You could make a point that nobody on the Raw roster gets better booking than Omos, AJ Styles' personal colossus. He has yet to be pinned or even challenged (whereas Raw champ Big E fell to Roman Reigns at Survivor Series and gets beat down a lot). As Cageside writers point out, we're supposed to believe that Styles, one of the greatest wrestlers of his generation, is the weak link on a team with a very green worker.
Credit Styles for always being a good sport and a great help to get Omos over in this role. But this means their booking can only go one of three ways: they win, AJ takes a pin or there's a DQ/screwy finish (see: Street Profits, fire extinguisher). Omos isn't taking a pin on a random Raw, and shouldn't if he's been built up this much, but it means that AJ -- who has the skills to be a credible title contender at any time needed -- has to do all the selling and pin-eating if they aren't champs.
But Vince McMahon loves his giants, and you don't book somebody this strong to keep in the tag scene. We might have finally seen some friction this week when AJ was (not very successfully yet somehow hilariously) pretending he couldn't see and perhaps didn't let Omos in on the plan. Or it could be a throwaway moment as they work their way back into the tag title scene.
Still, everything that rises must converge, so at some point Omos seems bound for the singles title picture. Would that be after AJ turns on him or vice versa? When will he be ready to work a convincing high-level bout with E or Seth Rollins? Granted, those two are top-tier workers, but it would still be a (literal) uphill climb.
It's how WWE finds their footing in continuing to build Omos that is the big question.
The following Tag Team Power Rankings take into account wins, power and placement of segments, recentness of appearances, creative direction and momentum for teams and factions.
WWE Tag Team Power Rankings through Dec. 3:
1. The Bloodline (last week: 1)
Pro: Still all wearing gold. Roman had an easy defense on SmackDown.
Con: They also have to contend with Brock Lesnar and New Day.
2. RK-Bro (2)
Pro: Still Raw champs. Defeated Dirty Dawgs in a title match.
Con: The story is still kind of fun but is starting to feel stale.
3. Beauty Queens (Carmella and Queen Zelina) (3)
Pro: Still women's tag champions, with not a lot of competition.
Con: On the losing side of a 10-women tag match.
4. AJ Styles and Omos (4)
Pro: AJ's fake blindness and announce-table shenanigans were dumb fun, and they're clearly still important to Raw.
Con: Omos didn't seem pleased to find out about AJ's ruse.
5. Toxic Attraction (5)
Pro: Still all wearing gold, and ready for a WarGames spotlight.
Con: Their team was on the losing end of the advantage ladder match.
6. Imperium (6)
Pro: Still the NXT men's champions.
Con: Still getting only limited TV time.
7. New Day (not ranked)
Pro: Kofi Kingston has returned and they have a title date with The Usos at Day One.
Con: Does this mean King Xavier Woods isn't in the Universal title scene any more?
8. Kyle O'Reilly and Von Wagner (not ranked)
Pro: Scored a win over perennial bridesmaids Legado del Fantasma for a shot at the NXT tag titles.
Con: While this is certainly helping build Wagner, it feels like a step down for former main eventer O'Reilly.
9. Los Lotharios (7)
Pro: Continued their win streak with a victory over Viking Raiders.
Con: Seemed kind of fluky, and are all these wins leading anywhere?
10. Street Profits (not ranked)
Pro: Picked up a win over Alpha Academy.
Con: Still seem to be in a program with AJ Styles and Omos.
Best tag segment of the week: RK-Bro and Dirty Dawgz have a lot of talent and can put together a good match. Since it was the only title match, that helps.
Grade: A-
A lot of tag wrestling, a little of it even for stakes. Now if they could just build a women's division on the main roster.
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