May 25

May 25 3 Questions For WWE's Newly Announced Brand Split

This morning the WWE announced that will Smackdown go live on Tuesdays July 19, and have its own distinct roster, writers and storylines. In other words WWE just announced a brand split.

From 2002 - 2011 WWE shows Raw and Smackdown operated as separate entities (with its own titles, rosters and storylines), overlapping on special occasions such as major PPVs or Raw Supershows.

Ever since the the split ended, fans have been clamoring for it to return. To be honest outside of the first couple of years of the brand split, Smackdown was treated as the "B show, "with most fans ignoring it completely. I have questions and suggestions for the WWE, so this brand split will be more successful than the last.

What will WWE do with the titles?
Six months into the first brand split, then Raw GM Eric Bishoff created the World Heavyweight Championship, while the WWE Undisputed title became the WWE Championship on Smackdown giving each show its own champion. Smackdown had the United States Championship and Cruiserweight belts, while Raw was home to the Women's Championship and the Intercontinetal titles. Each show had their own tag team champions.

This go round, the WWE should allow the WWE World Heavyweight Champion and the Women's Champion float between both shows. Two titles would devalue the champ, and the WWE probably isn't planning on having two women champs anyway. If Roman Reigns drops the belt to someone on Smackdown then that's the roster he is apart of until he wins the belt back or drafted by Raw in the next draft.

Same thing goes for the tag titles, since the division is lacking depth as is. Secondary titles such as the Intercontinental and U.S. belts should be show specific.

Who Is Going Where?
With a draft scheduled to take place before Smackdown goes live on July 19, there are some major roster moves that needs to take place. John Cena and Roman Reigns need to be on separate shows. If the WWE is grooming Reigns to be Cena 2.0 then there is need to have Cena 1.0. Keeping them apart will help with fan fatigue and will make the PPV they finally face off on that much more special.

Do the same thing for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. These two are magic, but if the WWE is planning on these guys to have a John Cena/Randy Orton like rivalry, they're gonna have to split them up like they did Cena and Orton.

The Wyatts need to be drafted as a whole. Vince McMahon allowed this for the nWo back in 2002, and the same should apply now. The Wyatts finally can run wild on a roster breaking them up would be silly.

Do the opposite with the former Shield members. Dean Ambrose is in flight or fight mode, separation from one or both Rollins and Reigns will show fans if Ambrose is the real deal.

Brock Lesnar is not eligible to be drafted.

Will Raw Still Be Three Hours?
As of now Raw is still three hours. It was hard enough to sit through three hours with a full roster, now WWE is asking fans to do it with it being 50% less filling. Plus wouldn't the Raw roster have more time for matches and storyline compared to Smackdown's two hour slot. Starting July 19 both shows need to be on equal footing or else the WWE risks Smackdown being perceived as the "B" show. Anything will be acceptable such as first hour is NXT, or mostly promos, but for the love of God, Smackdown cannot go to three hours as well

Bonus: Cody Rhodes
Seriously, no one could have told Cody about the brand split! Heck Stardust could have been drafted by Raw, and Cody drafted to Smackdown. All the man wanted to do was wrestle, and now the WWE has the time but not the man.

What do you want to see happen with the new brand split, voice your opinion in the comments below.