Has WWE Raw Been the Superior Brand After One Month?

Four weeks after the brand split, both Raw and Smackdown Live ‘s programming has faced their share of challenges and triumphs. Has the Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley run brand been the better of the two show options?

On July 19th the brand split took place between Monday Night Raw and the newly re-named Smackdown Live. Since that draft, there have been efforts to establish new titles, new feuds, and new stars.

As fans are aware, primarily because Stephanie McMahon made it so, the Raw brand would have not only more talent on its roster because it’s the longer show, but would also be introducing the Cruiserweight division. Meanwhile, Smackdown Live had a match to determine the No. 1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight title, which Dolph Ziggler won.

Given the plethora of talent at the disposal of the Raw brand, some may say it has been the better program from top to bottom. However, there are those that say for all that talent on their roster, the booking still appears to be bland and doesn’t do anything to create new stars within each division. Which is the most accurate account of the program, and which perspective is truthful?

Yes, it is better just look at what they have done.

For some, the belief that Raw is a better program may be due to the number of notable stars on the program that are entertaining and engaging to the audience. For instance, the tag team division provides some of the most amusing and fun talent on either brand. There is Enzo Amore and Big Cass reciting lines that capture the attendance of the paying audience and those watching at home, or The New Day who has been able to use their own brand of humor to elicit a response. Booking a match to determine the new WWE Universal Champion between Seth Rollins and Finn Balor indicates the company was leaning more in the direction of feature young, exciting performers week in and week out on their product. And it doesn’t necessarily stop there, either.

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The recent return of Neville and his high-flying aerial attack, plus Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho proves the brand has talented, hard-working performers with whom they can create new feuds and possibilities. A number of these men did not come through FCW and/or NXT, and appear pegged to be in long-standing feuds or contending for championships. This is only the tip of the iceberg, as a cruiserweight division is set to be booked either at, or leading up to, the ‘Clash of Champions’ Raw-only pay-per-view. There appears to be more on the horizon for the brand, and it is comforting as they try to establish a new foundation.

No, they aren’t the superior brand just look what they aren’t doing.

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For all the fan support of the brand, it has received its fair share of criticism. When we consider who the Raw brand has at their disposal, it’s odd who is being elevated and who isn’t. There is without question a pecking order of top heels and faces, and mid card faces and heels. Why exactly do the likes of Cesaro and Sami Zayn seem to be booked like a bit of an afterthought? There was a recent tease during the end of a Monday Night Raw broadcast that Cesaro was going to defeat Rusev for the United States championship.

A title is something that would help elevate Cesaro, and something fans have wanted to see happen for the longest time. Instead, Cesaro is facing an established talent, Sheamus, in a best of seven series. How does that help Cesaro, who consistently comes close to being elevated only to be lowered on the card? Kevin Owens should also be a contender for the newly established Universal championship. In the event that Finn Balor is injured, fans would be less invested in a Roman Reigns push in that direction than they would if a face Owens challenged Rollins for the title.

The same concerns could also be shared for the brand’s women’s division. With an injury to Sasha Banks, who realistically challenges Charlotte for the title? This may be Bayley’s time to be called up, but does that mean she is immediately lined up to contend for the title? Nia Jax, by comparison, has been shown to be a complete monster with no formidable challengers, instead beating down enhancement talent.

After exploring the pros and cons of Raw since the draft, the answer is it isn’t really fair to judge something that is still establishing characters that a number of fans aren’t necessarily familiar with, including the new WWE Universal Champion and the yet to be determined Cruiserweight champion.

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