WWE’s tag team division is in great shape

Barnaby Read 11:19 05/11/2015
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  • he Lucha Dragons celebrate their victory over Sheamus & King Barrett on Raw.

    On paper, the WWE’s tag team division is in great shape.

    The likes of the Lucha Dragons and The Ascension have all risen with prominence from NXT, with the franchise’s current ‘feeder’ champions Dash and Dawson looking equally promising to carry the torch.

    Ahead of them are the likes of The Prime Time Players and the currently out of action Los Matadores.

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    Beyond that, the iconic Dudley Boyz have returned to the company that gave them legendary status during the Attitude Era and possibly the most popular WWE team since Bubba Ray and D-Von left, The Usos, came back to Raw this past week.

    If that wasn’t enough, the tag team champions have become one of the most charismatic stables in recent history.

    Initially, derision followed The New Day as they burst on the scene trying to be happy-go-lucky faces only to find great joy in forming a self-effacing role as heels.

    So, you ask, what is the problem?

    Well, thanks to a mixture of tired storylines and work in the ring, the division still feels devoid of the star power promised by a glance at its surface.

    Here, we look at three problems in the WWE’s tag team department right now and how they can fix things.

    STORYLINE AND BOOKING

    The WWE did  get one booking spot on this week as the Luchas scored a big win over King Barett and Sheamus but the problem is, it has taken so long to come to fruition.

    For a long time the pairing has been wallowing in the lower to mid-card of shows, seemingly forever fighting The Ascension well away from the spotlight.

    It is high time these teams with so much promise are validated by being given a shot at taking on the top dogs and getting some air time.

    THE DUDLEYZ

    First things first, the Dudleyz are absolute, bona fide legends.

    They have earned the right to slip back into the WWE and instantly be taking on those at the top of the pile.

    However, while the WWE has moved on and we are now witnessing remarkable acts of athleticism and invention (just watch Kevin Owens in the ring), upon their return they have looked the same tag team that graced the ring in the nineties and noughties.

    They still brought serious heat on their return but that nostalgia is wearing off and they desperately need a touch of reinvention if they are to keep up with the new crowd.

    TOO MANY COOKS

    It seems bizarre to say this but there are simply too many top-tier tag teams right now, or at least too many for WWE Creative to handle.

    Imagine for a second the WWE is a kitchen, with an array of Superstar chefs and Creative as the manager (bear with us).

    They have the best ingredients in the world, but with so many cooks pushing forward their recipes, the management simply can’t put together a Michelin-starred menu (don’t worry, it’s over).

    A serious amount of guidance and more fluidity is needed in the division, which would allow each team a chance to shine and create a number of overlapping rivalries both forging and supporting the championship runs.

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