Noticeably absent from last Sunday’s SummerSlam event that saw nearly every other title in the WWE change hands were the once coveted Tag Titles. Battleground which took place last month was the first PPV since February at Elimination Chamber where the tag titles were defended mid-card. At WrestleMania the tag title match took place on the Kick-Off and at Money in the Bank they were the opening match. They were completely absent from consecutive PPVs in May in and June at Extreme Rules and Payback. The Uso’s best of three falls match with the Wyatts was arguably the best match that took place at Battleground.
While tag matches in the United States themselves rarely receive main event attention, they are more often than not some of the most anticipated and exciting matches on any card. So, what’s with this recent string of tag team snubs? Have people grown tired of tag matches? Talk to any fan out the sport and they will tell you tag team wrestling is as relevant today as it ever was. So what’s the answer? Those of us who dabble in other wrestling promotions, (Yes they do exist) already know the answer. Lack of depth in WWE’s tag team division, plain and simple. The break-ups of The Shield and The Real Americans left a gaping hole in the division. A hole that has yet to be filled properly.
The Best Tag Teams in the World
The best tag teams in the world sadly are not on Raw. You can’t find them on Smackdown or Main Event. The best tag teams in the world aren’t even in WWE. Don’t agree? Let’s break it down from promotion to promotion and you can decide for yourself. I have placed a number beside each team indicating my rankings from best to worst. This is by no means a definitive ranking, at the end of the day it all just boils down to personal opinion.
WWE
#8 The Usos: No doubt the Usos are the most talented team in the division. The sons of Jr. Fatu (Rikishi) are exciting guys to watch, and their traditional pre-match Haka is certainly an attention grabber. They won the titles at WrestleMania and haven’t looked back since. At Battleground the proved they belong on the main card when they bested the Wyatts in a best of three fall match. Unfortunately for the Usos their competition in the WWE is fairly limited which hinders them from displaying their true potential.
#15 The Wyatts: Luke Harper and Eric Rowan are not a bad tag team by any means. These two monsters are very solid workers who aren’t afraid to take a bump outside of the ring as well as in. I believe Harper is the more talented of the two, sometimes leaving him to pick up the slack left behind by Rowan. The WWE really needs to decide if they want the Wyatts backing up Bray 24/7, or if they are ready to strike out on their own and take a serious run at the titles.
#18 Goldust & Stardust: I’ll be honest, the Stardust gimmick is starting to grow on me a little week by week, but I just don’t like this tag team. Goldust is a few years past his prime and I believe he would be better suited as Stardust’s manager than as his tag partner. The wrestler formerly known as Cody Rhodes has undeniable in-ring skills and and interesting new look. He could still profit from his elder siblings tutelage without having to sacrifice his singles career in the name of brotherhood.
#19 RybAxel: This is a team that would benefit from a break-up. I don’t feel that certain chemistry between this pair like the greatest tag teams in history shared. Alone, much like Stardust, these two could do much better for themselves. The former Intercontinental Champ Curtis Axel could always make another run at that title or even the United States title. When it comes to the massive Ryback I’m 100% certain WWE is missing out on Russian villain Rusev’s next big possible feud.
TNA
#4 The Wolves: Davey Richards and “Diehard” Eddie Edwards have remained among the top of tag team food chain outside the WWE for quite some time. Named Wrestling Observer’s Tag Team of the Year in 2009, The Wolves are on their second title reign in TNA and are former two-time ROH tag champions as well. Richards and Edwards are just as dangerous by themselves as they are as a team. Davey is a former ROH and PGW World Champion as well as a two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion along with Rocky Romero. Eddie is a former ROH World and Television Champion, making him the company’s first ever Triple Crown Champion.
