New Tag Teams

[sabataged]

With the return of the Dudley Boyz I hope and the half ass focus on the tag division recently I am kind of hoping they completely start trying to put some real focus. Tag matches were always some of my favorites growing up with Bulldogs, Hart Foundation, Strike Force, Killer Bees, Road Warriors, Demolition, and all of these teams. I have always been fond of the idea of themes for teams. I hate when they throw two guys together for no reason. So with that ..


Alex Riley and Jack Swagger: The Varsity Club- I was thinking these two could make a pretty good new age Varsity Club style tag team. I know it could be a little cheesy but it fits. Riley had a good gimmick in FCW as the Varisty Jock and Swagger could easily pull off the same gimmick. I am thinking basically give them a female "cheerleader" valet and have them be the varsity jock bullies (uh oh b a star campiagn wont allow this). I could honestly see this working out.

Joe Hennig and Ted Dibiase: Legacy: Both of these are talented individuals but a little bland by their selves. They have both been in tag teams before which is where they are best suited in my opinion until they learn to develop characters. With their second/third generation aspect they could reform their Legacy type tag team that Dibiase and Rhodes had.

Zach Ryder and Curt Hawkins: These guys have amazing chemistry together and can work together in the ring well. This would be a way for Hawkins to be in the spotlight a little more and maybe a way to move Ryder from becoming the next Santino (guy trapped as a goof forever). Hawkins can start moving Ryder to more of a edgier heel persona. I know these seems like a step back for Ryder but honestly Ryder blew up before he was ready. The guy is not very good in the ring.

With these three teams, plus Dudley Boys, and the current teams of Uso, Prime Time Players, Epico/Primo, and Truth/Kofi I think the tag divison would be looking pretty good.

 

[Ashw825]

I like your teams but I don't think that they really need them at the moment due to the amount they have and the fact they need to build them up more. I think the team of Kidd & Gabriel (International Assault) is a great team as well as The Usos who in my opinion are a fantastic team, need to be getting more air time and more focus rather than creating new teams

 

[SRSB]

With Xavier Woods and Mike Dalton alongside their valet, Audrey Marie, getting their team out there (now known as the Hollywood Express), the tag team division is almost set once WWE chooses to do so (or whenever Triple H has more power). I love it! Loved when they teamed in FCW since I seen lots of potential in the team, so this is great news.

The tag team division (all included) would be: Usos, Int. Airstrike (Kidd/Gabriel), The Colóns, Prime Time Players, Ascension, Hollywood Express.

No, I'm not counting R-Truth and Kofi Kingston. I hope after they drop the titles, they're done in the tag division. The tag team division I listed above are legit tag teams that all have potential. I'm against makeshift tag teams, unless they somehow get tag team coordinated such as how Int. Airstrike, Ascension, PTP, and Hollywood Express were able to do. Looks to be a good tag team division to me, but the ball is in WWE's court. Unless they're willing to allow Triple H do his thing since he's supposedly wanting to put focus on the tag team division. Kudos to Hunter. Can't wait to see Hollywood Express in action again!

 

[Chauncy Talon]

How can you forget about Hunico and Camacho? They deserved more air time because they are a heel tag team. I don't know about the Colons because they play both sides of the fence. I just hope WWE do the right thing with the Tag division and have one tag match on Raw, Smackdown and Superstars a week.

 

[SRSB]

How can you forget about Hunico and Camacho? They deserved more air time because they are a heel tag team. I don't know about the Colons because they play both sides of the fence. I just hope WWE do the right thing with the Tag division and have one tag match on Raw, Smackdown and Superstars a week.

I can't believe even I forgot about Hunico and Camacho. I honestly think Hunico and Camacho should break. I'm just not feeling Donny Marlow as Camacho, although he's been doing well with the role. They're a good tag team, but I'd prefer them to split. If they continue running as a tag team, my list would have 7 tag teams. Well there we go! 7 tag teams in WWE, and I'm afraid we could be listing Jake Carter and Corey Graves if they team up on NXT (like they were in FCW).

 

[IHW]

For starters, don't bank on the Dudleys returning. Devon may or may not be gone. Most likely yes, but then you have to have Ray too. He is at the top of his game in TNA. Would he leave just because Devon does? Maybe, but then WWE would have to sign them. A lot has to go right for Team 3D to be back in the E.

As for the thread- there have been 10,000 of these new tag team threads. Every time you see the same answers. Ryder and Hawkins and Swagger and Riley always pop up. This thread has been over done, but I will give you my favorite pick.

