Source:
The Wrestling Observer
"The Wrestling Observer is reporting that some details regarding the impending WWE Brand Extension have apparently been revealed.
The details involve who the top babyfaces and heels will likely be for both Raw and SmackDown. According to these details, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns will reportedly lead Raw as the show's top babyface, while Seth Rollins will serve as the show's top heel. In regards to SmackDown, John Cena will serve as that show's top babyface, while AJ Styles will take the position as the show's top heel.
Furthermore, these same details have also apparently revealed that a second world title is expected to be created for whichever show that the current champion does not end up on.
According to the report, the idea of sending Cena over to SmackDown has to do with helping to boost the show's overall image as more than just a secondary brand within WWE. According to multiple reports, the USA Network is said to have not been happy with the overall performance of both Raw and SmackDown so far this year due to low ratings, which is leading the network to have trouble selling advertising space.
It's important to note that these details have in no way whatsoever been finalized as of yet and that, as always, plans can always change by the time the WWE Draft and Brand Extension take place in July."
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Source:
GOATzer
It is still largely secretive, if things have even been figured out past the top guys, regarding what will happen with WWE talent when they do the brand split in July.
The most likely reason that the move was made, was because the USA Network was not happy with the ratings of Smackdown. The hope was that Smackdown on USA would do close to the numbers of Raw, particularly when it opened strong at around 2.7 million viewers. The reality is that WWE was not using as much primary talent on Smackdown, nor were they doing the obvious, shooting angles for matches on Mondays that would lead to Thursday. For wrestling fans, Smackdown remained no more important, nor must.see, on USA as it had been in recent years on Syfy. What shocked everyone is that ratings had fallen below what they were a year ago, even with the move to a much stronger station. While ratings werenāt down from last year as much as Raw, the expectation was that a Thursday night prime time show on USA would do better.
Key to this is that, even though WWE will be adding expenses by going live, USA is not paying more for the increase in costs. Itās the first sign, while hidden from the public, that USA is concerned that the approximately $127 million they pay WWE this year for Raw and Smackdown is not delivering at the level they would like. Given that the key economic driver of the company is not the network but the television rights fees, in the long run, until economic conditions change greatly, ratings are still the most important barometer for the company, and they are consistently falling.
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Cena and Styles main eventing Smackdown every week?
Roman Reigns
and seth rollins
but having to see Roman Reigns
main event RAW every week?
