Potential Solutions to WWE Tag Team Division's Lack of Depth

WWE's tag team division is floundering, held back by a lack of quality teams.

No one will confuse today with the golden ages of tag team wrestling. With just a few tweaks, though, the current division can go from forgettable to thriving. 

The company can solve its tag issues by both bringing in new talent and improving how it uses the current squads on the roster.

As of now, the list of teams is too short—and too short on greatness:

• Los Matadores
• The Usos 
• Goldust and Stardust
• Slater Gator
• The Wyatt Family

It's no surprise that WWE has gone with The Usos vs. Goldust and Stardust over and over again. Where else are they going to turn right now?

The Wyatt Family hasn't been on TV in weeks, save for vignettes. It looks as if WWE has something big planned for them, but unfortunately for tag team fans, that plan appears to be splitting Erick Rowan and Luke Harper apart.

You could add Mark Henry and Big Show to that list, but it's unclear whether they will continue to partner up. According to CageMatch.net, Henry hasn't teamed with Big Show on TV since Sept. 9.

With or without those behemoths, WWE can experience another tag team renaissance with just a few realistic changes.

Outside Additions

WWE has a cohesive unit ready for the big time down at NXT. Viktor and Konnor of The Ascension are intimidating brutes with a captivating gimmick and aggression aplenty.

They have been an awe-inspiring force at Full Sail University. Each time that they've been asked to face main-roster talent, they have proved that they are ready for a call-up. In battles against Los Matadores and The Usos, they have shown a powerful presence.

From their snarls to their power moves, everything about them screams "predators."

A feud with The Usos is a no-brainer. The Usos' great matches with The Wyatt Family were anchored by a contrast of speed and strength, something that would be at work between these two teams as well.

In addition, WWE is reportedly sending out feelers to The Dudley Boyz. According to PWInsider (h/t WrestlingRumors.net) there is mutual interest between WWE and Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley, both currently with TNA.

At age 43 and 42, respectively, the former WWE tag champs are by no means a long-term solution.

They can, however, add some excitement and nostalgia into the division. Bring them back as faces, play up their legacy and let them send Goldust and Stardust through a few tables. There's some fun to be had there.

Even if WWE doesn't sign The Dudley Boyz and believes that The Ascension needs more seasoning, a number of internal fixes exist.

Reworking/Better Use of Current Teams

One of the bigger issues with the current state of the division is the lack of babyfaces who are portrayed as contenders. Should The Usos fail to defeat Goldust and Stardust at Hell in a Cell, what then? Who takes them on next?

Although Heath Slater and Titus O'Neil are currently bottom feeders, a face turn and a winning streak can change that.

Slater is a likable, charismatic guy who caught our attention at the end of the summer with a number of upsets. Having him and O'Neil go that route again can make them compelling underdogs.

Let them win their matches in the flukiest way possible. Have Jimmy Uso accidentally superkick his brother or have Slater slip off the top rope, knocking out his opponent on the way down. There's a good story to tell here.

That makes Slater Gator more than just filler and comic-relief; it makes them surprise contenders.

WWE also has a team that is has kept in the holster for some reason. Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston and Big E seemed to be starting a faction a few weeks back.

Nothing has come of that but speculation and appearances at house shows.

Let Big E and Kingston be a top babyface team with Woods at the helm. They both have championship pedigree and display an intriguing thunder-and-lightning dynamic in the ring.

RybAxel should be back soon to further add to WWE's tag team options. Mike Johnson reports for PWInsider that "Ryback and Curtis Axel are both expected to return to WWE TV within the month, as Ryback is about cleared to return medically."

When they do come back, WWE would be wise to make them more of a two-man wrecking crew than the fodder they were before Ryback had surgery.

Credit: WWE.com

They can be the bruisers of the division, the tough outs who leave the men who beat them bruised and wobbly. They can specialize in No Disqualification and Tables matches. The latter is increasingly interesting if they are against the table-loving Dudley Boyz.

After all of these changes, the tag team division would surely be deeper, more competitive and more worth watching. 

WWE won't have to go to the same pairings again and again. It won't have to resort to throwing Mini-Gator and El Torito in the mix either.

The tag division isn't on life support; it just needs a few timely injections.