Is the tag team division dead and have the championships lost their prestige?

[The Raven's Epitaph]

*I POSTED THIS IN THE RAW SECTION BECAUSE THE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE CURRENTLY ON RAW.*

On a scale of 1 to 10 how "dead" would you say the tag team division is? We have so many eligible superstars that aren't doing anything and would make great tag team competition for the Hart Dynasty at the moment, but WWE don't seem bothered in the slightest about their teams anymore.

It's a real shame really because the tag team division was so entertaining when it was alive and active, now the Hart Dynasty just carry those belts around like Bret Hart wears his Batman shirt to compete in.

So, on a scale of 1 to 10, how dead do you think the tag team division is and have the tag team championships lost their prestige?

 

[Chill]

The tag team division has been dead for quite some time now in WWE. Simply put, WWE are most interested in the main event and that is why I think other divisions like the tag team and women's are made to suffer, it's only just recently that they have begun to place an emphasis on the mid card again through the promotion of the IC title.

Tag team wrestling is exciting, and I don't know why WWE choose to ignore it, in TNA, The Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money are just coming off one of the more exciting series of tag bouts I can recall seeing in quite some time and I would say those tag matches have been the most exciting aspect of TNA lately. So, the point here is that tag team wrestling can be very compelling if done right. WWE have a talented young team in the Hart Dynasty but due to lazy booking and Creative neglect, they are simply left to carry those belts around as props.

Of course, the other problem is that they are failing to bring up enough credible teams to have a semi-decent division...the Hart Dynasty need competition fast, where are The Usos? They had potential but now they don't even appear on Raw, The Dudebusters are confined to Superstars, Hawkins and Archer look quite promising.

WWE do have some talented teams, all they need is to give them direction, make the tag titles seem important, maybe they could through a tournament together or have a four way challenge, I don't know but surely it wouldn't need too much effort or creative thought to revive what is fast becoming a lost art in WWE.

 

[RedDevilDazzy]

I'll probably go for 5. Back in the good old days in WWE, They had the Dudley Boyz, Hardy Boyz, Billy & Chuck with Rico lol. Who else, World Greatest Tag Team. I think The Tag Team division is slowly dying out. Sure The Hart Dynasty are a good tag team, but there need's to be a lot more competition. I saw The Dude Busters in action once, and they seem pretty decent, they sadly lost a match I saw. I haven't mentioned Edge & Christian yet or Undertaker and Kane. Both these tag teams have split, but I wouldn't mind seeing Edge team with Christian again, give the tag team division some spice again. TLC match with the Hart Dynasty.

 

[smalltownfan]

A 9. It's sad to see what has happened in terms of seeing the near-demise of tag-team wrestling in WWE in the last few years. We have to take into consideration the evolving of characters as well as injuries that has contributed to teams splitting up or just losing its luster. The Harts and the Usos were intriguing but only lasted a few weeks. That's one thing TNA wins hands-down against WWE and that's the fact that they have a strong tag team division with MCMG, Beer Money, Generation Me, the Dudleys, Ink Inc, and others. I really miss tag team wrestling and it's time WWE tries it again...they might like it.

 

[BigBossOfThaNorf]

I think the tag division is dead, there are no true teams with star power anymore. I feel every tag team in the WWE right now have no charisma whatsoever. It seems that creative focuses on one new team every 4 months. They build them up, have them carry the belts for about 3 months, and after they lose them split them up.

 

[The Best At What I Do]

You never explained if 1 or 10 is the "deadest". Whichever it is then that is the number I choose. The tag team champions The Hart Dynasty haven't even competed since last month to my knowledge. They were even left off the SummerSlam ppv altogether so we can get some sweet sweet Alicia Fox vs Melina action... WTF!?

Now on RAW we have the former number one contenders The Usos losing cleanly to freaking Santino and Kozlov! Who are undefeated!! Sigh, we can only blame ourselves for believing tag team wrestling might be resuscitated in WWE in the first place.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

Dead? No. On life support? Most definately. When I was younger, I used to have as much interest in the Tag belts as I did in the Championship belt. Tag teams back then added so much to the different shows. The Headshrinkers, The Smoking Gunns, Men on a Mission, The bushwhackers, The Mounties, The Steiner Bros., Money Inc. and sooo many others, made the programing more than just filler. I was recently encouraged by the new found energy in the Tag division, but then they didn't even have a SS match. I'm not sure why we can't seem to get more tag teams together, but I do know that if they did, it would certainly spice up the weekly shows, not to mention produce more PPV buy rates. I can remember begging my mom to let me get a PPV just to watch the Smoking Gunns.