Big Zeke and JTG. Jackson has tons of potential, and JTG has a great tag team background. Neither are worth shit in the WWE right now, so let them experiment together as a team.

 

[kingk12]

IHW got me thinking, what if they were to bring D-Von's Boys in as the new Dudley Boys and have D-Von as their manager. It is a great idea for a tag team if the E can't sign D-von and Bully Ray.

Another idea for a tag team is, Mason Ryan and Drew McIntyre. Have Drew be the mouth or possibly give them a manager like a Heel Roddy Piper.

 

[The Great King]

One team I think that WWE should bring to Raw and Smackdown is Double M and Johnny Curtis they have been on nXt for awhile and are great. Also I think if they do bring back Evan Bourne bring him back as a heel and team him up with Xavier Woods the gimmick being that Bourne was injuried and Kofi replaced him with R-Truth and R-Truth left Woods when he signed with WWE.

 

[SRSB]

One team I think that WWE should bring to Raw and Smackdown is Double M and Johnny Curtis they have been on nXt for awhile and are great. Also I think if they do bring back Evan Bourne bring him back as a heel and team him up with Xavier Woods the gimmick being that Bourne was injuried and Kofi replaced him with R-Truth and R-Truth left Woods when he signed with WWE.

Xavier Woods is already in a tag team with Mike Dalton known as the Hollywood Express. I prefer that more than Woods and Bourne.

And I agree with Michael McGillicutty and Johnny Curtis! I always thought they should have teamed together. They had a similar look when both had their beards on (I know, stupid me). They just look like they would be a team. WWE doesn't want to do anything with them? Well, a tag team would have been fine with me.

 

[WJDwjdWJDwjd]

I do love these new tag team threads, but it seems as if there's a new one each week with the same content as the previous one. Can we get a permanent/pinned thread about new tag teams/booking new tag teams/tag team division revival?

As for a team I'd like to see, and as we're likely to see here soon, Kane and Daniel Bryan would be interesting to watch. I really think this is where they are going with their story line. It may be short lived, and we may even see the tag titles go to them before the split and feud again, but it would be very entertaining to watch.

Also, The Ascension is arguably either very close or ready to debut soon. They look really good on NXT, and their feud with The Usos should be great. They're a little gimmicky, but it sets them apart from the other tag teams.

 

[Ethelion]

With the return of the Dudley Boyz...

Let me stop you right there. We're not even sure that they're coming back to the WWE. Those "reports" that we've been hearing are still considered rumors to me. I'll believe it when I see it.

I think the team of Kidd & Gabriel (International Assault) is a great team

Just FYI, they're International Airstrike.

No, I'm not counting R-Truth and Kofi Kingston. I hope after they drop the titles, they're done in the tag division.

I'm also hoping that they split up after they drop the titles. Pairing two black guys with no apparent reason is just plain racist. Their tag name Air Truth isn't even official for Christ sakes!

How can you forget about Hunico and Camacho?

I'll tell you why. It's because they're not even featured on Raw and Smackdown and are barely remembered in Superstars and NXT.

Now that we've got those out of the way, time to evaluate your tag team proposals:

The Varsity Club: Jack Swagger and Alex Riley

Like Jack Swagger himself has just said, "I'm better than this." Reinvent his character by being that brash, cocky heel, and NO tag team for him please.

The Legacy: Ted DiBiase and Joe Hennig

This would've worked if Joe Hennig wanted to use his real name. But the fact of the matter is, he wants to use Michael McGillicutty to not ride on his father Curt Hennig's success.

Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins

Zack Ryder has his Broski Gimmick going on. You said it yourself, Curt Hawkins convincing Ryder to go back to the "dak side" would be a step back for the latter. Besides, could you imagine a heel Ryder with his goofy hairstyle?

So sorry, your tag teams would be a bust.

For my own personal tag team, I'd have Kane and Daniel Bryan team up. They actually have a lot in common, more than what WWE's tag teams have with their matching tights.

 

[wrestlingfan]

Honestly if used right, Zack Ryders & Curt Hawkins in their current gimmicks could easily be today's version of E&C with Hawkins as Edge, & Ryder as Christian.

 

[Chauncy Talon]

Also, The Ascension is arguably either very close or ready to debut soon. They look really good on NXT, and their feud with The Usos should be great. They're a little gimmicky, but it sets them apart from the other tag teams.

