10 Huge Stories That Changed Wrestling In 2016
8. The Brand Split Returns
A number of WWE’s biggest moves this year were prompted by the escalating ratings crisis, with the revitalised Brand Split standing as the most prominent among these. It was rumoured in May that WWE were set to once against split their roster in two and create unique brands on Raw and SmackDown, and so it transpired in July.
Shane McMahon had returned to WWE television in an attempt to wrest control from his father ahead of WrestleMania. He failed in his big match against The Undertaker, but after another protracted spat with his sister, Stephanie, Shane was installed as SmackDown’s Commissioner. The siblings drafted their rosters on July 19th, and for the first time since 2011, WWE’s talent pool was divided.
Five months into the Brand Split, it’s clear that the move has produced a mixed bag of results. Raw remains stagnant, and the show hit an all-time ratings low in late September. SmackDown, however, has shown immense signs of improvement since switching to Tuesday nights for the Split. Their 2-hour shows are tighter and more compact that Raw’s bloated 3-hour format allows, the booking is sharper, and most important of all, almost every performer feels important and purposeful.
Ratings remain in the doldrums, but the Brand Split has given WWE’s product a much needed facelift. The move has completely transformed the makeup of the company, and whether this translates to a long-term increase in viewership or not, at least it has made SmackDown watchable again.