WWE Raw Vs. Smackdown Live... Which Was Better? (10th, 11th September, 2018)

There's always a great deal of discussion about which one of WWE's two flagship shows was better? Did Raw prove to be more entertaining than SmackDown Live, or did SmackDown Live prove that sometimes you can do more in two hours than three? We answer that eternal question for the Hell in a Cell go-home shows of Raw and SmackDown.

Last week's Raw vs SmackDown Live... Which was Better? saw Raw triumph over SmackDown, thanks to the unpredictable nature of the events that transpired! The Shield were ambushed by the Raw locker room, Dolph and Drew won the tag team titles and The Undertaker returned to confront Michaels.

To determine the winner We'll be looking at the best match of the night for both shows, the opening segment, the mid-card, the tag-team division, the main event and any surprises or shocks that may have happened on either show. Then, at the end of it all, we'll be able to tell you who wins when it comes to WWE Raw vs SmackDown Live.

#1. The Opening Segment

Raw: The opening of Raw saw Braun Strowman, Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre kick off the show with the heel Raw roster that helped them demolish the Shield last week. The trio gloated about what happened to the Shield. Who then appeared, complete with axe handles, and cleared the area to stand tall in the ring.

SmackDown: SmackDown jumped straight into the opening match which was Shinsuke Nakamura Vs. Jeff Hardy. We got a promo from Jeff beforehand saying he'll make Orton obsolete. The match itself is fine until Orton gets involved and pushes Hardy off of the top rope, leading to him winning by DQ. The post-match beatdown was decent with Hardy eventually turning the tables and popping the crowd to stand tall.

Which was better? Raw had a great open-ended question with 'why did the Raw roster attack the Shield' and I truly believe that what happened here was the worst way to answer it, with guys like Owens and Elias being made redundant and the storyline simply moving on asap. With that in mind, I've got to give this to SmackDown Live, even though I'm still not totally sold on the Hardy vs Orton feud.

Winner: SmackDown Live

#2. The Mid-Card

The United States Champion is in non-title action!

Raw: Remember when Raw spent a lot of time building up the Intercontinental Title as important with Seth Rollins arguably doing the work of his WWE career in defending it and raising its stock only for them to completely ignore it exists for two weeks in a row. Sure he's embroiled in some sort of feud with Ziggler, McIntyre and Strowman but Ziggler was the former champion so why wouldn't you make it part of the story. The IC Title isn't even being defended at Hell in a Cell. Still, we did get Kevin Owens Vs. Tyler Breeze and Elias vs Finn Balor..

SmackDown: On SmackDown we had the United States Champion, who has literally not been used since winning the title, making way for the two people who had the title before him to have a Hell in a Cell match, lose by disqualification to the guy he won the title off of. Remember when SmackDown spent a lot of time building up the United States Title with The Miz arguably.... You get the point.

Which was better?: Neither, neither was better! We're genuinely looking like we're about to head towards a major pay-per-view without either the United States or Intercontinental Titles mattering, or being defended.

Winner: Draw

#3. The Tag-Team Division

The Authors of Pain are getting the spotlight on Raw

Raw: Four tag-team matches took place on Raw, with one being a women's match (Rousey and Natalya against Alexa Bliss and Mickie James). We had AOP vs Jobbers, Gable and Roode vs Ascension again and the Raw Tag Team Title rematch with Ziggler and McIntyre beating The B Team as expected.

SmackDown: The finals of the SmackDown Live Tag-Team 'series of matches' took place with Rusev Day taking on The Bar. Thankfully, it was a great match as they usually are on SmackDown and Rusev Day winning was a good decision as it's something different and helps establish them more.

Which was better?: I genuinely think SmackDown Live accomplished more with their one tag-team match than Raw did with four. The problem I have here is that two week's ago Raw's Tag-Team division was dead and now they're making an effort to build it up again.

Winner: Draw

#4. The Women's Division

Ronda Rousey adds another nail to Alexa Bliss' coffin?

Raw: On Raw we had Nikki Bella Vs. Ruby Riott in singles action and we had Rousey teaming up with Natalya to take on Mickie James and Alexa Bliss. One match builds towards Evolution and the other towards Hell in a Cell. Rousey's injured ribs are an interesting factor but that's about it really.

SmackDown: Asuka and Naomi's feud with the IIconics gets continued backstage, Charlotte takes on Sonya Deville with Mandy Rose at ringside and Becky Lynch attacks after the match and the main event was Maryse returning to the ring for the first time in 8 years against Brie Bella.

Which was better?: I've got to give this to SmackDown. All of their women are involved in some way with Lana, Vega and Carmella supporting their male partners this week. Becky Lynch in disguise blindsiding Charlotte was great and the main event, although not the greatest match ever, was great and a testament to both women. Maryse gave birth in April and here she is main eventing SmackDown Live.

Winner: SmackDown Live

#5. The Main Events

Brie Bella vs Maryse is the SmackDown Live main event!

Raw: The main event of Raw was Braun Strowman calling out Roman Reigns and then threatening to hurt special guest referee Mick Foley if he interfered in the Hell in a Cell match. Reigns then came out, the two brawled and eventually Reigns Samoan Drops Strowman from the announce table though the stage.

SmackDown Live: Brie Bella and Maryse did battle and then it devolved into chaos with all four participants of the mixed-gender tag-team match at Hell in a Cell brawling. It ended with Daniel Bryan and Brie Bella leading the crowd in Yes! Chants!

Which was better?: As good as it was to see Maryse and Brie Bella wrestling in singles action, I have to give it to Raw and their dramatic spot with Reigns destroying Braun Strowman

Winner: Raw

#6. Shocks and Surprises

Raw: The biggest shock on Raw was the announcement from Mick Foley that he will be setting foot inside the Hell in a Cell structure once more as he'll be the special guest referee for the Universal Championship match at Hell in a Cell between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman

SmackDown: This show didn't have much in the way of major shocks or surprises with Becky Lynch appearing in disguise in the crowd to attack Charlotte after her match with Sonya Deville probably being the biggest!

Which was better?: Foley's Hell in a Cell return twenty years after he infamously wrestled the Undertaker inside the structure obviously takes it!

Winner: Raw

#7. The Best Match

Raw: Most of the matches on Raw were purely to further storylines, with most being short but sweet. Owens vs Breeze, AOP vs jobbers, McIntyre and Ziggler vs The B Team, Gable and Roode were all almost squash length. So Elias and Balor is sort of the best match by default, although Nikki Bella vs Ruby Riott is a close second

SmackDown: Truth vs Almas and Rusev Day vs The Bar are both pretty decent matches, but I think I have to give it to Rusev and Aiden English purely because I was elated that they won and will face the New Day at Hell in a Cell

Which was better?: SmackDown Live's tag-team match was better than anything Raw put out this week. I guess this is what happens when Rollins doesn't actually wrestle!

Winner: SmackDown Live

That brings the scores to 5-4 for this week in SmackDown Live's favour!

Winner and best show this week: SmackDown Live

Which show do you think was better this week, SmackDown Live or Monday Night Raw? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!

Randy Orton picks the next Randy Orton HERE.