I'd just seen them for the first time. Funny how they were a group and now just a tag team. They seem legit if they had the right mouth piece. How I miss the mouth piece of a tag team such as Slick or Bobby Heenan

 

[The Brain]

With the return of the Dudley Boyz I hope and the half ass focus on the tag division recently I am kind of hoping they completely start trying to put some real focus. Tag matches were always some of my favorites growing up with Bulldogs, Hart Foundation, Strike Force, Killer Bees, Road Warriors, Demolition, and all of these teams. I have always been fond of the idea of themes for teams. I hate when they throw two guys together for no reason. So with that ..


Alex Riley and Jack Swagger: The Varsity Club- I was thinking these two could make a pretty good new age Varsity Club style tag team. I know it could be a little cheesy but it fits. Riley had a good gimmick in FCW as the Varisty Jock and Swagger could easily pull off the same gimmick. I am thinking basically give them a female "cheerleader" valet and have them be the varsity jock bullies (uh oh b a star campiagn wont allow this). I could honestly see this working out.

Joe Hennig and Ted Dibiase: Legacy: Both of these are talented individuals but a little bland by their selves. They have both been in tag teams before which is where they are best suited in my opinion until they learn to develop characters. With their second/third generation aspect they could reform their Legacy type tag team that Dibiase and Rhodes had.

Zach Ryder and Curt Hawkins: These guys have amazing chemistry together and can work together in the ring well. This would be a way for Hawkins to be in the spotlight a little more and maybe a way to move Ryder from becoming the next Santino (guy trapped as a goof forever). Hawkins can start moving Ryder to more of a edgier heel persona. I know these seems like a step back for Ryder but honestly Ryder blew up before he was ready. The guy is not very good in the ring.

With these three teams, plus Dudley Boys, and the current teams of Uso, Prime Time Players, Epico/Primo, and Truth/Kofi I think the tag divison would be looking pretty good.

Like most people here I would love to see a revival of tag team wrestling in WWE. I too grew up on those great teams of the 80s and early 90s. Those were definitley the glory days of tag team wrestling. I do have to disagree with you a little on your idea for new teams. The problem is these teams aren't really new at all. The Varsity Club is a gimmick that was done 20 years ago. New wrestlers using old gimmicks don't usually work. See the New Midnight Express and New Rockers as just a couple examples. Pretty much the same thing with your new Legacy team. We just had this gimmick three years ago. I don't believe just putting Hennig in the place of Rhodes would work out very well. As for Hawkins and Ryder, these guys were already partners years ago and they weren't that great back then. I'm all for bring in new teams, not reforming old medicore ones.

I'm not going to pretend to know the FCW roster but I'm guessing there are plenty of guys down there that could be paired together. I would much rather see two guys come up together as a team with the goal of succeeding togher as a team rather than two guys pair up because they're struggling as singles wrestlers. That's what was so great about past teams. Even if the backstage consensus was Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell were no good on their own it was not presented to that way to the fans. For all we knew these guys were life long friends and wanted to be partners in the WWF. If they were to put Swagger and Riley together it would be painfully obvious that they just don't have anything else for them. Bring up some guys from FCW as a team right from the start and I'll be more likely to buy into them.

 

[SRSB]

I'd just seen them for the first time. Funny how they were a group and now just a tag team. They seem legit if they had the right mouth piece. How I miss the mouth piece of a tag team such as Slick or Bobby Heenan

With their gimmick, they don't need a mouthpiece. Both Cameron and O'Brian have done well with their promos. They're taking the right steps with their gimmick. When they talk, they somewhat remind me of Sean O'Haire when he was doing his Devil's Advocate type gimmick except taking the more darker approach with their Underworld-like gimmick. They're good enough on their own, though.

Of all the tag teams that I listed on my post, the only tag team I'm concerned with and think should get a mouthpiece is International Airstrike. All the other tag teams are decent or good enough to work the mic, but not so much Gabriel and Kidd.

 

[TempestH]

I want Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins back together as well, but not the way that you suggested. Ryder only officially turned face last summer, while Hawkins has been a heel since the La Familia days. A face run however would be fresh for Hawkins. I don't think Ryder's current gimmick has to be sacrificed for this team to work. Let Hawkins make more appearances on Ryder's show. This at least gives them a reason to associate with each other. Let Ryder keep his gimmick and let Hawkins keep his gimmick, but have them wear matching colors at all times.

However, I think that Joe Hennig/Mike McGillicutty & Ted DiBiase and Alex Riley & Jack Swagger are way too random. Despite Riley hardly getting any wins, he's over as hell as a face and it would be a mistake to random turning him heel just because "He's a jock, Swagger's a jock. Let's make them a jock tag team." That's really no different from pairing Kofi Kingston & R-Truth together just because they're black.

