RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

[cima]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

Same here, I was a massive channel flipper. Watched both each and every week until the very end in 2001.

[Rocky]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

Same here, I was a massive channel flipper. Watched both each and every week until the very end in 2001.

Again, I think we're looking at it from the perspective of dedicated wrestling fans. If you were a wrestling fan at the time then watching WCW, WWF, and ECW wasn't a big deal (and I would liken this to watching WWF and ECW because the big two had overlapping shows in the same timeslot). But the fact of the matter is when RAW's ratings went up Nitro's went down over the long haul.

I don't want to derail this thread any further but we shall see. The original brand split wore us down over the long haul so it'll be interesting to see how they handle this.

[PeoplesChampGB]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

Again, I think we're looking at it from the perspective of dedicated wrestling fans. If you were a wrestling fan at the time then watching WCW, WWF, and ECW wasn't a big deal (and I would liken this to watching WWF and ECW because the big two had overlapping shows in the same timeslot). But the fact of the matter is when RAW's ratings went up Nitro's went down over the long haul.

I don't want to derail this thread any further but we shall see. The original brand split wore us down over the long haul so it'll be interesting to see how they handle this.

97-98 Nitro and RAW were either equal in quality or just about there. In 99, WCWs quality started to slip each week. That is why WCWs views went down and WWFs went up. Not because ppl couldnt decide what to watch. WCW decided for us when they started slipping.

Lastly, I dont know why this is relevant considering RAW and Smackdown are on different days. How we got on comparing these two as related is mind boggling.

[Rocky]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

97-98 Nitro and RAW were either equal in quality or just about there. In 99, WCWs quality started to slip each week. That is why WCWs views went down and WWFs went up. Not because ppl couldnt decide what to watch. WCW decided for us when they started slipping.


Lastly, I dont know why this is relevant considering RAW and Smackdown are on different days. How we got on comparing these two as related is mind boggling.

You're right. I didn't bring it up but there really is no comparison. The MNW's had three of the biggest superstars (and arguably the only three true pop culture superstars) all active wrestling at the same time. The only one today who even comes close is Lesnar and maybe Cena.

I would rather compare it to previous brand splits and reboots of brand splits.

[IndianBird]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

You're right. I didn't bring it up but there really is no comparison. The MNW's had three of the biggest superstars (and arguably the only three true pop culture superstars) all active wrestling at the same time. The only one today who even comes close is Lesnar and maybe Cena.



I would rather compare it to previous brand splits and reboots of brand splits.

Maybe Cena?

You trying to mess with us?


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#WolvesUp

[King_B_Mack]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

There's only been one brand split. Why we talking like its multiple choice on brand splits to compare? It's two shows on two separate nights. If you can't keep up with the handful of guys they're pushing on those shows at a given time then you aren't in the target viewership anyway. You're part of a ridiculously small minority of people who can't follow those two programs. Casuals aren't ordering the network, they aren't watching NXT so they aren't worried about that. It's Raw, Smackdown, ppvs. Everything else is irrelevant. It's not that difficult


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[Mercury112491]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

Wait, are you saying Cena isn't as big a pop icon as Rock, Austin and I'm guessing the third guy is Hogan?


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[Rocky]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

Wait, are you saying Cena isn't as big a pop icon as Rock, Austin and I'm guessing the third guy is Hogan?


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Again not trying to derail a thread but really? That's wrestling fan nonsense. Hogan was one of the most famous people in the world in his heyday. Cena isn't even in the same galaxy of popularity as Hogan to the common public.

There's only three real superstar wrestlers: Hogan, Rock, Austin.

The next category are big stars which are Lesnar, Flair, Andre, and you could probably throw Cena in there as well.

Then there are stars: HBK, Taker, Sting, Savage, etc. The only current wrestlers I would put there are Rollins, Reigns, and Jericho.

Which leads me kinda to my initial point...Cena and Reigns need to be on the same show. There isn't enough star power to make up for 5 hours of weekly wrestling.

[TheShizNo1]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

No idea what to say if you don't put Cena up their with Rock/Austin. Hosted the ESPY's. Been on Good Morning America and other national morning shows. Movies. Stop making me talk up Cena!

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[IndianBird]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

No idea what to say if you don't put Cena up their with Rock/Austin. Hosted the ESPY's. Been on Good Morning America and other national morning shows. Movies. Stop making me talk up Cena!

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Frequents the night time comedy shows as well.

I suspect he's serious when he says he can't juggle a lot of tv. He's just missing this stuff. No harm no foul.


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#WolvesUp

[King_B_Mack]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

Cena isn't Rock/Hogan level famous, but his star is on the rise and he's more popular than Austin ever was pains me to say.


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[Hooe]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

Add in the Unexpected Cena internet meme to John Cena's mass appeal.

In a very different way, I'd also put Brock Lesnar up there in terms of "name recognition factor" for his cross-over appeal into real sports. Not sure I'm ready to argue he'd be ahead of anyone already mentioned, but he's gotta be in the periphery of the discussion, IMO.

[Rocky]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

Cena isn't Rock/Hogan level famous, but his star is on the rise and he's more popular than Austin ever was pains me to say.


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Disagree completely...Cena's longevity is apart of what makes him a star. In a sense, he is a modern Ric Flair. But no way he was bigger than Austn at his apex.

Austin's stardom was brief but I honestly believe that at his apex, he was probably the biggest star in pro wrestling history. He was the biggest attraction on cable television for a year. And this was before Netflix...heck even before Sopranos-like shows on cable TV. It may sound silly, but for a whole year he might have been MUCH bigger than the Kardashians are now.

Lesnar is the biggest star now with Cena second. I would argue that if Bryan and maybe Punk were still active they might have eclipsed Cena.

[PeoplesChampGB]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

Disagree completely...Cena's longevity is apart of what makes him a star. In a sense, he is a modern Ric Flair. But no way he was bigger than Austn at his apex.

Austin's stardom was brief but I honestly believe that at his apex, he was probably the biggest star in pro wrestling history. He was the biggest attraction on cable television for a year. And this was before Netflix...heck even before Sopranos-like shows on cable TV. It may sound silly, but for a whole year he might have been MUCH bigger than the Kardashians are now.

Lesnar is the biggest star now with Cena second. I would argue that if Bryan and maybe Punk were still active they might have eclipsed Cena.

Please. All fall below par compared to The Miz. /Thread. /Discussion. /Universe.

[Mercury112491]

Re: RAW vs Smackdown Live: Week by Week

The Rock, before he started making movies, was never as well known as John Cena is now


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