The roster split

[Guest]

So far we got about a Month of this Roster split business...

and Already they screwed up with the title situation, espically the tag titles which should go to both shows. Raw got most of the mid level belts while Smackdown got only the tag and cruiserweight  World and Womens titles go to both shows

though...your not seeing anyone defending these titles on both shows now do you.. Just a Interview on one show, a match on the other.

 

So question is.

Was the Split truely benficial to the Company?

 

Weigh the pro's and cons and your own opinions as to how its doing so far.

[Guest]

Everyone is bashing the "split" but I think it's been okay.

 

I think the WWF is more entertaining right now then the first half of the year, before Wrestlemania.

 

I blame Steph and the writing team for that though.

 

Jericho as Champ should of been GOLD!

[Guest Human Fly]

I like the split so far, although not quite as much as I would like, it has given us some new wrestlers put on tv. I think a lot of things are still being worked out.

 

One of the things I would change is I would try and make it more like two seperate promotions more. I'm not talking about the HHH - Undertaker mess, the majority of people here think it's a bad idea. I'm talking about showing highlights from Smackdown on Raw. I'm talking about hyping a Smackdown match on Raw. It would be cool to me if that were stopped.

 

Also, Raw kind of seems like it has been booked as the weaker promotion. But, it has more titles and gets better ratings. I don't want to see any show booked as the weaker of the two, but this doesn't make sense.

 

Finally, have the tag titles on both shows. What's the point of having consistent tag-teams on Raw? What goal are they striving for? They should disband tag teams on the Raw show.

[Guest Mad Dog]

Champions need to be able to defend on both shows or each show needs it's own sets of titles.  That would make it more legit to me.

 

Also this nonsense of invading the other show has to end.  And the shows need to stop mentioning each other. It's little things like that that will hurt it down the road.

 

I also think they need to start treating Raw like an equal.  It's getting better ratings mostly b/c it's the show trying new things.  Vince needs to pay attention to that sort of thing.

[Guest Will Scarlet]

Well...I have enjoyed Raw/Heat after the split.  I cannot say the same for Smackdown/Metal.  Raw and Heat seem to be new and different to me.  New guys are getting pushed or at least getting some spotlight.  I enjoy things like Planet Stasiak, Brock, Raven as an announcer, Bubba Ray Dudley as Hardcore champion, guys like Tommy Dreamer, D-Lo, and Stevie Richards doing things.  Plus, you have feuds like Eddie/RVD that I have enjoyed. Sure, there are other things(Big Show joining the NWO, the Bradshaw push) that I have not, but nothing is perfect.

 

Smackdown/Metal is something I have not enjoyed.  For one, having angles on Metal seems dumb to me.  I try to watch Metal every week, and the fact that they are having angles on the D-Show confuses me, especially since they rarely mention things like Lance Storm/Hugh Morrus feud on Smackdown.  Sure, they have had little things happening on Heat, but, at least I am used to little angles happening on Heat because they had things like that happening before the split.  At least Heat is on MTV, while Metal is syndicated, and does not even show in some areas.  

 

Smackdown seems to be the exact same show it always was.  Sure, Tajiri and Kidman are getting pushes, but that is all I really care about on Smackdown. So far, all I have seen is Mark Henry bending bars, plenty of Vince, and Angle and Jericho still jobbing to the stars.  Hardly something that makes me want to watch past the opening match, which is usually when Tajiri is on tv.  Last week, it was a Six-Man b/w Tajiri, Billy, & Chuck vs. Kidman, Snow, & Maven.  That is the basically the two feuds I enjoy right there in one match.  Hurricane is still doing nothing.  Storm and Christian are jobbing to Morrus and Funaki. Most of the midcard is just standing around, cheering for or against Mark Henry.  It totally bores me.

 

I also hate showing stuff from Smackdown on Raw.  I watch Raw because I like Raw.  I know Smackdown is on the air, and there is a reason I do not watch it, which is primarily because of the fact that I find the angles that they decide to show highlights of on Raw to be completely boring.  I hate that the WWF assumes that people accidentally miss Smackdown so they must inform us of what is going on the show.  That is why I disliked the WWF before the split.  They assume that a large amount of their fans missed Raw or Smackdown, so they have to show us what happened even though the fans already knew what happened and do not need a complete recap of it.  

 

I really do not need a recap of what happened on Smackdown because, as far as I am concerned, when I watch Raw, Smackdown does not exist.  I care only about those on the Raw brand when I watch Raw, and, if I so choose to watch Smackdown, I only care about those on the Smackdown brand when I watch Smackdown.  I do not turn on Smackdown thinking, "Gee, I hope Big Show gives the explanation for his heel turn." or "Gee, I hope Bradshaw shows up." Nor do I want to watch Raw hoping to get my Triple H fix for the week when I do not watch him on Smackdown.

