At the start of 2016, WWE’s SmackDown brand was simply an afterthought. It acted more as a RAW-lite than a TV show or brand of its own, much different to what it is today, and how it was in the past. In the years prior, WWE’s two brands had merged into one, large roster, with a singular world title. However, in 2016, WWE announced a new brand extension, splitting the roster into two, between RAW and SmackDown, giving fans some of the best content in recent memory.
Both Shows Were Given A New Sense Of Life
The 2016 Draft rejuvenated WWE programming, and whilst it wasn’t quite in the state that it's in today, the shows were gradually stagnating, making the draft much needed. With the influx of NXT call-ups and new signings, two shows were needed for the growing roster, which was rich in depth with top talent, with one brand not enough to feature everyone.
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Both RAW and SmackDown were revamped, with new logos, sets, and authority figures. SmackDown though, felt even more different. With RAW being advertised as the number one show, getting the first Draft pick, and the larger share of talent, SmackDown felt like a renegade show. It felt fresher and more exciting, especially when all the bigger names such as Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, and Charlotte Flair all headed over to RAW.
The show was led by then fan favorite, Shane McMahon, and ultimate babyface, Daniel Bryan. The lack of a heel authority figure was also new, given the last few years of TV being dominated by the dictatorship of The Authority. It was billed as ‘The Land of Opportunity’, and it certainly lived up to this moniker.
The Miz And Dolph Ziggler Are Proof That ‘The Land Of Opportunity’ Was A Success
New stories were cultivated, and different superstars were featured, especially people who hadn’t had their fair share of TV time in the years leading up to the brand split. For example, Dolph Ziggler became the first name to step forward and challenge for the WWE Championship on a PPV, in a position he hadn’t seen himself in for a number of years. Despite losing, Ziggler would enter a rivalry with The Miz. This pairing had been seen together numerous times, but without much story or investment from creative. This time though, with The Miz riding a strong wave of momentum after his legendary outburst on Talking Smack, he and Ziggler made SmackDown must-see.
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There was no doubting the chemistry of the two, with telling a great story filled with inventive segments such as bringing back The Spirit Squad to haunt Ziggler with his past, to Ziggler putting his career on the line, all the while with the Intercontinental Championship in the balance, which elevated the belt higher than it had been in a long time.
The Tag Team And Women’s Divisions Had Better Focus
SmackDown brought in two new championships – their own branded Tag Team and Women’s titles. Heath Slater, who had been undrafted, was vying for a contract in order to feed his kids, teaming with Rhyno to take part in a tournament to crown the first SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Slater’s great work in this role made fans rally behind the pair, and in a shock occurence, they persevered and won the belts in a wholesome, pleasing moment. For Slater, it was perhaps the pinnacle of his WWE career, something he wouldn’t have had without the brand split.
In the Women’s Division, names such as Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella were given more of a chance to shine without being in the shadow of Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair, who were the two most pushed female stars at the time. Whilst Lynch became the inaugural champion, it was Bliss who would benefit most from this exposure, winning the title in the fall of 2016, and making herself a star with great mic work.
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From Top To Bottom, The Show Was Exciting
Intriguing stories such as Randy Orton joining the Wyatt Family were created, and the show was headlined by AJ Styles, a man who had been in the company for less than a year at the time. He quickly defeated Dean Ambrose to become the WWE Champion, and despite the show not having the big guns that RAW had, he made the title feel like the most important one in the entire company.
In a time where there wasn’t a major Fox deal with the biggest stars being on SmackDown, the show still felt like must-see television, and it had fans tuning in week after week. At the time, it felt as though there was real competition between the two brands, and it was actually fun when one show invaded the other in the build up to Survivor Series, something which has been lost with the huge amount of shake-ups and drafts that have occurred since the initial split. There’s every chance WWE can produce the quality of show that 2016 SmackDown was, but it's unlikely to experience the same charm that it once had.
