Both Raw and SmackDown will undergo some changes when it comes to its creative process, starting with Bruce Prichard leading both shows.
WWE announced that the creative writing process for television will be streamlined, meaning both writing teams will now be one group and leading that group will be Prichard. Paul Heyman, who had been overlooking Raw in an Executive Director role, will now be concentrating his work as an in-ring performer.
In an effort to streamline our creative writing process for television, we have consolidated both teams from Raw and SmackDown into one group, led by Bruce Prichard. Paul Heyman will concentrate on his role as an in-ring performer.
Back in the summer of 2019, Heyman and Eric Bischoff were revealed by Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated as being pegged for Executive Director roles for WWE Raw and SmackDown, respectively. Bischoff only worked for WWE in that capacity for a few months with Heyman sticking to that role until now.
Both shows have been taking place at the WWE Performance Center for the past few months due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Although the rosters for both shows have largely been kept separate, there have been some wrestlers from each brand that have gone to the other. In May, WWE introduced the brand-to-brand invitation, allowing superstars to travel between brands up to four times a year, however, that has not been brought up much on television in recent weeks.
WWE's Backlash pay-per-view will take place on June 14 with matches featuring wrestlers from both Raw and SmackDown taking place. Raw and SmackDown's top champions, Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman, respectively, are set to defend their titles in separate matches.
