10 Biggest Improvements WWE Have Made In 2016
2. Rebuilding SmackDown
Coming out of the 2016 draft, it looked like SmackDown had drawn the short straw again. Raw took the bulk of WWE’s most exciting wrestlers, and while guys like AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose were exciting propositions, SD’s roster comprised mostly of misfits and underdogs. Their roster looked paper thin, and as the draft rumbled to a close, it looked like SD was forever consigned to “B-show” status.
Oh, how wrong we were. SmackDown has been almost universally excellent throughout the New Era, and its ragtag bunch of rogues have made for some truly compelling television. They might lack Raw’s star power, but when it comes to delivering an enjoyable show, SD are head and shoulders above their big red cousin.
The difference is in the booking. Everything feels important on SmackDown, and almost everybody has a purpose. No segment is placed without a specific goal in mind, and whatever the outcome, that goal is usually achieved. SmackDown have made The Miz and Dolph Ziggler relevant again, completely revitalised Dean Ambrose, presented AJ Styles as the best wrestler in the world, and made Heath Slater one of the biggest babyfaces in the company, and their turnaround can’t be understated.
Raw remains largely unchanged, and that’s a huge problem, but surely it’s only a matter of time before SmackDown overtakes them in the ratings? There are still a few depth issues on SD, but that’s a minor complaint. The show is rarely anything worse than “very good,” and WWE deserve immense credit for that.