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.
WWE Monday Night Raw - July 12, 2021 - Yuengling Center in Tampa, FL
WWE Friday Night SmackDown - July 16, 2021 – Toyota Center in Houston, TX
BATTLE OF THE BRANDS:
RAW vs. SMACKDOWN
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
Raw = The matches on Raw this week just did not feature the quality they should have, with numerous bouts feeling like placeholders until something more important came along. It was, however, refreshing to see a solid Falls Count Anywhere match between Ricochet and John Morrison.
SmackDown = The six man tag team match was a fantastic way to open the show, whilst the Fatal 4 Way match was also a slice of perfection as we head into Money in the Bank. Although the women's Tag Team match was not the best match the division has seen recently, it did at least serve it's purpose of getting Shotzi and Nox over.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
Raw = Bobby Lashey delivered a decent promo to close out the show, proving that he can indeed back up his actions with meaningful words of his own.
SmackDown = Vince McMahon's short but very sweet promo to kick of the show was brilliant, whilst Edge was a star all night with his promos. Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn also contributed to the show with great promos.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
Raw = Raw focused heavily on Bobby Lashley vs Kofi Kingston, whilst also affording time to the other feuds on the red brand. Charlotte Flair vs Rhea Ripley did not feel suitably advanced, as there was a lot more that could have been explored this week. The same could also be said of the Raw Money in the Bank competitors, with both the men's and women's matches feeling somewhat half baked.
SmackDown = Although the focus was understandably on Roman Reigns vs Edge, this week's show featured a strong focus on other storylines, with Seth Rollins teasing a future feud with Edge, whilst Big E did the same with Reigns.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
Raw = Raw was not a dynamic show this week, feeling rather slow and plodding in terms of pacing and logical storyline progression.
SmackDown = The pacing of the show was fabulous, with the show feeling akin to a pay-per-view.
WINNER: SmackDown
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
Raw gains points for Jinder Mahal looking like a complete oaf by Drew McIntyre, which was at least entertaining to watch.
Raw also gains points for Ricochet looking strong.
Raw loses points for teasing dissension between Bobby Lashley and MVP, as this is not something The All Mighty's character needs at the moment.
SmackDown gains points for feeling like a pay-per-view event, with an electricity in the air that was magical.
SmackDown also gains points for the return of Finn Balor, which genuinely felt like a true return to greatness for The Prince. Here's hoping that he can hit the ground running on SmackDown.
SmackDown loses points for how annoying Zelina Vega and Liv Morgan were on commentary.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+2 / -1) / SmackDown (+2 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = SmackDown
With a score of 5 to 1, SmackDown wins this week's Battle of the Brands. Being in front of 14,000 fans gave them an opportunity to shine, which they more than capitalised on.
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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