Its been clear for a long, long time that WWE doesnt value its tag titles or its tag division, such as it is. In point of fact, its typical of the kind of shortsightedness which the company has made its name on in the last decade or more. Allow me to part the mystic veil with my third eye and predict the near future. The next tag champions will probably win and/or defend their titles on the pre-show of every special event, if they even make it on the live card. During their unheralded, lukewarm reign, theyll probably be expected to lose cleanly to a team of two main event singles stars who dont like each other, and if very unlucky may be asked to job to one main event star in a squash designed to get him his heat back after a major loss. There wont be much of a story to any angles theyre involved in over the title not so much angles, in fact, as straight lines. For example, the number one contenders will probably earn that position by repeatedly beating the tag team champions in short non-title matches on free television. That will literally be the only story told leading up to the big pay-per-view match (which, again, wont make it to television). If any of that sounds vaguely familiar, its probably because its the story of WWEs tag division, and has been for years. Tag team wrestling is important though: and heres why. It allows rookies a chance to improve and shine on a big stage with a more experienced partner acting as their safety net. It allows men and women who otherwise might not grab a spot on a card the chance to work big matches and get over. It allows the crowd the opportunity to decide they love a particular wrestler and provides that wrestler with a stage to perfect their craft. Would Bret Hart have had a shot at impressing Vince McMahon in singles competition if he hadnt made the Hart Foundation must-see television? Would Roman Reigns have had a shot of getting to where he is now without the Shield to accentuate his strengths and hide his weaknesses? Would Shawn Michaels have gotten over as the Heartbreak Kid if The Rockers hadnt gotten over first? With all this in mind, Ive put together a rescue package for the WWEs tag team division a series of steps designed to restore credibility to the title and to those underappreciated teams competing for the attention of the audience.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
