WWE Brand Split: 8 Reasons It Could Succeed Or Fail
1. Succeed: True Competition
During the previous brand split, Raw and SmackDown! were never truly 'competing'. For one, they were aired on different networks intended for different audiences, each accessible by a significantly different number of homes. Furthermore, whereas Raw was live, the taped nature of SmackDown! meant it could not avoid the disadvantage of leaked spoilers, further devaluing any reason to watch it.
Sure, for a period SmackDown! boasted some of the finest wrestling the company had ever produced, but there was still an upper limit to what the show could achieve in relation to Raw. With the two programmes now set for the same network, and both scheduled to air live, direct competition is now a realistic prospect. The only difference is the day on which they are broadcast.
Traditionally, WWE has excelled when it has a rival, and by manufacturing true competition for itself, both rosters should be motivated to prove which is the best in a genuine, direct ratings battle.