#12 Hardy Boyz: If you call yourself a fan of tag team wrestling and don’t know who the Hardy Boyz are then shame on you. The Hardys have been involved in the wrestling business one way or the other since grade school. They signed with WWE back in 1998, capturing the titles six times together. In 2001 and 2002 their triangle ladder match followed by their 3way TLC match at consecutive WrestleMainas against Edge and Christian and Team 3D earned them Match of the Year honors from Pro Wrestling Illustrated. The more popular of the two, Jeff is responsible for several major World Title reigns in both TNA and WWE, also capturing numerous minor titles. Matt has has also captured numerous minor titles throughout his career, his only major championship run coming via WWE’s version of ECW as their Heavyweight Champion for nearly four months. Their reunion in TNA has many diehard “Team Xtreme” fans clamoring for one last title run.
#11 Team 3D: Again if this is another team you are unfamiliar with please refer to your Pro Wrestling History text books. They’ve been a part of some of the most memorable moments in tag team wrestling including one of my all-time favorite matches between them and The Hardys at Royal Rumble 2000 where they destroyed more tables than the Clump family at a buffet. Bully Ray and Devon have worn every tag title from Dudleyville to Japan around their once bulging waists. The former ECW, WWE, TNA, and IWGP Tag Team Champions are seemingly in the best shape of their careers. PWI’s Tag Team of the Decade still has what it takes to capture the gold once more. The thought of a few more matches against the Hardys is one that brings me great joy. Oh, and may I just add “Devon! Get the Table!”
#20 BroMans: People keep telling me that if I have nothing nice to say then I should say nothing at all. Well, the BroMans have nice tans. I know they are two-time TNA tag champs, but they rub me the wrong way. I firmly believe were it not for his terrible gimmick Robbie E would be a much more popular wrestler. The best thing that could happen to this team is if they dissolve as a stable, allowing Robbie to return to the X-Division possible even sparking a feud with stablemate DJZ. Another way to go without dissolving the stable would be to partner up Robbie E and DZJ. Then there is Jessie Godderz. Godderz is kind of like TNA’s version of The Miz, a former reality star with an impressive physique the only difference is that Miz has proven he can wrestle a match without having a tag partner to carry him through it.
ROH
#2 reDRagon: Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly are my number two pick for best tag team in the world. The current ROH Tag Team Champions are on their third run as champions, yet have only been a team since 2012. The duo combines ridiculous technical skills and submission holds with the ability to take flight when needed, add in their undeniable chemistry and you have the making for a nearly unbeatable concoction. Their triumphs in recent feuds with Bad Influence and the Young Bucks leave little doubt in my mind who the real kings of ROH tag team wrestling truly are. Though they came up short against Time Splitters for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles earlier this month, Shelley and KUSHIDA may not have long to enjoy the belts. Fish and O’Reilly are constantly coming up with new and innovative way to dismantle their opponents. Each time I see them, they’ve added a new offensive weapon to their already impressive arsenal. In the coming years I believe all other teams with be left Chasing the Dragon.
#7 Bad Influence: Also formed in 2012, Pro Wrestling Observer’s 2012 Tag Team of the Year, Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels are just as humorous as they are fundamentally sound. Between them they have nine X-Divsion title reigns. The two-time TNA Tag Team Champions had been staples in TNA dating back to the promotion’s early days, but have since gone their separate ways from the company. Now wrestling under the Ring of Honor banner the pair have constantly been nipping at reDRagon’s heels in an effort to secure their first championship together within the company. In or out of the ring it’s not hard to see why Bad Influence are such a popular team. Their antics, while sometime hilarious, are just a plus added on to their ability to perform.
#3 The Young Bucks: They are brash, cocky, arrogant, and will superkick the face off of your head without so much as an apology. Love em’ or hate em’ you have to be crazy to deny that brothers Matt and Nick Jackson are one of the best teams in the business. The former PWG, ROH, and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Champs display their attitudes and lack of respect for other teams almost as proudly as their collection of belts. The Young Bucks are another team that is always adding something new to their move-set. Their finisher More Bang for Your Buck was named Pro Wrestling Observer’s Maneuver of the Year in 2009. The brothers will challenge reDRagon, who took the straps from them back in May, for the belts in a 2 out of 3 falls match on September 6th in Toronto, Ontario.
