Last night we followed up on news that was first broken by PWInsider that WWE was in the final stages of getting ready to introduce WWE Cruiserweight Tag Team titles, similar to how NJPW has their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles for the smaller, faster tag teams on their roster. Reportedly set to be unveiled following WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans, after the crowning of a new WWE Cruiserweight Champion, the belts would open up more storyline potential for 205 Live, which has seen a renewed interest in the Cruiserweight Division since Triple H assumed control of the show, the likes which hasn’t been seen since they debuted with 2016’s WWE Cruiserweight Classic.
With that in mind, here’s a look at 10 potential tag teams that WWE could potentially send into the hunt for the new WWE Cruiserweight Tag Team titles, once they are unveiled to the general public, assumedly also in a tournament similar to what 205 Live is currently in the midst of for the vacant Cruiserweight title.
LUCHA HOUSE PARTY (Kalisto, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado)
With only Kalisto still in the hunt for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, the other two members of Lucha House Party will be looking for gold of their own to bring to the party. It would be an interesting dynamic should Lucha House Party claim all the gold of the Cruiserweight Division, with a team of Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik winning the inaugural WWE Cruiserweight Tag Team titles. The trio could even defend under Freebird Rules, as seen in recent WWE history with New Day or the Wyatt Family.
DREW GULAK & TONY NESE
These two have a strong history as tag team partners, starting off on 205 Live together, then working together as part of The Zo Train under Enzo Amore. Drew Gulak is still in the tournament for the Cruiserweight title (defeating Tony Nese in a crushing and physical match up), but if Gulak should fall short in acquiring singles gold, he could always call up his old partner and make a run for the tag team titles.
BRIAN KENDRICK & JACK GALLAGHER
Brian Kendrick was the instrument in Gentleman Jack Gallagher turning heel late last year and together the two formed a duo bent on the destruction of the 205 Live roster. Unfortunately the storyline ended in late December, when a GTS from Hideo Itami fractured Kendrick’s orbital bone, putting him on the shelf. When Austin Aries suffered a similar injury back in 2016, he was on the injured list approximately five months, which could mean we could see Kendrick back in the ring around May, which would be around the time the new tag team belts would be introduced.
MUSTAFA ALI & CEDRIC ALEXANDER
When Cedric Alexander‘s regular tag partner Rich Swann was suspended (and ultimately released), he joined forces briefly with Mustafa Ali and picked up a series of big wins. Both men have advanced to the second round of the Cruiserweight title tournament, with Alexander slated to face TJP and Ali against Buddy Murphy, but if neither one emerges from WrestleMania 34 as the new WWE Cruiserweight Champion, they could always reunite and turn their sights on the newly minted tag team belts.
MOUSTACHE MOUNTAIN (Tyler Bate & Trent Seven)
With the members of the UK stable British Strong Style (WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne, Trent Seven and Tyler Bate) making increasingly more frequent appearances on WWE television, adding the duo of Seven and Bate, collectively known as Moustache Mountain, to the tag team division on 205 Live would be a real treat. While Bate makes the weight class easily at 175 lbs., his partner Trent Seven would need to trim down from his current 215 lbs – but as we’ve seen in the past with the likes of Cedric Alexander and Buddy Murphy, the transition has been done before.
TM61 (Shane Thorne & Nick Miller)
Should Australia’s TM61 tandem of Shane Thorne and Nick Miller not capture the NXT Tag Team titles as a result of the ongoing Dusty Rhodes Classic Tournament in NXT, their next option could be to enter the scene at 205 Live and chase the Cruiserweight Tag Team titles. Again, while both men hover around the 220 lbs. mark, they’d need to trim down a bit, but they both have experience in this sort of division. As The Mighty Don’t Kneel, they’re 2x GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions from Pro Wrestling NOAH, and competing against more like minded tandems could really give TM61 a chance to shine more.
BREEZANGO (Tyler Breeze & Fandango)
Considering they’ve been relegated to comedic vignettes on Smackdown Live, a change of scenery and opponents could be just what the underrated duo of Tyler Breeze and Fandango need to reach the next level in WWE. Breeze was one of NXT’s workhorses, competing with the likes of Finn Balor, Hideo Itami, Neville and even 11x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger and at 210 lbs., it wouldn’t be hard to drop down to 205. Fandango is a little larger built, but as mentioned before, Cedric Alexander and Buddy Murphy were both roughly Fandango’s size and managed to make the weight.
EPICO & PRIMO
Veteran tag team Epico and Primo have languished in the WWE tag team division for years now, after winning WWE Tag Team gold in 2012. Getting a chance to really show off their abilities in the 205 Live Tag Team division could be just the kind of shot in the arm they’d need to prove their more just Matadors or time share condo agents.
UNDISPUTED ERA (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly)
If WWE really wanted to show the dominance of Undisputed Era in the WWE Universe, they could have the current NXT Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish challenge for the Cruiserweight Tag Team titles while they still hold NXT gold. It’s not like the duo formerly known as reDRagon aren’t familiar with holding multiple titles, as they previously held the Ring of Honor Tag Team titles alongside the IWGP Junior Heavyweight titles at the same time.
THE FILTHY ANIMALS (Rey Mysterio & Billy Kidman)
Easily the least likely of the list, but one that would have the greatest impact on making the titles prestigious out of the gate. Former Filthy Animals members Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman were the last title holders of WCW’s Cruiserweight Tag Team titles in 2001, and both are two of the most decorated Cruiserweight performers in WWE/WCW history. Mysterio recently suffered an injury, but should he return, a brief pairing with Kidman could help draw a large portion of the WWE Universe to the division as a whole. They wouldn’t have to look far for Kidman either – the 43-year old has been a producer with the WWE since he retired from the ring in 2008.
What teams would you like to see challenge for the WWE Cruiserweight Tag Team titles? What indie teams could they bring in to enhance the division? Let us know in the comments below!
