10 Lessons WWE Can Learn From The First Brand Extension
3. One Set Of Tag Team Champions
In 2002, Smackdown introduced its own set of tag team champions, and for eight years, there were two sets of tag champions, one on Raw and the other on Smackdown. With two tag team champions and not enough tag teams to form two divisions, the championships had to be given to makeshift teams like Rikishi and Rico, John Cena and Shawn Michaels, Matt Hardy and MVP, etc.
In 2009, the championships were unified, allowing the tag champions to appear on both shows. It created a nice little storyline in 2010 for Chris Jericho to want to win the tag team championships with The Miz in order to get to Smackdown and get revenge on Big Show.
This time around, there is an abundance of tag teams, but spread across two shows, the pool will essentially be cut in half, especially if teams get broken up via draft. It makes no sense for there to be two sets of champions. It will also create special importance to being tag team champions, because it allows for the team to appear on both shows and get more exposure. It just makes sense.
In 2009, the championships were unified, allowing the tag champions to appear on both shows. It created a nice little storyline in 2010 for Chris Jericho to want to win the tag team championships with The Miz in order to get to Smackdown and get revenge on Big Show.
This time around, there is an abundance of tag teams, but spread across two shows, the pool will essentially be cut in half, especially if teams get broken up via draft. It makes no sense for there to be two sets of champions. It will also create special importance to being tag team champions, because it allows for the team to appear on both shows and get more exposure. It just makes sense.