Analyzing the State of WWE's Tag Team Division After Raw, SmackDown Split

The recent brand split between Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live directly affected WWE's tag team division. This was to be expected, as it impacted WWE's singles wrestlers as well. This is what happens when there is such a dramatic change in operations.

But it could be a much bigger deal for the tag teams in the company. Why? Because as of now, only one set of championships is available for these duos to compete for.

So where does that leave the rest of the teams in WWE?

There's some impressive talent who deserve to compete for tag team gold. Perhaps WWE will introduce a second set of tag team titles, which could be good for the division. But in the meantime, the only thing these teams can do is give their all.

There's still some work to be done, and some tag teams are not quite at that championship level just yet. So those teams must continue to impress while fans evaluate them for themselves. Tag team wrestling has always been over with the audience, and the time for WWE to capitalize is now. 

Fans expect big things from the New Era, and the tag team division has the potential to deliver in a big way.

SmackDown Live

American Alpha is at the top of the tag team roster on Tuesday nights, and that's a big deal considering The Usos are in the same locker room. But the hype surrounding Jason Jordan and Chad Gable is well-founded; they are arguably the most exciting and talented tag team WWE has seen in years.

The Usos are still together and as good as ever, and their new spot on SmackDown could be a great thing for them. The close-knit association with Roman Reigns on TV was not doing them any favors, but now they have the chance to be themselves again. They should get back on track while American Alpha sets the bar for everyone to follow.

The Vaudevillains had a lot of potential at one point, but they have lost some ground. The main reason for this is their lack of quality wins. No quality wins means no forward progress, which means no relevancy of any kind.

We can say the same for nearly every team on SmackDown under American Alpha and The Usos. Breezango and The Ascension could both be considered comedy acts. The same is true of The Hype Bros, Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley.

The only other team that could materialize is The Wyatt Family.

Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan are both on the roster, and while WWE will probably promote them as singles wrestlers, the company could bring them back together as a team. If this happens, SmackDown will feature three legitimate tag teams that could highlight any event.

But the rest of the field is weak.

While many believe WWE should create a second set of tag belts for SmackDown, the booking of the competing teams immediately comes into question. Does the tag team roster on SmackDown necessitate the need for championship belts? Will the company commit to booking this program's division seriously enough to generate interest among fans?

If the answer is no, there's no point in moving forward. If fans do not care, it will not work.

Monday Night Raw

By contrast, four of the six tag teams on Monday Night Raw are main event-caliber. Of course, Raw also has the WWE Tag Team Championships as well. This means that Raw is already off to a much better start than SmackDown.

The New Day leads the way, as it brings championship gold to the table. Big E, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston are at the top because they deserve to be. The New Day gimmick is over, it's working and fans still love it. The guys work well together and have earned their spot.

Coming up behind them are Enzo Amore and Big Cass, arguably the hottest act on Raw. Enzo and Cass are funny without being clowns, and they entertain while still maintaining their edge. They will get the belts at some point, but they will probably have to go through a powerhouse of a team to make it happen.

That team is The Club, who many feel will eventually win the titles. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson rose to prominence as a team in Japan, and their smashmouth style is a welcome addition to the comedy of The New Day, as well as Enzo and Cass. The Club is a legitimate title contender and a team that can get it done on every level.

The same is true of The Dudley Boyz, who may be past their prime but can still be effective. Bubba Ray and D-Von are legends, and as long as they're in the locker room, every tag team around them benefits. They can become teachers both in and out of the ring, and they still have plenty left as a tag team.

The last two teams on the Raw roster are capable but need a bit more backbone in order to become relevant. The Golden Truth and The Shining Stars can get in the ring against each other or against another team and have an entertaining match. Both teams are more than just enhancement talents for the other stables above them.

Of the two programs, Raw is in better shape when it comes to the tag team division. It has the belts, the headliners and the depth. Fans know what they're getting when they watch on Monday nights.

SmackDown is not that far behind in terms of talent, but with no titles and little commitment to the division, fans don't have much to get excited about. But the opportunity is there to get it right. 

WWE has the chance to make the tag team roster on each program a great success, and that is what fans are hoping for.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.