Before you read any further, please be aware that this article contains spoilers regarding this week’s “Raw” and “SmackDown!” tapings. I know how the IWC frowns on spoilered infested articles, but honestly, I don’t give a rat’s ass. I’m celebrating the Tha O Show’s second season and if you don’t like it, click here. Maybe you’ll enjoy that more.
Ok? Still with me?
It’s time to abandon this bullshit brand separation the WWE adopted almost six years ago. The WWE has given up on it, they’ve just failed to make the announcement.
When we first had the roster split with Mr. McMahon and Ric Flair acting as ‘owners’ of each show I thought it was an interesting idea. The WWE had an influx of young talent on the rise who never would have gotten a sniff had it not been for the split. Do you really think guys like Edge, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero or Chris Benoit would have gotten a chance to shine in the main event had it not been for the split? Hell no. Not when you had names like Kurt Angle, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Hulk Hogan, Mick Foley Steve Austin, and on a part time basis, The Rock, at the top of the card of the same show.
So in one sense the split did what it was supposed to do.
The original idea was to have the two roster with the same number of title belts the WWE had always had. The catch being, that as a title holder, you could swing to either show. If you lost your title, you returned to the brand you were originally part of.
The addition of a second, and now third “World Championship” has diluted the importance of the top belt. It has also created a glut at the top of any major PPV.
The brand split was supposed to save certain feuds, so that they weren’t giving everything away for free.
This week we have Batista, Lashley, Undertaker, Cena, Michaels all appearing on a show they aren’t part of. Why? Is this meant to hyper Wrestlemania? How does watching Michaels and Cena take on MVP and Kennedy promote their respective title matches at Mania? Answer: it doesn’t.
Notice how JR no longer shouts things out like “What the hell is he doing here? He’s a “SmackDown!” guy!” Why? Because nobody cares anymore.
The once un-crossable line between brands has become looser than the U.S. / Canadian border during the 90s. At this rate it’s going to be like traveling between cities. Nobody bothers to stop you. You just come and go as you please.
Just look at the whole MNM / Hardy feud. Did anyone ask Jeff for his “SmackDown!” passport? Ummm no.
I am proposing two solutions.
Option A) Radical Change.
We destroy the three current rosters and trim all the excess. The three brands would go back to being three shows where all the top stars are free to appear on a weekly basis.
This concept eliminates talent that isn’t being used properly and that fans don’t care about. For every guy like Nitro that broke through because of the split, there are guys like Luther Reigns, The Dicks, The Gymini, The Bashams, Mark Jindrack and Heidenreich that nobody gives a shit about. They were all served to us because SOMEONE had to eat up that TV time.
The mass exodus of talent would clearly serve to strengthen TNA, WSX and the indies. Isn’t that what Vince wants? Healthy competition?
Eliminated from the NEW WWE would be guys like: Eugene, Jim Duggan, Cryme Time, Chris Masters, The Highlanders, Khali, Viscera, Boogeyman, Chavo Guerrero, Funaki, Mark Henry, The Miz, Sylvan Grenier, Balls Mahoney, Sandman, Kevin Thorn, Hardcore Holly, Test. Mike Knox, Stevie Richards, and Renee Dupree.
I’d base my Heavyweight Division around Edge (big surprise), with competition coming from Undertaker, Mr. Kennedy, Batista, Orton, Michaels Marcus Cor Von, Kane and Cena.
My Intercontinental Division would be all about CM Punk. Challenges would be coming from guys like MVP, Lashley, Finlay, RVD, Nitro, Jeff Hardy, Harry Smith and others.
In place of the old hardcore division I’d introduce the ‘Extreme Division’. Call it a tribute to the old ECW. Not all matches are ‘hardcore’ but would be modeled after the X-Division. I’d base that on Brian Kendrick with guys like Helms, Guido, Elijah Burke, Carlito and Super Crazy.
Trim the fat.
Ok, now if that’s TOO radical for you, and your bleeding heart can’t stand the idea of Sabu and Snitsky being out of work, try option two.
Option B) Back To Basics
Take the initial concept and STICK WITH IT. Three brands, with three governing figure heads with rosters that DON’T move between shows unless they hold a title.
The belts in circulation would be the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, the United States Championship, The Extreme Rules Championship, and The Tag Team Championship. Sorry cruiserweights. As much as you entertain me, WWE audiences are slow to accept a guy who was a cruiser as a main eventer. So there fore, the division is dead. They would be free to compete for bigger titles however.
