[OT] Raw or Smackdown?

[Turlogh]

I watch both when I can lately (for about the last year and a half) it has been hit and miss.
I like Taker, Kane, Booker and Gold dust, Bradshaw, Benoit, the GUERRERO's and Kurt Angle.

Last nights Smackdown had the best use of Bishoff's 3 minutes to date, although it was rather stale after the 2nd or 3rd time.

Hope things pick up but who knows.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I prefer Smackdown since they...

A) Hired Rey Mysterio Jr. and put his mask back on.

B) Gave Brock Lesnar the Heavyweight belt.

C) Use Benoit and Guererro in the capacity for which they were born: Elite Thugs.

D) Ostensibly have Triple H.

 

[danzig138]

I only get to watch RAW when one of my GF co-workers tapes it for us, which he has done for the past few weeks. I was undecided for the most part, since RAW had Triple H ( a fav), RVD, Benoit, The Hardyz, Crash, Trish Stratus (who I like now that she is actually wrestling instead of just trying to be hot which failed for me) and Molly. And Smackdown had Hogan, which hurt it IMO (I really can't stand Hogan), but it has Stephanie McMahon (I like her for some reason), and I don't like Bischoff (SP?). But just last night I decided I like Smackdown better. Sure, some of my favs are still on RAW, but the wrestling seems better on SD, the newer talent is good, and I just don't care for HLA or Rosie and Jamal. I don't care for the whole 3-minute angle, or the T&A crap with the "Divas". So Smackdown is currently better (needs to ditch the Undertaker though). :>

 

[Wormwood]

The WWE has been circling the bowl for what, a year now?

Still, in it's heyday Smackdown was a lot of fun. I'll miss it.

 

[DonAdam]

They definitely need to give Heyman creative control of the whole company. Smackdown has had logical storylines and feuds centered on what goes on in the ring, and it's rating have been rising. Raw, on the other hand, has been doing that stupid (and often offensive) shock tv crap (like the "HLA" embarassment from this Monday) and their ratings have consistently gone down.

Summerslam was an awesome PPV, so the company's still got it, they just need to take a step back and see what their real problems are:

1) HHH- I'm guessing that his putting people over the last few weeks is an anomaly or part of some larger plot that will come to fruition shortly. This guy refuses to put people over. I'm just waiting for him to pin RVD clean at Unforgiven. His only real move is sleeping with the boss's daughter, which apparently is the best move you can make. How many times has this guy beaten Chris Jericho, who has ten times as much talent as him? He then had the gall to say that Jericho wasn't at the level of the other main eventers, missing the fact that while Jericho was champ the ratings were going UP UNTIL HHH CAME BACK. Someone needs to put this guy in his place or fire him, he's doing way too much damage to the company.

2) Undertaker- What HHH does by sexing the boss's daughter, UT does with his seniority. I was infuriated when he jumped to Smackdown. Not tapping out to both Angle AND Benoit, THE TWO BEST WRESTLERS IN THE COMPANY? GO AWAY UT. It's time for you to retire. If he doesn't put Brock over clean I'm going to be very, very angry. Oh, and no one wants to see your wife on TV. EVER.

3) Brian Gerwitz- The head writer for Raw. He likes "comedy" sketches and shock TV crap instead of wrestling. Again, Raw's ratings have been going down, Smackdown's up. I think that says it all.

4) Stephanie McMahon- She's tolerable as an on-air character, but she booked what was hands down, without a doubt, the worst build to a Wrestlemania main event of all time. When your booking ruins Wrestle-freaking-mania, you need to step back and realize that your ideas (Jericho and the stupid dog) aren't worth poodoo.

5) The Rock- I love the Rock, but the fans are tired of his babyface character (see Summerslam). When he comes back next year, make him a big Hollywood sellout heel. Oh yeah.

6) Long term builds. Start creating tension between wrestlers LONG before they meet in the ring. Summerslam was the ultimate example of how this should work.

7) Let Benoit, Angle, Jericho, Edge, Brock, RVD, and the other real talents that the fans are hungry to see hold the world titles and wrestle in the main events.

8) Bring back the tag division. So many singles wrestlers are just sitting around with nothing to do, but give them something. Put the impact players back together. Wait about 6 months to a year and do a Dudley reunion.

9) Fire Big Show and Bradshaw. These guys shouldn't be allowed to step in the ring. It's just painful to watch.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi all!

I think its simply a matter of peaks and troughs.

Most acknowledge that the shows are in a bit of a lull right now. I actually enjoy reading Scott Keiths rants (over at www.411wrestling.com ) more than watching the shows themselves.

I think many of the 'big stars' have left (Stone Cold Steve Austin; The Rock - technically) or are close to retirement (Undertaker).

