7 Problems Plaguing WWE SmackDown Right Now

Why are Jinder Mahal and Naomi the WWE and SmackDown Women’s Champions respectively? It’s a good question, because while copious in top-tier talent, SmackDown has chosen to crown their top singles titles on people who nobody would have as their first choice.

Naomi seems like a lovely woman, and it’s clear she’s embraced her LED rave aesthetic with aplomb, but given the talent in her division, her mic skills and ringwork are seriously lacking. Were it not for her entrance and modified glowing SmackDown’s Women’s title belt, there would be absolutely no reason people would have to identify with or care about her.

As for Jinder Mahal, while it’s clear he has the potential to be a legitimate main-eventer, his out-of-nowhere push and repetitive, archaic heel gimmick have greatly limited his legitimacy. Yes, he’s the WWE Champion, but after the initial hype and the “Don’t Hinder the Jinder” meme, people have greatly lost interest in that fact. He’s just a guy who happens to hold the belt, and is in a never-ending feud with Mr. Excitement Randy Orton. Last year, SmackDown had the benefit of having someone like AJ Styles carry the WWE Championship. Here’s hoping the creative team learns that sooner rather than later.