What to Expect from the WWE's Tag Team Division Post-WrestleMania

At WrestleMania XXV, the WWE will do something that several fans have requested for some time now: Unify the tag team titles.

In October 2002, by order of Stephanie McMahon, a second tag team championship was introduced into the WWE. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit became the first holders of the newly created WWE Tag Team Championship, and since that day the tag team division has been divided.

For more than six years, the tag team division has become a far cry from what I consider one of the WWE’s main assets toward the turn of the millennium.

With teams like Edge and Christian, the Hardy Boyz, APA, the Dudley Boys, and occasionally teams like Benoit and Jericho, it was captivating to watch.

The brand extension meant that feuds between rosters became less and less frequent, and now we have a situation where two titles are being defended among six or seven teams.

The numbers just don’t add up.

After WrestleMania though, this will be an entirely different affair. We can expect the barrier of the brands to be relaxed, if not broken.

The new unified title will almost certainly be defended across both brands. If it isn’t, then the problem hasn’t been solved.

The WWE must have realized that they could not provide enough quality feuds the way things were, and I doubt they will make the same mistake again.

So what can we expect post-WrestleMania?

Well in all honesty I wouldn’t expect a lot.

In theory, this should help the division, and as a direct consequence to the WWE. But there is still a major issue with getting stable teams within the company.

The Colons and Miz and Morrison are arguably the two best tag teams in the business, excluding Priceless, of course (or Legacy, however you view it). So if we are about to witness the best exclusive tag teams face off at WrestleMania, it doesn’t leave much hope for what is to come afterwards.

I have no doubts that the division will be better for the unification. But the WWE needs to concentrate their efforts into getting additional and improved tag teams into their ranks to add depth to the division.

However, I cannot see it happening due to the continual layoffs occurring at the moment. If anything, I think we will see more teams dissolving.

One of my biggest issues with the WWE recently has been the lack of any form of consideration for any storyline that either doesn’t involve a title, or a big name star. Feuds have been picked up and dropped far too casually, with some events being forgotten about or plain denied.

Whatever happened with Kane and Kelly Kelly, or the Hade Vansen promo that only lasted one show? Does anyone remember Kizarny? He was dropped like a lead weight.

The idea of unifying the titles is nice in principle, but unless steps are taken following WrestleMania, it will slip back into mediocrity. I don’t know if the WWE has the patience or commitment to follow through.