Since WWE SmackDown’s move to FOX in October 2019, the company aimed to elevate the blue brand to the same level as RAW by featuring top stars like Brock Lesnar, Charlotte Flair, and Roman Reigns. However, following its subsequent shift to the USA Network, WWE SmackDown has faced various problems that have hindered its progress, leaving fans and insiders calling for WWE SmackDown issues fixed to restore its competitive edge.
The brand has seen bright moments, especially in the tag team division and the United States Championship scene, highlighted by the addition of talents such as Rey Fenix and Aleister Black. Despite these positives, ongoing challenges remain, and addressing these concerns is critical to SmackDown regaining its full potential.
Overreliance on Tiffany Stratton’s Repeated Rivalries
Tiffany Stratton’s rise to WWE Women’s Champion after defeating Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania validated her as a major player in the women’s division. Yet, her title defenses have heavily depended on repeated confrontations with Nia Jax. The Annihilator has already faced Stratton three times, all ending in defeat, and has been brought back once again with the involvement of Jade Cargill.
To improve storytelling and fan interest, WWE’s creative team needs to diversify Stratton’s challengers. Without a draft scheduled until 2025, transferring wrestlers among RAW, SmackDown, and NXT stands as the most feasible solution. Potential moves like Rhea Ripley or Roxanne Perez joining the blue brand could inject fresh rivalries. Likewise, wrestlers such as Jordynne Grace, Fallon Henley, and Lash Legend are poised for main roster opportunities and could reshape the women’s division landscape on SmackDown.
Uneven Distribution of Tag Team Talent Across Brands
A major challenge for SmackDown is balancing its tag team talent with RAW. Despite SmackDown’s wealth of teams, such as the Wyatt Sicks, DIY, the Motor City Machine Guns, the Street Profits, Fraxiom, and Los Garza, the division feels oversaturated, with many teams rarely getting regular spotlight opportunities. Notably, all but Fraxiom and Los Garza have held tag team titles previously.
By shifting one or two established teams to RAW, WWE could strengthen the red brand’s lagging tag division, which has suffered from limited title defenses — the Judgment Day, for example, has not defended their championships for nearly two months. Balancing talent in this way would optimize weekly programming and provide fans with more consistent and intense tag team rivalries across both shows.
Need for Consistency in Utilizing Rey Fenix
Rey Fenix debuted with much excitement right before WrestleMania 41, stepping in to replace an injured Rey Mysterio against El Grande Americano. However, throughout 2025, Fenix’s appearances on SmackDown have lacked direction, with his involvement in random feuds and his addition to the tag team scene with Andrade, who was subsequently released.
While the pair competed for the tag titles in a TLC match at SummerSlam, Fenix vanished from television for weeks before emerging to challenge Sami Zayn for the United States Championship. WWE would greatly benefit from featuring Fenix consistently—whether in matches or backstage segments—rather than losing him to sporadic usage that hampers character development and fan engagement.
Better Utilization and Spotlight for Giulia
Giulia arrived in WWE from NXT amid considerable anticipation, quickly capturing the Women’s United States Championship from Zelina Vega. Despite this momentum, her title reign has lacked compelling storytelling. She has largely faced Vega and Michin, with Michin serving as a capable but not title-caliber opponent. Other contenders such as Alexa Bliss and Roxanne Perez could provide more credible and exciting challenges for “The Beautiful Madness.”
Moreover, Giulia often appears as a fleeting backstage presence, only to disappear for multiple episodes, making it difficult for viewers to form a connection with her character. A steadier, more prominent role on SmackDown would not only elevate Giulia’s status but also reinforce the value of the Women’s US title and enrich the division overall.
Proper Positioning of Solo Sikoa as a Singles Competitor
Solo Sikoa was once viewed as a future WWE World Champion, driven largely by his role as the silent enforcer of the original Bloodline faction. After the breakup of that group, expectations rose that Sikoa would ascend the rankings as a singles star. Instead, he has accrued a string of defeats, including two significant losses to Cody Rhodes and setbacks against Roman Reigns in both WarGames and Tribal Combat.
Although Solo won the United States Championship, his inconsistent booking and frequent losses have hindered his rise. For Sikoa to realize his potential, the booking team must grant him decisive victories in high-profile encounters against credible opponents. Furthermore, detaching him from faction leadership and establishing him as a standalone competitor is essential to defining his individual legacy.
Addressing these five areas—diversifying Tiffany Stratton’s challengers, balancing tag team divisions, consistently featuring Rey Fenix, spotlighting Giulia properly, and maximizing Solo Sikoa’s singles career—would be pivotal steps toward resolving WWE SmackDown issues fixed. These changes could restore the brand’s competitive balance, enhance storytelling, and re-engage viewers who have grown restless with the current product’s limitations.