I’d also scrap the women’s title. I know I’d have to remember to pee before the pay per view stars, but I’m willing to make sacrifices too.
Each show would have it’s own unique style.
Monday Night Raw would be based on the old WWF. Big guys with body builder physics and monsters. Smash mouth wrestling. Batista, Cena, Lashley, Cor Von, Undertaker and Kane.
Tuesday Night Revo-Lucha (ya that’s right) would be all about the extreme, no rules WWE version of luchadors. I’d love to see guys like RVD, Mysterio, Shelton Benjamin, Kendrick, London, and hell even Mike Awesome on this show.
The Friday Night “SmackDown!” show is for guys that can put on a 60 man iron man match on any given day. True technicians. Mat wrestling, lots of submissions, slightly branded towards MMA fans. This would feature guys like Finlay, Regal, Dave Taylor, Benoit, Shawn Michaels, and so many more.
There you go WWE.
Two viable options on how to fix the clusterfuck currently eating up a huge chunk of my valuable tv watching time.
Now, do it.
18 comments: on "F' The Brand Split"
When will he women's title ever draw money? That's what you have to ask.
Some would say that being Light Heavyweight Champion at the start of this WWF career hamstrung Christian for the next 5-6 years. He constantly had to prove he wasn't too small for the big dogs.
TNA doesn't have a cruiserweight division and virtually their entire roster is under 230 pounds.
I don't want to abolish the cruiserweight wrestler -- just the division which seems to stereotype and prevent these guys from reaching their potential.
If Gregory Helms faces Batista, I want people to see it as legitmately as AJ Styles VS. Abyss.
Thanks for your words.
I personally love option 2. Three unique brands and we're not flooded with bullshit belts. It would cut out the bullshit brand ppvs that noone watches.
I would probably keep Cryme Tyme around because WWE is still low on tag teams that generate a lot of fan interest, but aside from that, I agree that option "A" should be done. The title pictures you described were very well drawn out, and as it stands, are pretty much on the mark. The only thing I would change is that I would have RVD in the Heavyweight division and Orton in the Intercontinental division.
The Tag Team division could consist of teams like Cryme Tyme, WGTT, Cade & Murdoch, London & Kendrick, Deuce & Domino, New Hart Foundation, and Hardy Boyz.
The brand split has become a huge failure; it's going to come to the point where even Vince is going to realize that. Let's just hope it's sooner rather than later, and that he acts on it.
why does everyone feel they're smarter and more "in-tune" than a billionaire that has spent their entire life in the industry? not every idea "works" and what "works" isnt always what the minority (us) wants...
product "overhauls" are extremely risky and when a company is responsible for "the public"'s money then those kinds of risks are not resposible, logical moves... as we've heard a million times "if it's not broke, then don't fix it"... not to say that improvements aren't welcome, but those suggestions are a little too far fetched
ps- why wasnt Cena on the list of guys to get rid of?
I kind of like how it is currently.
The only change I would make is using the PPVs as "supercards" and have all three brands appear on all the PPVs.
Get rid of single brand PPVs and keep the television how it is. Also, allow any wrestler to challenge for a title on any brand.
i can second with frank fronte... how can anyone complain about MnM v the hardys?... regardless of whos on what brand... its a good draw...
MnM VS. Hardys is just fine... but swing a move to get them on the same show so that the matches MEAN something.
Currently, they have served to take away from singles push of Nitro and forced the IC title to become an after thought.
There's no where for that feud to go... no advancement of either team, since the feud was immediate with no future plan.
The system as it exists right now is ridiculous. The borders between shows are a revolving door, which completely destroys the concept of inter-bran rivalry that only JBL is trying to maintain.
I kind of see where you're coming from, but i dont put alot of weight on storylines... a good match is a good match... that 4-way ladder tag dance was great and two of the teams (mnm and the hardys) by some standards had no business in the match... but thanks to them the match was memorable... in the 80's and early 90's wrestling didnt need complex storylines and from the friends that i have that hate wresting now its the storylines that make them not want to watch... some storyline is good, but there is a such thing as enough is enough... its all about finding a balance
personally i think if you're the top champ on RAW, stay on RAW... and all across the board... and if your not a champ then feel free to shop around...
for example some viewers may prefer to see certain midcarders on one show as oppose to another brand... show business is very picky and little things can determine success and failure... the shows do have small distinctions among their selves and certain performers may click more so than with another... these things can be determined easier if they can test the waters more... that may help in creating a star... which is what we all want... i guess...
