This week is a special edition of Isenberg Reacts, focusing on a battle between brand supremacy. When Smackdown goes live, things change. Tuesday nights could potentially trump Monday nights for WWE because of a few factors. Looking at the rosters, the commentating teams and potential General Managers, WWE could be in for a wild ride this summer.
How can Smackdown become the number 1 show? When you look at history, RAW has always been the flagship, even when Smackdown was putting on better shows and more intriguing storylines. When you look at WrestleMania 23, you think of the World Heavyweight Championship on Smackdown trumping the WWE Championship on RAW. The same thing can be said for the following year, as Edge and The Undertaker closed the night. Hell, even WrestleMania 19 had a Smackdown match end the night, and 22 had a great Triple Threat Match between Kurt Angle, Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio. WrestleMania 21 featured the rise of John Cena. so, why has RAW always been better?
Longevity is a key, showcasing your product on the same night for 20 years. Also, being live could be the biggest reason why RAW has always felt more important. Now, things could be changing. Smackdown going live evens the playing field. Two nights of live programming with different rosters gives the show an opportunity to shine brighter than ever. I also think that Smackdown on Tuesdays could garner more attention for another simple reason: less competition. From September-January, RAW faces the biggest dog in the yard. That dog is the National Football League. Can you name a program that has any popularity close to this product on Tuesday nights? Sorry, FOX comedy shows do not count.
