WWE Brand Split: 8 Reasons It Could Succeed Or Fail

Will the split be a hit?

Shane Stephanie.jpg
WWE

The news of WWE's June revival of the brand split - meaning separate rosters for Raw and SmackDown! - has sent wrestling fans abuzz. There are those firmly in support of the move, and others vehemently against. Either way, it's set to give the normally mundane summer months of wrestling a huge shot in the arm.

Depending on how committed WWE are to the idea, and how competently they execute the concept, the new brand split could either sink or swim. There are a number of circumstances which set this redo of the brand extension apart from the first attempt - notably SmackDown! airing live and on the same network as Raw - and so it is difficult to predict precisely what sort of success it is going to enjoy.

Doesn't stop one from trying, however. 

8. Succeed: A Chance For Talent To Shine

Shane Stephanie.jpg
WWE.com

It might seem patently obvious, but by splitting the roster across two distinct, separate shows, there's a far greater opportunity for some of the more marginalised performers to shine.

The current status quo means that Raw and Smackdown largely serve the same purpose: to build towards the monthly PPV. As a result, despite having five hours of television time to play with, the same key players often turn up on both shows rather than just one.

Before his recent release from the company, the sight of Sandow on WWE programming was an all too rare treat. With leaner, separate rosters unique to each brand, there's every chance fringe players such as the departed Damien would become regulars, finally afforded an opportunity to shine. Who knows: they may even get over?

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.