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 = Mustafa Ali vs Ricochet was a solid encounter, with both men putting on a good performance. The match was entertaining, whilst also leaving the door open for a much longer, compelling match. Ali finally looked like the star we know he can be, whilst Ricochet once again evidenced how talented he is.

Raw's women's division suffered this week as the turgid storyline involving Lana impacted on multiple matches. Neither Shayna Baszler vs Lana or Asuka vs Nia Jax came across well, serving as disappointing exhibition matches.

SmackDown = SmackDown played host to some solid wrestling, with Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio competing in the purported final chapter of their feud. Both men put on their working boots as they engaged in a stunning match, superbly combining quality wrestling with exciting storytelling. The No Holds Barred stipulation also helped to elevate the match.

The main event of Drew McIntyre vs Jey Uso was an unmitigated success. McIntyre looked like an absolute star, proving he can have a solid and entertaining match with anyone. It was a fantastic match to end the show, and I cannot wait to see how Uso rebounds from his loss.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 2: PROMOS

Raw = Mustafa Ali produced another strong promo this week. His threats towards Ricochet come across effectively, whilst he straddles the line between scary and intriguing. Every week he produces a promo, he is the undoubted highlight of the show, and this was certainly the case this week.

SmackDown = Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre duelled in a fascinating promo to kick off the show. They increased the anticipation for a potential match at Survivor Series, whilst Jey Uso's petulant response to McIntyre added to the impact of the segment.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 3: STORYLINES

Raw = Drew McIntyre's pursuit of Randy Orton continues to be entertaining, but it feels somewhat hollow when The Fiend doesn't make an appearance. I was all for this three way feud if booked correctly, but I fear this will not be the case. The added layer of having The Miz threaten to cash in his Money in the Bank contract should be compelling, but it just doesn't feel that way.

SmackDown = Natalya's quest for a spot on the SmackDown women's Survivor Series team continued this week. I am extremely ambivalent towards this storyline as it does nothing for Natalya or the women's division, whilst the idea that she deserves a spot based on her WWE tenure is frustrating.

Mercifully, Roman Reigns was on his A game. His defiant encounter with Drew McIntyre was compelling, whilst his continued control and manipulation of Jey Uso was once again executed perfectly. As ever, Reigns is the main event attraction of SmackDown.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING

Raw = Raw was a better show this week, but it was still let down by a crippling lack of consistency. The pacing was improved, but the show still feels like an absolute slog to get through.

SmackDown = SmackDown was a strong show this week, although it didn't quite hit the heights of recent weeks. The pacing was good, whilst the focus on non Survivor Series storylines was much appreciated.

WINNER: SmackDown

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

Raw gains points for the chaotic nature of the 24/7 Championship. It actually felt purposeful to have a high number of title changes within the space of a few minutes.

Raw also gains points for finally giving RETRIBUTION a sense of purpose. Hopefully they can use this momentum to become a bigger feature of Raw.

Raw loses points for the childish nature of the Raw men's Survivor Series team. The internal issues are annoying, not interesting.

SmackDown gains points for the genuine surprise of Drew McIntyre turning up on the blue show.

SmackDown also gains points for seemingly drawing a line under Seth Rollins vs Rey Mysterio. Whilst Rollins may be engaging in a full on feud with Murphy, it is one that could truly make Murphy a star.

SmackDown loses points for pushing the narrative that Natalya needs to be a part of the SmackDown women's Survivor Series team. It is a sense of entitlement that doesn't make for a compelling storyline.

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


With a score of 4 to 2, SmackDown wins this week's Battle of the Brands. Once again, the blue brand produced a more consistent show, with Raw struggling to create a show that is worth dedicating three hours of your life to.