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WWE will never be perfect, but 2017 has really exposed a lot of the company's biggest flaws.
In 2016, WWE moved full steam ahead with the brand split that seemed to work wonders for SmackDown, which was widely considered to be a high-quality show up until WrestleMania 33. Raw really struggled last year, but a post-WrestleMania "Superstar Shakeup" has had the red brand riding a wave of momentum over the last few months.
If WWE were an ideal world, both Raw and SmackDown would be thriving, problem-free brands where storylines, matches and feuds all went smoothly. Of course, that isn't always going to be the case, especially with a slew of substantial issues that continue to prevent WWE from being as great as it could be.
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Here are five major problems WWE currently has and suggestions on how to fix them.
#5 The problem: Raw's stagnant women's division
You wouldn't know it if you watch Raw consistently, but the red brand actually features female superstars not named Alexa Bliss, Bayley, Sasha Banks or Nia Jax.
Raw has made an awfully bad habit out of focusing almost exclusively on these four stars, who seem to have been involved in a revolving door of never-ending feuds over the last few months. Meanwhile, talented stars like Mickie James, Emma and Summer Rae are often nowhere to be found.
The solution: Call up Asuka and/or consistently utilize other female superstars
If WWE wants to instantly inject some new blood into Raw's women's division, promoting Asuka from NXT is the quick and easiest way to do that because she's arguably the most talented female superstar in the company.
Asuka could immediately be the top star in the Raw women's division, but ultimately, more may need to be done than just calling her up from NXT. SmackDown's women's division thrives because the blue brand features almost every single superstar on a weekly basis, giving each star a chance to get over with the crowd.
WWE must add depth and more excitement to Raw's women's division, and it can do so by utilizing the likes of Mickie James, Emma, Alicia Fox and others week in and week out. After all, we can't just sit through recycled feuds between Bayley, Banks, Bliss and Jax for the rest of eternity.
Good news, though: It looks like WWE may be in the process of making Emma a consistent part of the division, although she could be getting involved just to take the pin at No Mercy.
#4 The problem: Too many stale superstars
WWE has a long list of superstars who are stuck in a rut.
That list includes Randy Orton, Bray Wyatt, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, Dolph Ziggler and countless others. Sure, they're incredibly talented, but they've found themselves positioned in roles that are not best suited for them, and it's made their characters monotonous and downright boring at times.
The solution: Change their characters or turn them heel or face
There are two realistic ways to freshen up stale stars like Orton or Wyatt: Either turn them babyface (or heel, if they're already face) or drastically alter their gimmicks.
That really just depends on the specific star, but you could argue that someone like Orton desperately needs a heel turn while a star such as Wyatt should have turned face long ago. WWE's best bet is to institute major character changes for these stars and others, if not turn them altogether.
#3 The problem: The Cruiserweight division isn't catching on with fans
Neville won't save the Cruiserweight division. Enzo Amore won't save the Cruiserweight division. No one will.
The Cruiserweight-only show 205 Live has reportedly been doing poor viewership on the WWE Network, one of many indications that the division simply isn't catching on with mainstream fans. The division has plenty of talent, with guys like Neville and Cedric Alexander exemplifying that, but their appeal is limited.
Why? Because many Raw and SmackDown stars can do the same stuff they can do in the ring and have much more star power.
The solution: Integrate them with the rest of the roster
If WWE insists on keeping the Cruiserweights around, the ideal fix for their struggles is to integrate them with the rest of the roster.
Essentially, that means stop isolating them to 205 Live or Cruiserweight-only matches on Raw. Instead, mix them with the rest of the roster, whether that's by putting them in the tag team division, Intercontinental title picture or non-title midcard feuds.
Regardless, the logic is the same: Let them interact with non-Cruiserweight stars, who are more likely to get them over with the masses.
#2 The problem: Weak tag team divisions on both Raw and SmackDown
The tag team divisions both Raw and SmackDown feature a number of marquee stars, including the Hardy Boyz, The New Day and the Usos.
But overall, both divisions lack the depth that is necessary to create compelling storylines week in and week out. SmackDown really has just three teams that are consistently featured (The New Day, Usos and Fashion Police) while Raw only has a few full-time teams as well, namely Sheamus and Cesaro.
With Jeff Hardy earning an Intercontinental title shot, The Revival's injury problems and the partnership between Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins likely to be a short-term thing, Raw, much like SmackDown, really doesn't have much of a tag team division at this point.
The solution: Create and/or reunite more tag teams
WWE seems to have begun its attempt to revitalize tag team wrestling, with Shelton Benjamin joining forces with Chad Gable and a temporary Shield reunion.
But there are only two realistic ways to sustain the tag team divisions on both Raw and SmackDown: WWE must either reunite old tag teams or form new ones. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan could potentially get back together while there are a number of overlooked midcard performers who could benefit from a tag team run.
Names like Tye Dillinger, Sami Zayn and Dolph Ziggler could form duos that would provide their respective show's tag team division with some much-needed depth and excitement.
#1 The problem: SmackDown doesn't have enough star power
SmackDown, quite simply, doesn't have nearly as much star power as Raw.
With the red brand boasting a roster that includes John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, you could argue that Raw has the vast majority of WWE's biggest stars.
Other than AJ Styles, Raw features most of WWE's proven, big-name veterans, and even the call-up of Bobby Roode isn't enough to fix that.
The solution: Move some top Raw or NXT stars to SmackDown
Given Raw's star power advantage, it wouldn't be a huge blow to the brand if it lost a top singles star, perhaps someone like Rollins, Ambrose or even Jeff Hardy. Of course, an even bigger name like Lesnar or Strowman moving to SmackDown could go a long way toward the blue brand rivalling the red brand.
The bottom line is that the likes of Baron Corbin, Kevin Owens and Jinder Mahal do not remotely compare to Lesnar, Strowman, Cena and Reigns when you compare the two main-event scenes.
Unless WWE makes a major move with someone like Strowman or a top NXT star, the obvious roster imbalance will continue to hamper SmackDown.
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