 

[vampireblade]

Great thread but to my point i rate the current tag team division in WWE at a 10 it is dead those tag team belts that once held such prestige no longer mean anything as as a huge fan of tag team wrestling it breaks my heart to see it. There are so many talented wrestlers not being used right now that could be part of a great tag team so that they are used. Curt Hawkins and Vance Archer show promise but there needs to be more the dudebusters are on superstars doing nothing bring the Usos back into tag team wrestling Zack Ryder isnt doing nothing expect losing to Sheamus really bad to get Sheamus some heat make Ryder a face and put him in a tag team with Yoshi Tatsu that would be a great tag team and get them both noticed. The WWE tag team division may be dead but WWE can bring it back to life tag team wrestling is one of the most exciting types of wrestling ever invented hell WWE can give the tag division a run on superstars make that one useless hour into an hour that means something and go from there.

 

[Nomis]

I'd say it's currently in intensive care. The problem is, WWE makes teams, and only focus's on splitting them up. Examples being Jerishow, ShowMiz, Cryme Tyme, etc. They need to keep teams for about maybe a year or so, and maybe they'll actually have some kind of tag division

BTW. Whatever happened to Hawkins and Archer? I haven't seen them in forever.

 

[thunderfromdownunder]

the tag division is dead for a number of reasons . the wwe obvisiously see's single wrestlers as more valuable marketing tools. a lot of wrestlers in the E see the tag team division as a dead end in the company. there is only so far you can go in the tag division. if you want to be a mega star you have to go solo , and history has proven that. to make a great tag team you need great feuds. tag teams cant do that when there is such limited teams to fued with and vs. which comes back to vince seeing single wrestlers as more marketable. he doesnt want to have 10 tag teams when he can try and market them as 15 (example) top - to mid tier wrestlers. even if the wwe tried the tag team division will never be the same as it was in the 80's and 90's. not for awhile anyway

 

[The Raven's Epitaph]

I'd say it's currently in intensive care. The problem is, WWE makes teams, and only focus's on splitting them up. Examples being Jerishow, ShowMiz, Cryme Tyme, etc. They need to keep teams for about maybe a year or so, and maybe they'll actually have some kind of tag division

BTW. Whatever happened to Hawkins and Archer? I haven't seen them in forever.

You're exactly right. WWE havent kept a decent tag team alive in years, nevermind giving them a decent title run and a feud with another team.

As for Hawkins and Archer, they'll probably end up being released. I haven't seen them together in tag action for a few weeks, maybe even the month mark. They were on this past Smackdown though. Vance Archer was in singles competion, which is totally destroying their tag team chances even further.

 

[Ferbian]

No, and no. The division is obviously not dead, we still have tag teams that are featured on a weekly basic, and getting matches. The championships aren't exactly lost of their prestige, because there's still a thing in getting the championships, just like any other. They're not contended for that often, but it doesn't mean that the prestige is completely lost, it just needs a little bit of a rebuild.

The Hart Dynasty might not be the best of defending champions, but at least their featured, the belts are represented on occasions, and defended every now and then. Just like any other of the mid-card championships. It's obvious that the world titles will mean more to build, so sometimes the other championships have to step aside. That is what the tag team championships are doing right now.

Besides, we got Nights of Champions coming up, which will have the tag team championships defended, considering every title gets defended that night.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

No, and no. The division is obviously not dead, we still have tag teams that are featured on a weekly basic, and getting matches. The championships aren't exactly lost of their prestige, because there's still a thing in getting the championships, just like any other. They're not contended for that often, but it doesn't mean that the prestige is completely lost, it just needs a little bit of a rebuild.

The Hart Dynasty might not be the best of defending champions, but at least their featured, the belts are represented on occasions, and defended every now and then. Just like any other of the mid-card championships. It's obvious that the world titles will mean more to build, so sometimes the other championships have to step aside. That is what the tag team championships are doing right now.

Besides, we got Nights of Champions coming up, which will have the tag team championships defended, considering every title gets defended that night.

Are the tag teams really "featured" or are they just "present". I'd say the latter. Just because the E wants to build steam for their other belts, does NOT mean the Tag Titles have to take a back seat. And while we're giving that as an example, let's examine the validity of the statement. I could see an argument being made if the Miz was consistently fueding w/others to push the US title in the right direction, but as of now, his main interest is talking about the breifcase. Obviously, they are going somewhere with his angle with DBD and the US title, but that has only been in the last few weeks. Now, if you're statement holds true and Tag Teams are featured every week, why not start cutting some solid promos about how those teams are "coming after the Hart Dynasty's gold"? At least that would make it seem like it is a title worth chasing. Having the Tag Titles relevant, while still pushing other belts has been done in the past, and could easily be done again!!

 

[Ferbian]

Are the tag teams really "featured" or are they just "present". I'd say the latter.

Practically the same, the fact that the Hart Dynasty is shown on-screen on occasions with the championship belts means that they're featured in the programming.

