When it comes to the current climate of WWE, there’s no questioning the fact that NXT is the greatest thing about the company. For many of the roster, any success they’ve had within developmental hasn’t always transpired to the main roster. For this article, we’ll solely be focusing on their time spent in the yellow brand. With TakeOver: XXV now in the history books, we’ve been looking at the 25 greatest male wrestlers and 25 greatest women’s wrestlers in NXT history. And now we’ll take a look back at the 25 greatest tag teams from NXT history. Whether they held the Tag Team Championships or were known for putting in quality performances, there have been quite a few phenomenal teams that have graced the NXT ring with their presence. Here are the 25 greatest NXT tag teams in history
Adrian Neville & Corey Graves
In hindsight, Adrian Neville and Corey Graves weren’t one of the biggest teams to come through NXT. Before they began teaming, Neville would primarily team alongside Oliver Grey but after an injury left Grey sidelined, The Man That Gravity Forgot would soon begin teaming with Graves. They were brought together thanks to a mutual hatred for The Wyatt Family. Neville and Graves would be the team to end their reign with the gold, holding the titles for three months before being usurped by The Ascension. The pair then began feuding following the loss of their titles, with Neville going on to win the NXT Championship and Graves being forced to retire about a year later due to concussion-related issues.
American Alpha (Chad Gable & Jason Jordan)
When they initially formed in 2015, the future looked up for Chad Gable and Jason Jordan from the offset. Both were extremely gifted amateur wrestlers, with those skills helping them get far during their tenure in NXT. Their willingness and determination to be the best they possibly can led the NXT fans to root for Gable and Jordan at every opportunity they had, eventually earning them an NXT Tag Team Championships match against The Revival. When they lifted the gold at TakeOver: Dallas, the roof almost came off the venue that night. Although their reign with the titles only lasted two months, Gable and Jordan were easily the most popular Tag Team Champions in NXT history.
The Ascension (Konnor & Viktor)
Believe it or not, The Ascension was once a feared tandem within NXT. After Viktor took the spot of Kenneth Cameron (now known as Bram), he and Konnor began running through all the tag teams on the NXT roster, eventually capturing the tag titles from Adrian Neville and Corey Graves. At the time of writing, their reign remains the longest in history at 364 days long – just one day shy of them being champions for a full calendar year. During this reign with the gold, the two beasts saw off challengers both old and new, even including Too Cool of all people. Darn those Lucha Dragons from robbing them of the chance to hold the hardware for an entire year.
The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar)
Before they joined the Raw roster, The Authors of Pain were one of the most dominant duos to ever appear on the NXT roster. They quickly made a name for themselves when they ambushed American Alpha at TakeOver: The End in June 2016 (flanked by Paul Ellering), later going on to win the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic that November. Just seven months after joining the roster, Akam and Rezar were winning the NXT Tag Team Championships from perennial fan favorites Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa at the start of 2017, beginning a lengthy reign with the gold. Even when they lost the titles to SAnitY in the summer, the pair of behemoths remained at the top of the card, which included them being included in the first ever War Games Match under the WWE banner. For two bigger guys, Akam and Rezar sure do know how to put on a good match.
Big Cass & Enzo Amore
In terms of NXT’s most popular performers, Big Cass and Enzo Amore are certainly up there. Whenever they burst through the curtain, the audience came unglued. It might surprise you that The Realest Guys in the Room never actually held the Tag Team Championships in NXT, but they did have a few chances to win the titles, including two excellent matches against The Revival at TakeOver: London and the main roster Roadblock event in March 2016. They’ll go down as two of the most charismatic men to ever step foot inside Full Sail University – it’s not always about winning championships, as long as you get over with the crowd, you’re doing something right.
Blake & Murphy
In 2019, Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake are both leading very different careers. The former was exciting crowds week in and week out on 205 Live, whereas the latter has become a Forgotten Son. A few years ago though, they were one of NXT’s more underappreciated duos. They shockingly won the Tag Team Championships out of nowhere from The Lucha Dragons on an episode of NXT, and actually went on to have a reasonably long reign as the champions before losing the gold to The Vaudevillains. Even though they weren’t one of the best-remembered teams, Murphy and Blake took full advantage of the opportunity when it was presented to them.
Brit-Am Brawlers (Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan)
You know you’ve found yourself a good tag team partner when the friendship is formed after you’ve beaten the living hell out of each other. That’s how Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan were initially brought together – a brief run of matches opposite one another on NXT TV where they slapped away at each other, culminating in a new duo being born. Each time the hard-hitting pair step into the ring, it means nothing but bad news for whoever’s standing across the ring from them. Their Ladder Match at TakeOver: XXV proved just that, with their six opponents feeling plenty of pain. Although they’re yet to lift the gold, they’re very much still in the running after the performances we’ve seen from them.
