2010 DRAFT NUMBERS: WHY SMACKDOWN DIDN'T LOSE THAT BAD TO RAW
By Todd Oblak on 4/28/2010 3:40 PM
So, everyone is saying that RAW gutted SmackDown in the draft on Monday....I'm
sorry to say that is just not the case.
After the draft, there are exactly 37 characters on each show. OK, but you
say it's just not an even roster. Fine. But there are 7 former or current
World Champions on each brand. Jericho, Edge, Cena, Orton, Sheamus, Khali &
HHH are on RAW. Batista, Big Show, Punk, Swagger, Kane, Mysterio & Undertaker
are on SD. Yes Batista might be leaving, but that's still 6-7.
If you look at former or current 2nd tier singles champions, it's close too.
These would be former US, IC or ECW champions. Raw has 9 + 5 (of the
aforementioned 7) = 14, SD has 7 + 5 (of the aforementioned 7) = 12. There
are Carlito, Jericho, Edge, Ezekiel, Goldust, Cena, Morrison, Henry, Orton,
Truth, Santino, Miz, HHH, Regal on Raw. Mysterio, MVP, Hardy, Kofi, Kane,
Swagger, Finlay, McIntyre, Punk, Christian, Chavo & Big Show are on SD.
Sheamus & Khali on RAW, nor Undertaker or Batista on SD have ever held a 2nd
tier title. RAW wins, but it's not necessarily a "gutting" yet.
There are 8 women on RAW and 7 on SD (I'm only counting potential title
holders here, so I don't count Vickie). Again, RAW has the advantage but it's
close.
Here's something I found interesting. Of the 37 characters on each show, RAW
has 24 males that would potentially compete for a singles title. SmackDown
has 25 (I didn't count Hornswoggle as a potential or it would be 26-24). Of
those 24 on RAW, 8 have never held a singles title. Of the 25 on SmackDown,
there are 10.
Now you could say none of this matters and that from a money-drawing potential
and/or character strength angle, it is seen as a landslide victory for RAW.
Maybe, however on paper it looks like a fairly even batttle. SmackDown could
even be seen as ahead of the game because of the potential there.
Either way you look at this, there is no better time than now for the 8 guys
on RAW or 10 on SmackDown who have never held a singles title to step up....as
well as the 9 on RAW or 7 on SD who have held a 2nd tier title but never got a
chance with the World Title. I'd say right now is their time to shine.
Thoughts?
