The build to WWE Survivor Series 2017 has been fast paced between title changes that have shaken up the card to unorthodox heel vs. heel matches. One aspect of the build has been consistent though, SmackDown has been bullying Raw on a consistent basis.
All of the drama surrounding WWE Survivor Series 2017 started a few weeks ago on Raw when Shane McMahon was a guest on the rival show. Shane earlier in the night referenced the term “under siege”. At the time it would be easy to overlook Shane’s choice of words, but by the end of the night his choice of vocabulary was proven to be more calculated.
Not only did SmackDown ambush the Raw locker room with guerrilla warfare tactics, but also held GM Kurt Angle helpless in the ring after watching his roster get dismantled. This was the first time SmackDown displayed heel-like tendencies.
If you evaluate traditional babyface and heel tactics, a babyface hero conquers his or her nemesis with grace and class, a heel does it while boasting and rubbing their counterparts’ nose in it. In the case of SmackDown, not only did members of the roster blindside the Raw locker room, but they made sure that everyone knew it.
Then the next night on SmackDown the WWE Universe tuned in to see how Raw would retaliate. Unfortunately those fans that tuned in were disappointed as Raw was a no-show, still reeling from the attack the previous night.
The following week on Raw the big retaliation or statement was coming, right? Wrong. Daniel Bryan was a guest on Raw, and received a Chokeslam from Kane, but was it a retaliation from Angle for Shane’s action the previous week?
The problem with finding a clear answer to that question is Kane acts as a wild card, because he does not take orders from anyone. Also, it would be unfair to say the attacking of a non-wrestling (for now) TV personality is the equivalent of an entire locker room being attacked like Raw was the week prior.
Fast forward another week and SmackDown would make another giant impact on their Monday night counterpart. This time it was not in the way of a physical assault, this was instead an attack to Raw’s psyche.
The New Day from the crowd interrupted the Raw Tag Team Championship match, and in the process cost Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins their titles. What stood out was not that New Day cost Ambrose and Rollins the match, but it was the way that they did.
Once again SmackDown did not only throw a big right hook that landed, they reminded Raw how bad it hurt. The New Day has made a point to let the WWE Universe know, that Raw will not do anything.
Another aspect that has to be considered is the popularity of both Ambrose and Rollins. Both attacks have left 2/3 of The Shield as helpless victims.
Popularity of certain superstars while a relative topic, just by the number of merchandise both men have, the consistent crowd reactions, and social media followers prove both superstars’ popularity. Ambrose has 530k followers on Twitter, yet he does not tweet and does not follow anyone, that is an impressive feat.
In wrestling it is not always how characters act that make them a heel, sometimes it is who they feud with. In this case invading Raw for a second time, The New Day whether intended or not added another check in the box of their heel resume.
Going beyond the main event 5v5 Survivor Series elimination match and The Shield vs. The New Day, even a Miz vs. Baron Corbin match helps Raw’s argument as the fan favorite show. Corbin’s taunts to The Miz over social media in this feud have crossed the personal line.
While The Miz plays the part of cowardly heel on Raw perfectly, he has actually started to become a fan favorite thanks to his consistency delivering high quality promos. Corbin on the other hand just has heel heat, and has avoided the “cool heel” cheers from the crowd that is so common with wrestling in 2017.
Not only has SmackDown delivered the only massive physical assault in this rivalry, but the Tuesday night show has mocked Raw at every turn. If you factor in Corbin’s heel tactics in the build to his Survivor Series match with The Miz, it has become clear that SmackDown‘s heel stock has risen leading up to the last big four pay=per-view of the year.
The WWE Championship changing hands and the champion vs. champion Survivor Series spot going to AJ Styles has kept SmackDown from being the unanimous heel of the pay-per-view. Imagine if Jinder Mahal was Brock Lesnar’s opponent at Survivor Series?
Next: WWE Survivor Series 2017: Forecasting AJ Styles vs Brock Lesnar
All in all this is a relative debate, but the evidence has pointed to SmackDown showing stronger heel tendencies.
What show will you be rooting for?