I'm all for streamlining the storylines... however for the last 10 years, the mark of relevance in the WWE has been your back story.
The idea that the WWE would trim their love of soap opera tv is far more unrealistic than either proposal I've suggested.
I want hot matches, and storyline consistency...
I think winning a cruiser title DOES hold you back when you try to transition into the main event...
It holds you back in the eyes of the fans and the promoters.
Promoters have a hard time forgetting you were the guy jerking the curtain.
Can anyone HONESTLY SAY that Helms, Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, Super Crazy, Spanky, London, Noble or any of those guys has a LEGIT chance of main eventing a PPV??
No way. Not the way the WWE books...
I agree to an extent with you Donnie, but if there were a perfect way to mesh both your options it would be golden. But it's nearly impossible, so I'd go with option B. There would be a definent setback to trimming the excess. Vince may say it, but the guy doesn't want healthy competition, he wants no competition. Not anymore anyway, he's become spoiled on not having any, and so have the fans. They like TNA and WSX but WWE is where it's at, because it was basically like that for 4 years. TNA made a stink beforehand but never were taken seriously until the primetime deal came around. Other than the internet community of course, but I heard in a Ken Kennedy interview off of Wrestlecast that smarks(according to Joey Styles) made up a very small portion of the E's viewing audience and that may be correct. Because most smarks watch TNA and their rating is sticking around 1.0, so Vince was it to around 3.0 of his viewers. Thats opinion based on fact, but you get what I'm saying.
I like your divisions though, they are well thought out and make alot of sense.
As for as the Cweight title holding someone back, I absolutely believe that. Matt Hardy won it, and even though he's in the doghouse he can't get a break. Jeff Hardy once stated in an interview that he didn't want to go after that title because of the stigma you get stuck with. Christian won the LightHeavyweight title on his very first night(match) in the E, and it was how long before the guy reached singles success? Too long. Now anonymous, as far as the way the WWE books you are right, none of those guys will probably main event a ppv, but of all the names you mentioned there is not a single name you mentioned that couldn't main event a PPV or a string of PPV's and tow the load. Gregory Helms, Jamie Noble, Paul London, Spanky are the top 4 out of that list without a doubt, both Hardy's and SC are all very talented and OVER. I'd pay money to go watch a Greg Helms vs. Jamie Noble vs. Spanky vs. London 4-way, and that's with no undercard. You may not have but if you've ever watched RoH and saw James Gibson(noble) you know what he can do. Same can be said of London. London was maybe the most talented guy on that roster next to Joe at that time. Their main event of the Death Before Dishonor show although short was INCREDIBLE. But all the guys you mentioned are over and very good wrestlers in their own right with their own style.
short list of wrestlers "held back" by holding cruiserweight title:
Rey Mysterio
Chris Jericho
Eddie Guerrero
and you have to love the fact that greg helms has held the title under 3 different characters
Sugar Shane, The Hurricane, and Gregory Helms. That is amazing. Wasnt he like the last WCW Cruiserweight Champion twice? Or did the E not use that belt at all, I keep thinking they did, but I may be wrong.
yep, same title
Helms is definitely being cuffed by the belt.
cuffed? if it werent for that belt he wouldnt get any tv time
True the belt got him some TV time, but true as well that he is being cuffed by said belt. Anybody watch SMACKDOWN? The vertebreaker made it's long awaited return. Anyway, Gregory Helms has been thrown in Champ v Champ matches that got him exposure, but they were matches he could not win. The couldn't chance their CW champ going over The Champ even though he's the CW champ on the CW network. Gregory Helms is money waiting to happen. He could be involved with anybody on that show, and given the time could realistically go over, but will he? Probably not because he has the cruiserweight stigma applied to him. I will give the E their props for having the Carolinian hold onto that belt longer than anyone except Trish(although he may have topped her mark) has held onto their belt since I believe Hogan did with the WCW belt in 1996 or 7(that is in a top 2 company Joe had his for 21 friggin months in ROH). I'll agree with Donnie in his interview with Greg the hammer, when he said with booking today like it is Sammartino is indeed smiling and saying nobodies gonna break my f*cking record. I just wish they'd let him do it with the US title, and give him some legit build and a legit shot at holding that title. If they did they would see what they've got and possibly put him the position to challenge for big gold. On an interesting side note, Helms maybe more so than Cena could be more over with the hip-hop audience, because that is his personality.
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