Grading the divisions of SmackDown following 2021 WWE Draft

In the first round of the 2021 WWE Draft, SmackDown essentially drafted two similar Superstars. Both Roman Reigns and Charlotte Flair are legacy stars and multi-time Champions. Each performer is also always booked atop whichever brand they call home.

In that regard, the blue brand has two big stars. SmackDown kept Sasha Banks and the Usos, but many other stars from RAW were drafted by SmackDown.

The New Day returned to Friday nights giving the blue brand two of the top teams in WWE. The Uson and The New Day have faced each other numerous times. Another feud between them won't exactly be fresh. The SmackDown tag team scene was completely rebuilt with teams from RAW.

Which other wrestlers are now members of SmackDown? The roster is a lot different than it was before the Draft. Here are the grades for the new roster of SmackDown.

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#4. The SmackDown Tag Team Division was completely rebuilt in the Draft.

SmackDown's tag teams: the Usos, Hit Row, The New Day, Viking Raiders, Humberto Carrillo/Angel Garza

The only team that stayed on SmackDown was the current champs, the Usos. Their fate played out on both shows as Roman Reigns made it imperative to Paul Heyman that his cousins remain on SmackDown.

Alpha Academy, the Street Profits, Dolph Ziggler/Robert Roode, and the Mysterios all swapped brands. That's why the Usos now have several new challengers.

The Viking Raiders are former RAW Tag Team Champions but have been up and down since reforming after Ivar's injury. The New Day's legacy is well-known. Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston could very well be the team to take the titles from The Usos.

When it comes to intriguing moves, adding Hit Row and Humberto Carrillo/Angel Garza was certainly interesting. Carrillo and Garza are both talented but have struggled to get consistent pushes.

They are playing on their real-life relationship as cousins. Both are exciting and could get a consistent push in the SmackDown tag team division.

Along with Gable Steveson, Hit Row was one of the strongest picks in the 2021 WWE Draft. Isaiah "Swerve" Scott is already one of the most talented wrestlers in the world. His group is only a few months old and was involved in an ongoing feud with Legado Del Fantasma.

Top Dolla and Ashante Adonis will join the tag team division and will probably spar verbally with both the New Day and The Usos. They have only been a team, however, for a few months. B-Fab has only had two matches in NXT, and it looked like she needed more seasoning.

She can initially focus more on being a manager before getting into consistent matches. The tag team division is certainly different from the one before the Draft. They're still in good shape and will feature many different yet talented teams.

GRADE - B+

#3. The SmackDown women's division still needs some help.

SmackDown's women's roster: Charlotte Flair, Naomi, Shayna Baszler, Sasha Banks, Aliyah, Toni Storm, Xia Li, Shotzi Blackheart, Natalya

The SmackDown women's division was one of the rosters most negatively affected by the 2021 Draft. It was rejuvenated once Becky Lynch returned as her presence added a legit main-event star to the roster.

Bianca Belair has joined the top women in WWE but she has already defeated Bayley (injured) and Sasha Banks. After the Draft, the Boss remains on SmackDown.

With the departure of both the Man and Belair from SmackDown essentially for Flair, it leaves the division lacking credible title challengers. Banks and Flair are both egotistical heels and have faced each other numerous times in the past.

The Boss and the Queen are the top players, followed by Shayna Baszler and Naomi. So far, WWE hasn't shown much faith over the last few years in either Baszler or Naomi as Champions.

With those comprising the top four of the blue brand, it looks like WWE had things play out in the Draft the way it did for Flair to reign until WrestleMania.

SmackDown lost Zelina Vega, Carmella, Tamina, Mia Yim, and Tegan Nox to RAW. Yim and Nox have untapped potential, yet neither has had a prolonged run on the main roster. In terms of additions from RAW, only Baszler presents any type of threat to the SmackDown Women's Champion.

Aliyah, Toni Storm, Shotzi Blackheart, and Xia Li are all first-year performers. Unfortunately, none will present a threat to Flair. Natalya will probably get a title shot due to her years of service but doesn't inspire excitement.

For these reasons, SmackDown's women's division is behind RAW's. Had Belair, Bliss, or even the Women's Tag Team Champions joined the blue brand, it would have added at least one more credible title challenger.

Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. could have focused on the tag titles before entering another feud over a singles Championship. Due to the constant matches between Flair, Ripley, and A.S.H. over the summer, it made sense to keep them apart.

One thing that could help the division is if/when both Bayley and Asuka return. Both are former champions in their own right but have battled Flair in the past. WWE desperately needs to freshen things up when it comes to title feuds.

