WWE is finally ending the tradition of hosting brand-specific events starting from this year.
Once Wrestlemania got over, Backlash was announced to be the first PPV on the list to start a fresh-off season in the PPV programming. According to the confirmations, from this point onwards. Both Raw and Smackdown superstars will get to participate in all of the PPV events.
It was due to WWE wanting to host all the PPV events in a bigger manner with marquee names from both the brands performing in it.
This will garner more attention from the crowd with a high ticket-selling that was missing from the Raw or Smackdown-exclusive events. For the last few such shows in 2017, the venues failed to be filled up due to lack of audience.
While the step of hosting co-branded PPVs seems to be a good idea for the company product. There’re certain negative sides, too. Recently Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted on this matter saying in each of these dual-brand PPV events. The prime titles from Raw and Smackdown will be on the line.
It might not benefit the programming since every PPV will have two reserved slots (for WWE and Universal Championship match), already. Additionally, the Raw and Smackdown Women’s Championship matches will also likely to be featured. Apart from these, there are five more championships that need to be addressed, i.e. the Intercontinental title, United States title and Cruiserweight title and the Raw & Smackdown tag team titles.
It is evident that such number of matches are not likely to be added to the same match card on the same night. Hence, to provide significance to the pre-show event, some of the matches will be sent to it. But, then again, these matches will certainly look like that they have less importance in compared to the other ones.
There are more backlashes too, (courtesy SportsKeeda.com)
“Furthermore, too many matches on the show could lead to time constraints and resultantly rushed matches, so there are pros & cons to the WWE brand-split ending. Also, it could lead to non-title matches losing significance, as well as more top Superstars competing in Multi-Person matches.”
It would ensure all the prime figures in the company appear on the PPV show of WWE. Plus, with all these matches on the card, each of the show will be dragged to four-hour-long show.
Adding the pre-show segment, the programming would be five-hour long, in combined. Fans are not going to like this time-consuming affair. Although, Backlash might be able to keep the show content within four hours. The same may not happen with the upcoming events.