The Amazing Rando 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Looking over the current Raw and Smackdown rosters (barring a few exceptions) there seems to be holes on both sides of the field, though some are alot more noticable than others. So with that in mind, here is a quick listing of what it SEEMS each championship division looks like. RAW General Manager: Eric Bischoff Commentators: Jim Ross, Jerry Lawler, Al Snow, The Coach World Heavweight Championship Current Champion: Chris Benoit Contenders: Triple H Chris Jericho Edge Kane Shawn Michaels Intercontinental Championship Current Champion: Randy Orton Contenders: Chris Jericho Edge Matt Hardy Christian w/Tyson Tomko Shelton Benjamin World Tag Team Championship Current Champions: La Resistance Contenders: The Superheroes Rhyno/Tajiri Evolution (Batista/Flair) Women's Championship Current Champion: Trish Stratus Contenders: Nidia Victoria Gail Kim Molly Holly Ivory Jazz Lita Other Eugene Dinsmore A-Train Chuck Palumbo Garrison Cade Mark Henry Stevie Richards Val Venis William Regal Stacy Keibler Maven Now, in these lists there are a few oddities (Ivory) and guesses (Rhyno/Tajiri) and a few hopes or things that MAY work (Christian and Matt Hardy in the IC division, Jericho in the World), and the list of "Other" wrestlers with no real defining division is staggering, though some of them are used in other storylines for other reasons (Eugene, Regal, Tomko, Richards) and some of the people listed are injured or in OVW or whathaveyou. Smackdown General Manager: Kurt Angle Commentators: Michael Cole, Tazz, Bill DeMott, Josh Matthews WWE Championship Current Champion: JBL Contenders: Eddie Guerrero The Undertaker Booker T Rob Van Dam Big Show Kurt Angle United States Championship Current Champion: John Cena Contenders: Rob Van Dam Rene Dupree Booker T Charlie Haas Mark Jindrak w/Teddy Long Luther Reigns Rey Mysterio WWE Tag Team Championship Current Champions: The Dudley Boyz Contenders: Rey Mysterio/Rob Van Dam Akio/Sakoda The FBI Billy Kidman/Paul London Rico/Charlie Haas w/ Miss Jackie The Basham Brothers Hardcore Holly/Billy Gunn Too Cool Cruiserweight Championship Current Champion: Rey Mysterio Contenders: Chavo Guerrero Shannon Moore Paul London Billy Kidman Spike Dudley Funaki Jamie Noble Other Dawn Marie Orlando Jordan For Smackdown, the WWE Championship Division is horrendously small compared to the Raw side due to injures, and so I included Booker and RVD in the hopes that they could soon be elevated, though I don't see it happening any time soon. Conversely, the tag division is HUGE, and they barely ever use any of the teams. Sure, the Bashams and Hardcore Ass aren't any good and Rico is injured along seemingly with Too Cool...but I also think that Rey/RVD could be a nice change of pace and add that extra flavor to the tag division if it ever needs it, and it could also get Rey out of the CW division to let others shine. Overall, the rosters have their balanced points as well as having their strengths and weaknesses. It's just that the writers/bookers need to start looking toward exposing the strengths and helping the weaknesses. Here is a quick list... Raw: Strengths: World Heavyweight Neither: IC, Women's Weaknesses: Tag Team Smackdown: Strengths: United States, Cruiserweight Balanced: Tag (due to injuries and such) Weakness: WWE Championship (due to lack of active and healthy stars in ME positions). It is very easy to fix the weakness and even push the more balanced sections up on each side. Raw needs a deeper tag division for sure, and Smackdown just needs to keep it's best stars healthy and in the spotlight. In a month or two, once the Big Show and Kurt Angle find their ways back into the roster...it could lead to a resurgance on the Smackdown side. Raw has bigger problems with their tag division, with the task of bringing in more teams looking very difficult, even with the deep roster of those doing NOTHING or very little. The sad part is, Raw is able to hide that fact by using their divisional roster to the best of their ability, stringing together storylines that weave together and help keep match-ups interesting. And since I mentioned that... here's a quick look at current storylines for each brand... RAW: Evolution vs. Benoit/Edge/Jericho La Rez vs. Rhyno (?) Matt Hardy vs. Kane Trish vs. The Women Eugene vs. Himself SMACKDOWN: Eddie vs. JBL Eddie vs. Angle Heyman/Dudleys vs. The Undertaker The entire US Division is one big clusterfuck Rey vs. Chavo Haas vs. Reigns There are more than enough storylines to go around for the top guys and even enough to take up 6 hours of television a week, but even so...those without storylines are left to flounder and die Velocity/Heat deaths, where they barely make any kind of impact...but when it happens, we'll be sure to know about it on Raw or Smackdown if we are lucky. I can only conclude by saying both shows have huge potential hidden in them and neither is at it's peak, though that can go without saying for Smackdown. I would not be surprised to look at both shows around Survivor Series time and see them more balanced in terms of which brand is better than the other. Or at least I can dream, right? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBigSwigg 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 This has made me realize how much potential WWE has, and therefore I am depressed even more that they suck as bad as they do. I myself would love to see Jindrak go for the US Title. His character allows for pot-shots by Cena, and Teddy Long gives him a strong voice. He's not great in the ring, but he's sound enough to justify a push. Other than Rhyno/Tajiri, I wouldn't mind Rhyno/Steven Richards as a Tag Team, as they both seem like loose cannons. Matt Hardy as IC champ would be a good move, especially if it got him away from the shitty feud with Kane over Lita and her sluttiness. I also agree with Rey in the tag division, as long as Chavo followed. This would open up doors for the CW division, though even if they were opened we know nothing would walk through. