Well, here it is: The final list of greatest tag teams in the last 28 years.
Again, before I get started, I want to emphasize what I'm using to evaluate the best teams: longevity, impact on the business, match quality, crowd reaction, and ability to stand out, among other things. Again, like the last blog, I'm sure this is going to be controversial. But I stand by it. You will notice that a lot of teams were left behind on my list, and a couple teams actually either dropped or raised higher in their overall ranking between lists. I'll try to explain as the list continues.
My Top Ten Tag Teams of the 1990s
1. The New Age Outlaws
2. Steiner Brothers
3. The Outsiders
4. Harlem Heat
5. Legion of Doom
6. The Dudley Boys
7. Hollywood Blondes
8. The Nasty Boys
9. The Quebecers
10. Money Inc.
My Top Tag Teams of the 2000s
1. The Dudley Boyz
2. The Hardy Boyz
3. Edge and Christian
4. Beer Money Inc.
5. Jeri-show
6. Booker T/Goldust
7. Los Guerreros
8. Miz and Morrison
9. The World's Greatest Tag Team
10. The APA
My Top Ten Tag Teams of 2010s
1) The Young Bucks
2) The New Day
3) The Usos
4) The (Broken) Hardyz
5) DIY
6) Gallows and Anderson
7) Team Hell No
8) The Briscoes
9) The Addiction
10) Cody Rhodes and Goldust
So, here we go....
#10- The Usos- The Usos' work has consistently stood out in times when the tag team division was only given 5 minutes to show their stuff. The reason they deserve to be on this list is because of match quality and longevity (we're getting close to ten years of the Usos in WWE, which is crazy when you think about it). Respect the Usos.
#9- The New Age Outlaws- Yeah. This is probably a bit controversial, but hear me out: After their 2.5 year run from late 1997 to early 2000, where did the New Age Outlaws go as far as popularity? They were good for a nostalgia act in the 2010s, but in TNA, did they really increase the ratings that much? No. Their appeal died with the Attitude Era. It was painful to watch them in the 2010s try to recapture their magic in the ring. It just wasn't there. So, for that reason, I'm lowering their position on this list.
#8- The Outsiders- Two guys who helped collectively changed the business, Hall and Nash had longer ramifications after the 1990s than the New Age Outlaws. Even today, people look back at what these two did to the business as radical and shocking... BECAUSE IT WAS RADICAL AND SHOCKING! They dominated WCW TV for several years (1996-1999/early 2000). Still, I have them this low on my countdown because we're really looking at a solid 2-3 year run as a tag team. I had to put other teams above them for their impact on the business and tag team wrestling in general. Such as...
#7- The Steiner Brothers- Despite the fact that their work, like The Usos, is limited mostly to one decade (TNA in 2007 is the exception), The Steiners made a huge impact in the wrestling industry by keeping WCW afloat in dark times. And they were always a great tag team wherever they performed at. So, they are getting a mention on the best teams countdown. I put them above The Outsiders because they lasted longer as a team and their match quality looking back is remembered more fondly.
#6- Harlem Heat- I'm putting Harlem Heat in this position for a lot of different reasons. They were a great act in WCW and are continually remembered to this day as one of the greatest tag teams WCW ever presented. Also, let's be honest: They were a dominant African-American tag team in a Southern-based promotion. Other than Doom, I really can't remember another team that can claim to be given that much attention in WCW that didn't fit the WASP stereotype. And forget all that for a second: THE HARLEM HEAT WERE AN AWESOME TAG TEAM, period. Stevie Ray was the muscle and brute force of the team; Booker T was the wrestler's wrestler in the group. He could wrestle and fly if he needed to. The Harlem Heat deserve to be remembered as one of the greatest tag teams ever as they broke barriers, had kick ass matches, and stood out in a stacked tag team division in WCW.
#5- Edge and Christian- Edge and Christian drop a little lower than their 2000s position due to the fact that the team broke apart in 2001 and didn't really come back together until 2011 in the months preceding Edge's forced retirement. They had a great, great run in 1999-2001 and stole the show on multiple nights with teams other than The Hardys and the Dudleys. They, along with these teams and other, helped revitalize the tag team division in WWF to heights it still has not quite reached again since. But their short run lowers them on my ranking as the greatest tag team of the last 28 years.
#4- The New Day- I had to sit back and think about these last few teams. The New Day are ranked this high because they've been going for almost 4 years now, and they've had a big impact on WWE programming and merchandise. No other tag team of their decade in the company (or most other tag teams in WWE's past) can claim to have the exposure to a worldwide audience as The New Day. Even the non-WWE fan has seen their faces at FYE and has heard of Booty-Os (even if they walked off in disgust or laughter). And the gimmick should not have worked! They made it work beyond any reasonable expectation. For that reason, The New Day gets this ranking.
#3- The Young Bucks- Again, this is going to be controversial. But... impact on the business, match quality, crowd reaction, ability to stand out. The Young Bucks cover all of these bases. They've also had a long career in the wrestling business as a team (over ten years). And they also just pulled off a 10,000 seat sellout in America (in 30 minutes no less) outside WWE. Did I mention that? I can recap everything I wrote on the 2010s countdown, but sufficient to say, The Bucks have changed the business. And for that, they get this position and deserve to be mentioned among the Tag Team Elite (pun unintended). If you remove your hate or dislike for them, you have to give in to the facts: The Bucks are more over than almost every other team on this list.
