10 Ways WWE Could Rebuild SmackDown

A new level to The Game.

Triple H SmackDown
WWE.com

SmackDown was pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good in the immediate fallout of the second brand extension.

WWE attempted to differentiate the show from the flagship, and initially, it succeeded. The slight alteration to the hard camera angle literally framed it as something new. Mauro Ranallo's impassioned commentary, while often goofy, lent the action a sense of frenzied urgency. The easygoing chemistry shared by dual babyface stewards Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan was welcome reprieve from the blue balls induced by Stephanie McMahon's constant search of heat. The premise - SmackDown was now the 'Land of Opportunities' - really drove the brand as something refreshing, if not entirely brilliant.

Ultimately, in 2016, this philosophy and the cult affection it generated somehow contrived to get Dolph Ziggler over as a big-time babyface. For a month.

The show has receded drastically, mostly as a result of the personnel changes (we'll get to them). WWE also mistook the popularity of Shane McMahon and pushed him, as an in-ring performer, to an hysterical extent. The change in onscreen administration, much like in politics, revealed in the end that nothing really changes. The same old problems rematerialised. The show's fatalistic B-brand status allowed WWE to experiment with Jinder Mahal as WWE Champion.

That is now a distant memory, and with a strict and demoralising adherence to formula, so much of the show is...

10. Keep Trying

Triple H SmackDown
WWE

Different things. Not the ridiculous layover stuff; that is very much the application of lipstick on a pig.

To WWE's credit, the company appears to have recognised SmackDown's fall from grace - hence why the production team has taken to learning the finer points of WordArt. Moreover, the Top 10 ranking system is, or has the potential to be, a deft means of both mapping the trajectory of a performer and, in turn, providing fans with a reason to invest in them. Looking ahead with optimism, this may, when fully established post-WrestleMania 34, encourage a sense of discipline within creative and a sense of coherence within the product itself.

With this sensible ranking system, WWE cannot justifiably instal another Jinder Mahal into the immediate title picture without some form of push or foundational logic. Nor can a performer fail to challenge again and again for a title, without risking the wrath of their hungrier, more deserving peers - which theoretically should reduce the amount of rematches. Contravening the Top 10, as has already happened with Baron Corbin or Dolph Ziggler's insertion into the Fastlane event, should also generate storylines beyond the respective title pictures.

Given Randy Orton's list position (#9) and real-life status (irrelevant), the List is already flawed - but it's a new idea, and thus deserves (sorry) an opportunity to succeed.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!