Is SmackDown becoming the "A" show again?

#3. RAW's championship picture suddenly looks shaky

What happens AFTER the big match?

Though RAW's main event scene was on fire over the summer thanks to the likes of Samoa Joe and Braun Strowman, it has since cooled significantly after the Monster Among Men's disappointing loss at No Mercy. We learned then beyond a shadow of a doubt that no amount of momentum from Braun or anyone else will stop Roman Reigns from dethroning Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.

But after that happens, things don't look so hot in the long term. Who will Roman really have left to defeat? Who would really threaten him? It looks rather lacklustre from here unless the Shield remains together, to be honest.

Then there's the Intercontinental Championship, which is in need of new blood. With few challenges over the last number of months, the title has felt like a prop for the Miz more than something to compete for. It's also unclear who's in a position to take the championship from him, though I'm on the record as saying Elias should get a push and do it in early 2018.

RAW's women's division has been harmed by Alexa Bliss' reign, though it thankfully will have Asuka and possibly Paige as fresh challenges, so if the champ's booking changes, that could be a bright spot. If not, all bets are off.

Finally, there's the tag team division, which is a desert. Only the Shield and the Bar are championship calibre teams at this point, and an injection of new competitors is sorely needed. We still don't know when that will be, though.

Behind RAW's glittering facade that tore up the road to SummerSlam, there was truthfully almost nothing, and that became clear after No Mercy. SmackDown ironically now looks to be in a much better institutional position.