British Ambition (Adrian Neville & Oliver Grey)
When you speak about some of the greatest teams to ever step foot inside an NXT ring, you can’t not mention the inaugural Tag Team Champions. Adrian Neville and Oliver Grey, collectively known as British Ambition, defeated Wyatt Family members Luke Harper and Erick Rowan in early 2013 to become the first champs. Their reign may not have felt as big as some of the ones that came after it, but Neville and Grey’s names will always remain in the history books as being the first competitors to lay their hands on the tag titles.
#DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa)
Arguably the two biggest names to ever be on the NXT roster. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. Each time they wrestled, the audience knew they’d be in for a treat. Their rivalry with The Revival proved just that, resulting in a two month reign as the NXT Tag Team Champions after their victory in Toronto, a match that remains one of NXT’s all-time greats. I could speak for days about how good Gargano and Ciampa were as a team and also as singles performers, but there’s only so many words in the dictionary.
The Forgotten Sons (Steve Cutler & Wesley Blake)
Although they’re certainly not the most popular team to ever appear in NXT, The Forgotten Sons have made quite the impact during their short time on the roster thus far. The paring of Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake, alongside the leader of the pack Jaxson Ryker, have ensured that anyone who comes their way will be beaten to a pulp. Both men left it all out there in their Ladder Match at TakeOver: XXV, coming with fingertips of being the team to win the titles. Their time hasn’t arrived quite yet but believe me when I tell you that time will come. All in due course my friends.
Heavy Machinery (Otiz Dozovic & Tucker Knight)
Prior to becoming victims of the ‘one name’ treatment on the main roster, Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight were a pure highlight during their time spent in NXT. Known for enjoying nothing more than steaks and weights, Heavy Machinery became an instant hit with the fans, even if they were never positioned at the top of the card. They did challenge for the tag titles, but they never reached that top-tier level. Nevertheless, Otis and Tucky will be remembered as two guys that just wanted to have a good time whenever and wherever they could.
The Hype Bros (Mojo Rawley & Zack Ryder)
They don’t get hyped, they stay hyped. That saying always followed Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley around, and it became clear that it was indeed the truth whenever they came bounding out on to the stage. The Hype Bros were two of the most energetic people to ever step foot inside an NXT ring, using these high spirits to encourage everyone else around them to stay positive. Despite them never being one of the biggest teams to ever appear on the brand, they’ll still go down as being one of the most memorable tandems simply because they made themselves heard loud and clear.
The Iconic Duo (Billie Kay & Peyton Royce)
At the time Billie Kay and Peyton Royce were on the NXT roster, there wasn’t really much of a women’s tag team division within WWE. The charismatic Australian duo more than made a name for themselves while in developmental, impressing in both singles and tag team action. They even both had the chance to pry the NXT Women’s Championship out of the grasp of Asuka – one can only assume that they’d co-defend the title if they won it like what LayCool (Layla and Michelle McCool) did back in 2010. Even in defeat, they looked IIconic!
The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto & Sin Cara)
Unlike the current Lucha House Party trio on Raw and 205 Live, The Lucha Dragons were actually a decent tag team. After coming together, Kalisto and Sin Cara made their presence felt when they ended The Ascension’s 364 day reign with the NXT Tag Team Championships at TakeOver: Fatal Four Way in September 2014. It may have not been the most memorable reign of all time but the luchadors were a bundle of joy to watch while in NXT. You could always count on them to put in an alright match – nothing that special, but highly enjoyable for the majority of the time.
The Mighty (Nick Miller & Shane Thorne)
No matter if they were called TM-61 or The Mighty, there was no denying that Shane Thorne and Nick Miller were held back during their time on the brand. Anyone who was familiar with their work from Pro Wrestling NOAH knew exactly what they were capable of, so it was a shame to see how much WWE took away from them. Luckily for Shane and Nick though, their performances inside the ring were more than enough for them to be recognized as one of the brand’s best teams. When they made it to the finals of the 2016 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic against The Authors of Pain, it was perhaps their greatest match since joining the roster earlier that year, and it’s safe to say it remains one of their best matches there to date.
Moustache Mountain (Trent Seven & Tyler Bate)
Despite now being affiliated with the NXT UK brand, Trent Seven and Tyler Bate did leave quite the impression within regular NXT. Not only did they have killer match after killer match, but the mustache aficionados did also capture the NXT Tag Team Championships from The Undisputed Era‘s Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly inside Royal Albert Hall last summer. Even though they had the shortest reign in the championship’s history, everyone’s favorite Big Strong Bois are undoubtedly the most popular tandem to come from the British wrestling scene.
