The 10 Greatest Tag Teams of All Time
<— Click here to see #25 – 11
On with the list:
10. The Outsiders
In 1996 The Outsiders shocked the world by jumping from the WWF, signing with WCW. This was the early days of the internet and we as fans largely didn’t know about this signing, so to us it looked like WWF guys were invading the competition.
The Outsiders changed the wrestling game for better and for worse. For better, they captured the tag team titles numerous times and dominated the federation. They were able to convince the greatest baby face in wrestling history to join their cause. They kicked ass, took names, and threw Rey Mysterio like a lawn dart. They were “TOO SWEET!” – CT
9. The Fabulous Freebirds
The Fabulous Freebirds were catapulted onto the wrestling stage by their epic WCCW feud with the Von Erichs. The Freebirds were more equipped to handle the 5 Von Erich brothers than standard heel tag teams, due to their “gang of three” concept.
Michael P.S. Hayes, Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy, and Buddy “Jack” Roberts feuded with the Road Warriors in the AWA and made a brief stop in the WWF during the “Rock n’ Wrestling” era. The “Freebird Rule” still applies to three man teams today, stating that any two of the three members can compete for or defend the tag team titles at any event.
8. The Brain Busters
If we included factions on our list, these guys would be in here twice. Once for their tag team exploits and another for being part of the greatest faction of all time, The Four Horseman. Arn and Tully were two of the most technically sound grapplers that we loved to hate.
Their feuds through the years are legendary. From The Road Warriors, Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, Magnum TA and The Rock n Roll Express, all teams that were synonymous with blowing the roof off arenas all across the south. They brought their success to the WWF and immediately captured the titles. It was short lived, but even in that short time they cemented why they were the best. -CT
7. The New Age Outlaws
“Oh you didn’t know? Yo’ ass betta call somebody!”
The Road Dogg Jesse James’ mic skills made for one of the most interactive ring entrances of all time. James worked the crowd from the second he came through the curtain, reaching a crescendo by the time they hit the ring.
Integral members of Degeneration X, Jesse James and the “Bad Ass” Billy Gun (or Mr. Ass, for short) embodied the Attitude Era of the WWE. A dynamic team with unparalleled charisma and likeability. -HD
6. Demolition
Demolition (in my mind) is the greatest tag team ever. Ax and Smash tore down every team in their way during the longest Tag Team Title reign in history, a record-breaking 478 days. Mowing down the competition such as The Hart Foundation, The British Bulldogs, Strike Force, The Killer Bees, and even Andre the Giant and Haku at Wrestlemania 6 for their final title run.
Their power and destruction knew no bounds. Road Warriors ripoff? Tell that to all the bodies that lie in Ax and Smash’s path of destruction. – CY
5. The Steiner Brothers
One of the most successful tag teams in wrestling history, Rick and Scott Steiner were polar opposites. Rick was the brute and Scott was the agile innovator of one of the greatest finishers in wrestling history. When the Frankensteiner debuted it blew everyone’s minds.
I am and forever will be a Road Warrior fan but the night they got defeated by the Steiners at Starrcade I geeked out and became Steinerized. They won practically every tag team championship and stayed together for almost 8 years before the inevitable Scott Steiner heel turn. They reunited in 2008 but never truly captured the magic of the 90’s but still hold a special place in wrestling fans’ hearts. Long live the Dog Faced Gremlin and The Genetic Freak.
Side note: when playing with my wrestling figures as a kid (last week) Scott Steiner’s Galoob figure represented me. -CT
4. Edge & Christian
E & C. The Suicide Blondes. Edge and Christian arrived via Toronto onto the WWE scene as members of The Brood, soon to split off into a legitimate tag team contender. The twosome had famed off-the-charts moments with the Hardyz and Dudleyz and helped pave the way to Money In The Bank style matches with their Tables, Ladders and Chairs saga.
For those with the benefit of flash photography
Simply put, Edge and Christian were funny, and could get it done in the ring. They each went onto long successful singles’ runs, a testament to their charisma and ability. – TH
3. The Hart Foundation
Named by the WWE in 2008 as the third greatest tag team in wrestling history, the Harts end up ranked in exactly the same spot by the 12 of us. Managed by Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart, Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Jim ‘The Anvil” Neidhart helped form my childhood idea of a perfect tag team. One tactical ring technician with more speed and wit, the other a brutal machine designed to mercilessly pound their opponent.
While Bret Hart went on to huge success as a world championship main event draw for many years, it was his run with Neidhart that put him on the map. The gimmick for this team was so solid that it has been repackaged many times over the years, from the anti-American extended Hart family angle to the recent New Generation Hart Foundation.
2. The Dudley Boyz
The Dudley’s have every right to be my number one tag team, were it not for Edge and Christian. 24-time tag team champions between ECW, NWA, WWE, TNA, and NJPW. The ability to tailor their style to the company they work in, as well as both team members being able to work the microphone really lent to their credibility and popularity.
Their graduation to top singles’ stars in TNA should show you how great the two of them are separately – their ability together is nearly unmatched. – JM
1. The Legion of Doom/Road Warriors
The greatest tag team in the history of the professional wrestling business undoubtedly is Hawk and Animal, the Road Warriors or you may know them as the Legion of Doom from the WWF. Straight out of a Mad Max movie, these two guys with bodybuilder physiques, a strategic genius ‘Precious’ Paul Ellering as manager, and a power style of wrestling went to the top everywhere they stopped. WWE, NWA, AWA and All Japan were just a few of the places they went, collecting championships at every stop on their way to the top.
The Road Warriors were the first team to force themselves into Pay Per View main events. In the hey-day of tag team wrestling in the 80’s and 90’s, these Warriors who snacked on danger and dined on death were the best ever, and WWE inducted them in 2011 into the Wrestling Hall of Fame. -Cashman
If you’re thinking something like “Hey wait, where are the Brothers of Destruction?” or “No love for the Nasty Boys?!” check out our list of the teams that received votes but barely missed the cut.
