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 - September 6, 2021 - FTX Arena in Miami, Florida
WWE Friday Night SmackDown - September 10, 2021 – Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York
BATTLE OF THE BRANDS:
RAW vs. SMACKDOWN
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
Raw = The Tag Team Turmoil match was a highlight of the show, being split into two clear and distinct sections. The storyline with The New Day was solid, whilst most teams involved impressed. I despised Charlotte Flair vs Nia Jax, which was just not entertaining at all.
SmackDown = Seth Rollins defeated Edge in a fantastic contest, underlining how dangerous he can be as Edge was stretchered out of the arena. The action was frenetic, exciting, and the near falls were genuinely gripping. The two tag team matches were decent, but Rollins vs Edge was just that damn good!
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
Raw = In terms of promos, Raw was a little lighter on them this week, but Moist TV was a superb way for Karrion Kross to show some personality.
SmackDown = The contract signing between Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch was superb, allowing Lynch to sink further into the heelish despair she has hinted at over the last few weeks. Belair excelled as the face here, as she wasn't overawed by the situation.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
Raw = Similar to the level of promos this week, storyline development was less prevalent as the focus fell on matches. This allowed matches to flow better, but I was slightly disappointed.
SmackDown = Brock Lesnar added a wonderful layer to his feud with Roman Reigns by suggesting Paul Heyman knew he was attending SummerSlam. To make matters even more exciting, we witnessed the return of The Demon King, Finn Balor's dark alter ego.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
Raw = Raw was a better paced show than normal, proving that it can benefit from a stronger focus on wrestling.
SmackDown = Smackdown was perfectly paced, coming across as a genuinely exciting show. This is exactly the type of weekly content they need to be pushing.
WINNER: SmackDown
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
Raw gains points for the successful execution of Tag Team Turmoil.
Raw also gains points for Drew McIntyre and Sheamus putting on another banger.
Raw loses points for Shayna Baszler’s catty remarks. They just did not suit her character.
SmackDown gains points for the call back to Paul Heyman's usual battlecry for Brock Lesnar.
SmackDown also gains points for the poignant vignettes for 9/11.
SmackDown loses points for not following up on Naomi's struggle to re-establish herself on the blue brand.
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. Raw was a clear improvement, but SmackDown was a stellar show from start to finish.
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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