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 - August 16, 2021 - AT and T Center in San Antonio, Texas
WWE Friday Night SmackDown - August 20, 2021 – Phoenix Suns Arena in Phoenix, Arizona
BATTLE OF THE BRANDS:
RAW vs. SMACKDOWN
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
Raw = No single match was a standout contest this week, which is a real shame as Raw has the time to create a compelling set of matches.
SmackDown = Otis defeating Montez Ford with such dominance was a sight to behold, as I was adamant Ford would regain his momentum. Bianca Belair winning two consecutive matches was impressive, whilst Shotzi and Nox underlined their credentials with yet another win.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
Raw = Aside from MVP being the killer promo he usually is, it was a forgettable week for promos from the red brand.
SmackDown = The blue show was on fire with it's promos this week, culminating in Roman Reigns promising to leave WWE if he loses to John Cena at SummerSlam.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
Raw = Riddle and Randy Orton reuniting as R-K-Bro was the most important storyline of the week on Raw, which is a damning indictment of how poor the booking has been for Bobby Lashley vs Goldberg.
SmackDown = All of SmackDown's SummerSlam storylines were afforded much attention this week, making each one feel important. The only issue I have is how Roman Reigns is never going to leave WWE, so his match against John Cena feels really predictable now.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
Raw = Raw's pacing was piss poor, continuing to feel like a real slog to get through.
SmackDown = SmackDown was well paced this week, not feeling bloated or boring at all.
WINNER: SmackDown
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
Raw gains points for making me care about Randy Orton for the first time in years.
Raw loses points for feeling like a poor go home show for SummerSlam.
SmackDown gains points for Edge's Brood segment. It was delicious nostalgia!
SmackDown also gains points for Big E not immediately getting his Money in the Bank briefcase back.
SmackDown loses points for how ineffective Carmella and Zelina looked in defeat.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+1 / -1) / SmackDown (+2 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = SmackDown
With a score of 5 to 0, SmackDown once again trounces Raw to win this week's Battle of the Brands. Yes, the show is not perfect, but it is a million times better than Raw.
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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