Ruthless Aggression Season 1 Episode 5 Civil War: Raw vs. SmackDown

In Ruthless Aggression season 1 episode 5, titled "Civil War: Raw vs. SmackDown," tensions between WWE's two flagship brands reach a boiling point. The episode delves into the early years of the brand split, when Raw and SmackDown went head-to-head in fierce competition for ratings and bragging rights.

The episode begins by exploring the origins of the brand split, which was initially created as a way to give more TV time to WWE's vast roster of talented wrestlers. In the early 2000s, WWE was expanding rapidly, with new stars like John Cena, Randy Orton, and Batista rising up the ranks. But with only two major shows, Raw and SmackDown, there simply wasn't enough airtime to showcase everyone.

Thus, in 2002, WWE chairman Vince McMahon decided to split the roster in two, creating a Raw brand and a SmackDown brand. The two shows would each have their own distinct rosters, storylines, and championships, allowing WWE to give more attention to all of its wrestlers.

At first, the brand split was a huge success, with Raw and SmackDown both drawing strong ratings and producing some of the most memorable moments in WWE history. But as time went on, tensions between the two brands began to mount.

One of the key factors driving this tension was the ongoing battle for brand supremacy. Each year, WWE would hold a "Survivor Series" pay-per-view event featuring Raw vs. SmackDown matches, with the winning brand declared the superior one. This created a sense of competition and pride between the two rosters, with each side desperate to come out on top.

The episode showcases some of the most memorable Raw vs. SmackDown matches in WWE history, including the legendary "buried alive" match between The Undertaker (representing SmackDown) and Mr. McMahon (representing Raw). We also see highlights from the first-ever Raw vs. SmackDown Survivor Series match in 2005, which featured wrestlers from both brands competing in a traditional elimination-style match.

But the rivalry between Raw and SmackDown wasn't just limited to Survivor Series. The two brands also clashed on a weekly basis, as wrestlers from one brand would invade the other and interfere in matches. This led to some truly chaotic moments, like when SmackDown's Booker T attacked Raw's Stone Cold Steve Austin in a grocery store, or when Raw's DX invaded SmackDown and threw the brand's top stars off a bridge.

As tensions between the two brands continued to simmer, WWE began to experiment with ways to bring them together. In 2005, the company held its first-ever "draft lottery," where wrestlers from Raw and SmackDown were chosen at random to switch brands. This created a sense of unpredictability and excitement, as fans eagerly tuned in each year to see which wrestlers would be on which show.

Overall, "Civil War: Raw vs. SmackDown" is a thrilling look back at one of WWE's most exciting eras. From the early days of the brand split to the epic battles between Raw and SmackDown, this episode is a must-watch for any wrestling fan who wants to relive the glory days of WWE's past.