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Repo Man Reborn Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Raw good, Smackdown bad. Groundbreaking news. Next up, Rando discusses who was a better humanitarian, Gandhi or Attilla the Hun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Amazing Rando 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Atilla the Hun, he was all for population control. Now, I was NEVER at any time simply writing this to say "oh, look...Raw is better than Smackdown..." because in theory they are equals, but Raw is like the overacheiver compared to the lazy SD that doesn't do it's homework. That was what I was trying to prove, because people are always simply saying "well Smackdown sucks" but hardly anyone ever mentions the fact that they have the right tools, but they just don't seem to use them in the same way Raw does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBigSwigg 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 That was what I was trying to prove, because people are always simply saying "well Smackdown sucks" but hardly anyone ever mentions the fact that they have the right tools, but they just don't seem to use them in the same way Raw does. Very true Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Fook Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Matt Hardy as IC champ would be a good move, especially if it got him away from the shitty feud with Kane over Lita and her sluttiness. I like this idea. Orton/Hardy could be good. It would then be followed up by Hardy/Christian or Hardy/Benjamin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Orlando Jordan is still around? I don't watch Velocity much, and I haven't seen him when I do Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Repo Man Reborn Report post Posted July 7, 2004 That was what I was trying to prove, because people are always simply saying "well Smackdown sucks" but hardly anyone ever mentions the fact that they have the right tools, but they just don't seem to use them in the same way Raw does. I stand corrected. Raw WRITING good, Smackdown WRITING bad. I was just commenting that it was a whole lot of writing about a subject we are way familiar with. You breaking this down was akin to me telling you its raining, while you stand there with a wet head. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 No matter how you slice it, the Intercontinental and World title divisions of Raw are far superior, and SD's is rather lacking. There are some very solid choices for Smackdown to run with for both, but they just aren't doing it now or those guys are being wasted doing something worthless. However, the Tag Division and Cruiserweight Division on Smackdown should be awesome. I'm hoping they actually decide to utilize it, because they're currently making a total waste of it (Cruiserweight title is an afterthought, cruisers are hoss fodder, the title's lineage has been heavily soiled). The tag division on Smackdown is vastly improving, and has Raw's beat by a mile. The Women's division on Raw drags the show down. Smackdown doesn't have any women who can wrestle so they shouldn't even bother wasting time with that at all. Smackdown needs to cut the crap with the constant Torrie angles no one gives a damn about. Filler is just fine when the rest of the show is solid. However, filler on a show that can't stand up on its own as it is actually is a detriment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadianChick 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 For feuds, you forgot Cena/Angle. Here's a question: when Angle comes back (if he does anytime soon), will he feud with Eddie or Cena? Because he seems to have beef with both of them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Real F'n Show Report post Posted July 7, 2004 I was hoping maybe he'd feud with Charlie Haas... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justsoyouknow 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Raw good, Smackdown bad. Groundbreaking news. Next up, Rando discusses who was a better humanitarian, Gandhi or Attilla the Hun. This is flamebaiting. You're lucky Rando's a nice guy, otherwise you'd have been warned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 For feuds, you forgot Cena/Angle. Here's a question: when Angle comes back (if he does anytime soon), will he feud with Eddie or Cena? Because he seems to have beef with both of them. First off, I'd like to say that if Angle comes back to wrestle, having him as an on-air heel character will counter-act the usual "welcome back" face-ness that injured guys Angle's stature usually get no matter what. As for who--Angle's last wrestling feud was with Eddy and Angle is definitely needed in the main event if he's healthy. Plus, dealing with Cena first would just create an unnecessary buffer feud that if Angle won, he'd have to logically move onto Eddy anyway, but at the same time it would hurt Cena since Angle won their last feud decisively. If Angle lost, it wouldn't make much sense to then give Angle a title shot unless a heel GM does it just to get more heat on Angle. Of course, the Cena feud would be desirable because it would get Angle a feud that, if he was injured again during it, the main event picture wouldn't be thrown