Think of WWE’s Smackdown Live as the Little Engine That Could. A smaller roster, a shorter time on cable television and fewer storylines to draw from. For some reason, the blue team continues to surprise everyone and prove Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan know what they are doing.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.
Two months into the new era or this “experiment” in brand specific programming, I tend to watch Tuesday nights more because of the potential for better matches and more compelling segments.
I don’t think anyone really knows why Monday Night Raw isn’t laying the Smackdown – see how I did that – on its baby brother. What I do know it is possible the reasons for the blue team’s success isn’t as much what it is doing right as it is more of what the red brand is doing wrong.
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Any way you want to analyse it, Smackdown Live is winning the wrestling war right now, which is making for some compelling arguments against the theory of bigger is always better in this business. But for now, it’s great for the fans to sit and wonder and talk out loud why they think blue of better than red in this case.
Here are five reasons why the blue team is getting over on the red team.
Less indecision
The current situation with the Universal Heavyweight Title is all the reason you need to realise things aren’t as cohesive on Monday nights. The fact the company has not addressed the swerve by Triple H to turn on Seth Rollins is hurting fan interest. There should have been resolution immediately.
Continuity means a lot in telling a storyline. It has not happened. The company is still making Roman Reigns the lead dog on Monday night. Winning the US Title is a great honour and it could help get him over with the fans. But Reigns does not have the top belt in the company, which is complicating matters.
AJ Styles
When Styles was signed by Triple H, it was believed he would begin his journey to in NXT, but the fans spoke and were heard them loud and clear. After his appearance at the Royal Rumble, the company knew they had lightning in a bottle.
Styles’ ability to turn heel and remain so popular is a tribute to how great he is in the ring. Styles has taken down John Cena and has defeated Dean Ambrose. As he continues to feel more comfortable on the mic, he will remain as the dominant heel on the blue brand.
Two hours of programming
I think Tuesday programming is getting a raw deal – see, I did it again – with only two hours opposed to three on Monday night, but it works. The tighter time slot means there must be more attention to detail. Just like the less is more theory, there are fewer storylines, which means there is more concentration on character development and telling a story between opponents.
Unlike the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression a lack of stories and character backstory has hurt crucial to keeping fan interest. The blue team has learned to work with what it has on its roster.
No football
This is as big a deal as any other reason. No one sports league or sports entertainment brand is going to unseat the NFL as the biggest and the best. Vince McMahon has tried for years. One of the biggest reasons ratings are an issue on Monday night is fans watch football and plenty of it.
While Raw and WCW were killing it in the Monday Night Wars, the compelling story didn’t take fans away from their pigskin. Now, with confusion and lack of direction, fans turn their televisions to another channel after 9 pm. The blue team is capitalising on this.
John Cena
I was reluctant to put him on this list, but Cena still remains highly relevant in this company. No matter how many storylines are written for the other stars, where it looks like someone is going to take his place as WWE’s top man, he continues to reinvent himself.
Cena being named to the blue brand was no accident as his presence is still must-see television. Now that there is a chance at history at No Mercy – where he can tie Ric Flair for the most world title reigns, he is once again as popular as ever. Smackdown Live has been able to capitalise on this and build it as one of the bigger storylines since the split.
