time for 1 brand

[mike b]

So do you think its time for the WWE to go back to one brand only or maybe just 2. ECW is now a b show. Smackdown is loosing ratings and is going to be going to a new smaller network. So maybe its time for the WWE to go back to one or maybe 2 brands.Keep ECW as a b show and to develop new workers and merge Raw and Smackdown into 1(but keep the belts) What do you think

[Eisen-verse]

[QUOTE]ECW is now a b show. Smackdown is loosing ratings and is going to be going to a new smaller network. So maybe its time for the WWE to go back to one or maybe 2 brands.Keep ECW as a b show and to develop new workers and merge Raw and Smackdown into 1(but keep the belts) What do you think[/QUOTE] I'd like to see the destruction of the brand split, however, they would need to consolidate alot of the belts together as there would be waaay to many and would de-value all of the titles for that reason. It would be like Boxing... too many titles.

[sabataged]

They make way too much extra money by running seperate brands. They run twice as many house shows, and more wrestlers get the opportunity to be employeed. I really just dont see it happening people.

[Eisen-verse]

[QUOTE]They make way too much extra money by running seperate brands. They run twice as many house shows, and more wrestlers get the opportunity to be employeed. I really just dont see it happening people.[/QUOTE] Oh yea Realistically it won't happen... but for the sake of creative and creating great match-ups... I'd like to see it dropped (knowing that it wont)

[Guest Ransik]

They've needed to can the brand split for years now... it's purpose was for shock... it worked for a couple months and has since then been nothing but a hinderance to the company. With the WWE now aiming to go back to a PG rating... I can assure you attendance will slowly decline over the next couple years to the point of where they will HAVE to downsize and go back to one company. Does anyone remember (willingly) WWF 1994? WCW 1999 and on? You would've thought they would learn from past mistakes, and I see what the WWE is doing right now and nothing they haven't done before... and failed at many times. And yes... they make more money... but the expenses have also doubled... employee expenses I'm sure are WAAAAY up... not like half the roster is ever used or even worth keeping around! I've heard the "they make more money with more shows" excuse countless times... still doesn't excuse poor quality shows and even more poor quality in the in-ring talent that tey continue to push simply because they have 3 brands and have to push SOMEONE because all the stars are on different shows. Sorry but I don't buy it... the brand split has failed... scrap it and move on. There are about 6 more Titles than there needs to be... too many "Ultimate Warrior" talents are in the Main Event (Khali, Henry, Batista). When you have to put Khali in a Summerslam Main Event because the top stars are thinned out on 3 programs... light bulb oughta go off in a big way! Dollars aren't a reason folks.... it's an excuse for putting on poor television due to over-sizing.

[CraigInTwinCities]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with this "brand split has failed" talk. I was at that point a few months ago, when SmackDown was just completely useless, but since the draft reshuffle, the two main shows are both viable again. Of course, what I'd really like to see is something that would make the brand split far more interesting... and having SmackDown move to MyNetworkTV is a great timing opportunity to introduce the concept. And if the stupid Pyscho Sid re-signing by WWE is true, that could even be used... Here's the concept... Psycho Sid makes a couple run-ins on all three brands. Then maybe have a couple more storyline elements to set the table... ...One of them being that Eric Bischoff shows up on SmackDown, talking to a couple SmackDown workers. On the last CW show, have a title match between Taker and Sid... but suddenly a flood of new workers show up and swarm the ring, attacking both Taker and Sid. And Eric Bischoff shows up with Triple H, who proceeds to sledgehammer the SmackDown set. And then, to close the show, Bischoff announced he's just completed a hostile takeover of the SmackDown brand, and SmackDown "as you know it" is dead! Tune in next Friday to MyNetworkTV for... the debut of the all-new WCW Friday Nitro! That would really set the table for a WWE Raw / WCW Nitro / ECW feud that could really SELL the brand split. There would be details to work out, like getting the right titles back on the right shows, but those are details. If Bischoff could be pushed as being REALLY in charge of old SmackDown/new Nitro, and have ECW put back under Heyman's control, and really sell the concept that McMahon doesn't have any control over them, well... I think it could work.

