WWE SmackDown: How the Blue Brand Can Get Out of its Rut

When the WWE went back to having unique rosters with the draft in 2016, it was felt that SmackDown LIve got the short end of the stick. However, the “B” show would soon become must-see TV. 18 months later and it’s become a much different story.

After the draft in the Summer of 2016, it appeared that RAW came out on the better end of the brand split. Even with what felt like a smaller roster with less star power, SmackDown Live began to surpass the Monday night stalwart. It so became clear that the roster was taking the brand split serious and was willing to do whatever it took to make SmackDown the better show.

With great in-ring action, exciting storylines and what felt like an emphasis on wrestling, SmackDown Live was becoming the best WWE show week after week.

Fast forward to 2018 and SmackDown is more similar to its Monday companion than before. With a heavy focus on authority figures bickering, lackluster matches and stories that seem to go nowhere, Tuesday nights have become a bit of a drag.

Photo Source: WWE.com

It’s time to hit the reset button

With the Royal Rumble just days away, this is the perfect time for SmackDown Live to hit the reset button. With the opportunity to create new storylines and stars with the Rumble match, they need to take advantage. Also with WrestleMania fast approaching, SmackDown has a chance to create show-stealing matches for the event. With names like Styles, Nakamura, Orton, Owens, and Zayn, the quality of possible matches is off the charts.

The creative team needs to either put up or shut up with the authority struggle between Bryan and Shane. Obviously, fans still don’t know the true status of Bryan’s health but they could always have a proxy match for the control of SDL. If anything has ever been overdone in pro wrestling it’s the authority angle. So they need to bring it to a boil and put it to rest at Mania. Another way to dig themselves out of the hole is an easy one, make the talent relateable.

When Baron Corbin cut a promo on The Miz for Survivor Series it lit a fire under The Miz. His retaliation was something that any person would say if their family was ever attacked. Same thing with Mojo Rawley in his feud with Zack Ryder. Mojo was frustrated and fed up, feeling he was putting in all of the work while Zack was off doing other things. That’s such a simple story for anyone that feels they do more than others at their job while not getting the same results. It was what made Steve Austin so great, he was just a normal guy in an extraordinary situation. He was relatable and every blue collar worker could get behind him week after week.

Let the talent carry the show

This one may seem obvious but it’s something SmackDown LIve has gotten away from lately. At first, after the brand split, SDL was referred to as the wrestling show. With strong matches from start to finish each week, it gave the WWE Universe what they craved. In recent weeks we have seen episodes come and go where top talent like AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Randy Orton are either not used at all or in tiny segments.

Now the creative team doesn’t need to give away WrestleMania matches on a weekly basis but they do need to refocus on their mission. By having the better wrestling they were also providing a break from the exhaustive story heavy show that is RAW. With the talent recently signed to NXT and those ready for call-ups, the talent bench is deep.

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So with the biggest time of the wrestling year fastly approaching, SmackDown Live can take the mantle of WWE again. With a strong roster of both men and women that can put on incredible matches, the blue show has a great opportunity to rebound in 2018. Again, the easiest ways to get back on track are to get rid of the authority stories, let the talent work their butts off and allow the talent to be themselves. Whether it’s wrestling, television, or movies, people will always enjoy those they can relate to the most. Hopefully, the Royal Rumble will be the kickoff to a great 2018 for SmackDown Live.