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: MATCHES

Raw = There were only 2 matches on offer this week on Raw, however one of these was a replay of the 2020 men’s Royal Rumble match, therefore it cannot be truly rated as a part of the show.

This left Andrade vs Rey Mysterio as the lone live match, however it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable contest. The lack of a live crowd was a real issue as it made the match harder to become invested in, but it seemed both Andrade and Mysterio were competing at 50%. Mysterio stole the victory with his 619 Splash combo, however we have been treated to much better efforts between the pair than this.

SmackDown = SmackDown featured a whopping 2 original matches, with Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak defeating Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro in an extremely entertaining match. Gulak appears to be in the midst of his first proper push in WWE, and it is great to see him prove himself in such great matches.

SmackDown's choice of Bray Wyatt vs John Cena from WrestleMania 30 was an appropriate match to showcase, however I would have preferred another promo instead to continue the build to their upcoming battle.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 2: PROMOS

Raw = Edge provided Raw with an extremely entertaining promo, as he announced his intentions to take on Randy Orton at WrestleMania 36 in a last man standing match. The 2020 version of Edge is highly compelling, and fans are left in awe as he delivers passionate promo after passionate promo.

Becky Lynch also delivered a strong promo, highlighting how she will beat Shayna Baszler at WrestleMania 36. This more serious version of Lynch is much more believable, which only increases the intrigue in the build to their mammoth encounter.

SmackDown = Rob Gronkowski delivered an extremely cringeworthy promo, highlighting how hyped he is to be the host of WrestleMania 36. He came off as disingenuous, which left the promo lacking in overall quality.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 3: STORYLINES

Raw = With a lack of matches available to highlight Raw’s ongoing feuds, promos had to be utilised. The problem with this is that no feud felt suitably advanced, which is a real issue as we head into WrestleMania 36.

SmackDown = SmackDown was left in similar situation to Raw, however Drew Gulak's storyline with Daniel Bryan has led to his first real push in WWE. Not only that, but Sasha Banks started the slow burn towards her inevitable face turn. Paige announced Banks would be a part of the 6 pack match for Bayley's SmackDown Women's Championship, which sows the seeds for Bayley to become paranoid and push Banks towards a much needed face turn.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING

Raw = Raw was not the interesting show it has been for so many months, however the production and feel of the show was heavily compromised by the COVID-19 outbreak. For what it is worth, it was an admirable attempt at putting on a show in an empty arena.

SmackDown = The 2 hour run time benefitted SmackDown, as the show felt less affected by the lack of a crowd. Yes, it was noticeable, but unlike Raw it didn't feel overwhelming. This was a good effort from SmackDown.

WINNER: SmackDown

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

Raw gains no points as the show felt rather dull and uninspired.

Raw loses points for relying on Stone Cold Steve Austin to increase interest in the show. The hype towards 3:16 day was cringeworthy, and it was obvious that the show cannot be carried on the strength of it’s current roster alone.

SmackDown gains points for sowing the seeds of a Sasha Banks face turn, as she was added to the 6 pack match at WrestleMania 36 for Bayley's SmackDown Women's Championship.

SmackDown loses points for highlighting Rob Gronkowski in such a prominent position. To casual fans, he is sure to move the needle, but to wrestling fans, he is nothing but a nuisance who hasn't paid his dues in the wrestling industry.

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


With a score of 3 to 0, SmackDown wins this week's Battle of the Brands. Both shows were played out in front of no fans, and this made each show less interesting. I understand WWE are trying their best to continue with wrestling in the best way possible, but the shows are not as engaging as they should be, especially when considering we are on the road to WrestleMania 36.