WWE Monday Night Raw - April 29, 2019 - Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY
WWE SmackDown - April 30, 2019 – Schottenstein Center in Columbus, OH
BATTLE OF THE BRANDS:
RAW vs. SMACKDOWN
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
Raw = Rey Mysterio vs. Samoa Joe was so awkward. Actually, damn near all the matches were, except the opener.
SmackDown = Woof...SmackDown wasn't all that much better, with the jobber tag team match and the handicap match, but at least it had Becky Lynch vs. Bayley and the Ali/Balor vs. Orton/Andrade match.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
Raw = Why was so much of Raw feeling like people didn't quite know what to do, even when it came to the promos? Sami Zayn's was good, but there were 3 or 4 on Raw that really needed to have the plug pulled as they were just droning like they were on autopilot and didn't have a clue what lines went where. That women's MITB one in particular...woof.
SmackDown = This was not a good showcase of great promos. However, people didn't screw up as awkwardly as they did on Raw, so the blue brand wins by default.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
Raw = So Mysterio and Joe is just trying to go back in time to WrestleMania and do what they weren't able to do? The Usos are in a feud with The Revival over a whole "ha, you're gay" type thing? The Miz and Shane McMahon are still just keeping their storyline going as "it hasn't ended yet" essentially? How lame is all this?
SmackDown = Roman Reigns is still locked in with Elias and Shane McMahon, which is interesting, as The Miz is still with Shane McMahon. I'm curious. The Hardy Boyz relinquishing their titles and putting over Lars Sullivan as the culprit was a good decision.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
Both of these were fine. Nothing special. I think it's annoying to start and end both shows with promo segments, but whatever.
WINNER: Raw ties SmackDown
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
No extra or negative points for Raw this week. SmackDown gains a point for Andrade trash talking Randy Orton before their match. What a dick.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+0 / -0) / SmackDown (+1 / -0)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = SmackDown
That's my pick for the better show of the week, but how do YOU stand?
Which was better, Raw or SmackDown?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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