Just because the E wants to build steam for their other belts, does NOT mean the Tag Titles have to take a back seat. And while we're giving that as an example, let's examine the validity of the statement. I could see an argument being made if the Miz was consistently fueding w/others to push the US title in the right direction, but as of now, his main interest is talking about the breifcase. Obviously, they are going somewhere with his angle with DBD and the US title, but that has only been in the last few weeks. Now, if you're statement holds true and Tag Teams are featured every week, why not start cutting some solid promos about how those teams are "coming after the Hart Dynasty's gold"? At least that would make it seem like it is a title worth chasing. Having the Tag Titles relevant, while still pushing other belts has been done in the past, and could easily be done again!!

My statement holds more than true. The fact that we get to see tag teams featured every week, might not be specifically tag teams that fight on a weekly basic, but the fact that we're seeing tag team wrestling, as well as an occasional tag team match of actual tag teams makes for them to be featured just fine.

Sure I agree that the promos and microphone time should be granted at times, however it's not necessarily all that is to make the division alive, as well as the championships. Because they're still there.

Also like I said Nights of Champions is gonna feature every championship, and therefore it allows for a feud to be created around the tag team championship, and with a little bit of hope it will carry on to the next Pay Per View, or to Bragging Rights, or whatever Pay Per View comes after Hell in a Cell.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

Practically the same, the fact that the Hart Dynasty is shown on-screen on occasions with the championship belts means that they're featured in the programming.




My statement holds more than true. The fact that we get to see tag teams featured every week, might not be specifically tag teams that fight on a weekly basic, but the fact that we're seeing tag team wrestling, as well as an occasional tag team match of actual tag teams makes for them to be featured just fine.

Sure I agree that the promos and microphone time should be granted at times, however it's not necessarily all that is to make the division alive, as well as the championships. Because they're still there.

Also like I said Nights of Champions is gonna feature every championship, and therefore it allows for a feud to be created around the tag team championship, and with a little bit of hope it will carry on to the next Pay Per View, or to Bragging Rights, or whatever Pay Per View comes after Hell in a Cell.

Yes, the belts are still there, but what exactly are they doing there? The answer is: Not much at the moment. In an earlier post I mentioned a time in WWE when Tag Teams were prominent and there were plenty of teams chasing the belt. I just feel like the prescense of the Hart Dynasty and their belts is seen, but little more. I may be spoiled by (my definition of) the glory days of the tag division and expecting too much, but I can't see why it can't be duplicated. Certainly for starters we need more teams, and second, those teams need to "manufactor" heat in the division, but if the teams are out there, and if they are built up properly, I don't see this as a hard task to accomplish. As previously stated, when I was younger, I begged my parents to let me order PPV's simply for the excitment I had in the Tag Team championship match. I'd certainly LOVE to see that once again be the case.

 

[Ferbian]

Yes, the belts are still there, but what exactly are they doing there? The answer is: Not much at the moment. In an earlier post I mentioned a time in WWE when Tag Teams were prominent and there were plenty of teams chasing the belt. I just feel like the prescense of the Hart Dynasty and their belts is seen, but little more. I may be spoiled by (my definition of) the glory days of the tag division and expecting too much, but I can't see why it can't be duplicated. Certainly for starters we need more teams, and second, those teams need to "manufactor" heat in the division, but if the teams are out there, and if they are built up properly, I don't see this as a hard task to accomplish. As previously stated, when I was younger, I begged my parents to let me order PPV's simply for the excitment I had in the Tag Team championship match. I'd certainly LOVE to see that once again be the case.

Yes of course there were brighter days in the past. But that doesn't mean that the division is dead, nor that the championships are lost of all prestige. They're not where they could, or should be. But they're certainly not completely dropped off the WWE championship wagon.

The amount of teams are more than fine, however they need to be used more accurately. Sure you could argue that The Dudebusters, or the Gatecrashers (I believe that's the name of Archer and Hawkins, am I right?) is nowhere near the level of challenging for the championships. Not a lot of the teams really are. The only ones that have made sense is the Usos. And WWE couldn't possibly carry on that feud forever. I'm sure however that they'll find some way of creating a challenger or two for the championships at Night of Champion. Really would be the only thing to do, seeing as it'd be odd not to defend the championship there.

And after that, the division will slowly see a bit of light again. Would be odd that they introduced new championships if it wasn't going to spark just a liiiittle bit of the division which isn't anywhere near complete just yet.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

Yes of course there were brighter days in the past. But that doesn't mean that the division is dead, nor that the championships are lost of all prestige. They're not where they could, or should be. But they're certainly not completely dropped off the WWE championship wagon.

