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 = Match quality was a mixed bag this week, with the Guitar on a Pole match disappointing me. Even though I didn't expect it to set the world alight, it felt slow and plodding. It also didn't help that the guitar didn't break as intended for the match finish.

The show was somewhat redeemed by Braun Strowman vs Sheamus vs Keith Lee. This was an extremely hard hitting contest, with the frenetic end to the match coming off really well. Strowman appeared to regain some of his recently lost credibility, whilst Lee and Sheamus looked strong in defeat.

SmackDown = SmackDown once again showcased a number of consistent matches this week, with no match coming across poorly. The women's Triple Threat was short and sweet, including a unique finish that was genuinely satisfying to watch. The same can be said of Jey Uso vs Kevin Owens, which was a hard hitting match with a creative finish to allow Uso to win in a manner that didn't detract from Owens' own high standing.

The highlight of the night was Sasha Banks vs Bayley in a thrilling contest for the SmackDown Women's Championship. Banks genuinely looked in danger of losing her title at the first hurdle once again, with Bayley's Bayley to Belly creating an exciting false finish. Banks was able to ultimately triumph, finally getting rid of the monkey on her back.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 2: PROMOS

Raw = Firefly Fun House was a real delight to watch this week, with the swearing and references to a swear jar coming off much better than it would on paper. Alexa Bliss is an absolute treasure, complimenting Bray Wyatt perfectly.

SmackDown = Lars Sullivan gave a stunning promo this week during his interview with Michael Cole. Sullivan has never been much of a talker, but I appreciate how he has been given the opportunity to show he is much more than just a muscle head.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 3: STORYLINES

Raw = The Fiend continues to lurk on Raw, waiting in the wings as Randy Orton deals with Drew McIntyre and Bray Wyatt. The callbacks to their previous feud are amazing, with McIntyre surprisingly not coming across as a third wheel. Whilst not the deepest storyline, it is certainly enjoyable to watch it develop.

SmackDown = Roman Reigns' stranglehold over the SmackDown roster continued this week as he manipulated Adam Pearce into setting up Jey Uso vs Kevin Owens, purely due to the fact that he perceived Owens as insulting his family. This ruthless Reigns is a joy to watch, with his every move being highly compelling to witness.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING

Raw = Raw was an average show this week, feeling like a real chore to get through. Although it featured some good segments, the overall pacing still feels lacking. Compared to SmackDown, the red brand doesn't feel as fresh and exciting.

SmackDown = SmackDown was well paced this week, with each segment feeling logical and not rushed. It was also a strong move to have Sasha Banks vs Bayley open the show, as it had a big fight feel that set the rest of the show up well.

WINNER: SmackDown

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

Raw gains points for making Alexa Bliss' transformation into a female version of The Fiend feel natural and exciting. The slow burn nature of the storyline is one of the few highlights of the show.

Raw loses points for not giving Mustafa Ali a platform on the show to air his grievances. His promos have been an absolute treasure to experience, but they need a strong spot on Raw to come across as truly effective.

Raw also loses points for the turgid storylines within its women's division. I don't care how entertaining it should be to witness Lana be slammed through the announce table each and every week, as it just comes across as tired and uninspired.

SmackDown gains points for attempting to build Ruby Riott up as a credible threat. If she is used well, she could be a useful addition to the SmackDown roster.

SmackDown also gains points for making Carmella look strong. She has done little since her transformation, but this week she looked like a badass, which also includes her interesting new attire.

SmackDown loses no points this week, as no single aspect of the show was disappointing.

POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+1 / -2) / SmackDown (+2 / -0)


With a score of 5 to 0, SmackDown easily wins this week's Battle of the Brands. The blue show was much more consistent and entertaining, with Raw feeling rather middling and uninspiring, lacking in true direction.