#2- The Dudley Boyz- This was a hard choice. The Dudley Boyz, in terms of tag team championships earned and longevity, have done more than any other tag team on this countdown. They are the biggest homemade stars to come out of ECW and contributed a LOT to tag team wrestling throughout the decades they were a team. I'm having two issues with putting The Dudleyz as #1: The 2010s and influence on the business compared to #1. They split up at the end of 2010 with Bully Ray becoming a multiple time world champion in TNA/Impact. When they came back together in WWE, they made a little impact when they came in, but they quickly found themselves curtain jerking or worse on WWE programming up to their retirement. Then, there's the issue of influence. Beyond hardcore wrestling, what has been their influence on the business? Let's be real: The Dudleyz are a phenomenal tag team. But did they really do much to advance the Legion of Doom archetype tag team style? I would argue not much. No other teams have really come around that have furthered that legacy or directly attributed The Dudleyz are direct inspirations for their style of tag team wrestling. That's not a knock: That's just what I see.
#1- The Hardy Boyz- The most influential tag team in modern wrestling. While the Dudleyz won more titles and Edge and Christian won most of the matches between the two (or three with the Dudleyz), The Hardyz did more to attract mainstream attention during their runs and influenced other tag teams that followed. See The Young Bucks, see most other fast paced tag teams that may or may not include high risk maneuvers. Even their method of tag team wrestling using the partner as a prop to do a move. The Hardy formula has transcended them into multiple teams throughout the decades. The Hardys during the Attitude Era were OVER and were commonly featured as important attractions on WWE programming. Their ability to connect with the audience in multiple fashions, their desire to change things up when needed, and their continued influence in tag team wrestling pushes them over the top for me as the greatest tag team of the last 28 years.
The Final Greatest Tag Team List of 1990-2018
1. The Hardy Boyz
2. The Dudley Boyz
3. The Young Bucks
4. The New Day
5. Edge and Christian
6. Harlem Heat
7. Steiner Brothers
8. The Outsiders
9. New Age Outlaws
10. The Usos
I hope you enjoyed this. Next week, I am going to countdown the greatest big men in the last 28 years. For the record, I mean big men, not giants. Big men being 350 lbs or larger. If you have any suggestions for this list, write it down. Otherwise, check in next week to see what I cobble up.
Until next time, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
Again, before I get started, I want to emphasize what I'm using to evaluate the best teams: longevity, impact on the business, match quality, crowd reaction, and ability to stand out, among other things. Again, like the last blog, I'm sure this is going to be controversial. But I stand by it. You will notice that a lot of teams were left behind on my list, and a couple teams actually either dropped or raised higher in their overall ranking between lists. I'll try to explain as the list continues.
My Top Ten Tag Teams of the 1990s
1. The New Age Outlaws
2. Steiner Brothers
3. The Outsiders
4. Harlem Heat
5. Legion of Doom
6. The Dudley Boys
7. Hollywood Blondes
8. The Nasty Boys
9. The Quebecers
10. Money Inc.
My Top Tag Teams of the 2000s
1. The Dudley Boyz
2. The Hardy Boyz
3. Edge and Christian
4. Beer Money Inc.
5. Jeri-show
6. Booker T/Goldust
7. Los Guerreros
8. Miz and Morrison
9. The World's Greatest Tag Team
10. The APA
My Top Ten Tag Teams of 2010s
1) The Young Bucks
2) The New Day
3) The Usos
4) The (Broken) Hardyz
5) DIY
6) Gallows and Anderson
7) Team Hell No
8) The Briscoes
9) The Addiction
10) Cody Rhodes and Goldust
So, here we go....
#10- The Usos- The Usos' work has consistently stood out in times when the tag team division was only given 5 minutes to show their stuff. The reason they deserve to be on this list is because of match quality and longevity (we're getting close to ten years of the Usos in WWE, which is crazy when you think about it). Respect the Usos.
#9- The New Age Outlaws- Yeah. This is probably a bit controversial, but hear me out: After their 2.5 year run from late 1997 to early 2000, where did the New Age Outlaws go as far as popularity? They were good for a nostalgia act in the 2010s, but in TNA, did they really increase the ratings that much? No. Their appeal died with the Attitude Era. It was painful to watch them in the 2010s try to recapture their magic in the ring. It just wasn't there. So, for that reason, I'm lowering their position on this list.
#8- The Outsiders- Two guys who helped collectively changed the business, Hall and Nash had longer ramifications after the 1990s than the New Age Outlaws. Even today, people look back at what these two did to the business as radical and shocking... BECAUSE IT WAS RADICAL AND SHOCKING! They dominated WCW TV for several years (1996-1999/early 2000). Still, I have them this low on my countdown because we're really looking at a solid 2-3 year run as a tag team. I had to put other teams above them for their impact on the business and tag team wrestling in general. Such as...
