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When did Friday Night SmackDown become the A show?
At this point, it's obvious that WWE's move to FOX had a lot to do with this, but the company deserves credit for taking the chances that have paid off in dividends. WWE has garnered some very big returns on those risks, which is only helping the company produce better content.
Maybe this is just the push forward WWE needs, or perhaps the company's new focus of the Blue brand is helping, but there is definitely a different feel to WWE in 2019. There's a certain energy that has been building in WWE, a potential that hasn't fully been realized yet, and it is to the benefit of wrestling fans to watch it all play out.
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With that stated and Friday Night SmackDown continuing to pump out fantastic content, here are five reasons the Blue brand is WWE's best show right now. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to tell us what you think about the show.
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#5 Room to grow
While Monday Night RAW still seems to be stuck in its ways in regards to booking, Friday Night SmackDown has repeatedly changed things up and offered some very memorable programming in the process. In fact, that might be one of the biggest contributing factors to SmackDown's success right now. The show is in a state of evolution.
If nothing else, Friday Night SmackDown is still in the process of morphing into its final form, which could be very interesting, especially given the fact that the show is now on FOX. It has turned the Blue brand into WWE's most popular show of the week and fans have taken notice.
Ultimately, WWE is beholden to FOX and the network is going to hold them accountable in creating engaging content. Not only has that already been proven by the addition of Cain Velasquez to the roster, but also by the Blue brand's renewed focus on in-ring wrestling instead of pointless segments.
#4 Two hour format
There's something about Friday Night SmackDown's two-hour format that allows the show to flow in a way that Monday Night RAW has struggled to do so. Of course, a lot of that has to do with the filler content the company is forced to create for a three hour broadcast, but SmackDown seems to avoid that problem entirely with its two-hour format.
In fact, there seems to be a lot less filler on SmackDown, which is a welcome break after five hours of weekly WWE main roster programming. The two hour format also allows the company to focus more on the pro wrestling aspect of the show and really helps keep things on track.
With that stated, this doesn't mean RAW is the inferior show due specifically to its time length. It's just that SmackDown finds better use of its limited amount of time. Perhaps that has everything to do with the jam-packed roster the Blue brand boasts, or maybe it's just better storytelling, but SmackDown is a cut above the rest.
In the end, Friday Night SmackDown has everything going for it and that seems to be paying off for WWE.
#3 Direction of The Women's Division
WWE has a plethora of great talent to work with when it comes to SmackDown Women's Division. While much of that has to do with younger stars wanting to make a name for themselves, it also has to do with the dynamic the brand has already created. With Bayley officially turning heel with Sasha Banks at her side, there's still so much more to explore on the Blue brand.
With Bayley as SmackDown Women's Champion and Sasha Banks making it known that she is hunting for gold, how long before the two best friends turn on each other to further their own careers? Of course, that destination is probably some time away, especially with Banks and Bayley just becoming heels, but it is definitely an option down the road and will be enjoyable with a slow unpredictable build.
Beyond that, there is Dana Brooke, who has struggled to make a name for herself, but has garnered increasing support from fans as of late. Perhaps WWE can build her up to be the fan favorite babyface that is able to dethrone Bayley and change the face of the Women's Division.
There's also Lacey Evans, who Vince McMahon has reportedly been high on and may want to push heading forward. If nothing else, she is the powder keg that the company needs right now and it will be interesting to watch how she ascends to the very top of the division.
#2 The legitimacy factor
It's amazing what a change of network can do for a television show. Not only did it take SmackDown from a humdrum secondary show to a Friday night thriller, but it also unleashed energy in the Blue brand that hasn't been seen in quite some time. Moving to FOX was the refresh WWE needed and it's coming with quite a few benefits as well.
If nothing else, the move has given Friday Night SmackDown a level of legitimacy that the show would have been unlikely to gain otherwise. In fact, between Cain Velasquez appearing on the first episode to confront Brock Lesnar and the network promoting the show during NFL games throughout the week, it's safe to say that more eyes are on the Blue brand than ever before.
WWE has even gone so far as to have draft panels, a pre-game show, and more of a focus on the sports-oriented nature of professional wrestling. Of course, there's a promo or a run in here and there when the time calls for it. It wouldn't be professional wrestling otherwise, but SmackDown's bread and butter is now the legitimacy factor.
#1 Big names
SmackDown is the show for fans that want star power in their wrestling. Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, Roman Reigns, Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan, and Sasha Banks achieve that in spades. The Blue brand has become a who's who of WWE and has shined brilliantly since the 2019 WWE Draft.
The opportunities with such a stacked roster are virtually limitless. Think about the dream matches that could happen. Think of all the other UFC stars, boxers, and actors that are going to want to come on board to be part of SmackDown. Cris Cyborg has even reportedly expressed interest in going to WWE , which is a firm sign that star power is the future of the company.
Interestingly enough, WWE has homegrown Superstars like Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns, Sasha Banks, and Bayley, also heavily featured on SmackDown. This creates a dynamic mix for fans to enjoy. Believe it or not, this is the beginning of a new era in WWE and it starts with the attention grabbing power of Friday Night SmackDown.
It's a great time to be a wrestling fan and Friday Night SmackDown's star power is a big reason why.
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