Does Smackdown need to be put to bed?

WWE Smackdown has been with us since 1999 and has witnessed some of the greatest non PPV matches in the WWE, however after 12 years on the air is it time for WWE to 'Layeth the Smackdown' on this show.

Smackdown first appeared on our screens during the height of the attitude era and undoubtedly one of WWE most profitable periods. Capitalising on the success of it's brand was a logical step and Smackdown was created to double the entertainment.

From 1999-2002 WWE superstars appeared on both Raw and Smackdown and story lines twisted via each show, however in 2002 after WWE's acquisition of both it's competing shows WCW and ECW, the WWE was over run with talent, former champions were forced to open shows and wrestle mid card. To combat this the WWE underwent a process they called a 'brand extention' in which they literally separated Raw and Smackdown into 2 different shows, thus allowing 2 different rosters and therefore more main event material.

When moving forward in time to 2011 and the swell of talent from the early 00's has wained down to just a few really talented wrestler and lots of 'filler'. An example of this filler is Smackdown 22/07/2011, this show had at least an hour of material which wasn't from the show itself, they had a 20 minuet re run of Raw, a match from 'the vault', a 'this day in Smackdown history' and loads of 'previously on Smackdown'.

The WWE no longer have the mass of talent they did in the early 00's not to mention that their stock is already 33% down on the previous year. At a time when the WWE is not making the money it is used to and struggling to find the talent they once had, maybe its time to let the show die. Get rid of Smackdown all together, combine the rosters to make a really impressive Raw roster and make Raw 3 hours long per week, this in addition to the WWE's recent move back towards the attitude era could mark the next stepping stone for the biggest promotion in the wrestling industry.

Why it's time for WWE to drop the PG

For anyone who watched the Money in the Bank Pay Per View surely there can now be no doubt...for WWE to progress and get back to the product it once was then they have to drop the PG rating. The reason for this is because MITB proved that WWE still has "Attitude" .......and it works!!!

MITB was many things, entertaining, enthralling and in places hugely surprising as well as having the greatest culmination of any pay per view of the last five years. But older fans have noticed a change in the product as of late.

During the original attitude era the audience was not talked down to. We weren't expected to believe in good guys and bad guys. We didn't have 'characters' shoved down our throats such as clowns, dustbin men or super hero's. The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Degeneration X were not portrayed as baby faces or heels. You either liked them or you didn't based on the attitude that they showed in the ring or on the mic.

You might cheer Austin and then he would flip all the audience the bird. The Rock would have the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand and then turn and tell them all to "know their roles". The Attitude era was the halcyon days on the WWE as the anti hero was king. And the ultimate anti hero, Austin, got to beat the crap out of his boss every week. Now who couldn't identify with that! A golden age.

Fast forward to the modern day and could we be heading for another golden age? The tell tale signs are there. At MITB Randy Orton went psychotic after losing the World Title on a screw job to Christian. Audibly swearing on camera and taking things too far with a brutal attack on his nemesis, and the fans lapped it up.

And what about the man who has had the internet in meltdown for almost a month. CM Punk "broke the fourth wall" when slating Vince McMahon, John Laurenitis, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon in the best promo since Austin 3:16 in 1996. And he then managed to act as the heel in his title match with Cena while having a rabid Chicago audience pop like crazy. And to cap it all off he 'left' the WWE with the WWE Championship in the ultimate FU to McMahon and the corporate machine. This was as big a rebellious move as Austin ever pulled off.

Let's just hope that Vince McMahon goes with the flow. Drop the PG. The fans want guys they can believe in. They want wrestlers not sports entertainers. Go with this Vince and the "Attitude" might just have a renaissance.

Welcome.

It's always hard choosing an opening post but with recent goings on in the WWE there is only one real place we could start...CM Punk!

A few weeks ago we were witness to some of the best storytelling in the WWE in recent years. CM Punk's barrage of abuse towards Vince McMahon and his company at the end of Raw was nothing short of the best promo cut in the WWE since 'Dwayne' left a few years ago.

The WWE is promoting the promo as unsanctioned and unforgivable but with the length of time before the mic was cut and the fact that the camera's continued rolling feels to me like McMahon might finally be breaking loose of his recent programming aimed at 12 year old kids and returning back towards the attitude era with style.

Punk's rant was Stone Cold in style and certainly would have boosted the ratings for the Money In The Bank pay per view.

His current contractual status is currently unknown but rumours are that he is close to signing a new deal worth a lot of cash.

One thing is for sure, if....no wait...when Punk returns to WWE he will no doubt become on of the biggest stars in WWE history if they continue him down the path he is currently on....Super stardom awaits!