#17 War Machine: What do you get when you cross the imposing ROH Top Prospect Tournament Winner, Hanson with equally impressive runner-up, Raymond Rowe? You get War Machine, the no nonsense, take no prisoners team that backs up ROH World Champion Michael Elgin against all comers. What the newest team on the list lacks in experience, they make up for in brute strength. Hanson and Rowe are both big guys who move well around the ring for a team their size. It may still be a bit early to try and determine what the future holds for War Machine, but if they can maintain a dominate path we could be looking at future ROH tag team champions.
#5 Forever Hooligans: Rocky Romero and Alex Koslov have made quite a name for themselves in both the US and Japan. They have captured the ROH Tag Titles once and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles twice in their time with both promotions. Yet another team that made it’s debut in 2012, over the past couple of years Koslov and Romero have been in thrilling wars with The Young Bucks, Time Splitters, reDragon, and the Wolves. The Hooligans remain on the hunt for their next title reign, setting their sights on the top dogs in both ROH and TNA.
#14 The Briscoes: Its hard for me not to like this pair of good ole’ boys hailing from Sandy Fork, Delaware. The Briscoes are two-time CZW Tag Team Champions and eight-time ROH Tag Team Champions. The Briscoe brothers have a propensity for violence and always come to “Tear it Up” every single time out. Though they haven’t held the ROH titles since March of 2013, Mark and Jay have been anything but inactive. Jay was able to win the ROH World Title defeating Kevin Steen at Supercard of Honor VII before vacating the belt due to injury. Mark then won an Honor Rumble to earn a world title shot later that night, only to fall short to Adam Cole.
(Editor note: Be sure to look out for the Monster Mafia, who recently made their debut on ROH television. EGO and Alexander have been tearing up the Ontario indies for years and made a very impressive debut on ROH television. Maybe not ranked now but they will be the next time we do this.)
NJPW
#6 Bullet Club (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson): Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson are a part of the NJPW gaijin (foreigner) stable called the Bullet Club. Other members of the Bullet Club include the likes of The Young Bucks, AJ Styles and most recently Jeff Jarrett among others. Much like the Young Bucks, the duo cares very little what fan think of them. They have been IWGP Tag Team Champions since taking the titles off of Killer Elite Squad at Wrestle Kingdom 8 back in January. At War of the Worlds in May, Gallows and Anderson beat the Briscoes to retain the IWGP titles. Doc and “Machine Gun” Karl are a couple of tough, nasty dudes willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, even if it means playing dirty. Gallows’ size and strength coupled with Anderson’s intelligence and knack for employing underhanded tactics make them Japan’s public enemy number one in the tag division. Should ROH and NJPW choose to co-promote more shows together in the future I would love to see a clash between them and the up and comers War Machine. You listening Nigel MCGuinness?
#1 Time Splitters: Time Splitters is an appropriate name for the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions because at times the moves they execute seem to bend the laws of physics. They are hands down my top pick for best tag team in the world. Alex Shelley was once half of what I would consider one of the best pound for pound tag teams in the history of the sport, The Motor City Machine Guns. KUSHIDA is the current IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and has an undefeated MMA record of 6-0-2. For those of you who paid attention in chemistry, putting these guys together is like mixing ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder. Since defeating the Young Bucks for the titles in June, Time Splitters have successfully defended their IWPG titles against current ROH Tag Champs, reDRagon. The win over Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly puts Time Splitters atop my list for best in the world.
#16 Jado & Gedo: Jado and Gedo have been suplexing people longer than Nick Jackson of the Young Bucks has been alive. Also known as The World Class Tag Team, the former BJW and four-time Junior IWGP Tag Champs don’t wrestle nearly as much as they used to due to their booking status, but are still a force to be rekoned within NJPW. Like the Hardys, Team 3D, and the Briscoes, Jado and Gado are no strangers to the Hardcore style matches that were widly popular from the late 90’s to the early 2000’s. Though it’s doubtful that the pair will book themselves to win the IWGP titles anytime soon, the possibly of chance at the ROH titles sometime in the future isn’t in the realm of the unthinkable.
