2. Jim Ross Doesn’t Want Two World Champions After WWE’s Brand Split
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross wrote a lengthy blog on his website about the hottest news in the world of Professional Wrestling this week, the return of the WWE Brand Split! Below are JR’s insights on this matter:
“On Tuesday July 19, WWE and the USA Network are moving Smackdown to air LIVE every Tuesday night on the flagship network of the company. I perceive this to be a highly positive move as nothing exceeds “Live TV” in today’s world of technology specifically referring to DVR’s, etc usage. Live TV still is a valued cache in TV Land and WWE/USA are smart to utilize such.
I’d suggest the two broadcast teams need to be entirely different as well which could see Michael Cole, JBL and Byron Saxton manning the RAW side while Mauro Ranallo, Jerry Lawler and Cory Graves could do the same on Smackdown.
The two separate announce teams would help add a competitive element to the process that could include competition from two, separate creative teams as well and the rosters if the proposed brand split comes to pass as expected.
We had competition when King and I handled RAW while Cole and Taz broadcast Smackdown back in the day. It was healthy competition but competition nonetheless and it helped make both teams better. Ditto the writing teams.
Same goes for the two, separate talent rosters as they will also develop a competitive element especially as Smackdown attempts to narrow the gap between the perception of their show and the flagship of WWE TV, Monday Night RAW.
[showhide more_text=”Read More” less_text=”Read Less”]The WWE Title can be made to be even more special if the top dog appears occasionally on both shows but not over exposed on either. Obviously, another primary title can be reinstituted as it was in the past in the form of the ‘World Title’ but that would not be my preference at this time. By default, if that scenario was utilized then the top two, weekly featured titles would be the IC and US Titles respectively on each brand. That does not offend me.
There are many ‘right ways’ to accomplish the expected brand split, from separate creative teams, separate announce teams, different graphics, an overall look of the show plus the different rosters that will be created.
My primary hope is that the brand separation will be ‘pure’ and not feature ‘intermingling’ of talents other than perhaps ‘rookie tryouts’ and appearances by selected champions such as the WWE World Champion and/or the WWE Tag Champions.
For the further growth and development of the ever expanding talent roster and to provide all talents with an opportunity to ‘break out’ and ‘get over,’ going live on Smackdown on Tuesdays, and no, Thursdays would not work because of routing, the crews already on the road, etc, and a strategic brand separation via a DRAFT is a significant move on the WWE’s part and should enhance their long term growth within their talent roster which is WWE’s biggest asset today as it has always been and always will be.
Fans will likely no doubt be upset to varying degrees regarding certain aspects the brand separation including where some of their favorite talents will hang their respective ‘shingles.’ As a fan, I’m curious and motivated to see who goes where,what traveling arrangements will be disrupted, what new rivalries are established, etc of the new dynamics that these moves will create.”
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