As we usher in the new era of the WWE, we have been left to wonder what exactly it is that will be changing. Over the last several weeks we have seen an unexplained compromise between money driven brother and power hungry sister. The constant agreement between the two branches of the McMahon empire have made all of us scratch our head to try and decipher what the true meaning of it all will be moving forward. Today looks to be the first piece to that puzzle.
The following statement has been issued by the WWE:
A SmackDown shakeup is about to completely reshape all of WWE. Beginning July 19, the second longest-running weekly episodic program in television history, SmackDown, will move from Thursday to Tuesday nights and air LIVE each and every week — for the first time ever — at 8/7 C on USA Network, the exclusive cable home to WWE’s marquee properties.
This bold move will have major ramifications for all of WWE and exemplify the New Era, as both Raw and SmackDown will each feature their own unique rosters and rivalries following an imminent Superstar draft.
“WWE’s flagship programs will both leverage the incredible depth of our talent roster, distinct storylines and the unpredictable nature of live TV,” WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon said. “This move will undoubtedly build more excitement and deepen engagement with our fans around th¬e world.”
With so many explosive competitors emerging from WWE NXT, and top Superstars like John Cena and Seth Rollins returning from injury, WWE’s star-powered roster has never been stronger. Its historic division and the monumental revelation of SmackDown’s shift to a live format each week reflect the excitement and unpredictability of WWE’s New Era.
What awaits SmackDown on its new night, starting this July? Which live shows will claim your favorite Superstars? What will this all mean for the future of sports-entertainment? Stay tuned as WWE prepares to get shaken up like never before.
One of the most interesting debates over the last few months has been about an eventual brand split and when it may happen. Now it all seems to be coming together. A brand split, a draft, and possibly a new title are all on the agenda. The WWE Draft was a segment that changed the face of each show and gave the fans one night of suspense while they wondered who would get drafted and to what brand they were headed. Obviously there is no way to predict a draft will take place once again, but the thought carries a distinct amount of legitimacy.
There will have to be a specific way to split the superstars on specific rosters with the logical theory being some sort of selection process. This process could very well be some sort of tournament or just an old fashioned numbers game between Shane and Steph. Whatever way it goes down, I am sure it will be entertaining.
If we look at the landscape of the whole WWE, you have to admit that the talent level may very well be at the highest level have ever seen. With the NXT formation and the constant signing of superstars from other federations the roster has maintained an interest level that the fans have desired for a very long time. Granted the injury bug had weakened the census over the last 6 months, but in essence could have been the main driver for this decision.
Without the likes of Sasha Banks, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt, John Cena and Randy Orton the roster has still grown and been able to capitalize on the fact that the time was now to take hold of that golden ticket. We’ve seen the rise of budding stars like Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Enzo and Cass, as well as branding of AJ Styles in WWE. On top of that we still have the eventual call up of NXT stars such as Bayley, Samoa Joe and Finn Balor that are sure to make some waves. The creative options for matches and storylines seem endless when the roster is at full strength. However, this is as long as the writers don’t become lackadaisical and predictable like they have in the past.
Lastly, one has to wonder if there will be the formation of another belt or will each wrestler always be fighting for a chance to win the World Title that will establish his/her own brand. It seems like the sensible thing would be to create another championship, but you never know what Vince has up his sleeves. I am sure this will still come down to Stephanie and Trips in one corner with Shane in another as rostered wrestlers constantly try to fall into the good graces of each. One thing is for sure, things are finally starting to come together and in the infamous words of JR, “Business Just Picked Up!”
Just for fun let’s say they have a draft once again and each brand gets to pick their Franchise wrestler who they will build a roster around. Who would be your top picks if you were GM? (1 Raw and 1 SmackDown).
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