7 Things That Must Happen For A WWE Brand Split To Work
6. Change The Look And Feel Of Each Show
Among the biggest issues the current WWE landscape faces is how there is virtually no difference between Raw and SmackDown. Granted, one is three hours long and the other is two (more on that later), but aesthetically, they are the same, so fans have little incentive to tune into SmackDown at the moment: they feel they are watching Raw-lite.
Thankfully, WWE took a step in the right direction this year by adding Mauro Ranallo to the SmackDown commentary team, but the graphics and the set-up have remained the same. That might be asking a lot of WWE considering they have had the same stagnant look for their pay-per-view sets (with the exception of WrestleMania) for nearly two years, but it will be what separates SmackDown from Raw post-Draft.
The first thing fans will suggest WWE do is bring back the iconic giant fist to the blue brand. That isn't at all out of the question. But that would a case of moving backward and attempting to recreate nostalgia than it would be moving forward and establishing a unique identity for SmackDown.
It must feel like a true alternative to the Monday night show a la 2002.