right back into jeopardy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Amazing Rando 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 I think Cena has his own nice little rut of challengers lined up so much so that while Cena MAY get involved in the Eddie vs. Angle storyline, it would only be as a help to Eddie ... and may even lead into the whole Cena vs. JBL idea that I threw around in the "Summerslam" thread. Eddie/Cena vs. JBL/Angle as a SD Main Event sounds like a car wreck, but Eddie and Angle could easily carry it to *** or more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack_Bauer 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Raw good, Smackdown bad. Call me crazy, but I've been enjoying Smackdown the last couple of weeks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheBigSwigg 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Raw good, Smackdown bad. Call me crazy, but I've been enjoying Smackdown the last couple of weeks. You're Crazy. Actually, I wouldn't know, as I don't get Smackdown! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted July 7, 2004 For feuds, you forgot Cena/Angle. No he didn't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Australian Pride 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 First off, I'd like to say that if Angle comes back to wrestle, having him as an on-air heel character will counter-act the usual "welcome back" face-ness that injured guys Angle's stature usually get no matter what. True, but considering Angle has stayed on TV, and has constantly been baiting the fans it shouldnt matter too much. And didnt he actually blame all his injuries on the fans at one stage? I'm interested to see what happens when Big Show returns, because when he left he was a heel, but there should be a big beef between him and Angle so in theory one of them would have to go face if they were to slug it out. Or maybe they'll just shift Big Show to Raw and forget it ever happened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Amazing Rando 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Big Show will come back as a face, I bet, to feud with heel Angle after Kurt is done with Eddie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Big Show will come back as a face, I bet, to feud with heel Angle after Kurt is done with Eddie. Because Angle as a heel in that feud makes sense Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Australian Pride 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Big Show will come back as a face, I bet, to feud with heel Angle after Kurt is done with Eddie. If Big Show can drop a few pounds before coming back then that could be a good fued. If all he does is eat while he's away then i dont want to see it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Australian Pride 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2004 Big Show will come back as a face, I bet, to feud with heel Angle after Kurt is done with Eddie. Because Angle as a heel in that feud makes sense Well, it's not much different to Steve Austin injuring Brian Pillman, and then Pillman being the heel when he returned. And when Chris Benoit went down with his neck injury it was attributed to a Stone Cold stunner at KOTR, but then when Benoit returned he was a heel as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Rrrsh Report post Posted July 9, 2004 John Cena needs to be added to SD Title picture. Even as US champ, he is a top 5 contender easy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndrewTS 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 True, but considering Angle has stayed on TV, and has constantly been baiting the fans it shouldnt matter too much. And didnt he actually blame all his injuries on the fans at one stage? That's, you know, what I said in the post you replied to? As for the second part, ask some one who watched SD then. I'm interested to see what happens when Big Show returns, because when he left he was a heel, but there should be a big beef between him and Angle so in theory one of them would have to go face if they were to slug it out. Or maybe they'll just shift Big Show to Raw and forget it ever happened. So likely: A) Despite Big Show nearly killing him, he and Angle will probably shake hands and forget about the whole mess, then get together to plot against Eddy. =P B) Big Show returns as a face, and WWE pushes him as such, despite the fact that he tried to kill Angle. C) Big Show goes to Raw, the absolutely most idiotic choice that WWE could do considering the vacuum at the upper card on SD. There's no acceptable, sensible scenario out of those. Unless Angle completely flip-flops and turns face, and Big Show returns as a heel, there's little you can do without resulting in gaps in logic, continuity, or SD's roster. SD needs Show, IMO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iggymcfly 0 Report post Posted July 9, 2004 I think the best thing to do with Angle and Show is to kind of keep them away from each other with the subtle implication that Kurt's afraid to go near the Big Show, and for that reason can't confront him about what happened. Then, after a three or four month heel run near the top of the card where he never actually wins the title, Angle decides to confront his demons and get revenge. This turns Angle face, and eventually culminates in a match at Wrestlemania between the two. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Repo Man Reborn Report post Posted July 9, 2004 This is flamebaiting. You're lucky Rando's a nice guy, otherwise you'd have been warned. Stop with the tough guy act and make a point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
