1. SmackDown Cement Their Dominance

SmackDown’s Backlash was a less than stellar card that over-delivered to produce one of 2016’s most enjoyable pay-per-views.

Raw’s Clash of Champions was an excellent looking card that didn’t live up to its potential, and left fans largely disappointed.

Coincidence? Absolutely not.

Raw might have a more exciting troupe of in-ring performers, but the Brand Split has done little to solve its pre-Draft problems, and the show remains largely unchanged. Clash’s in-ring action was solid, but the show was marred by a number of baffling booking choices that sucked the life out of everything, and ultimately failed as a spectacle.

SmackDown, meanwhile, continue presenting a highly enjoyable weekly show characterised by strong characters and smart storytelling. There are a few exceptions, but most of SmackDown’s roster feel genuinely important, and Backlash was a triumphant first solo PPV.

Look for this pattern to continue throughout the year. Raw and SmackDown’s first PPVs reflected the direction that each brand has taken since the Draft, and while SD remains second in the ratings, No Mercy will firmly establish their status as WWE’s strongest brand.\