WWE Rumors: Low Ratings And Network Pressure Could End Brand Split?

WWE ratings woes could mean drastic changes are around the corner if Fox and USA have their way.

Since Wrestlemania 35, TV ratings for Raw and Smackdown Live have seen a steady decline. Raw hit its lowest non-holiday and non-football season ratings, drawing less than 2 million viewers. The same went for Smackdown Live, drawing the lowest number of viewers since the show moved to Tuesday nights in 2016.

In an effort to draw some viewers back, Roman Reigns teased an appearance on Raw a few weeks after moving to Smackdown Live. The latest episode did see Reigns appear, along with fellow Smackdown stars Daniel Bryan, Kofi Kingston, Lars Sullivan and Elias. Vince McMahon also appeared, announcing a new idea called the “wild card” rule which would allow four members of one roster to appear on the other show.

WWE even had to suddenly cancel a Smackdown house show because of the appearances.

This could just be a sign of things to come.

On the latest edition of “Wrestling Observer Radio,” Dave Meltzer said that Fox and USA want WWE to end the brand split completely in response to the poor ratings.

"Fox wanted more storylines that are going to be on both RAW and SmackDown. You know, NBC Universal was real upset about the ratings especially in the third hour and was asking questions about: 'Our ratings are this, this, and this why’d we give away Roman Reigns?'" Meltzer said.

Both companies have the financial clout to pressure WWE to possibly end the brand split. Fox’s deal with WWE to be the new home of Smackdown would see the network pay WWE $205 million a year for five years starting in October. USA, meanwhile, renewed its five-year deal with WWE to air Raw.

The new brand split began in the summer of 2016, with each show running its own house shows and pay-per-views. However, WWE did go back to co-branded pay-per-views following Wrestlemania in 2018.