my brand split

[Vegas]

MY LOW fed is called Major League Wrestling (MLW) and I have a 3 way brand split: RAW, Smackdown, and the EAWA (the Extreme AWA- it started off with mostly original AWA wrestlers combined with extreme style wrestlers for its roster).

I'm seriously thinking about cutting the EAWA and just having a 2 way brand split of RAW and Smackdown. I like the 3 way brand split because it allows me to use almost all of the official LOW cards without having 1 overly large roster, but I've been having problems finding time to have all 3 brands present a show on an almost weekly basis.

In your opinion, is it better to cut out a brand and send some wrestlers packing (but some will stay in MLW by going to RAW or Smackdown- I'd have to think of some sort of invasion angle plus a good storyline reason for shutting down the EAWA which is run by Ted DiBiase) or to sometimes only have 2 brands do a show some weeks by altering which brand does a show each week (a schedule I had to resort to last fall when I had to take a night class in addition to my full time job)?

[du5tin]

Honestly, V, I would keep Raw/Smackdown. I have a hard time keeping up with your fed as a reader, I'm sure it's tough to run it. That's a lot of matches to run and then type up. I say have a storyline like ECW. It didn't get the ratings. Drop the show and fill Raw/Smackdown. The invasion angle could work. You still have Minor League Wrestling to add some of the LOW guys. It could be your FCW. Don't kill yourself, V; just enjoy it.

[LWPD]

Mar 21, 2010 2:10:50 GMT -5 Vegas said:

In your opinion, is it better to cut out a brand and send some wrestlers packing (but some will stay in MLW by going to RAW or Smackdown- I'd have to think of some sort of invasion angle plus a good storyline reason for shutting down the EAWA which is run by Ted DiBiase) or to sometimes only have 2 brands do a show some weeks by altering which brand does a show each week (a schedule I had to resort to last fall when I had to take a night class in addition to my full time job)?

I think the most important question is given the time you have already invested, what choice would ultimately give you the most return? You've built a considerable amount of history into EAWA. You have targeted it with a unique niche that serves an important game play purpose. The only reason its being considered for extinction is that it would improve the immediate pacing of the other two brands. Is that an adequate trade off in relation to what would be lost?

Personally, unless there's a creative issue with a brand (ie. it doesn't serve a meaningful purpose, its not fun to play out) I'd preserve the history and just work around it. If it means there's a degree of contagion due to a lack of time in general I'd accept it as is. Inevitably 'time to play' will fluctuate no matter what is done as a short term solution...but your body of work (if you truly value it) should be the constant.

[Gunslinger]

When it starts feeling like a job, it's time to change things. I'd drop a brand. Chances are you can shuffle your other two feds to fit the guys from EAWA you really want to use. It's better to have fun than trying to use everybody and spreading yourself too thin. You can always have someone else buy EAWA somewhere down the line if you want to reactivate it.

[Deleted]

Honestly, I'd drop EAWA. Out of the three brands, it's the one I pay attention to the least, and there's guys on that brand I'd like to see on RAW/SD.

Kind of like how I felt about ECW towards the end.

[dragon350]

I've recently run into the same problem. I do the same thing: RAW, ECW, Smackdown. But, along with the problem of not having the time for all 3, I've found that the ECW cards have not been especially fun.

What I've decided to do, since my ECW is a "hardcore brand" (Sheik, RVD, Sabu, Crusher, Sandman, etc) and Smackdown is more of an old-school ROH type brand (Hackenschmidt, Gotch, Lewis, Pesek, etc), is involve both brands in a brand vs. brand feud (a la ROH vs. CZW from a few years ago) that will culminate in a "One Brand Survives" match at Wrestlemania, probably a War Games match. I'm having it end at WM because after that is when I usually do my brand shakeup/draft to change things up a little. I'm thinking about having my favorites from each brand get moved around a bit and get fresh new matchups, while some guys will go to the "not currently being used" pile.

Also, since most of the guys that went "online" were on my RAW roster, I'm going to make my RAW brand strictly LOW Online guys. This will free me up some time, and Smackdown will still get played traditionally so I still get that blow-by-blow involvement and excitement. I was thinking of making an FCW/NXT type brand to fill ECW's slot, so I have something to do with the LOF guys. You could do that as well, since you do a Minor League Wrestling anyway...

It's just a suggestion, but no matter what you do, I'll keep reading. Your fed is consistently the most entertaining read posted!

[graymar]

I agree with gunslinger...this should be fun...not a job.

I like the idea of some versatility in rotating guys in and out giving them (and you) a much needed rest from the characters.