10 Early WWE Predictions For 2017
8. SmackDown Overtakes Raw
Raw’s ratings have improved slightly in recent weeks, but their Sept 26th show saw them draw just 2.478 million viewers: a record low for the Monday night flagship. SmackDown has caught-up somewhat, meanwhile, but they’re still lower than WWE would like, and the show attracted just 2.127 million last week.
Bottom line: WWE’s ratings are in the doldrums, and they show little sign of improving. This is a historic low point, and while the Brand Split has succeeded in closing the gap between Raw and SmackDown, the poor overall figures remain a huge concern.
Raw’s problems are easy to understand. The show has changed very little in the New Era, and remains driven by the same tedious booking habits as it was pre-Brand Split. Furthermore, the three-hour show is still entirely too long, and Raw’s sluggish, filler-filled broadcasts are often a chore to endure.
SmackDown, meanwhile, has quietly improved to become the most enjoyable weekly TV show in wrestling today. Their ratings haven’t bettered Raw’s yet, but it’s surely only a matter of time at this point. Whether it lasts for a week, month, or even longer, SD’s superior storytelling should bring a point where they finally beat Raw in the ratings battle next year, and if we’re lucky, it’ll be the slap in the face Raw’s writers need to rebuild their ailing show.