Smackdown last week suffered the worst ratings on its current network it has ever had, not counting holidays. Only 1.98 million viewers. Since changing nights this year, Smackdown had managed to stay in its usual range for the most part. Football was going to change that, and it did. Could it get much worse as football season rolls on?
What can the WWE do? Well, changing nights will obviously help them. Aside from that, Smackdown going live will also help. I just read Smackdown spoilers. I cannot remember the last time I watched even a segment of Smackdown. I probably won't watch Smackdown if it goes live every week, but it will help draw in a lot of those others that just read spoilers.
In terms of what is actually going on on the show, there are some changes the WWE can make. I would have someone be the GM of Smackdown. It might help give Smackdown an identity. I am not talking about The Authority. Their inconsistency is annoying and that act has gone stale. Bringing Kane back to fill the role might also not be the best. How about Paul Heyman? Or Lana? Having someone run the show might help it feel like it is not just a show that goes through the motions and features a lot of filler.
In general, the WWE needs to have more important things happen on Smackdown. Important things rarely happen on Smackdown. Of course, back when the WWE did a little better job with that, numbers were still pretty much in the same area as you had for much of this year. The WWE is learning that they can't be lazy. Maybe they are just being lazy because they know they are changing networks. They just better turn themselves on next year.
Splitting the roster again might also help. The WWE has too much talent and are signing more talent. If they do not release people without waiting for them to do something wrong to fire them or for them to retire or contracts to expire, they are going to get even more congested. Splitting the roster might also just make it easier to manage Smackdown. The WWE will know there are certain guys that will only appear on Smackdown and they will build around those guys on Smackdown, while Raw has Cena and others. No need to split the World titles again. There was a time when there was separate brands and only one World Champion. That guy could work both shows.
Let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Let's say the WWE runs Smackdown the way it does because they are giving younger guys the opportunities to be in the spotlight they might not get in the same way on Raw. Cena is rarely on Smackdown. Part-timers really do not appear on Smackdown. You have had a range of guys get to main-event Smackdown. Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, Cesaro, New Day, Sheamus, and so on seem to get the show to themselves. If they can do a good job being draws there, does that help them make the case for being pushed better in general? Problem is, they aren't drawing. You can't really blame them. They are frequently used in a boring manner.
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