So its something of a transition period right now.

What they really need to do is build up new talent to main event status. They have forced Brock Lesnar in there; whom I like - though he really will have to work on his mic skills (probably why they need Paul Heyman as manager).

They need to get Booker T up there (he could fill the Rocks shoes easily I think).

Benoit is also capable of great wrestling, though is he heel or face right now (?) he needs a stronger identity (via interviews).

Kurt Angle is the best worker in the WWE by far. Fantastic in ring ability and equally entertaining mic work.

Oh and to answer the question - Smackdown.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hi DonAdam!

They definitely need to give Heyman creative control of the whole company. Smackdown has had logical storylines and feuds centered on what goes on in the ring, and it's rating have been rising. Raw, on the other hand, has been doing that stupid (and often offensive) shock tv crap (like the "HLA" embarassment from this Monday) and their ratings have consistently gone down.

Summerslam was an awesome PPV, so the company's still got it, they just need to take a step back and see what their real problems are:

1) HHH- I'm guessing that his putting people over the last few weeks is an anomaly or part of some larger plot that will come to fruition shortly. This guy refuses to put people over. I'm just waiting for him to pin RVD clean at Unforgiven. His only real move is sleeping with the boss's daughter, which apparently is the best move you can make. How many times has this guy beaten Chris Jericho, who has ten times as much talent as him? He then had the gall to say that Jericho wasn't at the level of the other main eventers, missing the fact that while Jericho was champ the ratings were going UP UNTIL HHH CAME BACK. Someone needs to put this guy in his place or fire him, he's doing way too much damage to the company.

2) Undertaker- What HHH does by sexing the boss's daughter, UT does with his seniority. I was infuriated when he jumped to Smackdown. Not tapping out to both Angle AND Benoit, THE TWO BEST WRESTLERS IN THE COMPANY? GO AWAY UT. It's time for you to retire. If he doesn't put Brock over clean I'm going to be very, very angry. Oh, and no one wants to see your wife on TV. EVER.

3) Brian Gerwitz- The head writer for Raw. He likes "comedy" sketches and shock TV crap instead of wrestling. Again, Raw's ratings have been going down, Smackdown's up. I think that says it all.

4) Stephanie McMahon- She's tolerable as an on-air character, but she booked what was hands down, without a doubt, the worst build to a Wrestlemania main event of all time. When your booking ruins Wrestle-freaking-mania, you need to step back and realize that your ideas (Jericho and the stupid dog) aren't worth poodoo.

Agree with everything you said.

5) The Rock- I love the Rock, but the fans are tired of his babyface character (see Summerslam). When he comes back next year, make him a big Hollywood sellout heel. Oh yeah.

Definately - I think it has been on the cards for a while - he simply hasn't been around enough to instigate the 'change'.

6) Long term builds. Start creating tension between wrestlers LONG before they meet in the ring. Summerslam was the ultimate example of how this should work.

Summerslam was the best even of the year in my opinion.

7) Let Benoit, Angle, Jericho, Edge, Brock, RVD, and the other real talents that the fans are hungry to see hold the world titles and wrestle in the main events.

Lets not forget Booker T and Eddy Guerrero...

...and hopefully Cena and Bautista - although why do none of the new characters have 'stage names' anymore!?

8) Bring back the tag division. So many singles wrestlers are just sitting around with nothing to do, but give them something. Put the impact players back together. Wait about 6 months to a year and do a Dudley reunion.

Absolutely - what the hell are the Dudleys doing solo!? Same with the Hardy Boyz.

9) Fire Big Show and Bradshaw. These guys shouldn't be allowed to step in the ring. It's just painful to watch.

One last push for the Big Show is to give him a mohawk and red pants and call him Zangief (from Street Fighter 2).

 

[Draxus the Tainted]

Smackdown

 

[Turlogh]

I have a problem with wrestlers like RVD, Brock and now Edge and the problem is that there is next to no chance at all these guys will lose when they get into the ring. There is no surprise or big thrills in their matches. RVD is the worst of this and his cockiness/arrogance is very annoying- I want to see somebody "beat him like a government mule" at least once.

The female wrestlers are all improving especially Trish and Torrie hopefully we will see more matches and less sex shows (bra and panty, mud wrestling, etc.)

To answer the original question the shows are about equal for me both can be good or poor.

 

[GreyOne]

Haven't watched much lately and I'm very behind on my plot arcs. Smackdown to answer the question, though I'm loving Rey Mysterio.

Angle, Benoit, the Rock, the Dudleys, Guerero, Edge, Booker T and Jericho remain my favourites. Why not amalgamate the shows, call it Raw Smackdown and cut away the chaff??