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Every week, fans can count on two or three things when it comes to Friday Night SmackDown: The Bloodline, Sami Zayn being Sami Zayn, and maybe a women’s tag team match. It’s a fairly standard formula, to be sure. Yet with each passing week, it’s becoming staler and staler, which poses the question:

Can SmackDown find a way, or ways, to turn this ship around?

In a word, yes. In several more words, let’s walk through just how they can achieve it.

SmackDown Needs Fresh Faceswwe-smackdown-bayley-return

This one is self-explanatory. Every once in a while, a show needs a little refresher. Whether it be in the form of new characters or different storylines, the blue brand is no different.

On the heel(ish) side of things, The Bloodline has things covered. Let’s say the master strategist himself, Sami Zayn, slots in after them. Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch—as well as Gunther—dip us into the third tier. And, we’ll just have to wait and see who emerges to challenge the newest SmackDown Women’s Champion, Ronda Rousey.

Bayley, perhaps?

RELATED: WWE Smackdown Needs A Boost From This Year's WWE Draft

Yet as far as faces go, it’s difficult to find much engagement outside of Drew McIntyre. Ricochet? Oh, we'll get to him. Shinsuke Nakamura seems to be floating in no man’s land since losing his tag team partner, Rick Boogs, to injury at WrestleMania 38. Fans are fully behind Randy Orton and Riddle (RK-Bro), but remember, they stand as Raw’s tag team champions. For now, anyway, as it appears that all good things must end after all. The New Day isn’t being booked all that strong as of late either, and has been relegated to putting over the aforementioned Holland and Butch—alongside Sheamus—at just about every turn.

Bayley’s return would be most welcome, even if she does return as a heel. Pushing Lacey Evans over to Raw (as a heel now, no less) after spending weeks building her up as a sympathetic babyface on SmackDown is a spectacular mistake. Madcap Moss is likely only being cheered because fans loathe Baron Corbin that much. Stop using Drew Gulak as a punching bag, maybe? Why not bring someone like Mustafa Ali over to SmackDown?

The roster is in dire need of an upgrade, but, there is one issue far more pressing than that.

Invest In Tag Teamswwe-new-day-taken-seriously

It is wishful thinking at this point to expect WWE to give a hoot about their tag team division. That said, how are we supposed to buy any real threat to The Usos right now? Sure RK-Bro has gotten the better of them individually on and off for weeks, but not only are they likely on the verge of a split, but they were also never supposed to be together for this long, to begin with. As is so often the case with teams like these, WWE fell into something golden—and even then, they wanted to destroy it.

Oh yeah, and once more, they’re on Raw.

RELATED: WWE Might Have Been Testing Reaction To RK-Bro Split During Monday's Raw

Nakamura and Boogs never made much sense together, even if they do play off each other fairly well. Not to repeat myself too often, but again, they have all the feel of a tag team WWE threw together simply out of desperation. The Viking Raiders have come and gone; The New Day is in a meandering feud. There is so very little to latch on to after that.

So hey, why not unify the tag titles? Even if The Usos were to rarely defend them, it’s not as though there are any teams out there deserving of a shot at the moment. Who’s going to be the next pair of faces to randomly be thrown together? Just for giggles, my money is on Gulak and Ricochet.

Oh, and do not forget about the women’s tag team champions, Sasha Banks and Naomi—even if WWE might want you to. Right now, their biggest concern is the team of Natalya and Shayna Baszler. Joy. While The Boss and Naomi are being pushed, it does not change the fact that there is nothing all that threatening to them on the horizon. And, if WWE’s overall handling of the women’s tag team division is any indication, there won’t be for the foreseeable future either.

Embrace Ricochet As Intercontinental Champion

wwe-ricochet-fighting-champion

Thoughts on the tag titles could almost be copy-pasted and still apply to how WWE books any champion that is not the champion. Despite his incredible in-ring ability and overall popularity, Ricochet is simply a glorified mid-carder. We’re not suggesting he rises up to the main event picture, no. Rather, it would be nice to see WWE give a dang about the Intercontinental Championship as a whole.

RELATED: Ricochet & Finn Balor Deserve Better In WWE

For that to work, though, Ricochet needs compelling opponents. They don’t have to knock it out of the park every week, but the current champion can work with just about anybody. John Cena’s run as the United States Champion is so memorable because of the matches he was allowed to put on week after week after week. Now, Ricochet is no Cena—but, they could be giving him so much more to work with.

Alas, it appears as though fans are destined to imagine more than they’re likely to receive. And while the draft should provide SmackDown with a much-needed shake-up, it is not going to be enough if these issues plaguing the program remain unchecked.