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 - November 1, 2021 - Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island
WWE Friday Night SmackDown - November 5, 2021 – Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana
BATTLE OF THE BRANDS:
RAW vs. SMACKDOWN
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
Raw = Big E vs Kevin Owens was a great main event, which was everything that I wanted it to be. Zelina Vega maintained her strong transition to Queen Zelina, displaying more chops in the ring than she has been able to do so for a while. Overall, the match quality on Raw was steady and more than enjoyable, especially when you consider how good Finn Balor vs Chad Gable was.
SmackDown = Match quality was a mixed bag this week, with Naomi vs Shayna Baszler once again stinking up the joint. Whilst the tag team matches were serviceable, at least Xavier Woods vs Jimmy Uso was a solid main event.
WINNER: Raw
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
Raw = Seth Rollins continues to a slimy asshole, and I absolutely love that! His delivery and tone are unique on the roster, and they make the show feel better as a result.
SmackDown = Roman Reigns delivered another strong promo to start the show, with The New Day working well to compliment his efforts. The only thing needed is a new angle with it to make the delivery feel fresh again.
WINNER: SmackDown
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
Raw = Becky Lynch vs Bianca Belair feels like an important part of the show, but overall, Raw storylines are lacking in comparison to SmackDown. At least Raw doesn't feature something as bad as Sonya Deville vs Naomi.
SmackDown = The show was dominated by the highs and lows of current SmackDown storylines. For all the strengths of The Bloodline vs The New Day, Naomi vs Sonya Deville is the absolute drizzling shits.
WINNER: Raw
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
Raw = Overall, Raw was a pleasantly paced show.
SmackDown = SmackDown was decently paced, but it didn't feel as energetic and dynamic as it usually does.
WINNER: Raw
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
Raw gains points for keeping Seth Rollins' goofball character strong, whilst also adding a layer of intrigue.
Raw also gains points for pushing Austin Theory as a prominent part of the show.
Raw loses points for the awful Veer vignettes.
SmackDown gains points for keeping Sami Zayn as an intolerable as ever.
SmackDown also gains points for giving Humberto Carrillo and Angel Garza some real momentum.
SmackDown loses points for the trash that is Sonya Deville vs Naomi.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+2 / -1) / SmackDown (+2 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = Raw
With a score of 4 to 2, Raw wins this week's Battle of the Brands. Whilst not a perfect show, it is most certainly an improvement over recent months.
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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