#13 Suzukigun (Taka Michinoku & Taichi): Part of the heel stable Suzukigun under it’s infamous leader Minoru Suzuki, Taka and Taichi are former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title holders. Suzukigun defeated Forever Hooligans for the titles in October of last year. They went on to defeat Jado and Gedo before dropping the belts to The Young Bucks a month later. American wrestling fans may remember Taka from his stint in WWE as their first ever Light Heavyweight Champion. Taichi is coming off a suspension related to personal matter, but once this duo gets back on track its only a matter of time before they get another crack at the belts.
#10 Tencozy: Together since 1998, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima are the current NWA Tag Team Champions and the former IWGP Tag Team Champions. If you’re unfamiliar with Tenzan he looks similar to the villain Jaws from the James Bond film series, only Asian, with a sweet multicolored mullet and a mantle full of world championships. Tenzan is a former four-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and 11-time IWGP Tag Team Champion, five of those reigns with Tencozy partner Kojima. Satoshi Kojima is a former two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and six-time IGWP Tag Champion. Tencozy and Killer Elite Squad have feuded over the tag titles for the past couple of years trading them back and forth with K.E.S. until Bullet Club seized the belts.
#9 Killer Elite Squad: Members of the Suzukigun stable along with Taka and Taichi, Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer make up the tag team known as K.E.S. Smith, son of “The Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith, is a former two-time WWE Tag Team Champion as a member of The Hart Dynasty and two-time IGWP Tag Champion as part of K.E.S. The 6’8″ Archer is a former two-time TNA Tag Team Champion along side partner Kid Kash. The team first captured the belts from rivals Tencozy back in 2012, loss them back to Tencozy in 2013, regained them seven months later, before finally losing them to Bullet Club at the beginning of this year. Smith and Archer tower over most of their opponents and just like War Machine and the Wyatts they can move swiftly for men of their stature.
WWE’s Other Possible Options
WWE has recently been busy signing top talent from NJPW and ROH, inking top stars like Prince Devitt, Kenta, and Kevin Steen in recent months. So is it possible that we could see any of the teams mentioned above in WWE anytime soon? The short answer is probably not. Most of the major native Japanese talent love working in Japan where they are treated like rock stars and portrayed as actual athletes. As of late Triple H has been pivotal in signing new and exciting talent, but the aging Mr. McMahon still retains ultimate control. Vinnie Mac is notorious when it comes to neglecting actual wrestling talent in favor of those more “cosmetically pleasing” to viewers. There is still hope for WWE’s tag team division as they have a couple of options when it comes to beefing up the roster in that respect.
The Ascension: Konnor and Viktor have been wreaking havoc in NXT since winning the tag titles there almost a year ago. These guys have been absolutely dominant against every team they’ve faced thus far. The only problem being that they have never been tested by a legitimate tag team. Now is the perfect time to bring these two up to the big leagues and see what The Ascension is really made of. As scary as the Wyatts are, these guys creep me out even more. When it comes time to sink or swim I believe Konnor and Viktor will Ascend all the way to the top.
Kofi Kingston & Big E: Kofi and Big E have tagged together before and I really enjoy the chemistry between the two. When a big man and small man work well together it can make for an exciting dynamic with unlimited possibilities. I would love to see these two matched up against the Usos sometime in the future. Kofi’s high flying ability and Big E’s strength should be more than enough to carry them to the top of WWE’s current tag division. If the WWE refuses to let these men shine as singles competitors, then there is no reason why they can’t be added to the struggling tag division.
RVD & Kane: I know, I know, it’s an unlikely scenario but just hear me out. Corporate Kane sucks. He’s always grumpy, running around, interfering in and disrupting great matches, and generally making peoples lives miserable. What happened to the “Big Red Machine” that only the late great Paul Bearer could control? Corporate Kane seems extremely stressed out as of late. This is where RVD comes in. Kane and RVD already have a WWE Tag Title reign to their credit. Who better than the mellow RVD to calm his former partner? Both of these former world champions are at a crossroad in their careers and could each benefit from another run a champions. Even if it has together as partners.
Agree? Disagree? Think I left out a team, or have your own tag team ranking list you want to share? Let us know!
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