Misuse of Talent and Repetitive Storylines
Although monotonous storylines and the misuse of talent are challenges Raw faces as well, the problem is far more pronounced on WWE SmackDown. There are a number of stars, both former main-eventers and those who have never been pushed, that the show is currently struggling to utilize effectively.
Carmelo Hayes serves as a prime example of a talent whose momentum has stalled after a significant push. Despite 15 successful United States Title defenses that showed how much he’d grown in a year, the company undercut his momentum by having Sami Zayn defeat him just to set up a WrestleMania match with Trick Williams.
Rather than giving Hayes the spot he deserved on the “Grandest Stage of Them All,” the company sidelined him with a fake injury, and he hasn’t been seen on television since.
Looking at the women’s roster, one person fans feel is really being wasted right now is Chelsea Green. Despite her incredible charisma, fantastic character work, and solid in-ring skills, it feels like the company has demoted her to being little more than a backstage act.
The good news is that WWE can fix this problem instantly. They need to bring Carmelo Hayes back to go after Trick Williams, and the belt he feels was ripped apart from him. The two have a long history as friends turned enemies, which provides plenty of depth for a high-stakes feud.
That kind of programming is much better for a star of Williams’ caliber than what the show is currently doing. WWE keeps pairing him with Zayn in repetitive segments, and swapping out Lil Yachty for a silly gingerbread mascot just isn’t doing him any favors.
As for Chelsea Green, a great opportunity would be a slow-burn build to her biggest moment in WWE yet: winning the Women’s Money in the Bank match this September. She hasn’t really had a serious push yet, so a win like that would feel earned and genuine instead of just being rushed out of nowhere.
Looking at the storylines, WWE doesn’t seem to know when to end on a high note. We’re getting the same repetitive matches every week, like the women’s tag division using the same four teams over and over, or the MFT and Wyatt Sicks feud going on way too long. While the wave of fresh faces should help improve the staleness, creative must recognize when a story has run its course and give fans something new to tune in for.
