Twitter Reacts to WWE SmackDown Airing Live and Brand Split from Raw

WWE shook the up the wrestling industry on Wednesday morning by announcing on its website that not only will SmackDown  air live on Tuesdays starting July 19 but that it will have a "distinct roster."

In other words, a Raw-SmackDown brand split is on the horizon.

According to WWE CEO Vince McMahon, "WWE's flagship programs will both leverage the incredible depth of our talent roster, distinct storylines and the unpredictable nature of live TV. This move will undoubtedly build more excitement and deepen engagement with our fans around th­e world.”

The WWE Universe responded immediately on Twitter. The initial reaction was overwhelmingly positive:

Speculation on Superstar Fantasy Drafts, New Titles and More

The announcement also mentioned that a Superstar draft would be "imminent,"which led WWE fans to immediately begin fantasy booking not only the draft itself but how WWE's titles would be affected and whether additional titles, including the former World Heavyweight and Cruiserweight Championships, would return:

Questions Whether the Brand Split Will Hurt the Product

WWE last utilized a brand split in 2002, a remnant of the former Monday Night Wars following WWE's acquisitions of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and, to a lesser extent, Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). 

An annual draft was held to split the roster between the programs (Raw, SmackDown and, for a short time, ECW on the Sci Fi Channel). The brand split officially ended in 2011.

That initial brand split was met with mixed reaction, opinions that resurfaced on Wednesday. Some fans expressed concern that this latest brand split would "bury" certain Superstars, while others touted the differences between then and now—namely, making SmackDown a live program:

And Finally...

What would good WWE news be without the subsequent follow-up regarding Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, which currently airs on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on the little-watched PopTV:

"

#IMPACTonPop @IMPACTWRESTLING @TNADixie pic.twitter.com/EqwcxRjgNM

— Jason Stout (@TopRopeStout) May 25, 2016"

[Twitter]