5 Reasons Why SmackDown Is Winning Early Days of WWE Brand War

It may have only been a matter of weeks since WWE went bold and brought back the brand split, but there's already one clear winner when it comes to the all-around packages both Raw and SmackDown provide.

The blue brand stands head and shoulders above Monday nights right now for a number of reasons.

SmackDown feels like the more watchable show, with the whole card getting a fair push on Tuesdays compared to what feels like a top-heavy show on Mondays.

But it isn't just what's happening inside the ring that gives SmackDown the edge. Booking decisions, non-wrestling personnel and much more make SmackDown WWE's leading brand in the opening weeks of the split.

Here are five reasons why Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan have the edge on Stephanie and Mick Foley thus far.

The Prospects of Genuine Surprise Pushes

Credit: WWE.com

Raw has gone down the route of giving pushes to people like Braun Strowman and Darren Young, while SmackDown has been more creative and bolder.

Heath Slater is the biggest success story. He is perhaps the one man who sums up SmackDown's success when it comes to pushing untried talent.

Slater had dramatically fallen down the pecking order prior to the split, but having him work as a (kayfabe) free agent was a genius move.

Fans can connect with his story, and it culminated in spectacular fashion at Backlash when Slater won the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships with Rhyno.

SmackDown seems to focus as much on storytelling as it does on having someone show up in the ring each and every week, and that's why it's winning this particular aspect of the brand split.

If the blue brand manages to do something similar with the newly drafted Jack Swagger, it would be even more incredible.

Mauro Ranallo

Credit: WWE.com

It's not just what happens in the ring that makes SmackDown a compelling and entertaining two hours of TV every week.

The commentary teams are just as crucial to the delivery of a broadcast on a weekly basis, and although Corey Graves has given Raw a major shot in the arm, Mauro Ranallo is the company's true standout caller.

As soon as he arrived on SmackDown earlier this year, he refreshed WWE's whole outlook when it came to commentary.

Since then, he's called the Cruiserweight Classic alongside Daniel Bryan. With the brand split pitting him against Michael Cole, Ranallo has the upper hand.

He calls with such passion and, more importantly, knowledge. Unsure what a new move is called when it's debuted? Ranallo will tell you with flair and excitement.

The conclusions of matches on the blue brand seem more enjoyable when Ranallo is getting carried away on the mic. He is a wrestling fan and that comes across in his commentary.

It's hard to imagine a SmackDown without Ranallo calling the action. He's been around for only a few months and has already made a big impact.

Depth in the Women's Division

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Raw may have stars in Charlotte and Sasha Banks, but SmackDown is where it's at for genuine competition across the board.

The blue brand not only has good depth in its women's division, but it's also putting the athletes to effective use right now.

Going back to an earlier slide about genuine, surprise pushes, the emergence of Alexa Bliss as a contender for Becky Lynch's SmackDown Women's Championship shows how the blue brand is capable of working both ends of the scale with its female talent.

Lynch's shot at running a women's division is overdue. But Bliss, a newcomer on the scene, hasn't looked like a contender until recently.

SmackDown has built Bliss into a great challenger for Lynch. She's a fledgling heel, has great attitude in and out of the ring and looks like a real star.

But there are things to be intrigued about beyond that on SmackDown. Both brands have good title feuds, but it's likely that a feud between Nikki Bella and Carmella will also get some TV time in the coming weeks.

Below them, you have Naomi, Natalya and the impending return of Eva Marie. The women's division on SmackDown leaves fans with plenty to get excited about.

Prestigious Titles and Great Champions

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It's not Raw's fault it picked up the new Universal Championship, but that doesn't hide the fact that SmackDown has the company's two most prestigious championships.

It was a wise move sending the WWE World Championship to the blue brand as a way of strengthening that show. It instantly made the show more watchable; the company's biggest prize can now only be seen on Tuesday nights, as JBL constantly referred to in the opening weeks of the brand extension.

Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles for the WWE World Championship did a good job of establishing the title on the blue brand, but another title also looks great on Tuesdays.

Not only is it wonderful to see the Intercontinental Championship stand out as the sole midcard title, but it's also great to see a good champion carry it around.

The Miz has been a superb champion for SmackDown, and his rivalry with Daniel Bryan looks set to have real legs and become a compelling feud.

He's probably the company's most legitimate heel, and with that belt over his shoulder, the arrogance will continue to ooze out of The Miz on a regular basis.

AJ Styles

Credit: WWE.com

The face that runs the place. The champ that runs the camp. Call him whatever you want—AJ Styles is SmackDown's biggest asset. 

In fact, he's the biggest reason the blue brand is the show to tune into these days. Both shows are blessed with great champions, and it shouldn't be forgotten that Kevin Owens is an incredible holder of the Universal Championship.

But Styles? His heel turn has been a masterstroke from WWE, allowing him to take his career to new heights within a matter of months.

WWE rewarding him with the company's biggest prize wasn't exactly overdue, but it felt like the right thing to do at Backlash.

He can spearhead SmackDown into a prolonged period of domination over Raw. He makes almost any feud with any man seem compelling, and this latest effort with Dean Ambrose and John Cena will be one of the best yet.

He's not called The Phenomenal One for no reason. A strong brand needs a strong champion, and SmackDown has that with Styles at the pinnacle of the show.