Is SmackDown/RAW STILL Worth Watching? Triple H’s Creative Crisis EXPOSED!

Since WrestleMania 40, RAW has shown moments of creative ambition under Triple H—notably with cinematic matches, long-term arcs, and its move to Netflix, which producer Triple H says hasn’t influenced booking decisions. Still, ratings have slipped sharply—some estimates suggest RAW lost nearly half its audience in just three weeks. Critics like Vince Russo argue the show is suffering from repetitive structure and pacing issues, claiming Hunter lacks the formal writing experience needed for weekly episodic storytelling . Yet many fans appreciate the improved match quality, cleaner story progression, and healthier locker room vibe compared to the Vince McMahon era SmackDown, meanwhile, has faced sharper backlash—especially since moving to a three-hour format early in 2025 . Viewership dipped, with backstage sources admitting the format caused "creative fatigue" , while fans called it bloated and repetitive. Though the July 4 pre-taped return to two hours helped stabilize things, it still lacked direction and compelling anchors. Critics point to overbooked main events and stale rollout of factions as signs of booking stagnation. The consensus? Hunter’s creative vision has delivered incremental improvements and infrastructure, but inconsistent execution has shaken faith—leading many to question if it’s time for fresh leadership, even as others urge patience to see his long-term plan through.