WWE Concerned About Quality Of SmackDown?
Source indicates officials aren't happy.
WWE officials are said to be concerned about the quality of the SmackDown product amid ongoing struggles to sell tickets.
Co-host Brad Shepard revealed to listeners of his Backstage in WWE podcast this week that a source in the company has told him employees "know" the show is "not good". These fears are said to be backed up by the numbers, with live event revenue for the blue brand purportedly flagging.
None of this will come as much of a shock to regular viewers of the Shane McMahon-headed show. Despite winning plaudits for its wrestling-first approach following the resumption of the brand split in 2016, SmackDown has become gradually worse over the last 12 months.
The catalyst for this change was perhaps the decision to put the WWE Championship, its top title, around the waist of relative rookie Jinder Mahal last May. But there are other problems too, not least of all the way that storylines therein have consistently tended to outstay their welcome.
These concerns look set to be addressed following WrestleMania, when the company has announced it will end brand-exclusive pay-per-views. This means there will only be three or four episodes of SmackDown between each show instead of seven or eight as is currently the case.
The brand could also get a shot in the arm from the Superstar Shake-Up that is expected to take place in its traditional spring slot. The likes of Finn Bálor, underutilised by Monday Night Raw, have been mooted as potential acquisitions for Shane and Daniel.