Raw vs SmackDown (18th, 19th December): Which show was better this week?
Survivor Series may be the only place in the WWE where you can see Superstars from Monday Night RAW and SmackDown LIVE competing against each other, but right here on Sportskeeda, you can see RAW and SmackDown LIVE do battle every week as we compare the two shows to decide which one was better.
We'll be looking at the best match of the night for both shows, the opening segment, the mid-card, the tag-team division, the main event and any surprises or shocks that may have happened on either show. Then, at the end of it all, we'll be able to tell you whether or not RAW or SmackDown LIVE was the best show for that week.
So without further ado, let's get started!
The Opening Segment
Raw
Monday Night RAW kicked off with General Manager Kurt Angle making his way into the ring to address the #1 contendership situation for the WWE Universal Title, following the no-contest between Braun Strowman and Kane, last week.
Both Strowman and Kane came out to state their case, leading to Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar also making their way into the ring. Angle then swiftly announced that the WWE Universal Title match at the Royal Rumble PPV would be a Triple-Threat between all three.
Lesnar then cleared the house and hit Kane with an F5.
SmackDown LIVE
SmackDown LIVE opened with Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan in the ring, discussing the events at Clash of Champions. Daniel Bryan issued a fast-three count to give Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn a win over Shinsuke Nakamura and Randy Orton and allowed them to keep their jobs.
Bryan kicked off with a recap of the Royal Rumble news and a match announcement before Shane O Mac came out and admitted that he didn't realise Bryan had stumbled to break up the count on Zayn, and he got emotional which is why he stopped at two.
Bryan explained his actions and then asked Shane to fire him if he had a problem. Shane said he didn't and the two left it there.
Who was better?
The SmackDown LIVE opening segment was expected to be a bit of an anti-climax, given the events that transpired at Clash of Champions, as I was expecting a little more tension and conflict between McMahon and Bryan. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that Bryan and McMahon's exchange lived up to the same hype that RAW managed to achieve by putting Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman and Kane in the ring together, so I have to hand this one to RAW
Winner: RAW