WWE Brand Split Happening After WrestleMania 32?
The return of Shane McMahon on this week's episode of "Monday Night RAW" is the needed boost by the WWE entering WrestleMania 32. He will be facing The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match with control for RAW and the company on the line.
The story is very interesting with so many final outcomes. One of those is the possibility of a brand split of the main roster with exclusive superstars for both RAW and SmackDown. If "Shane-O-Mac" wins at WrestleMania, he will gain control of RAW while Stephanie McMahon and Triple H will have SmackDown.
There is a report circulating online, where a future RAW episode on May 23 in Baltimore is being promoted as "Monday Night Raw vs. WWE." But the Ticketmaster website already changed the name, possibly being a typographical error on their part.
However, Mike Johnson of PWInsider noted that the WWE has been talking about bringing back the brand extension.
The Brand Extension
The WWE ended the brand extension of RAW and SmackDown last 2011 with all superstars eligible to appear on both shows. One reason the split was scrapped was because the WWE wanted their overall content to be seen on all platforms including television and mobile devices.
"We are all telling the same stories. And digital and social offer the ability to continue storylines 24/7 so our fans can consume the content anytime, anywhere on the device they prefer," Stephanie said.
It led to SmackDown being an average show with repeat matches on RAW due to it being changed from two hours to three. The ratings have also plummeted as well as the overall product.
Will it Work?
SmackDown recently moved to the USA Network and the demand is for it to become just as big as RAW. The brand split makes sense for the WWE, considering the number of talents it has and fans wanting it back. Besides, during the "Attitude Era," the company got the best ratings during the brand split where SmackDown was going head-to-head with RAW.
However, with superstars getting thrown out to Monday nights, the SmackDown brand has become irrelevant for the past years. If Shane indeed gains control of RAW, Stephanie and Triple H will be handling SmackDown.
Triple H is also the head of NXT programming and has showed that he can produce a great wrestling show. He could easily bring developmental talents to the main roster while having NXT as a third brand.
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