While there are a number of issues with the current product in WWE, there is perhaps one problem that isn’t getting enough attention: the state of the men’s WWE tag team division.
The most frustrating part of the current landscape isn’t a lack of talent on the roster, but rather the glaring absence of creative vision needed to showcase them. When elite athletes are locked into a cycle of short, meaningless matches, a division that should be a highlight instead becomes a bathroom break.
Raw currently showcases the World Tag Team Champions, Austin Theory and Bron Breakker. Breakker stepped into the championship role after Logan Paul suffered a torn left tricep during a match against The Street Profits at Saturday Night’s Main Event on May 23. The Vision originally captured the tag team gold on the March 30 episode of Raw, defeating The Usos thanks to an accidental assist from social media sensation IShowSpeed.
As for the blue brand, the titles are currently held by Damian Priest and R-Truth in what has become a classic “unlikely partners” pairing. The duo captured the gold on March 20 by defeating Tama Tonga and JC Mateo. While Tonga remains a prominent member of the MFTs, Mateo has since been removed from the group following his release from the company.
While some fans might complain about the current champions, the root of the problem is actually the severe lack of depth on each show. Interestingly, the women’s division was dealing with the exact opposite issue just a few months ago.
Many fans were critical that there was too much talent in the women’s tag team division, which at one point boasted high-profile pairings like IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Asuka & Kairi Sane, and Lash Legend & Nia Jax.
But the men’s division is facing the exact opposite problem that the women’s division was navigating just a few months ago. These structural issues have been affecting the division for some time.
The company only made matters worse recently with the shocking release of The New Day, a staple tag team formerly anchored by Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Compounding that loss, fans also witnessed the departures of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin – The Motor City Machine Guns – who, less than a year ago, gave a standout performance in the high-stakes TLC match at last year’s SummerSlam.
Since that unforgettable match, however, the SmackDown brand in particular has become extremely stagnant. This was due in large part to a seemingly never-ending feud between The Wyatt Sicks and the MFTs, a rivalry that dragged on for seven months while both factions essentially held the title belts hostage.
WWE does now appear to be trying to repair the damage, having recently introduced the new pairing of The Miz and Kit Wilson. The only challenge is that the company needs to do significantly more to reignite the audience’s passion and investment in the division.
Moving forward, WWE must look beyond band-aid fixes and commit to a genuine reset for the men’s tag team division. Injecting new ideas into this roster isn’t just an option anymore – it’s an absolute necessity for the health of the entire product.
With that being said, we will now look at a few ways WWE can accelerate the revival of the men’s tag team landscape. If the company implements some of these strategies, fan excitement for tag team wrestling can be restored sooner rather than later.
1. A High-Flying, Youthful Spark
We decided to kick off our list with a unique idea that many fans might not have considered yet, but one that holds massive potential. Leon Slater, a breakout star in TNA, is reportedly set to part ways with the company when his contract is up at the end of 2026, with rumors suggesting he is leaning toward either WWE or AEW as his next destination.
Should he choose WWE, aligning the 21-year-old with a talent like Je’Von Evans – who is exceptionally young himself for the industry – would be a fantastic move. They share a natural connection not just through their age, but through a breathtaking high-flying style that would instantly revitalize the division.
As a teaser of what could come, the two have actually shared the ring before. They joined forces last December on the historic Saturday Night’s Main Event that marked John Cena’s final show, facing off against the duo of AJ Styles and Dragon Lee.
While the company waits to see if Slater signs, they can keep Evans highly visible by involving him in the stacked field of contenders vying for the Intercontinental Championship. Giving Je’Von a run with that historic title would be a perfect way to accelerate his popularity and recognition, while entering his name into history as the youngest wrestler to ever hold the title.
This groundwork ensures that when the time comes, Evans can immediately elevate the tag team division with his youthful energy, a dynamic that the arrival and eventual pairing with Leon Slater will only enhance.