 

[lazeric]

I like some of these teams but besides Kane and DB I don't see many of them working without a few tweaks here and there.

Ted DiBiase and Joe Henning would be cool seeing as both guys wanna step out from beyond their father's shadow and make a name for themselves but I saw why not throw in Cody Rhodes, Richie Steamboat, and Charlotte Flair. Cody could be the main eventer while Ted, Joe, and Richie could compete for the tag titles and use the freebird rule (preferably like the Jersey Triad did when they changed between 3 guys during matches). This would add something not seen in a while to the tag division and be a nice intro forSteamboat and Flair. Hell I would even sub out Steamboat and add in one of the Rotunda boys.

The Ascension I absolutely love but again I feel like the gimmick is too big for just 2 ppl to carry. Honestly I've thought for a while now that the perfect to break these in would be for them to have an angle with The Undertaker. He is the only person who can carry the dark gimmick for years and without him I think this team bottoms out in under a year. Just imagine Taker cutting a promo against someone like Cena on the titantron then the lights go out and when they come back on instead of Taker u get Ascension there taking Cena out. Epic debut to say the least.

Now my final team I am so surprised no one has mentioned yet. WWE already has a team that has worked together for years so they already have timing and chemistry down. The team I would love to see beyond all others is Kings of Wrestling. Claudio Castanogli(sp?) and Chris Hero or in WWE Antonio Cessaro and Kassus Ohno. With news that they recently worked a match against Punk and Rollins it already seems WWE might be thinking of pairing them up in the future. I would love to see them bring their style to WWE, maybe that tag match was a precursor to a bigger move like putting them, Rollins, and a returning Matt Morgan into a group with CM Punk and Paul Heyman (omg i hope so lol)

 

[dman1373]

Yeah the kings of wrestling vs the dudleys would be great. And dont forget if they ever wanted they could bring back the new age outlaws.

 

[sdelfin]

Like most people here I would love to see a revival of tag team wrestling in WWE. I too grew up on those great teams of the 80s and early 90s. Those were definitley the glory days of tag team wrestling. I do have to disagree with you a little on your idea for new teams. The problem is these teams aren't really new at all. The Varsity Club is a gimmick that was done 20 years ago. New wrestlers using old gimmicks don't usually work. See the New Midnight Express and New Rockers as just a couple examples. Pretty much the same thing with your new Legacy team. We just had this gimmick three years ago. I don't believe just putting Hennig in the place of Rhodes would work out very well. As for Hawkins and Ryder, these guys were already partners years ago and they weren't that great back then. I'm all for bring in new teams, not reforming old medicore ones.

You're right, but some gimmicks will never be stale, as long as they're not too far from reality. Cowboys in wrestling will always work, in my opinion, if done right. And I see nothing wrong with reviving a varsity club inspired gimmick. It's not a gimmicky gimmick. It's realistic because it's simply about excellence in college sports. In the case of the original Varsity Club, it was just an organic thing considering the backgrounds of all involved. For a guy like Swagger, it's not a stretch at all. And honestly, there has been plenty of borrowing throughout the history of the wrestling business.

And I agree that the 80s tag scene was tremendous.

 

[BigThunder]

Great to see the tag division coming back. I just finished watching Ascension vs. the Usos on this week's NXT, and it was astonishing seeing the Usos get the crowd so worked into the match (though it's easier to do in a small arena than on the big stage). If you've dismissed the Usos as not capable of drawing a pop, take a look at the last few weeks of that show. (Mind you, NXT is arguably the best wrestling show on TV at the moment: if this is Triple H's pet project, he's doing one hell of a job.)

Ascension's growth and ring presence has really impressed me over the last few months: they're going to be the biggest tag team in years when the debut. Gimmicky? The dark gimmick often goes over pretty well with teenage and "vocal males", and I think fans are looking for someone to step up and fill Taker's storyline niche. The time is right for them in a way it wasn't for, say, Mordecai.

As for other teams mentioned, I was never much of a fan of the Dudleys, but I'd love to see them back and feuding with a Bryan/Kane team. If the E is building up Anger Management as a team, they've done a superb job. This has the potential to be a great Booker/Golddust, Snow/Blackman odd couple, with a slice of Benoit/Angle animosity thrown in. Every week Bryan seems to evolve his character just a bit every week or so, with a new development coming on tomorrow's Smackdown (no spolers). I don't know if WWE will throw a curve in the storyline and not put them together, but if they do, this is going to be an extremely entertaining ride.

