10 Ways The Brand Split Has Changed WWE (One Year On)
2. The Role Of Authority Figures
For as long as the McMahons are in-charge, overbearing authority figures will never be far from WWE television. Evil bosses have been a big part of the company’s programming since the birth of Mr. McMahon in 1997, and while Stephanie and Triple H will always find ways to re-enter the spotlight, the way Commissioners and General Managers have been utilised has changed through the brand split.
Antagonistic bosses are a thing of the past on SmackDown, where Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan are celebrated, not reviled. They’re on TV every week, but their fairness makes them feel like a complimentary presence, and on the occasions that they do step into the spotlight (Bryan’s feud with The Miz, Shane vs. AJ Styles), they never drag the show down.
Stephanie has been away from Raw since WrestleMania 33, which has allowed GM Kurt Angle to govern without significant opposition. It’s only a matter of time before she starts throwing her weight around again, of course, but the days of authority figures detracting from the show are in the rearview. They’ll never disappear entirely, the current situation is far removed from The Authority’s darkest days, and for that we should be thankful.