Vince McMahon introduced the Wild Card Rule, a couple of weeks ago to bring major changes in WWE programming. This will basically allow the superstars from Monday Night Raw to go to Smackdown Live and vice-versa on a weekly basis. Four superstars can take the privilege as per the rule. But more superstars are taking the benefit and showing up on the rival brands.
WWE May End Brand Split If Wild Card Rule Does Not Work
Wild Card Rule To Cost Big Problem In WWE Schedule
Reason Why Vince McMahon Introduced Wild Card Rule In WWE
This Wild Card Rule was an emergency technique applied by Vince McMahon and Co. to tackle down the lowering TV ratings for both Monday Night Raw and Smackdown Live. Utilizing superstars from dual brands in a strategic way favored the programs as they became successful in upping the TV viewership. Now WWE may be looking forward to using the same strategy for the house shows, as well.
WWE has implemented the Wild Card Rule on television for their weekly shows Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live and now it’s time to do that at live events, too. It looks like they will be hiring specific superstars from rival brands in the upcoming shows. Drew McIntyre is the first name who will attend Smackdown Live house shows instead of appearing on WWE Monday Night Raw TV tapings.
As for now, Drew McIntyre will be missing Monday Night Raw episodes in Corpus Christi, Texas on June 3rd and the June 10th show in Reno, Nevada.
Here is the complete list of dates that WWE booked him for SmackDown shows as hinted by the advertisements:
Saturday, June 1 in Waco, Texas
Sunday, June 2 in College Station, Texas
Monday, June 3 in Corpus Christi, Texas
Sunday, June 9 in Stockton, California.
Monday, June 10 in Reno, Nevada.
It’s no secret that WWE’s house shows are not doing great anymore for the past few years. Poor ticket selling has one of the reasons that WWE is starting to reschedule some SmackDown house shows on the day of Monday Night Raw. The company has been scheduling the Smackdown superstars for the TV tapings on Mondays, instead. This is where the Wild Card Rule is coming into play, each week.
Roman Reigns is the franchise player of the company who took the biggest advantage of this rule. He has been appearing on both Monday Night Raw and Smackdown Live, since then. Drew McIntyre is looking forward to being a counterpart over on Tuesdays, as per the Wild Card Rule. The Stomping Grounds PPV is already showing him in a cross-brand match against Roman Reigns, anyway.
