Are the Band-Split's days numbered?

 

It was in July 2016 the WWE Chairman Vince McMahon told his children Shane McMahon and Stephanie McMahon to compete in ratings, social media, attendance records and merchandise. This marked the second time WWE went for a brand split, the first time existing between 2002 and 2011. In 2011 the concept was dropped, because WWE felt there wasn't enough depth in the roster anymore. That all changed until 2016, though and RAW and SmackDown became two seperate brands once again.

WWE promised to learn from past mistakes and moved SmackDown to Tuesday's making it a Live-Show. In addition to that Shane McMahon promoted Daniel Bryan as his General Manager, while Stephanie McMahon hired Mick Foley, who was later replaced with Kurt Angle.

In reality, with the exception of a few occasions like Survivor Series, there was no real competition between RAW and SmackDown. In the first year SmackDown was the more successful show however, a few months after a 'Superstar Shake Up' in April 2017, RAW took over while SmackDown currently is on a downward spiral in ratings, quality and attendence. 

In addition the lines between RAW and SmackDown were blurred when Superstars like The Undertaker and John Cena got the ability to jump ship as much as they please at any given moment. Cena even was called a 'Free Agent'.

This translated to the audience as 'WWE doesn't care anymore about the brand split'. In February 2018 WWE announced that SmackDown or RAW ONLY PPVs are history after WrestleMania. Every Pay-Per-View will now be a dual-branded event. Another nail in the coffin of the second attempt at a Brand Extension.

All of the sudden the newly created Championships feel 'too many'. How long until Unification Matches are happening again? How long until SmackDown warms up the storylines of MondayNight RAW again?

When will the words of Vince McMahon be true again?  

One thing is for sure, it is completley their fault this time. They had the option to look back on what did not work between 2002 and 2011 and STILL plenty of mistakes are repeated now. WWE just grows tired of the rules they put on themselves with the brand split. After WrestleMania the WWE should everything in the power to make both shows seems equal in appeal, but different in presentation. Make SmackDown 'The Land of Opportunity' again, because that concept WORKED while RAW can be the home of the titans, the Shark Tank of the WWE, if you will.

This horse ain't dead yet. There so much talent, it would be an incredible waste to let them go in the end.