Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of Battle of the Brands from Smark Out Moment, where we compare this week's episodes of Raw and SmackDown and determine which one of the two was the better show.

BATTLE OF THE BRANDS:

RAW vs. SMACKDOWN

FACTOR 1: CROWD

Oddly enough, this week I think SmackDown Lives crowd was louder and more into the show. Even though Raw has the inherently larger names and generally a little more to cheer for. Maybe it has something to do with Daniel Bryan the wrestler instead of Daniel Bryan the GM?

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 2: COMMENTARY

Coach, Cole, and Graves. They're still my favorite crew together. They have come together really well, and if it has to be a three man team I like theses three the most.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 3: MATCHES

Really SmackDown never had a chance. With Elias vs. Roode, Ziggler and McIntyre jelling well, Chad Gable getting a huge win, Lashley & Strowman beating up KO & Sami, and then Finn and Seth beating on the former Miztourage was great stuff to me. I liked the main event with all the women, but I think it could have been stronger.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 4: PROMOS

I LOVED the first promo on SmackDown this week with Miz and Big Cass. Miz and Daniel Bryan are about to have a SummerSlam feud, even though I wish it was a year long build to 'Mania next year for the WWE Championship, but hey I'll take what I can get. And considering how long ago that Miz promo was on DB, it has been a long build. The whole Carmella promo wasn't really bad either. I'm not her biggest fan, but she is getting better without question.

I love Paul Heyman, but they have him say the same thing week after week and he is running out of ways to say it. The Sami & Kevin Show was fun, and watching Dallas & Curt Axel try to find a new leader was good stuff too. Overall, I think SmackDown was better here.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 5: STORYLINES

The Daniel Bryan and Miz match that I expect to see at SummerSlam should be fantastic. The feud is starting back up again with Miz and Big Cass dogging on Bryan last week. I also think we see heel Shinsuke as a champ with face AJ chasing him for most of the year too. I love The Bludgeon Brothers as champs, and having Jeff Hardy on the blue brand is a great call too. Carmella is going to come into her own as champ, and I think she'll have a successful run before Asuka takes her out.

Drew McIntyre is going to be a force on Monday Night Raw. The roster on Mondays is just loaded, and I am excited to see the new feuds take place. Between Drew, Elias, Bobby Lashley, Finn, Seth Rollins, and Braun Strowman I am not sure who is my favorite guy right now. Chad Gable is so good in the ring and I hope he gets a great push. Raws women side has a lot of great talent too, and they should do some awesome stuff. As for what I am looking forward too most, it has to be SmackDown with Bryan and Miz alongside Shinsuke and AJ.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 6: SCHEDULING / PACING

You guys know how I feel here. SmackDown always hits the nail on the head here.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 7: VISUAL PRESENTATION

This was the week of tag teams in WWE and we saw some really cool ones on Raw. Obviously the Woken Crew with Bray and Matt, but then we had Braun & Lashley (wow), and Finn & Seth all team up. I like seeing odd tag teams like this every now and then especially with the best guys.

WINNER: Raw

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

Nothing.

POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+0 / -0) / SmackDown (+0 / -0)


SmackDown wins 4-3 with a good show overall this week. I think Raw, with its stellar roster, should eventuall take over for a few weeks but SmackDown holds it own so far!