The amount of teams are more than fine, however they need to be used more accurately. Sure you could argue that The Dudebusters, or the Gatecrashers (I believe that's the name of Archer and Hawkins, am I right?) is nowhere near the level of challenging for the championships. Not a lot of the teams really are. The only ones that have made sense is the Usos. And WWE couldn't possibly carry on that feud forever. I'm sure however that they'll find some way of creating a challenger or two for the championships at Night of Champion. Really would be the only thing to do, seeing as it'd be odd not to defend the championship there.

And after that, the division will slowly see a bit of light again. Would be odd that they introduced new championships if it wasn't going to spark just a liiiittle bit of the division which isn't anywhere near complete just yet.

Here's to hoping that your prediction comes true. There is nothing better than a great Tag division with interesting teams, that come up w/new and exciting combination moves. I would like nothing more than to have interest in that division again. For the record, I don't think it is "dead" right now either, just in serious need of some defibrillator action.

 

[Sting's Bat]

I would say its a 1 dead as dirt, after the JeriShow/ShowMiz reign the titles sunk to thier lowest point. The Uso-Hart fued was lackluster and with the Santino/Tamina thing going on we arent seeing the Uso doing anything important in the near future.

I mean they value the champs so little that the Hart Dynasty was quickly becoming the offical nexus punching bag which is a poor way to portray your tag champs.

 

[goodlay]

It's pretty dead right now. The problem is, is that even when a formidable tag team comes along ala the Usos, there's no one else. Like with Harts/Usos, they did it as many times as they could, until we were just straight bored of it. Now the Usos are jobbing to Koztino, and Tamina is involved in this ridiculous romance angle with Santino.

So who else can challenge the Harts at NOC? Damn good question I would say, unless you want to see Harts/Usos again. People are acknowledging Gatecrashers and Dudebusters as legit tag teams, but have you actually seen these guys wrestle? They are pure garbage.

 

[Fisheatppl]

It is DEAD DEAD DEAD. And it is SO sad. Some of the best matches of ALL TIME are tag matches. Hardys, Dudleys, E&C (5 SECOND POSE!!!), they are dead and gone. And the new sets of tag teams... uhhh... Hart Dynasty and the uh.. thats basically it. The Hart Dynasty just parades around basically to remind everyone that British Bulldog, Bret, Owen etc. all "live on". David Hart Smith is SOO generic. He looks and acts EXACTLY like the create a superstar default on the Smackdown games. I see no passion. And I am sure it is not their fault, they aren't the ones who decided they weren't going to have matches. The tag titles mean nothing. And it is a shame. And it can be rectified (i hope the new belts were the first step in fixing this). All it takes is exciting matches with talented stars. They have PLENTY midcard guys who would be GREAT tag team competitors, and some who could use it as a platform to launch into a wonderful solo career in the future (a la Edge). I miss it being fun.

 

[vampireblade]

It is DEAD DEAD DEAD. And it is SO sad. Some of the best matches of ALL TIME are tag matches. Hardys, Dudleys, E&C (5 SECOND POSE!!!), they are dead and gone. And the new sets of tag teams... uhhh... Hart Dynasty and the uh.. thats basically it. The Hart Dynasty just parades around basically to remind everyone that British Bulldog, Bret, Owen etc. all "live on". David Hart Smith is SOO generic. He looks and acts EXACTLY like the create a superstar default on the Smackdown games. I see no passion. And I am sure it is not their fault, they aren't the ones who decided they weren't going to have matches. The tag titles mean nothing. And it is a shame. And it can be rectified (i hope the new belts were the first step in fixing this). All it takes is exciting matches with talented stars. They have PLENTY midcard guys who would be GREAT tag team competitors, and some who could use it as a platform to launch into a wonderful solo career in the future (a la Edge). I miss it being fun.

I agree on everything you said it is a shame that the WWE tag division is where its at right now and i for one would welcome more tag team matches because as you said some of the greatest matches ever put on were tag matches

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I don't know if the tag team division is dead, but it's definitely on life support at the moment. Virtually all the momentum the tag team scene had has fizzled out and the WWE screwed up last Monday on Raw by having a comedy duo go cleanly over one of the best young teams on the roster.

I find myself hoping against hope that the tag team division can get back on track and gain some semblage of what it once was many a year ago after everyone gets back from touring China and Japan. Hopefully, what happened on Raw between Santino & Koslov and The Usos was just an aberration rather than a sign of things to come.

 

[A**hole]

I gotta disagree with Jack-Hammer I think Koslov/Santino showed they could be great if you want to revive the tag division.
They have always had the monster Koslov and monday was the 1st time in a while they let him dominate. Santino was also allowed to remind us he can sell a reasonable match.
Santinos work for however long has been comedy gold at times and he should be rewarded for it with a credible run as tag team champs. The Tamina angle was good slapstick and since they don't want "plus sized" divas and Tamina along with Natty aren't allowed to work in the ring so they use them like this.