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JR's BlogNew, JR's Blog! @WWE Brand Split & Going LIVE w/ Smackdown, RAW Feedback, OklaMania, GOOD GAWD ALMIGHTY!

Posted: May 26th 2016 By: Jim Ross

Greetings everyone and thanks for paying us a visit. There's a new The Ross Report Podcast available now here on the homepage of this site, podcastone.com and iTunes featuring 90 minutes of conversation with former @WWE Creative Team Member Andrew Goldstein @AngeGold talking Extreme Rules, Cody Rhodes, The American Dream, the booking of Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, Seth Rollins and news from Lucha Underground, TNA, and ROH as well. Subscribe for FREE @iTunes and get each week's show downloaded automatically every Tuesday night at 9 pm ET. Thanks for your support of our weekly Slobber Knocker audio show!

On Tuesday July 19, WWE and the USA Network are moving Smackdown to air LIVE every Tuesday night on the flagship network of the company. I perceive this to be a highly positive move as nothing exceeds "Live TV" in today's world of technology specifically referring to DVR's, etc usage. Live TV still is a valued cache in TV Land and WWE/USA are smart to utilize such.

I'd suggest the two broadcast teams need to be entirely different as well which could see Michael Cole, JBL and Byron Saxton manning the RAW side while Mauro Ranallo, Jerry Lawler and Cory Graves could do the same on Smackdown.

The two separate announce teams would help add a competitive element to the process that could include competition from two, separate creative teams as well and the rosters if the proposed brand split comes to pass as expected.

We had competition when King and I handled RAW while Cole and Taz broadcast Smackdown back in the day. It was healthy competition but competition nonetheless and it helped make both teams better. Ditto the writing teams.

Same goes for the two, separate talent rosters as they will also develop a competitive element especially as Smackdown attempts to narrow the gap between the perception of their show and the flagship of WWE TV, Monday Night RAW.

The WWE Title can be made to be even more special if the top dog appears occasionally on both shows but not over exposed on either. Obviously, another primary title can be reinstituted as it was in the past in the form of the 'World Title' but that would not be my preference at this time. By default, if that scenario was utilized then the top two, weekly featured titles would be the IC and US Titles respectively on each brand. That does not offend me.

There are many 'right ways' to accomplish the expected brand split, from separate creative teams, separate announce teams, different graphics, an overall look of the show plus the different rosters that will be created.

My primary hope is that the brand separation will be 'pure' and not feature 'intermingling' of talents other than perhaps 'rookie tryouts' and appearances by selected champions such as the WWE World Champion and/or the WWE Tag Champions.

For the further growth and development of the ever expanding talent roster and to provide all talents with an opportunity to 'break out' and 'get over,' going live on Smackdown on Tuesdays, and no, Thursdays would not work because of routing, the crews already on the road, etc, and a strategic brand separation via a DRAFT is a significant move on the WWE's part and should enhance their long term growth within their talent roster which is WWE's biggest asset today as it has always been and always will be.

Fans will likely no doubt be upset to varying degrees regarding certain aspects the brand separation including where some of their favorite talents will hang their respective 'shingles.' As a fan, I'm curious and motivated to see who goes where,what traveling arrangements will be disrupted, what new rivalries are established, etc of the new dynamics that these moves will create.

We are getting questions regarding OklaMania coming to Oklahoma City on Sunday July 17 that incudes a fan fest entitled OklaCon and a big time, indie wrestling show Sunday evening July 17 in the downtown, OKC Cos Events Center. For more compete card/talent info visit www.imperialwrestlingrevolution.com. Tickets are on sale now at ticketmaster.com. It's going to be an outstanding weekend of pro wrestling featuring many of the top indie wrestlers in the world plus talents that include multiple, WWE Hall of Famers, stars from ROH, TNA and the NWA.

I updated several of the Q&A's here on the site. Check them out before you depart.

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Quick, Baltimore RAW Feedback:

Solid show with some entertaining wrestling bouts sprinkled throughout in MITB Qualifying bouts. The talents who got in to the MITB Match for the June, Vegas PPV from the new arena there were all good choices IMO.

AJ vs. KO...really good bout that someone had to lose...not concerned whatsoever regarding AJ's creative status within WWE...there's no better in-ring talent on the WWE roster than @AJStylesOrg for my money...fans need to stop panicking over this matter.

Happy to see Charlotte go solo as she's been ready for that creative tweak for a good while. The segment was a little long for me but it seemed to work.

Nice win by Sami Zayn over Sheamus as Sami advances into the world of MITB that he should thrive in while Sheamus moves to Apollo Crews which should help Apollo.

Enjoying WWE having MIz as a very beatable IC Champion while featuring Miz and wife Maryse effectively. If Maryse studies her craft she has a shot at being extremely marketable in her role. Cesaro is beastly and perfect for a Lesnar run.

Enjoyed Rollins antagonist promo as that's the role that he's being cast to perform. Some fans are such huge Rollins fans that they want Seth to be a fan favorite and I'm curious to see if those Rollins fans will support him in his anointed role or still defiantly cheer him.

Fully transparency but I'm a big, Enzo fan and it was good to see him back on TV. Enzo is over because he has created a unique, unduplicated TV persona that many fans have connected with because it's entertaining. Key point: be unique.

Although I'm a Dean Ambrose fan of note, he's in need of a sabbatical for the lack of a better term to allow him to 'freshen' up' as he's cooled off significantly since WM32.

Follow me on Twitter if you don't already at @JRsBBQ. Thanks.

Enjoying the @OKCThunder vs @Warriors NBA Playoff series and am encouraged that the underdog Thunder are hanging with Golden State. This one is far from over even though OKC is up 3 games to 2 in the best of 7 series that returns to the Bay Area Thursday night. It's still come to come down to will to win, securing 50-50 balls, rebounding and defense because both teams can obviously score. Let's see who ends of living and dying via their jump shooting.

Appreciate all of those who support our efforts in the competitive, podcast world by downloading The Ross Report Podcast every week.

As some have likely noticed that do follow me on Twitter, I'm trying to help raise funds for my charity of choice, HeadlockonHunger.org @headlockonhunger on Twitter which feeds school age children in the USA who do not eat regularly when they are not in school and cannot take advantage of school food programs. We have designed a limited edition tee, GOOD GAWD ALMIGHTY version, that we are selling for two weeks only in sizes up to 5X and worldwide shipping is available from www.represent.com/jimross. Please consider helping us raise much needed funds for food for these kids. The offer will end in two week so time is of the essence. Thanks, again!

Boomer Sooner!

J.R. @JRsBBQ