Throughout 2013 the tag team scene was rejuvenated thanks in no small part to teams like The Shield, The Wyatts, and Cody Rhodes & Goldust. So it’s not surprising that the WWE Tag Team Championships are on the line at WrestleMania XXX in a 4-way tag team match. What is surprising is that none of the aforementioned teams are involved. The Shield have their hands full with corporate Kane and the Outlaws, while Harper & Rowan are watching Bray Wyatt’s back against John Cena. The Brotherhood are among the 30 participants in the André The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which is a bit of a head-scratcher since they helped bring in this tag team renaissance. Be that as it may, it’s been 10 years since the tag titles were contested at WrestleMania in a 4-way match, and as much as I’d love to see the Rhodes brothers involved, I’m still looking very forward to the match.
This will be the first major test for The Usos as champions, and the sons of Rikishi certainly have their work cut out for them. The Real Americans are like a well-oiled machine. Some gunk has gotten into the gears of late but they are still a force to be reckoned with. Jack Swagger is a former World Heavyweight Champion and United States Champion, a title also held by his tag team partner Cesaro. The Swiss Superman is on the cusp of greatness and someone I suspect will win the next Money In The Bank briefcase.
The Real Americans have a great mixture of power and technical prowess. Swagger’s amateur background and Cesaro’s time spent on the independent scene make them one of the most technically gifted teams in WWE today. Cesaro has been called, pound for pound the strongest man in WWE by numerous people. Watching him swing wrestlers as big as The Great Khali and Brodus Clay is something to behold, although Swagger is no slouch in the strength department either, and has no problems tossing his opponents around the ring.
Similar to The Real Americans, the unlikely team of Ryback & Curtis Axel combine power and skill but in a different way. Ryback is all power, which was proven during his meteoric rise through the ranks of the WWE locker room. While he may have been shotgunned a little too quickly and as such had his push stall, it’s just fuel to add to the fire. A fuel that is surely felt by Ryback’s partner Curtis Axel. The third generation superstar has all the talent in the world and a wrestling pedigree that most would give their left arm for. Yet, aside from an Intercontinental title run, hasn’t been able to really shine.
It must be frustrating for Axel to hear people constantly compare Dolph Ziggler to Mr. Perfect, when he himself is the son of Curt Hennig. Still, Axel and Ryback have the ability, they just lack charisma. Which is what made having Paul Heyman in their corner so valuable. Though this may be their chance to prove that they don’t need a manager, that these former Paul Heyman guys can find success without the ECW patriarch.
Los Matadores, on the surface, seem to be the odd team out in this match, like they don’t belong. While they have the skill, they also have come off as almost a comedic team thanks in no small part to their little buddy El Torito. But how quickly people forget it was only two years ago that the men under the masks, Primo and Epico, were WWE Tag Team Champions. In fact, aside from the current champs, they are the only other team in this match that has held tag team gold. Though they may have switched out Rosa Mendez for “The Little Bull”, it doesn’t change who is under the masks.
Los Matadores will bring some speed to this match and try to keep the pace quick. It’s also silly to not expect El Torito to get involved somehow. Will The Little Bull be a difference maker? Only time will tell, but Los Matadores aren’t the only agile team in this match.
The Usos fought too hard to give up their gold this quickly after winning it. Though they have a large mountain to climb getting passed these three teams, they are arguably the best high flying team in the company. Keeping to the sky, and just doing what they do best is what will allow them to hold onto their titles in what is sure to be a fantastic 4-way match.
Main photo: wwe.com
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