[Nevermore]

I don't think the brand split "failed". However, it was created when the E had one of the strongest rosters ever assembled. Popularity wise they had Stone Cold, Rock, Taker, Goldberg, Nash Talent wise - Ultimo Dragon, Angle, Lesnar, Guerrero, Benoit, Van Dam, Tajiri. They had to split the roster for fair chances to exist. These days I'm not so sure. I so rarely watch WWE anymore (and that's only partly due to the fact that I don't have a TV :D) and a strong reason for that is how much "filler" they have/had on the roster. There'd be so many guys I'd see that I just thought "Why on Earth are they giving main-roster time to this guy?" In my view, the split existed to give chances to a huge roster. These days, a huge roster exists to give a chance to the brand split. It seems pointless. Although, I accept I am not the most qualified to talk. Quote The Raven Nevermore

[djthefunkchris]

Smackdown's not moving because of ratings, fact is that the ratings have moved up this year. They are going out "on Top" of the rating for the CW. Forgot the thread made, remarking of the reason they are leaving so soon? Something about it doesn't fit the "CW" demograph (Females). The new network is a rival of CW, and it's not small. Far as the brand split, people been saying the same thing everytime they move to a new network, lose some ratings, or ANYTHING at all negative happens to them, everyone wants to throw in the towel (FOR THEM). The three shows are doing great on their perspective networks, and the ratings are great compared to other syndicated shows on thier networks (not specials). If anything they need to make another show. They have a ton of talent that they can't use very much, and I would like to see a true "B" show for them, like Heat, not like ECW. I aggree that ECW is to introduce and build, Smackdown more of a "Work" school, and Raw being the main show. But a "B" show in TEW terms, ECW is not. It just has less popular stars on it (not less skill). Sorry... Just that ECW has been my favorite of the three for over a year now. More action, less talk on that show. That's how I like it.

[Nevermore]

[QUOTE=djthefunkchris;482035]Sorry... Just that ECW has been my favorite of the three for over a year now. More action, less talk on that show. That's how I like it.[/QUOTE] Whereas, for me, that whole "brand" did more to ruin wrestling for me than anything else :rolleyes:. But, hey, I'm over it now. Quote The Raven Nevermore

[infinitywpi]

Keep seperate brands. Then I don't have to worry about Smackdown not being shown in my area; I won't miss anything.

[Mr T Jobs To Me]

I actually like ECW, it's the one show of the three I always catch. I'd keep the brands seperate, they seem to be becoming increasingly effective.

[djthefunkchris]

[QUOTE=Nevermore;482037]Whereas, for me, that whole "brand" did more to ruin wrestling for me than anything else :rolleyes:. But, hey, I'm over it now. Quote The Raven Nevermore[/QUOTE] You were hoping for something they couldn't recreate, because of many factors, one being Sci-Fi told them to get rid of the blood. SO it's nothing like the old ECW that you love so much. SO I can understand someone like you thinking this way. The reason I like it so much, is because of the "Old School" feel to it, and the way they are evolving into the "Young Blood" brand. It might not be the most popular of the three, but for me... I'm like Mr T about it. If I had to choose only one wrestling show to watch a week, it would be the ECW brand.

[mike b]

thanks to all your posts you all had good points. As for me i just miss the old days of the WWE with just one brand.Plus it does not help that SmackDown is not showed here in Hawaii and I'm not sure if we will even get the new my network:( Right now i just don't feel that there is enough main event caliber talent for 2 brands. Shure with 3 brands you can put on more shows and rake in more money but are they good quality shows(a lot of times the house shows don't even sell out) But realistically they will keep the 3 brands unless something major happens like several of there upper to mainevent wrestlers defecting over to TNN or whatever its called.

[mike b]

Sorry my bad they are called TNA Please no hait mail:p

[Nevermore]

[QUOTE=djthefunkchris;482063]You were hoping for something they couldn't recreate, because of many factors, one being Sci-Fi told them to get rid of the blood.[/QUOTE] No, never did. I was hoping they'd leave it the hell alone and let it rest in peace, as it were. For me, the only thing worse than ECW folding was all the wannabe ECWs that cropped up and kinda missed the point. The ECW brand was certainly one of these as Vince only revisited it for financial gain. So, sure I get why he did it; in his position, I might do the same. Doesn't mean I hated it any less... I can even get why you'd like it but, for me, watching it just winds me up due to the obvious association. Certainly, it's my loss; not Vince's :p. Quote The Raven Nevermore

[Self]

I've only skim-read the previous replies, but I'm just going to answer the topic question. No. I don't think it's time to end the brand split. I do think there are improvements to be made in terms of quality. I do think that their roster is bloated, and could do with further trimming. I do lament the continued use of the ECW name. I do think there are too many titles. I do find it tough to watch 5 hours of WWE a week. I haven't managed that in weeks. However, the fact that WWE have 5 hours of television has nothing to do with the brand split. They had the same before the split, they'll have the same regardless. I don't want to see the same guys on every show. That's boring, and will probably shorten careers. You might as well keep the roster seperate. Plus, it leads to holding off interesting matches. Cena vs Batista may have been a let-down to some, but without the roster split, it would have happened much sooner, before it could mean anything at all. Hell, Cena & Batista probably wouldn't have become stars without the room to advance that the brand split created. If it's making money, that's reason enough. Wrestling is a business. Television is a business. Perhaps quality isn't as good as it could be. Perhaps profits aren't as good as they could be. However, I can't describe the brand split as a failure at all. May it rock on for many years to come.