The brand extension was one of the most important Raw episodes of the early 2000's, completely changing the constitution of WWE. In some ways it diluted Raw, and Smackdown actually ended up a much better show during 2002 and 2003. The blue brand even topped Raw ratings on some occasions. That fateful March 25th, 2002 episode was when the roster was first split and it represents one of the turning points in Raw history. It recast the show as only half of what it had once been, with the years that followed being derided in critical and commercial failures. Annual drafts did take place, and movement became more free from 2007 onwards, but it wasn't until 2007 that the extension properly ended. That first episode did a 5.4 rating, but the longer term decline from that day forward is the important thing to consider. It hurt Raw considerably, well and truly stamping out the last embers of the Attitude Era.
