WWE Raw vs. SmackDown: Winner, Top Highlights and Botches for Week of March 9

On the heels of a Fastlane pay-per-view that did anything but generate excitement for WrestleMania, the Raw brand presented an episode that was full of moments and angles that properly hyped the upcoming Showcase of the Immortals.

It was a dynamic program that featured the biggest stars in sports entertainment.

SmackDown Live countered with another steadily built production that spotlighted its contributions to Wrestlemania's card and saw Randy Orton cash his ticket to the main event with a win over AJ Styles.

Which show did enough to win the weekly battle for brand supremacy, though?

What was it that gave it the push necessary to achieve victory?

Find out the answer to those questions with this recap of WWE television for the week of March 9.

Why Raw?

WWE is on The Road to Wrestlemania, as seen during Monday's episode of Raw.

The show was incredibly focused, to the point that every single segment had something to do with a match or feud that will play out on the grand stage in Orlando.

From Kevin Owens' explanation of his attack on Chris Jericho to Sasha Banks earning a shot at the Raw Women's Championship to Austin Aries' attack on Neville and WrestleMania hosts The New Day continuing their winning ways, everything made sense within the context of ongoing storylines. The result was a much more enjoyable, engaging three hours of television than fans have been otherwise treated to.

The greatest element of Raw is the sense of urgency accompanying the product.

Things feel important in a way they have not in months. Stories were more defined, and it felt like what was unfolding on the television demanded the audience's attention. If viewers refused, they would miss something essential to the stories being told.

The most significant of moments from Monday's broadcast was the staredown between Roman Reigns and The Undertaker, which essentially served as the announcement for their showdown at WrestleMania. The Phenom's chokeslam put an exclamation point on the show and set up weeks of essential programming going forward.

That is how the flagship show should operate. It should leave fans wanting more from every episode. Monday night, on the heels of Fastlane and with WrestleMania on the horizon, it succeeded in doing just that. Whether it can maintain the momentum it has is the biggest question.

Why SmackDown?

The first televised match between Randy Orton and AJ Styles was every bit the superb one fans expected. Styles, arguably the best wrestler in the world, shone in defeat. Orton, a veteran of high-profile matches with even higher stakes, worked his first truly great match since his return to the blue brand last summer.

Together, they provided the show with the marquee match it needed given the lack of in-ring action elsewhere.

Still, even with matches few and far between, the brand produced a show that continued the steady build to its top WrestleMania offerings.

John Cena and Nikki Bella successfully teamed together, only to be attacked and left lying by The Miz and Maryse ahead of what appears to be a Mixed Tag Team match at The Showcase of the Immortals. Baron Corbin got one over Dean Ambrose, attacking him backstage and using a forklift to do considerable damage to The Lunatic Fringe's ribs.

The Women's Championship match for WrestleMania was announced. Furthermore, Mickie James severed her friendship with Alexa Bliss with a single Mick Kick.

Even The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was touched on, as Mojo Rawley announced his intention to enter the match, followed by Dolph Ziggler.

Again, SmackDown continued its march to Orlando for the April 2 extravaganza with a show that was not the most dynamic but told logical stories and featured intriguing characters.

Biggest Botch

The biggest botch this week belongs to SmackDown Live and the Blissertation segment that was an incredible failure.

One of the biggest creative issues facing WWE is its constant scripting of promos. Unfortunately, by doing so, it eliminates the real voice of its performers and forces words into their mouths they simply do not believe in.

Alexa Bliss, the SmackDown women's champion, was sent to the ring with a list of one-line insults for her fellow female competitors and died a miserable death in front of an audience that did not react to a single one.

She used a reference to Chucky, the killer doll from the Child's Play franchise, to describe Becky Lynch. She delivered a clunky play on Bret Hart's legendary catchphrase while addressing Natalya. It was clear Bliss did not believe in the word she was saying, and the result was an ugly promo that made the brand's champion look bad.

Worse yet, it derailed the hottest division on the show, even if only momentarily.

Winner

For the first time in weeks, Raw scores a win in the weekly battle for brand supremacy.

SmackDown Live may still have more intriguing characters and layered stories, but Raw provided an explosive three hours of content that generated legitimate excitement for WrestleMania.

At this time of the the year, the bigger and better the moment, the more the 'Mania card benefits.

Brock Lesnar delivering an F-5 to Goldberg is a big deal. Undertaker dropping Reigns with a chokeslam is an even bigger deal. Jericho and Owens announcing a battle for the biggest event of the year is certainly significant.

Even Aries' attack on Neville, which set up a cruiserweight title match, was important enough to help push Raw past SmackDown this week.

The blue brand was steady excellence again, but it lacked that one defining moment and did not employ that same urgency to its creative side to earn it another victory.