Okay, so what is the State of SD Live? Well, it is far better than RAW has been since the Brand Split.
I wrote in my State of RAW Part 1 that RAW being what it was, was one of the main reasons I took time off from WrestleMentary during the first part of this year.
SD Live would have kept me going, except for one thing that I mentioned numerous times:
RAW BAD; SD LIVE GOOD
There are only so many times one can basically write the same thing over and over again.
Hence, why I made the choice to take a break until Mania Season, and why I am writing the ‘State of Pieces’. One may notice that I have already posted two parts of the State of Monday Night RAW, and this is just Part 1 of The State of Smackdown Live. Well, that’s because:
RAW BAD; SD LIVE GOOD
Is this an end-all-be-all that SD Live is perfect? No. Is it better than RAW? Hell Yeah. SD Live is the best broadcast wrestling show on TV.
Why? For many of the same reasons I ripped into RAW. What RAW seemingly can’t do right, SD LIVE does well.
The Booking on RAW is terrible, and the show was/has been focused too narrowly on just The Women’s Title and Jericho/Owens. The Angels have been poor and don’t even think about the matches.
On SD Live, the focus is spread out across the roster. AJ Styles, The Miz, Alexa Bliss, Baron Corbin, Cena, Wyatt, Usos, Alpha it seems that in a show close to half the length, creative can make time – even if just five minutes to put more talent in the spotlight. Are their talent that will always be showcased more than others? Yeah, and that’s just natural.
The Angels are deeper and more personal. Look at Nattie and Nikki Bella. There is no title involved, yet the feud is hot. Plus, it has spilled over to their men as well.
Another reason SD Live is better is that it has done what the Brand Split was claimed to be about: building the future.
Baron Corbin, Alexa Bliss, American Alpha all have been giving major opportunities. Corbin is in the IC Title Hunt and was briefly in the World Title Picture. Alexa is two-time Champion and American Alpha were dominate champions after a rocky start. Mojo Rawley is starting to shine as well.
SD Live is the place of opportunity. New Stars are rising up. Established stars are being forced to step up, and in some cases giving a chance to reinvent themselves. Dolph Ziggler case in point.
Even though I am not a fan, SD Live has been a boon for Bray Wyatt. He has finally been used right, and has finally reached where so many fans have wanted him to be. The slow burn story between him and Orton is the best in the WWE. Would this have happened on RAW? No.
Bigger is not always better. SD Live (The A + Player) proves that weekly.
The State of Smackdown Live
Part II – Mania FallOut – 4/6
No comments:
Post a Comment