 

It is little things like that why I dislike this split.  Raw has built itself into something good, but since Smackdown is the same stuff, and is losing massive ratings, the WWF thinks that "Gee, people must be switching to Friends and missing it, but, if they saw what happened on Raw, then they would tune into Smackdown for sure."  If the WWF just worked on making Smackdown something different then, maybe, it would get better ratings.

[Guest The Voices In Your Head]

I think the split is OK so far, but the WWF has to make sure it doesn't do too many crossovers, like Triple H & Undertaker this week. As for Jakked having angles, I watched last night, and I said to myself what the hell?? after seeing an actual backstage skit with Hurricane & Chavo. Hopefully Lance Storm will be reunited with Dawn Marie soon, and hopefully with that he can get at least pushed back up to SmackDown! every week. I do actually make more of an effort to watch both shows each week now since I can only see RVD & Lesnar on Raw, while I can only see others on SmackDown.

[Guest JMTapes]

Both shows need to stop mentioning the other. Each side needs to be treated like a separate promotion. Hell, why not even call one WCW? -Jim

 

www.jmtapes.com

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

I've been pleasantly surprised by Raw, and surprisingly dissappointed (sp) by SD. Funny, I thought, once that joke of a WWF draft was over, that these Raw/SD feelings would be the other way around...

[Guest]

I think most of us are shocked just how good RAW is compared to SD! Vince better wake up and see this.

 

RAW has been more about "Wrestling" while Smackdown been keeping to it's "Entertainment" Crap. SD had really Low ratings this week also. Ha Ha. Steph might have to come back to SD and "save" the show.

[Guest Mystery Eskimo]

Well, unsurprisingly, they're pushing the wrong people, which is kinda runing it for me.

[Guest Caliban]

I think the split has been excellent. At Backlash, every match on that card had been built up reasonably well. Look back at Wrestlemania and what a clusterfuck the undercard was there.

 

The writing team is being forced to slow the pace of storylines down, there is a slow build to everything, and it's helping. There seem to be less pointless title changes to. Slowly but surely I think the titles are gaining prestige.

 

They are pushing new people - maybe not the RIGHT people but at least it's something different.

 

I agree that Smackdown has been the weaker show for the most part, but who can honestly sit through 2 hours of Cole? All Smackdown needs is a new pair of commentators, a little less Vince, and we'd be set.

[Guest converge241]

I love it. I think it is one of the best things to happen.

 

Pros:

The pacing. Im a fan of the drawn out storytelling.

The elevation. just getting to see more people on is a plus. Planet Stasiak, regal getting more time.

Matches. They are getting a little longer.

 

cons:

i think you can tell they decided last minute who goes where.

tag teams: where the frig are the permanent tag teams

Albert in little tights: not a direct result of the split but still.

Taker and HHH on the other shows: just a bad idea.

[Guest]

The split aint much fun if you dont get to see Raw regularily.

[Guest RicFlairGlory]

RAW got booked slightly weaker, because people are always going to tune into RAW.  Call it the appeal of cable, call it titties, but RAW is always gonna draw ratings.

 

SMACKDOWN, on the other hand, cant draw ratings worth shit. So they got better and bigger talent in hopes that Smackdown's ratings would Rise.  

 

Vinces logic, why give all the talent to the show the sheep will all watch anyways?

[Guest]

I wonder is that why we get Smackdown free here? so it gets the figures somewhere?

[Guest El Satanico]

Well so far the split has gone well. I think they still have some bugs to work out.

 

They need to address the belt situations...they need to even the sides out better as far as belts go and change women title to tag belts as the only title other then WWF Title that is open to both shows. Each side should have 2-3 belts...then at the PPV there are 6-8 title matches which would make it easier to even the Raw and Smackdown sides out on PPV.

 

Mentioning PPV, WWF has to figure out a good PPV system to use with the split. The way they handled backlash wasn't a great idea and a half assed "split" PPV system willcause problems the longer the split stays around. Evening the belts out would make PPV's alot easier to book since all the titles would be defended and other then WWF title match and tag match both sides would have an equal number of title matches.

 

Concerning the HHH Undertaker situation. I don't have a problem with them doing the whole "guys that aren't allowed to be there invading the show" angle IF they treat it like the guy is invading.

 

If the guy "buys" a ticket and then runs to the ring from the crowd i don't see a problem. However if the invader walks to the ring from the backstage area with a camera man following and then when he comes out from backstage they have his theme playing...well that's a problem.

[Guest]

It was a good and bad thing with obvious reasons considered. I do like how it gives under talent get a chance to shine with less people to compete for air time with.