5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE SmackDown Live (23 Aug)

3. Winners: The Tag Team & Women’s Divisions

Ignoring WWE’s uncreative paint-by-numbers approach to title belt design, SmackDown finally got its two new Championships last night. New Women’s and Tag Team Champions will be crowned at Backlash, and if the last few weeks are anything to go by, they’re much needed.

SmackDown’s tag and women’s divisions have been spinning their wheels since the Brand Split. While acts like American Alpha and Eva Marie have been getting over, there’s been little to no storyline or character progression, and the divisions have largely existed in a series of placeholder segs that push nothing forward. The divisions have been given some TV time, but nothing significant to do, and it’s clear that they need championship gold to work towards.

Arguing about multiple championships and thin divisions is moot at this point. Recent events prove that the tag teams and women need a clear goal to work towards, because the divisions cannot keep existing in their current structure-less forms. The new belts allow clear tiers to be established, which will not only help performers get over, but help create investment in what has been a relatively pointless venture thus far.

Last night’s matches were solid. Even The Ascension put-in an enjoyable performance in their quick match with The Usos, and while Nikki Bella vs. Carmella never got started, it provided a vital story point. Here’s hoping that this is a genuine turning point for both scenes, and not another false dawn.