10 Mistakes WWE Is Repeating With The Current Brand Split

8. Too Much Focus On Fictitious Leaders

Authority Figures Raw And Smackdown
WWE.com

One of the regular complaints WWE has experienced for years is that too much television time is given to the McMahons. Many fans felt WWE has revolved around the McMahon family for too long and it hurts the quality of the show.

Recently, the 2016 brand split saw the announcement of both a GM and a Commissioner of RAW and SmackDown. Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley controlled Monday nights while Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan would run Tuesday night SmackDown Live! In addition to the tired authority figure role, WWE is creating the notion that Daniel and Mick have some sort of creative power backstage and are involved with the personnel direction when that couldn't be further from the truth.

While Shane and Stephanie certainly have some sort of creative backstage power due to their last name, Foley and Bryan are strictly on-screen talent; actors playing a role, like they've always been.

This is no different than the first brand split when Eric Bischoff was named the GM of RAW and, despite previously running WCW, was brought into WWE strictly as a talent and had no say in the direction of RAW.

WWE is overdue to eliminate the ever-present on-screen authority figure and move to the old-but-new-again idea of a seldom seen WWE president, ala Jack Tunney, with the focus being put back on the talent and not the fictitious leadership.

Contributor
Contributor

A former stuntman for Paramount Pictures, Matt enjoys sports, water skiing, driving fast, the beach, professional wrestling, technology, and scotch. At the same time, whenever possible. Having attended many famous (and infamous) shows including WrestleMania XV, In Your House: Mind Games, and the 1995 King of the Ring, Matt has been a lifelong professional sports and wrestling fan. Matt's been mentioned in numerous wrestling podcasts including the Steve Austin Show: Unleashed, Talk Is Jericho, and Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard. As a former countywide performer, Matt has been referred to as Mr. 300 for his amazing accomplishments in the world of amateur bowling. He is also the only man on record to have pitched back-to-back no hitters in the Veterans Stadium Wiffle Ball League of 2003.