Three reasons why SmackDown continues to outperform Monday Night Raw

What has changed in SmackDown’s landscape that it outperforms Monday Night Raw?

WWE’s flagship show Monday Night Raw is going downhill while SmackDown is moving in the right direction. It may amuse and confuse people, but it’s a fact that we have to accept and believe. WWE’s blue brand has seen a change of days and some were positive while others not so much. Despite all these changes, the show seems to keep the fans involved. Is this a sign of something wrong in the Raw side of things, or is this just a phase that will soon pass, with the red show returning to prominence as the main brand?

This week’s episode of Raw saw the fans praise Xavier Woods, but how many times have we seen this New Day member in head-to-head competition over the last six months. If that is not something one can believe, think about all the talent that sits behind the curtain. They wait for the opportunity or a change of heart and mind from the Chairman. WWE’s second brand is outperforming the A show both in terms of storylines and character progression. So what are the mistakes that happen on Raw which SmackDown has picked well and handled efficiently? Let’s dive in.

Superstars don’t vanish in thin air on SmackDown as they do on Monday Nights

Let’s take a recent example to understand this issue. Jinder Mahal returned to the main roster on the 10th May episode of Monday Nights with his two new acquaintances, Shanky and Veer, but where is The Modern Day Maharaja after his appearance? Jinder Mahal made an impact by taking out The Charismatic Enigma, and there were rumors that he would feud with Drew McIntyre leading to a championship match, but where is the former WWE Champion?

It is a question that needs answering, and while superstars on Raw come and go without any notice, SmackDown, on the other hand, lets a superstar showcase their skills. A lot of superstars first shined on SmackDown before they made their move to Raw.

Buddy Murphy is one superstar who feuded with Roman Reigns during his initial days on the main roster. He then moved to Raw to become The Monday Night Messiah’s protégé, but it worked well when they moved to Friday Nights. Shouldn’t the creative team on Raw ask this question? They should check with the talented superstars and give them a chance to shine.

Where’s the opportunity?

T-Bar and Mace are two talented superstars, and they were on the verge of obscurity before Retribution broke, and its members went their separate ways. The duo showcased a promo on Monday Nights and had matches before the promo, but where are they now? There is no word if any of them is injured or has contracted COVID-19. There is no news of any violation or personal emergency that requires them to be off the television. The talented superstars are looking for an opportunity, but the bigger question is, where is the opportunity? If there is an opportunity, there are various deserving candidates that need it before T-Bar and Mace.

Contrary to Raw’s side of things, SmackDown builds new superstars. Let’s take Cesaro, for instance, who was considered a mid-carder until a few weeks back. The blue brand created a storyline that required his intervention, and it took him from a mid-carder to a considerable player. The fans always valued his skills, but the blue brand’s creative team also understood the star they have by their side. The leader of the Yes Movement played a pivotal role in his rise, as he did in Big E’s push as a singles superstar.

Why churn when you can create anew?

A champion is entitled to one rematch, but how many rematches have Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax received since losing the Women’s Tag Team titles to Natalya and Tamina Snuka. It shocks people that WWE’s Raw team doesn’t want to create something new until they hear backlash about it on Social Media. Fans want to watch something new, exciting, and breath-taking that keeps them on the edge of their seats but gets served.

It amuses the fans that a superstar of Shayna’s caliber will fight Reginald next week on Monday Nights. Is that even a comparison or a match that will entice fans in any way? What is in it for the WWE Universe, and why should they invest a few minutes of their time watching something that doesn’t entertain them at all.

SmackDown, on the other hand, ensures that every segment, whether it’s between the ropes or backstage, catches the fans’ attention and keeps them occupied about the next move or action by a superstar. Jimmy Uso’s return stirred the storyline involving The Tribal Chief and created an opportunity for them to bring the respect back to the Tag Team Division on Friday Nights.

When was the last time you saw such a thing happen on Monday Nights? Every Women’s championship match on Raw needs to have Charlotte Flair in it, instead of giving rise and time to up-and-coming stars that can lead the way.

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