4 WWE tournaments since the brand split and their ratings
WWE frequently hosts tournaments on the main roster to accommodate multiple superstars in the limited TV time. Since the brand split in 2016, the company has organised 4 tournaments on the main roster, with the WWE World Cup being the latest.
Tournaments are a way of building feuds or igniting new rivalries between the superstars, or sometimes the tournament's purpose is just to crown a new champion.
Earlier, the WWE hosted tournaments like The King of The Ring, and a tournament to determine The Undertaker's WrestleMania opponent, but they are no longer held now. Here are ratings for the four tournaments WWE has hosted since the brand split.
(Note - This list considers tournaments where there was a minimum of 8 participants, consisting superstars of the main roster).
#1 WWE SmackDown Live Tag Team Championship Tournament, 2016
After the brand extension in 2016, the blue brand introduced its own Women's Championship and Tag team Championship for its superstars. A tournament was organised to crown the first tag team champions, which saw Heath Slater and Rhyno, American Alpha, The Usos, Breezango, The Ascension, The Hype Bros., The Vaudevillians, and The Headbangers participate.
Team Man-Beast (Slater and Rhyno), American Alpha, The Usos, and the Hype Bros reached the final four after comfortable victories in the first round.
The semi-finals saw The Usos turn heel on Jordan and Gable after losing the match in just 28 seconds. This led to American Alpha being ruled out of the tournament despite winning the match.
The Usos defeated The Hype Bros in a second chance match to face Slater and Rhyno (who defeated Zack and Mojo in the semi-finals) in the finals. Slater and Rhyno told one of the best underdog stories in the entire tournament as Slater went from being jobless to a champion on SmackDown.
The WWE Universe was invested in the tournament, as it gave them a new hero in Heath Slater. Also, it rejuvenated the careers of The Usos. So, I give the SD Live tournament an "A+".
Grade: A+