If we take a look at both shows this week, you might think the clear winner goes to SmackDown Live based solely on the fact that a new WWE Champion was crowned. There's a valid argument one can make there. That said, Raw also offered some great action with a main event that was also surprising and titles changed hands.

It’s a question the WWE Universe is often asking; which show is actually better? If we gauge each show on a few specific pieces of criteria, we might be able to come to an educated valuation.

5. Big Matches

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Both shows offered big matches but SmackDown Live shook things up by giving us an AJ Styles versus Jinder Mahal title match and then having Styles go over and become the new WWE Champion! It added a huge cherry on top of the show and it's got people buzzing about what it means for Styles to go to Survivor Series to face Brock Lesnar.

SmackDown Live also offered a tag team championship match between the Uso's and Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin.

Winner: SmackDown Live

RELATED: AJ STYLES ENDS JINDER MAHAL'S WWE CHAMPIONSHIP REIGN

4. Surprises

Again, both shows offered surprises. The tag titles changing hands was not expected and Pete Dunn's debut on Raw was a nice moment, but there really isn't a way for Raw to overtake SmackDown Live in this aspect. Styles winning the WWE Championship was a huge surprise, and now that it changes the main event and ends the reign of the Modern Day Maharaja, SmackDown Live is starting fresh.

Winner: SmackDown Live

RELATED: REASONS WHY AJ STYLES WON THE WWE CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE SURVIVOR SERIES

3. The Main Event

For all the reasons we labeled SmackDown Live as the winner of the surprises category and the big matches category, the AJ Styles vs Jinder Mahal main event was a much bigger deal than the tag titles main event on Monday. They easily win this category as well.

This match and the end result has changed SmackDown Live and Survivor Series to its foundation. While The Shield losing is no small thing, Raw can't claim to have done that.

Winner: SmackDown Live

RELATED: DEAN AMBROSE AND SETH ROLLINS DROP THE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

2. Stories Worth Watching

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This is an area where Raw outdid SmackDown Live this week. The blue brand left the WWE Universe with too many unanswered questions. What's going to happen with The New Day, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn, and others. Meanwhile, Raw offered up a new feud between Finn Balor and Samoa Joe, the tease of friction between the Raw roster for Angle choosing Jason Jordan to the team, what Bayley is going to do now that she's not been picked to the Raw team, The Miz being incredibly entertaining as he tried to weasel out of his confrontation with Braun Strowman, and they teased the return of Roman Reigns.

Winner: Raw

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1. Character Development

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The only real character development SmackDown Live offered was an interesting decision by Chad Gable to use an illegal chop block to take out Jey Uso and a possible break up between Carmella and James Ellsworth. Raw gave us the Jason Jordan future obstacles, Samoa Joe and Finn Balor really despising each other, and the battle of two monsters in Kane and Braun Strowman. The Miz also offered up a new layer of depth to his character and that's always a bonus.

They don't get the win by much, but we'll give the edge to Raw.

Winner: Raw

NEXT: HUGE TAKEAWAYS FROM SMACKDOWN LIVE- TITLE CHANGES AND INJURIES

Who Wins?

It's too hard not to declare the winner to be SmackDown Live. The AJ Styles title win trumps everything.