AEW Rampage Has No Chance Of Being Their Version Of WWE Smackdown
While doing his weekly appearance on Busted Open Radio, AEW President Tony Khan made it clear that AEW's new Friday night show Rampage would not be a secondary show to Dynamite. The idea is that Rampage and Dynamite would be AEW’s major shows in terms of content and be viewed as equals when it comes to importance.
In other words, Ramage will be to Dynamite, what SmackDown is to Raw.
Khan, of course, didn't make that comparison himself. Furthermore, there are many who will suggest the last thing AEW wants to do is compare its shows to WWE's. Let's be honest though, Rampage becoming AEW's version of SmackDown is about the best case scenario for that program. If AEW is able to take that second show and make it as important as the first, they'll have accomplished something special.
There's only one problem... there's no chance that happens.
Rampage Is One Hour
The show will air on Friday nights, starting at 10 PM EST. A one-hour show, it's going to be difficult for AEW to offer much more than a review show with a couple of matches. Considering AEW generally likes to run their matches longer than WWE and let the talent show off their in-ring skills, the one-hour format will be limiting.
Just think about most one-hour programs in wrestling. Not a ton gets done. SmackDown is a show that offers huge storylines and massive character development. At the very least it needs two hours to accomplish such a feat and, frankly, it's a bit surprising the blue brand hasn't gone to three hours.
How much storytelling and big moments can Rampage offer? That remains to be seen, but there's a very good chance it becomes more a of showcase show that doesn't offer really fresh and invaluable content.
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There's No Brand Split
One of the things that makes SmackDown must watch programming for any WWE fan is the fact that the stars on the blue brand (more often than not) are not the same stars on the red brand. If you want to see Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Sasha Banks or Bianca Belair, you need to tune in on Fridays.
AEW doesn't have the roster to offer a brand split and if they did, which stars would honestly want to move to a show that is only one hour long and limits how often they can showcase themselves? AEW would need a bigger and deeper roster to evenly split their top stars onto two shows.
In the end, everything that will happen on Rampage will likely be talked about on Dynamite the following Wednesday. How often will fans feel the need to ensure they watch it live and how many wrestlers will want to focus on the second show, when the roster is really still trying to make the first show as good as it can be?
SmackDown Is Actually Better Than Raw
Today, many fans believe SmackDown is the superior show to Raw. Whether that's because the split brand creates a competitive fire to outdo the other or the creative team on one show is writing better content than the other is unclear. But, if you asked a good chunk of the WWE Universe, Friday nights are more entertaining.
It will be extremely hard for Rampage to even compete with Dynamite on that level, much less be considered an equal. Again, it's about time, storylines, the creative aspect of production and the fact that it may, or may not be live.
AEW Talent Workload And Creative Control Issues?
While there were questions early, it's become clear from recent reports that Khan is the man in charge for AEW. At the same time, some of the top-level talent, specifically EVPs aren't seeing eye-to-eye and have a lot of pull when it comes to their own respective on-air angles.
If true, it's only a matter of time before backstage politics become a factor for the company and with a second show, one of the easiest ways wrestlers with clout can flex their muscles is not wanting to appear on anything but the flagship show. Khan can say all he wants that AEW is going to view these two shows equally, but it will be interesting to see if the stars see it that way, especially if the ratings aren't there after the premiere episode.
This is not to say that any AEW talents have or will indicate they don't want to appear on Fridays. In fact, if the Young Bucks or Cody gets the main match on Rampage, they may relish having the show completely revolve around them. But, as talent have more say backstage, they become harder to manage. In AEW's case, some of the talent have executive roles within the company.
If, for some reason, the show is live, there's an entirely new set of issues AEW will face that has to do with how often wrestlers in AEW are asked to appear. Like it was in WCW, one of the perks for AEW stars is that there's some flexibility in where and how often they are asked to work. Many, like Jon Moxley, have the luxury of showing up on weekends in Las Vegas to battle it out with Nick Gage. A live show has the potential to cut into all of that.
Could Rampage Be To Dynamite What Thunder Was To Nitro?
Perhaps it's unfair to expect this show to be a total flop out of the gate. Until it airs and there are more details about the production of the program and what AEW's plan for the show really are, suggesting it won't work or that it will never be as good as Dynamite is admittedly premature.
At the same time, while Khan is planning to make Rampage and equal to Dynamite -- thus suggesting it will be the SmackDown to WWE's Raw, there's as much of a chance it's far more comparable to Thunder and Nitro for WCW.
Only a handful of wrestlers saw Thunder as an opportunity. Most WCW talents didn't want to go anywhere near that show. Let's hope this isn't the case for AEW and that every idea Khan has for his new project comes to light, just as he's envisioned.
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