WWE SmackDown 2018: 5 things we learned from this week’s episode (December 11, 2018)

#3 SmackDown’s mindless fun carries it forward

Did you watch the Battle Rap Featuring The New Day, The Usos, and The Bar? Or the Thanksgiving match a few weeks ago? All this is mindless fun that takes up a spot but delivers to the fans in attendance nonetheless.

Fans want to watch their favorite stars no matter what. Whether it's fighting in the ring, on the mic, or just fooling around. The superstars are the ones who help the ratings grow.

Unlike Raw, which has been completely booked on a handful of superstars for the past two months, SmackDown gives more of their roster a chance. They also add such segments which entertain fans in a different way, even if you call it silly.

It’s notable that all three of WWE’s top tag teams are on SmackDown, and so are some of the better promo cutters like The Miz, AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, and Samoa Joe. These reasons combined are taking SmackDown forward week after week, while Raw has been stuck in the same place.