10 Things We Learned From WWE SmackDown (April 18)
8. Package Deals
The hour less that SmackDown Live! has in comparison to Raw has often proved a help rather than a hindrance when it comes to the presentation of talent on Tuesday nights.
The need to send wrestlers to the ring every Monday often does more damage the aura of several talents that could do with less exposure than they're prematurely forced into accepting.
This is not the case on the blue brand, where patience can be shown with new and emerging stars to such a degree that video packages will suffice in place of in-ring segments.
Shinsuke Nakamura and Tye Dillinger both benefitted from the WWE production treatment this week, with the typically outstanding presentation from the company highlighting exactly what made both men such phenoms within NXT.
A huge problem with several call-ups from the developmental brand has been a misunderstanding of audience expectations. This has mainly been due to the disparity in viewer figures between the flagship television broadcasts and the Network-only Full Sail production.
Electing to give both men the video profile treatment will prove to be astute in the weeks to come, especially with Tye looking to maintain delicate momentum as the current favourite audience attraction and as the 'King of Strong Style' prepares for his first pay-per-view contest at May's 'Backlash' event.