WWE SmackDown Live: Why It’s Too Early to Press the Panic Button

Since the brand split some have questioned Smackdown Live’s draft choices and programming. Is the criticism warranted?

On July 19th, the WWE decided to split up the Raw and Smackdown rosters. Fans were made aware that the selection show would feature a ratio of three draft picks to two draft picks in favor of Raw. As soon as the draft was over, the analysis began as to which roster was immediately shaping up to be the better of the two. It was felt as though, despite the fact that the WWE World champion, Dean Ambrose, was drafted to Smackdown, it was the weaker show. Whether it was the choice of adding Randy Orton and John Cena, or Baron Corbin, a number of fans online criticized the strength of the Smackdown collection of talent.

However, with the draft over, fans took a step back and came to the understanding that regardless of whom was drafted Smackdown Live could still have a solid enough roster that could contend with Raw.

After the first week of Smackdown Live came and went, there was criticism over the choice to not have their newest tag team American Alpha debut on that first episode. In a two-hour block, they built a new No. 1 contender, ushered in the entire women’s division, had a battle royal to determine the last entrant in the six pack challenge, and determined who Dean Ambrose would be facing for his WWE World Heavyweight championship. Could they have included American Alpha? Certainly. Could they have done it and done them justice? It wasn’t likely.

As the weeks have progressed,  American Alpha has debuted, and all the teams that are there vying to overtake them are being thrust into the spotlight as well. AA has clearly been shown to be the highlight of the division, and Smackdown Live will continue to devote a great deal of time and effort to them.

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Another criticism has been over the AJ Styles and John Cena feud. Fans have already been skeptical about Styles going over Cena to culminate their feud, not just that Styles comes out on top, but how he wins. Does he win clean or does he need to resort to underhanded methods to succeed? While it would be nice to see Styles come out on top without the aid of some underhanded tactics, would it be the end of the world if he didn’t? The prevailing argument is that it somehow Styles would be diminished if Cena didn’t put him over in a clean fashion. What is forgotten is that even if Styles doesn’t win clean, it would be okay because it would fit with his character.

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Cena is said to be taking another sabbatical soon, so a Styles win appears more than likely.  It would also position Styles to contend for the WWE World Heavyweight championship in the coming months. Fans can take solace in the fact that Styles has been used as a focal point, and part of the main event, essentially since arriving in January. It would be hard to see Smackdown Live not continuing to elevate him.

The criticism really doesn’t seem to end there. The choice of Baron Corbin being added to the roster and the decision (as of now) not to have Bray Wyatt a part of Summer Slam has baffled many a fan. While the criticism may seem warranted to some extent, when analyzing Smackdown Live it really shouldn’t be looked at as a sprint, but rather a marathon. Within the two-hour broadcast, the program is essentially having to re-establish each section of the card.

Some may argue that Dolph Ziggler doesn’t or rather shouldn’t be featured in the main event. Fans know that he will sell every move and work a match about as well as anyone on the roster. With that said, maybe the booking has decided to go ahead and use him in a featured match because they know they will get a solid match from him. Ziggler is a former Intercontinental and World champion that has been given a gimmick that really isn’t going anywhere. He should be presented as someone who is hungry and wants to be in  the main event. However, it has come across to some as someone who is whiny because he is openly vocal that he isn’t getting opportunities.

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Smackdown Live is a work in progress and really should be treated as so. It will take time for them to recapture the glory days of the Heyman booking at the turn of the century.