Remember Ronda Rousey? Who wasn't going to treated any differently than the other women? Will she got a title shot for no reason. Her and Nia Jax contract signing was as boring as it sounds.

Personally I enjoyed MizTV with New Day and throwing pancakes. And Shinsuke Nakamura telling AJ that the stipulation at MitB is a pillow fight was funny to me as well. I loved both of these promos, and for that I'm giving SD Live the W.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 5: STORYLINES

I don't care about Roman vs. Jinder. Not yet anyway, and hopefully that changes. I'm digging Finn and Strowman right now too, and think it is some of Strowman's best work. Nia and Rousey just doesn't appeal to me at all. This whole thing with Sami and Lashley is some of the most ridiculous stuff I've seen in a long time.

This Last Man Standing stuff with Shinsuke and AJ is exactly what it needed, and I cannot be more excited for that. Hopefully they can go all out in this match. I am loving the SD Live tag division. Bludgeon Brothers, Usos, and New Day is a great three way at the top of the division. The Miz has been having his best run over the last couple years. Oh yeah, and Daniel Bryan is on there too and everything he touches is gold.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 6: SCHEDULING / PACING

SD Live is still running away with this category.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 7: VISUAL PRESENTATION

All I could think about watching the main event for SD Live was what if this was in 2010? Daniel Bryan vs. prime time Jeff Hardy would have been awesome, but this match will do. I loved it.

WINNER: SmackDown

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

I am taking away a full point for that Sami Zayn & Bobby Lashley's "sisters" segment. Awful.

POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+0 / -1) / SmackDown (+0 / -0)


SmackDown wins with a 4-2 tally, and the whole Last Man Standing announcement made me a whole lot more excited for MitB. We'll see if SD Live can start a winning streak.