WWE Talent Reportedly Frustrated Over Creative Gap Between RAW And SmackDown

Posted by admin on February 10th, 2026

WWE Talent Reportedly Frustrated Over Creative Gap Between RAW And SmackDown – A new report suggests the separation between RAW and SmackDown is no longer just about brand identity, as WWE talent are increasingly aware of what they see as a clear difference in creative direction between the two shows.

During the February 9, 2026 edition of Self Made Session, Self Made Pro stated that several WWE Superstars have expressed frustration with how creative plans are being handled. The concern is not only about a lack of direction, but also about what many perceive as a widening gap in importance between RAW and SmackDown.

Self Made Pro pointed to comments attributed to Roman Reigns as an example of how some top names are distancing themselves from SmackDown.

“Isn’t it crazy? That Roman’s like, ‘I’m not walking on USA Network SmackDown, bro. I’m just not doing that show no more. We’re done with SmackDown,’” Ibou said, referencing Reigns’ rumored stance regarding appearances on the blue brand.

With RAW now airing on Netflix and SmackDown remaining on USA Network, internal perception is said to be shifting. According to the report, several talents are increasingly frustrated by uncertainty surrounding their creative direction and long-term plans.

“I spoke to some people in WWE about a lot of what’s been going on lately, and one of the things I heard was that there’s some creative frustration. A lot of talent are kind of annoyed about not really knowing what their creative is coming up.”

That frustration has reportedly led to a broader realization backstage that the two brands no longer carry the same weight.

“What has been starting to circulate is the talent understanding the creative difference between RAW and SmackDown. That’s a thing now. There are people who know, like, ‘Oh, I’m on Fridays, alright. Well, we know what that means.’”

The perception that Friday nights are becoming less significant is said to be impacting morale among wrestlers who are trying to gain momentum ahead of WrestleMania 42. As WrestlingAttitude.Com continues to monitor the situation, the growing divide between RAW and SmackDown may point to deeper internal challenges within WWE’s creative structure.