Former WWE writer Vince Russo has expressed concern about the potential impact of Cody Rhodes’ move to SmackDown on RAW’s viewership.
As the Draft unfolded on RAW this week, with both brands making their selections, the announcement that champions were exempt from the Draft brought a significant twist.
This meant that Cody Rhodes and Damian Priest would represent SmackDown and RAW respectively as the top champions for their brands.
Speaking on Legion of RAW, Russo elaborated on his apprehensions, suggesting that fans who tuned in to RAW specifically for Cody Rhodes might now have less incentive to continue watching:
“If people were tuning in to RAW to see Cody, now there’s no reason for them to watch RAW anymore, right?”
Russo went further to criticize the concept of the Draft itself, advocating for a return to a more integrated approach where storylines flow seamlessly between both shows:
“Bro, this thing with this Draft and this split squads is so ridiculous and so stupid. Give me a 50-man and 50-woman roster, and it’s one storyline from SmackDown to RAW, SmackDown to RAW, the way it used to be.”
With the Draft concluded and Cody Rhodes positioned as the top babyface on SmackDown, anticipation builds for his upcoming defense of the Undisputed WWE Championship at Backlash France. However, the question remains whether RAW can cultivate new major babyface stars in Cody’s absence.
As the WWE terrain continues to evolve, Russo’s critique underscores the potential challenges and opportunities presented by roster moves and brand exclusivity, highlighting the ongoing dialogue about how best to engage and retain viewers across both RAW and SmackDown.