10 Ways WWE SmackDown Has Declined In 2017

10. Abandoning Luke Harper

The Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton feud had an adverse effect on everyone and everything embroiled within its far-reaching web, from the WWE Championship, all the way down to the supporting cast.

It seemed like Luke Harper was set for a big push following his split from Wyatt. He saw Orton’s treachery coming a mile off, and when he turned his back on his former master, Harper started receiving some of the show’s biggest crowd reactions. He had a good singles match with ‘The Viper’ at Elimination Chamber and stayed prominent on television, but it lasted just a couple of weeks, and Harper has since become SmackDown’s forgotten man.

He defeated Erick Rowan at Backlash, but the match did little to generate excitement for his future. Ultimately, the company failed to capitalise while Harper was hot, and he has gone from a potential title challenger to a guy who’s lucky if he gets on television more than once a month.

It’s a real shame, as Harper is one of the best big men in the business, and somebody capable of getting over on the strength of his ring work alone. Now 37 years old, it looks like Harper’s moment will never come.