{"id":162556,"date":"2026-06-05T07:00:35","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T11:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=162556"},"modified":"2026-06-04T23:09:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T03:09:57","slug":"wwe-tag-team-turmoil-how-they-can-fix-its-stagnant-mens-division","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/06\/05\/wwe-tag-team-turmoil-how-they-can-fix-its-stagnant-mens-division\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE Tag Team Turmoil: How the Promotion Can Fix Its Stagnant Men’s Division"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s WWE tag team division.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event on May 23<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 The Vision originally captured the tag team gold on the<\/span> March 30 episode of Raw<\/span><\/a>, defeating The Usos thanks to an accidental assist from social media sensation IShowSpeed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>captured the gold<\/span><\/a> 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 <\/span>release from the company<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s division was dealing with the exact opposite issue just a few months ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many fans were critical that there was too much talent in the women\u2019s 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the men\u2019s division is facing the exact opposite problem that the women\u2019s division was navigating just a few months ago. These structural issues have been affecting the division for some time.<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>last year’s SummerSlam<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moving forward, WWE must look beyond band-aid fixes and commit to a genuine reset for the men\u2019s tag team division. Injecting new ideas into this roster isn’t just an option anymore – it\u2019s an absolute necessity for the health of the entire product.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With that being said, we will now look at a few ways WWE can accelerate the revival of the men\u2019s tag team landscape. If the company implements some of these strategies, fan excitement for tag team wrestling can be restored sooner rather than later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. A High-Flying, Youthful Spark<\/b><\/h2>\n

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. <\/span>Leon Slater, a breakout star in TNA<\/span><\/a>, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

Should he choose WWE, aligning the 21-year-old with a talent like Je\u2019Von 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s Main Event that marked John Cena\u2019s final show, <\/span>facing off against the duo of AJ Styles and Dragon Lee<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019Von 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2. An Unlikely Duo\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Next up is an idea that likely few have considered, but one that would work perfectly: moving Joe Hendry to SmackDown to spark a resurgence for Johnny Gargano. Ever since Gargano <\/span>lost his tag partner, Tommaso Ciampa<\/span><\/a>, effectively ending #DIY, he has been trapped in a storyline state of depression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since then, he has been relegated to a bizarre backstage gimmick, regularly spotted lying motionless on tables without saying a word.<\/span><\/p>\n

WWE has been doing him a major disservice, as he is far more talented both in the ring and on the microphone than what management has recently showcased. Perhaps, in order to revive his classic “Johnny Wrestling” persona, he needs the right person to motivate him while injecting much-needed life into the tag team division at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

That is precisely where Joe Hendry comes in to snap Gargano out of his current vegetative state. Hendry could officially transition over from Raw to SmackDown, bringing his star power to the blue brand and presenting Gargano with the perfect opportunity to team up and chase the tag team championship together.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlikely pairings have worked extremely well in the past, offering a blueprint that could easily revitalize today’s men’s tag team division. Just last year, for example, <\/span>AJ Styles and Dragon Lee<\/span><\/a> became massive fan favorites. At the same time, the current duo of <\/span>Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair<\/span><\/a> is a combination no one anticipated that has clicked perfectly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Usos
A WWE Raw graphic of AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs. The Usos. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Aligning Hendry and Gargano is a home run for everyone involved. It breathes new life into Johnny Gargano\u2019s character while elevating Joe Hendry by showcasing that he isn’t just an entertaining microphone act, but a top-tier performer between the ropes. Ultimately, it\u2019s a total win-win that gives the tag team division a major shot in the arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

3. Unifying the WWE Tag Team Titles\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Last, but certainly not least on our list, the most definitive step WWE can take is to unify the men’s tag team titles. WWE can deliver a massive rubber match by pitting the World Tag Team Champions of Raw against the WWE Tag Team Champions of SmackDown in a spectacular ladder match.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
A WWE WrestleMania 39 graphic featuring The Usos, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. (Photo Credit: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The women\u2019s division currently operates with just one set of tag team titles, allowing champions <\/span>Paige and Brie Bella<\/span><\/a> to alternate appearances between Raw and SmackDown. The same logic should be applied to the men\u2019s division, but with an even bolder execution.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rather than just having the champions float between Raw and SmackDown, they should also make occasional appearances on NXT. This strategy will elevate the visibility of the developmental brand’s tag teams, giving them a rare opportunity to advance their careers by pursuing tag team gold.<\/span><\/p>\n

WWE\u2019s men\u2019s tag team division isn\u2019t suffering from a lack of talent, but rather a lack of identity. By consistently dismantling established duos like The New Day<\/a> or the Motor City Machine Guns, the company treats the division like a launchpad rather than a premier destination.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tag team wrestling thrives when it delivers dynamics that singles matches cannot replicate. To fix the current issues, the company needs to let teams grow together and, most importantly, allow them to build their reputations. Until WWE implements these changes, the division won\u2019t be exciting, remaining exactly what it is today: stagnant.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5699,"featured_media":141229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2,2192,25,26,3],"tags":[145,86,223,153],"class_list":["post-162556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wwe","category-featured","category-wrestling","category-raw","category-smackdown","category-wwe-universe","tag-aj-styles","tag-dragon-lee","tag-the-new-day","tag-the-usos"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162556","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5699"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162556"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162556\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":162571,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162556\/revisions\/162571"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}