WWE Smackdown He boasts top-tier talent in 2025, but in recent weeks the main event scene for men has struggled to float. The WWE Women’s Championship photos are on fire as well as the tag team division, but despite the loaded roster and high-stakes events like Money in the Bank on the Horizon, the Blue Brand has no direction at the top.
The latest episode strengthened that awareness as Smackdown’s men’s bookings lost momentum at the top. Here are the main reasons why the male main event scene doesn’t click, and why fans are beginning to notice.
Solosicore doesn’t act as a reliable main event heel
WWE has invested a lot in him and continues to sink the expenses
On another timeline, Solosicore’s victory in bank qualifiers would have felt like a statement. Instead, it felt like a misstep. On SmackDown last night, the crowd quickly contracted when Solo won. problem? His aura is worn down and Jacob Fatu is miles ahead in every respect, so the solo feels like a weak link to his own group.
FATU has the natural presence, strength and legitimacy that solos lack. The fact that the solo is still shoved into the top spot while still lacking charisma and crowd connections makes Smackdown’s storytelling unbalanced. Certainly, the current push of solo could lead to Fatu’s breakout in the main event scene where he eventually breaks up and feuds, but for now, Solo is dragging the scene.
John Cena’s part-time final run begins to hurt more than help
China as a WWE Champion needs better bookings
The uncontroversial WWE champion John Cena is on the retirement tour and fans knew he would become a part-timer even in his last year, but his current running has not elevated the Smackdown main event scene. His upcoming match against R-Truth Saturday night main event It may be fun for live crowds, but that shows even more of a problem. Nostalgia fills the hole instead of fresh storytelling.
Cena didn’t appear in SmackDown last night. This is amplified as he is the top champion of the company (sorry, Jey Uso). When he appears, all his segments are pretty similar. He blames the crowd before being interrupted. Without meaningful interests and true feuds, China’s existence (or lack thereof) emphasizes that SmackDown has no full-time main event star with long-term orientation.
Drew McInty Adamien’s Priest Saga stalls both careers
They need to go for something bigger
Drew McIntyre and Damien priests have been trapped in fierce rivalry since both stars were moved to Smackdown for most of 2025. So Drew won, but WWE came back too often, many times, and the storyline started dragging. Another match is scheduled Saturday night main eventit’s clear that WWE is not ready to move on, but fans may be.
Both men are now part of the Smackdown roster, but their feud dominates the spotlight without introducing new candidates to the main title photos. McIntyre’s red-hot momentum is whimsical, and the priest feels like he’s stepping on the water despite being a former world heavyweight champion. The Smackdown main event scene is stagnant due to the lack of fresh challengers and storylines.
Rome’s rule and Cody Rhodes is Mia
Big names are nowhere to be seen
Perhaps the most obvious problem with Smackdown is the people who aren’t there. Roman Reigns has not been involved in Blue Brand before WrestleMania, but it appears to be appearing only in Raw now. . Even Heck and Randy Orton were completely absent last night.
Without these heavy hitters to lock the show, Smackdown relied on unproven or cold acts to put loads on the male main event scene, which inactivated the Blue Brand product.