#7- The Steiner Brothers- Despite the fact that their work, like The Usos, is limited mostly to one decade (TNA in 2007 is the exception), The Steiners made a huge impact in the wrestling industry by keeping WCW afloat in dark times. And they were always a great tag team wherever they performed at. So, they are getting a mention on the best teams countdown. I put them above The Outsiders because they lasted longer as a team and their match quality looking back is remembered more fondly.
#6- Harlem Heat- I'm putting Harlem Heat in this position for a lot of different reasons. They were a great act in WCW and are continually remembered to this day as one of the greatest tag teams WCW ever presented. Also, let's be honest: They were a dominant African-American tag team in a Southern-based promotion. Other than Doom, I really can't remember another team that can claim to be given that much attention in WCW that didn't fit the WASP stereotype. And forget all that for a second: THE HARLEM HEAT WERE AN AWESOME TAG TEAM, period. Stevie Ray was the muscle and brute force of the team; Booker T was the wrestler's wrestler in the group. He could wrestle and fly if he needed to. The Harlem Heat deserve to be remembered as one of the greatest tag teams ever as they broke barriers, had kick ass matches, and stood out in a stacked tag team division in WCW.
#5- Edge and Christian- Edge and Christian drop a little lower than their 2000s position due to the fact that the team broke apart in 2001 and didn't really come back together until 2011 in the months preceding Edge's forced retirement. They had a great, great run in 1999-2001 and stole the show on multiple nights with teams other than The Hardys and the Dudleys. They, along with these teams and other, helped revitalize the tag team division in WWF to heights it still has not quite reached again since. But their short run lowers them on my ranking as the greatest tag team of the last 28 years.
#4- The New Day- I had to sit back and think about these last few teams. The New Day are ranked this high because they've been going for almost 4 years now, and they've had a big impact on WWE programming and merchandise. No other tag team of their decade in the company (or most other tag teams in WWE's past) can claim to have the exposure to a worldwide audience as The New Day. Even the non-WWE fan has seen their faces at FYE and has heard of Booty-Os (even if they walked off in disgust or laughter). And the gimmick should not have worked! They made it work beyond any reasonable expectation. For that reason, The New Day gets this ranking.
#3- The Young Bucks- Again, this is going to be controversial. But... impact on the business, match quality, crowd reaction, ability to stand out. The Young Bucks cover all of these bases. They've also had a long career in the wrestling business as a team (over ten years). And they also just pulled off a 10,000 seat sellout in America (in 30 minutes no less) outside WWE. Did I mention that? I can recap everything I wrote on the 2010s countdown, but sufficient to say, The Bucks have changed the business. And for that, they get this position and deserve to be mentioned among the Tag Team Elite (pun unintended). If you remove your hate or dislike for them, you have to give in to the facts: The Bucks are more over than almost every other team on this list.
#2- The Dudley Boyz- This was a hard choice. The Dudley Boyz, in terms of tag team championships earned and longevity, have done more than any other tag team on this countdown. They are the biggest homemade stars to come out of ECW and contributed a LOT to tag team wrestling throughout the decades they were a team. I'm having two issues with putting The Dudleyz as #1: The 2010s and influence on the business compared to #1. They split up at the end of 2010 with Bully Ray becoming a multiple time world champion in TNA/Impact. When they came back together in WWE, they made a little impact when they came in, but they quickly found themselves curtain jerking or worse on WWE programming up to their retirement. Then, there's the issue of influence. Beyond hardcore wrestling, what has been their influence on the business? Let's be real: The Dudleyz are a phenomenal tag team. But did they really do much to advance the Legion of Doom archetype tag team style? I would argue not much. No other teams have really come around that have furthered that legacy or directly attributed The Dudleyz are direct inspirations for their style of tag team wrestling. That's not a knock: That's just what I see.
#1- The Hardy Boyz- The most influential tag team in modern wrestling. While the Dudleyz won more titles and Edge and Christian won most of the matches between the two (or three with the Dudleyz), The Hardyz did more to attract mainstream attention during their runs and influenced other tag teams that followed. See The Young Bucks, see most other fast paced tag teams that may or may not include high risk maneuvers. Even their method of tag team wrestling using the partner as a prop to do a move. The Hardy formula has transcended them into multiple teams throughout the decades. The Hardys during the Attitude Era were OVER and were commonly featured as important attractions on WWE programming. Their ability to connect with the audience in multiple fashions, their desire to change things up when needed, and their continued influence in tag team wrestling pushes them over the top for me as the greatest tag team of the last 28 years.
The Final Greatest Tag Team List of 1990-2018
1. The Hardy Boyz
2. The Dudley Boyz
3. The Young Bucks
4. The New Day
5. Edge and Christian
6. Harlem Heat
7. Steiner Brothers
8. The Outsiders
9. New Age Outlaws
10. The Usos
I hope you enjoyed this. Next week, I am going to countdown the greatest big men in the last 28 years. For the record, I mean big men, not giants. Big men being 350 lbs or larger. If you have any suggestions for this list, write it down. Otherwise, check in next week to see what I cobble up.
Until next time, take care of yourselves and spread some awesomeness.
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