 

[wrestlingfan]

The Ascension just doesn't work. All their video screams hokey and fake. Taker had a dark gimmick but over the years, the theatrics of it have dwindled down to the point where it seemed realistic at some point.

 

[Dirk]

Nice thread...

Let me just a little post-Apartheid buggaboo off my chest - just because two guys are black, it doesn't mean they have a lot in common and therefore would make a kick-ass tag team. For example, I would imagine that Big Zeke has more in common with a guy like Mason Ryan (whose main selling-point is also his muscular physique) as opposed to, say, JTG (ethnicity). Zeke isn't even "ghetto" at all. Thuganomic Cena and JTG would be pure gold, a hell of a lot better than JTG and Kofi, for example.

If the team isn't built on similarities (Bushwackers, Hardy Boys, Uso's), then I'd assume that the ol' fire-and-ice routine is the way to go. Different styles and personas that complement each other (Swagger & Ziggler, HHH & HBK, PTP). This is my favourite type of tag-team, because it adds a little variety.

So here's my two cents: Brodus Clay & (face) JTG - I haven't seen them do anything as of late and I can totally see JTG as a dancing pimp.

I also have to congratulate Creative on Ascension. They really worked hard with Connor o' Brian to give him a decent gimmick. From "rat" to Kozlov's bearded protegé to this new gothic thing, they tried hard to reinvent him and finally gave him something good. Props to him as well for sticking it out and doing his best with every gimmick he's had.

A couple of nice ideas from you guys, looking forward to WWE's new and improved tag division with you.

 

[Ethelion]

With the return of the Dudley Boyz...

Let me stop you right there. We're not even sure that they're coming back to the WWE. Those "reports" that we've been hearing are still considered rumors to me. I'll believe it when I see it.

After both reading WrestleZone.com and ProWrestling.net's report that he has re-signed with them for two more years, not only does it look like that Bubba/Bully Ray's gonna stay in TNA, but it also looks like he's gonna be pushed to become the next TNA Champion. Therefore, this proves that the Dudleys AREN'T coming back to the WWE, at least as a team, officially dispelling sabataged's claims as a mere rumor, and nothing more.

It's a shame that Bubba/Bully won't return to the WWE, but I guess he's better off as TNA's Current Top Heel. With the reports that I've been hearing from him doing a great job as a heel in TNA, it looks like he deserves to be TNA Champion. As least we're sure that he's gonna be used right... for now.

As for Devon, I haven't heard anything interesting about him.

In conclusion, this DEFINITELY doesn't look good with WWE's Tag Team Division, despite its current perspective in the right direction, because people like sabataged were given false hope that the Dudleys would return to the WWE and are now NOT gonna get Jack Squat. Sorry Dudley fans. Still, the WWE didn't lose anything in the tag division today, since they never even gained anything in the first place.

 

[TheCrusher]

I don't love teams like Kane and DB would be. With most tag teams, none of the guys are big solo names or former champions, and it's easy to book them to lose cleanly to guys of similar status. When you get former champions out there who still have the potential for solo runs, it's harder to book them. Right now, if you throw the tag teams comprised of guys with fairly similar status out there, I honestly don't know who is going to win. I kind of like that unpredictability.

 

[nightmare]

Antonio Cesaro and Alberto Del Rio.

As much as I love the KOW, I dont think the WWE are gonna put them back together anytime soon. Cesaro is looking good and am glad he is getting tv time with a title. ADR needs something new to do and both their characters would fit well together. They feel like they are above everyone and are brash cocky heel's. Both have talent in the ring and could be a very dominant heel tag team. This could even play into a further storyline where ADR keeps letting the team down so Cesaro and ADR have a few fights and then Antonio goes off and gets a guy he knows he can rely on- Kassius Ohno.


Mark Henry and Ezekiel Jackson.

Henry is coming back and Im not sure what they will do with him (face\heel). The man impressed people by running with the ball when things were somewhat slim and he did a convincing job as a monster heel champ. Big Zeke needs something to do big time. Alot of fans like the guy, but creative just has nothing for him. It could be put up or future endeavored time soon. Putting these two as a team would be great as a heel team and very dominant, but they could also work as a face team as well bc both guys have shown to have a following in the past (in their own respective ways).


Ascension.

For obvious reasons.


Tyson Kidd and Evan Bourne.

Two great, energetic high flyers. Fans love the hell out of these two and would be a great face underdog team. They could have a very exciting match with any of the current teams. Plus throw in a ladder and this team has huge potential for some great spots. I would like to see them face off against Sin Cara\Rey. That would be fantastic.