Tag team wrestling has been a staple of success in NXT for years now, from teams like #DIY to the now three-time NXT Tag Team Champions, The Undisputed Era. The division on the Yellow brand has experienced some ups and downs recently as many teams have made the way up to the main roster. So many teams have come through the doors and shattered the glass ceiling. With NXT making its debut on the USA Network on Wednesday, a lot of new eyes will be taking in WWE’s third brand, joining Raw and SmackDown. While it’s new on national cable, NXT has been a work in progress since its beginnings as WWE’s developmental in 2010. In nine years, NXT has soared beyond the developmental tag into becoming its most athletically exciting product in years and well deserved of gaining it’s own distinctive brand status as it becomes NXT on USA. It’s lead by a stunning cast of franchise players as well.
We’re doing three primers looking at the depth of each NXT division in the brand – the Men’s, the Women’s, and the Tag Team – featuring the ones on TV now and a couple thoughts on impending debuts. In our first NXT on USA Primer, we take a look at all the players in the NXT Women’s Division, from NXT Tag Team Champions Undisputed Era to the fresh faces ready to debut when NXT switches to two hours on the USA Network.
Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango)
Breezango is a team all fans will know and all fans love. The team got to NXT when Tyler Breeze made the move back to his former home earlier this year to take on Velveteen Dream. Following his loss, he was happy to be back in NXT but was getting outmanned week to week. Fandango made the return to help save his friend and the “Fashion Police” were back in business. Now with a fresh start together on NXT, they are sure to climb the ranks of the tag division and chase the NXT Tag Team Championships soon enough. Familiarity is a good thing, which is what they bring.
Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel)
Formerly known as 3.0 on the indies, Ever-Rise is a tag team that has been around for a long time. But when it comes to their time in NXT, it is rather fresh. Chase Parker and Matt Martel have been teaming together since the 2000s, being mostly based out of Canada. Their pasts have seen them in Ring of Honor (ROH) and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). Now being apart of an NXT brand heading to USA Network, this is their grandest stage to put on a show and become one of the main catalysts of success in the NXT tag team division.
The Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler)
Forgotten no more. The team, made up of enforcer Jaxson Ryker with Wesley Blake, and Steve Cutler, has done their best in the past year to be remembered rather than forgotten. A physical trio led by Ryker, Blake and Cutler were inches away from winning the NXT Tag Team Championships in the Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match at NXT TakeOver: XXV but came out short. Now as one of the powerhouse teams left in the division they have a bright future much like the brand they are on. The fans at Full Sail University will surely boo them out of the building being on USA or not, so be prepared to do the same in your living room as The Forgotten Sons make an impact as they compete to get back in the title picture
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner)
While not everyone knows about NXT, many more overlook the talented brand that is NXT UK. Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner of the unit, Imperium, put their names on the map on NXT. Bartel and Aichner were placed together and what came out of it was an impressive tag team that are real contenders for any pair of tag team titles. Barcel brings the rough and tough ground game while Aichner brings a shocking mixture of strength and insane athleticism. Imperium currently rules over NXT UK, but soon enough they will be prepared to do the same on NXT, with these two blitzing for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Moustache Mountain (Trent Seven & Tyler Bate)
Moustache Mountain is one of the most beloved teams in all of NXT. Tyler Bate and Trent Seven have some of the best chemistry in the whole division and company even as they feed off each other perfectly. Whether it is the veteran Seven who oozes heart or “The Big Strong Boy” in Bate who impresses with his crazy strength. In a division that has experienced some losses in the past few months, this will be the addition they need to get back to an elite division. Former WWE UK Champion Pete Dunne recently joined NXT and mentioned that the boys from Moustache Mountain would be joining him soon.
Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch
Unofficially known as “One, Two”, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch are the quintessential hard-nosed, gritty team that will do all they can to pull off the victory. They have been one of the mainstays of the division for almost two years now, competing multiple times for tag team gold but still coming up short. Both Lorcan and Burch were originally singles stars but have since found more success since coming together. Lorcan is now a part of 205 Live, but has continued to compete alongside Burch during that time. Burch, on the other hand, has switched between both NXT and NXT UK in his time so far. Now on the stage of the USA Network, “One Two” have a shot to achieve their dreams.
The Outliers (Dorian Mak & Riddick Moss)
A relatively new tag team to the NXT scene, Dorian Mak and Riddick Moss form The Outliers. Led by their agent Robert Stone (formerly Robbie E in IMPACT Wrestling), this is a team prepared to make an impact once the opportunity approaches. Both men have been apart of NXT for sometime now but have yet to find the right path. Mak and Moss have impressive physiques with crazy strength that can certainly lead to problems for all the other teams on the brand. With the guide of Stone, The Outliers are certainly a team to look out for.
The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins)
If you have been watching Monday Night Raw recently, you have received a taste of what The Street Profits are all about. To quote their music, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins “bring the swag like nobody can” week in and week out. The now former NXT Tag Team Champions are one of the most beloved in NXT’s history when it comes to tag teams as they get the fans on their side match in and match out. Whether it is holding up the cup and stirring the pot, or simply just dazzling in the ring, this team is one to watch if they are on NXT or Raw.
Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)
Last but certainly not least is reigning and defending NXT Tag Team Champions, The Undisputed Era. Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish currently represent the team as the champions as they have tagged for years now, much before their time in NXT. Kyle O’Reilly is the only three-time NXT Tag Team Champion, winning two pairs of the championships with Fish and one with another Undisputed Era member, Roderick Strong. The Undisputed Era finally accomplished their “golden prophecy” by holding all the gold, when Strong won the North American title on the debut episode on USA. When it comes to these two, there is no safer bet. They look to continue and add to their prestige in NXT by becoming NXT’s greatest tag team. As leader Adam Cole has said, the reason USA Network is now the home of NXT is because of The Undisputed Era.
CHECK OUT ALL THREE PRIMERS!
NXT on USA Primer: The Men’s Division
NXT on USA Primer: The Women’s Division
NXT on USA Primer: The Tag Team Division
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 watch NXT every week on the WWE Network and now the USA Network.