The Revival (Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson)
No flips, just fists is a lifestyle that allowed The Revival to have quite a successful career. When they first began teaming under the alias of The Mechanics, many would have laughed at the possibility of Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder competing on a TakeOver, let alone becoming two-time NXT Tag Team Champions. Their incredible matches with the likes of American Alpha and the DIY, especially the match with the latter at TakeOver: Toronto, were perfect examples as to why tag team wrestling can be out of this world when done right. As the icing on the cake, the Shatter Machine looks like a killer move. Superb.
SAnitY (Alexander Wolfe & Eric Young)
If you want to speak about people who weren’t at all used correctly on the main roster, look no further than SAnitY. An excellent group in NXT that apparently wasn’t main roster material. Never mind that though – their time in developmental showed just how good they all are. The usual duo of the group was Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe, with those two winning the NXT Tag Team Championships from The Authors of Pain in August 2017. As shown from their performance in the 2017 War Games Match, they could’ve been a huge thing on the main roster. It just wasn’t meant to be by the looks of things.
The Shield (Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins)
Back when they first came on the scene, The Shield was one of the biggest and best things in professional wrestling. The trio’s ruthlessness made them a joy to watch, with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins being the usual team while Dean Ambrose focused on singles competition. Despite them only being a cohesive unit in NXT for a short while after debuting at Survivor Series 2012, you can’t take away the fact that they left an impact. The likes of Xavier Woods, Corey Graves, and William Regal all felt the wrath of the group at one point or another.
The Sky Pirates (Io Shirai & Kairi Sane)
Unlike The IIconics, there were the makings of a women’s tag team division by the time The Sky Pirates became a thing in NXT. Io Shirai and Kairi Sane united almost immediately upon Shirai’s arrival to the brand, combatting Shayna Baszler and her henchwomen. Outside the ring, they both seem like they’re the nicest human beings you could meet but as soon as you’re the one standing across the ring from them, you’ll realize that’s not always the case. Just ask anyone who’s ever taken one of Kairi’s elbow drops or one of Io’s moonsaults. Not many people would get up from either of those.
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
If it were up to The Street Profits, NXT would be nothing more than a nonstop party each week. Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford are all about enjoying themselves, something that is abundantly clear as soon as their music starts. Would it be fair to say they’re as popular as Enzo and Cass were when they were at their peak? Well, one aspect that those teams don’t share is championship success – Dawkins and Ford are our new NXT Tag Team Champions following their victory at TakeOver: XXV this past Saturday. You’d have to imagine the celebration party is still going as you’re reading this.
The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong)
August 19th, 2017 marked a changing of the guard for NXT as The Undisputed Era was formed when Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, and Kyle O’Reilly came together, eventually being joined by Roderick Strong the following April. O’Reilly and Strong became the usual team for the four-man alliance, becoming two-time Tag Team Champions in the process and putting in show-stealing performances against the likes of Moustache Mountain and the team of Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan. With Cole as the current NXT Champion and the other three members putting it all on the line in their respective matches at TakeOver: XXV, the status of NXT going forward is very much Undisputed.
The Vaudevillains (Aiden English & Simon Gotch)
If you like old school tag teams, then The Vaudevillains would’ve been the team for you. They were so simple in their work, yet effective enough to make a connection with the fans. Their pursuit of the Tag Team Championships led them to capture the gold at the first TakeOver: Brooklyn show four years ago, a night that Aiden English and Simon Gotch will never forget. Don’t let it be forgotten that those two were once of the most popular teams on the roster.
War Raiders (Hanson & Rowe)
War Machine, The War Raiders, The Viking Experience, The Viking Raiders. Whatever you want to call them, it will always be remembered that Hanson and Rowe were quite possibly the most dominant team to ever appear in NXT. Anyone and everyone that stood in front of them was sent packing – there was no-one that could take the tag titles from them, resulting in the pair voluntarily vacating the straps to focus on their duties over on Raw. As two athletic big men, they can easily adapt to any situation they’re faced with head-on.
The Wyatt Family (Erick Rowan & Luke Harper)
Before they headed to the main roster, The Wyatt Family were one of the most feared groups to ever grace the roster of NXT. Led into battle by Bray Wyatt, the pairing of Erick Rowan and Luke Harper decimated their opposition, which allowed them to become just the second Tag Team Champions in the brand’s history. It went to show just how great Harper can actually be – a topic that a certain Chairman of the board can’t see – and also showed that Rowan isn’t all that bad either. At least he’s doing well for himself these days.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. And make sure to check out these fantastic NXT tag teams on the WWE Network