With so many essentially unproven names, Flair will likely dispatch all of the new challengers. Unfortunately, that will not help the division move forward.

To truly make things exciting, one of the new faces needs to beat the Queen. Having Baszler or Naomi beat her would be a good move. Otherwise, it'll make the SmackDown women's division too predictable.

Since Roman Reigns has ruled his division for over a year, it won't be good to have Flair do the same.

GRADE - C-

#2. How does the SmackDown men's division shape up after the 2021 WWE Draft?

SmackDown's men's division: Drew McIntyre, Roman Reigns, Jeff Hardy, Madcap Moss/Happy Corbin, Drew Gulak, Mace, Rick Boogs, Shinsuke Nakamura, Sheamus, Mansoor, Mustafa Ali, Shanky, Sami Zayn, Ricochet, Ridge Holland, Jinder Mahal, Swerve, Cesaro

The men's division on SmackDown breaks down around the Intercontinental and the Universal Championships. Shinsuke Nakamura is the current Intercontinental Champion.

Much like his first reign, however, he hasn't been booked as a fighting champion. He's defended it once since winning it on August 13th.

The likes of Happy Corbin, Sheamus, Cesaro, Jinder Mahal, Sami Zayn, and Ricochet comprise the meat of the second tier on SmackDown's. Most of those names will vie for the IC title while also testing out the newer stars.

Adding Hit Row to Friday nights gives SmackDown four stars. Swerve is the most polished of the group and could easily be IC Champ before WrestleMania. He's a good addition to the mid-card tier.

Mustafa Ali and Mansoor could be part of the tag team division or compete as singles stars. Ali has proven that he's a great in-ring talent, but he's primarily used to make others look good.

Hardy, Sheamus, Mahal, Zayn, Cesaro, and Happy Corbin could move up to challenge for the Universal Championship. None, however, are viable threats to dethrone Roman Reigns. Cesaro could have been, but management has never considered him to be a top star.

Ridge Holland, Mace, and Swerve could move up if booked favorably. Other than that, it seems like the card under the main event will feature a lot of veterans (Hardy, Sheamus, Zayn, Corbin).

The veterans will be mixed in with a lot of exciting high-flyers (Ali, Ricochet, Carrillo). WWE, however, usually doesn't book those stars at the top.

There are some exciting performers and beloved stars, but few seem like threats to the Tribal Chief. The undercard is where challengers for Reigns will eventually come from.

Brock Lesnar is a free agent but is being featured on SmackDown. How long he feuds with the Tribal Chief could hurt the progression on Friday nights. Roman has already had a title run of over a year. If Lesnar wins, it will make it seem like 2018 and 2019.

#1. How does the SmackDown men's division shape up after the 2021 WWE Draft (continued)?

Roman Reigns has ruled SmackDown since last summer while his challengers have dwindled. Big E could've been the man to dethrone the Tribal Chief, but he was instead chosen to cash in on Lashley.

Seth Rollins and Edge had viable claims for a shot at the Universal title, but both were drafted to RAW. Constant interference marred Edge's title matches.

Other than Reigns, the only believable main-event star on SmackDown following the Draft is Drew McIntyre. He might be the man to dethrone the Head of the Table.

Whether it's McIntyre or Lesnar that beats Reigns, there aren't a lot of believable challengers for the Universal Championship after the Draft.

Hardy is a fan favorite, but his best days are behind him. He might get a title shot, but it's akin to Rey Mysterio challenging the Tribal Chief; unlikely to end in a title change.

The mid-card usually consists of a few stars that could eventually challenge the top Champ of the brand. Since the likes of Cesaro, Nakamura, and several others have been dispatched by Reigns, there aren't many real threats that could believably challenge for the title.

Kofi Kingston might get another shot due to his history as a former WWE Champion. However, that still won't fix the problem of a lack of credible challengers in the main-event scene for SmackDown.

There have been rumors that Reigns could face off against Lesnar at WrestleMania 38. The match doesn't need to feature around a title. Instead, it could focus on the relationship both men have with Paul Heyman.

Things need to freshen up on both brands following the Draft. If Reigns is still Champion heading into April, it will simply mean more months of dominating everyone.

WWE has already used John Cena and Edge as conquests for the Tribal Chief. Goldberg could also be in the cards, but he shouldn't be the one to beat Reigns.

Having someone like Keith Lee, Karrion Kross, or Balor on SmackDown could have provided future challengers. The Demon lost, but it took an interference, a wonky finish, and a no-holds-barred stipulation to vanquish him.

SmackDown needs more potential stars that could feasibly beat Roman Reigns. That didn't happen in the 2021 WWE Draft.

Overall grade for SmackDown's men's division - C