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

Boston was the louder place Monday night. SDLive had a good crowd that was decent in spots, but overall Raw had the more consistently loud group.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 2: COMMENTARY

Can we just go ahead and completely redo these commentary teams yet? They need to be switched up, but that probably won't happen until after 'Mania if it happens at all. But I have a hard time enjoying either of these teams right now. I do love the tandem of Phillips and Graves, so SDLive gets the W.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 3: MATCHES

Raw had a couple pretty fun matches. Corbin & Elias defeated Balor & Roode in what I thought was a pretty fun tag match, and then the main event saw Rollins & McIntyre go at it with Drew coming out on top. Ziggler/McIntyre and Rollins have been on fire as of late. Especially Seth, so no surprise this was as good as it ended up being.

On SDLive Rusev and Nak teamed up to take out Styles and Jeff Hardy. Asuka defeated Ellsworth in a lumberjack match, Andrade Almas got a win, and then the main event saw a fun tag match. The New Day and Team Hell No beat SAnity and The Bludgeon Brothers. SDLive had the better lineup, and they get the win.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 4: PROMOS

Lashley and Reigns was a DUD to open the show. Just have them fight in the back and not waste time. I did, however, really enjoy the stuff with Angle and Owens regarding Strowman.

I enjoyed MIZTV to start the show. Other than that, not a whole lot happening here either. Paige is awful, and I stand by that. You think with more time, both shows would have better promos?

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 5: STORYLINES

The Rollins & Ziggler/McIntyre storyline is carrying WWE into this PPV alongside Team Hell No. This has been the best set of matches we've seen on regular TV is some time, and I'm glad they've been consisted with irregular finishes like DQ's and so on. Unfortunately, Lashley & Reigns has been a dud on the same show. The Nia and Alexa stuff has been okay, but the looming Ronda Rousey has made it so much better. Not having the Universal Championship being on there is hurting the show I think, but guys like KO & Strowman are working hard to make up for it.

I mentioned above, Team Hell No & The Bludgeon Brothers has been fun just like everything DB & Kane has done. AJ & Rusev is going to be awesome just like Hardy & Nak. All I can complain about here, is just give Asuka the belt already.

The dud that is Lashley & Reigns hurts here.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 6: SCHEDULING / PACING

You know what is going to happen here. Raw drags on for three hours, but SDLive makes a show that is more loaded with its two hour format.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 7: VISUAL PRESENTATION

This topic was hard with nothing substantial really happening that you can put into this category. However, the stuff with all the tag teams on SmackDown was pretty fun. Seeing all those guys in the same ring is interesting. Kane & Eric Young is something you thought would be impossible in a WWE ring.

WINNER: SmackDown

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

Nada.

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


SmackDown has been on fire lately. When you have AJ, Rusev, Team Hell No, and many others clicking on all cylinders then things are going to go well for you. They win 5-2, and I think they may keep trending upwards depending on what happens Sunday.