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: MATCHES

Raw = The Symphony of Destruction match between Elias and Jeff Hardy was disappointing, as there wasn't much rhyme or reason to the match. Not only was it disjointed, it was also the scene of a rather scary bump for Hardy as he hit his head on the steel steps whilst hitting Elias with a Swanton Bomb.

AJ Styles defeated Keith Lee and Riddle in a remarkable Triple Threat match, securing his shot at the WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre at TLC. All three men put their working boots on as they fought hard to come out on top, however it was the experience of Styles that proved to be the difference maker. It is clear that despite losing, both Lee and Riddle are primed for great things.

SmackDown = The Pat Patterson tribute match was a great contest to include on the show, especially when you consider how the face team won in quite easy fashion. It was fun and harmless action that came across well.

The main event served it's purpose well, with Roman Reigns and Jey Uso looking strong. I was not a fan of the disqualification finish, however it is understandable that both Reigns and Kevin Owens need to look strong heading into TLC.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 2: PROMOS

Raw = Miz TV was poor this week, with The Miz and John Morrison interviewing Sheamus. Although it was interesting to see them attempt to turn Sheamus against Drew McIntyre, the segment fell flat.

SmackDown = Roman Reigns once again gave a commanding promo performance, noting how he doesn't manipulate his cousin, Jey Uso. He berated Kayla Braxton in destructive fashion, highlighting just how much of a sanctimonious prick he is. And it was wonderful to watch!

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 3: STORYLINES

Raw = The Miz once again teased cashing in his Money in the Bank contract, however the addition of AJ Styles to the WWE Championship match at TLC leaves The Miz feeling like an afterthought, especially as Drew McIntyre and Styles stared each other down to close out the show. Styles will undoubtedly give McIntyre a few weeks of torment, which makes their programme unmissable viewing.

SmackDown = Roman Reigns vs Kevin Owens heated up this week, with Reigns' manipulation of Jey Uso continuing to be a highlight of SmackDown. Bianca Belair and Bayley hinted at further issues, whilst King Corbin continued his feud with the Mysterio family. Overall, SmackDown appears to have the more engrossing storylines.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING

Raw = Whilst not as badly paced as previous weeks, Raw was still a struggle to get through.

SmackDown = SmackDown was a well paced show which mixed good matches with solid promos.

WINNER: SmackDown

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

Raw gains points for giving RETRIBUTION at least one victory this week, which is important as the stable needs to start picking up more momentum.

Raw also gains points for creating an interesting storyline with Lana. Who knew it was possible?

Raw loses points for the farce that was The Miz's attempted Money in the Bank cash in. It just looked awful.

SmackDown gains points for transforming Kevin Owens into a truly likeable face. He has been revitalised through his feud with Roman Reigns, and I hope this leads to much better booking for The Prizefighter.

SmackDown also gains points for a truly poignant tribute to Pat Patterson.

SmackDown loses points for the segment between Sasha Banks and Carmella. This was not the best way to create intrigue for their upcoming match, especially as their physical interactions have been much more effective.

POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+2 / -1) / SmackDown (+2 / -1)


With a score of 4 to 2, SmackDown wins this week's Battle of the Brands. Raw had some strong moments, but SmackDown felt like a stronger show overall.