The Rockers - WWF's Most Successful Failure?

[IrishCanadian25]

It's amazing. The more I read threads people have created about these new, young tag teams, the more I realize how significant my favorite tag team of all time- the Rockers - really were. I mean, here is a team that never legitimately won the WWF Tag Team Championship. They were ALWAYS in the shadow of the Demolitions, Legion of Dooms, and Hart Foundations of the world. Even the Nasty Boys got better billing. The Rockers were capable of beating The Orient Express a bunch of times, and outside of that they were pretty flat.

Yet so many teams are compared to The Rockers - not LOD, not the Harts, not the Nastys, not Demolition. THE ROCKERS. Let's look at some examples.

1. The Hardy Boyz. I remember discussing this team for a long time when they were first coming up, winning ladder matches, and challenging for tag team titles LONG before "Version 1," "The Charismatic Enigma," and everything else. People picked up on it early, as countless fans told me "Jeff Hardy is the Shawn Michaels of The Rockers, and Matt will be the Marty Jannetty." This was obviously in reference to the perceived level of success Jeff was going to have vs the perceived level of failure Matt would have. That goes to show just how amazing of a dichotimy The Rockers - despite all the talk of how equal they were in the ring - truly had within themselves. It did not really play out until 1994 and beyond, when Jannetty became the 4th singles star to get to walk the WCW entrance ramp with the old generic music of The Hollywood Blondes, and Michaels became a WWF Champion and icon of heart and determination.

2. Miz and Morrison. This team is the inspirtation of the thread - namely jerichoholic101's thread in the WWF section about these two dynamic relative newcomers being the new measuring stick for WWE Tag Teams. People are already looking at these two as "The Heel Rockers." That is obviously a reference to the palpable charisma they exude both in and out of the ring, the athletic, high flying style they utilize, and the synergistic team maneuvers they are able to pull off. And once again, people are saying "Morrison is the Shawn Michaels of that team, and Miz is the Marty Jannetty." WOW, really? So just because there is a stark similarity in charisma and athleticism to The Rockers, that instantly means that ONE of them will be a massive success and ONE of them will be a huge disappointment?

Let's also examine the breakup as the Rockers, and throw it against the wall as one of the 10 most significant events in WWF history. I am talking along side Hogan Slamming Andre, Austin's KOTR Speech, The Screwjob, etc. The day on Superstars when Shawn Michaels superkicked Marty Jannetty, threw him through a "plate glass" sugar window, and symbolically tore the centerfold of the WWF magazine to signify the official break of the team. Take a moment to think about that - WHAT A MOMENT! So much so, that NOW, a successful tag team (see: Miz and Morrison, America's Most Wanted, Edge and Christian, the Hardy's, etc.) is examined by fans in terms of the potential build to what one poster termed "The Barbershop Moment" when the team breaks up so ONE of them can go solo! The Rocker's Breakup was SO significant, it layed the groundwork for the breakup criteria by which EVERY tag team from that point on would be measured! AND THAT WAS 16 YEARS AGO!!!!!!!!

So in closing, look at The Rockers in retrospect. A team with no official tag team title reigns, and arguably no major victories to their credit. Yet they have to be considered among the most influential tag teams in wrestling history - either because of the things they did while they were together, or because of the way they split apart. If any team is professional wrestling's all time measuring stick - it's The Rockers. And they are WWF's most successful failure.

 

[Sparky]

Now i know that HBK is my favourite Wrestler but i agree. Its funny that the Rockers was the Most underrated Tag team in the WWE's Eyes but the most succsessful in the fans eyes. The Rockers was Awesome. and Deserved to be the best tag team in both areas not just the fans. They was supposed to have won the title off of the Hart Foundation but becouse the ropes broke it wasnt counted becouse it was untidy. I dont know why but the best thing they could of done back then was to give them the titles. Even for the hopless wrestler Marty Jannetty was as a singles wrestler he is still one of the most talked about people on the forum when it comes to tag teams.

another two i think you forgot to mention was London and Kendrick and the Ryder brothers they was/are frequently billed as the next Rockers and well look and Londen and Kendrick. one is still in the same Gimmick as he was in the tag team (the Marty ) and the other is on smackdown getting a huge push (HBK)

The rockers are the most succsesful Failure but they shouldnt of been. they should of been billed as the biggest tag team at the time, but now looking back at it it wouldnt of mattered. They are the most talked about tag team ever, as you said every popular tag team since have been billed as the next rockers. It didnt hurt them in the slightest either. Marty had his own personal problems thats why he flopped as a singles wrestler. and well look at HBK and all the things he has accomplished. If they was to bring back a Rockers reunion again against the Hardy Boyz the rockers would get the biggest pop of the night guarenteed. It wouldnt matter who they was against they would get the biggest pop. The rockers must be like a fine wine, they get better with age, they wasnt big then but they sure as hell are now.

 

[Uncle Sam]

There's nothing that emphasizes a point quite like eight exclamation marks, eh IC?

However, I can't help but agree. Bring up any, and I mean any, tag team, and before long, you'll have people plotting out the events that need to take place in order for their break up to be as significant as The Rockers were. It's (or should that be "it was"?) a new dynamic that no tag team can do without. The problem here is, that the break-ups are often a disappointment in comparison. For example, Christian turning on Edge because he was jealous of his success will never be that memorable, despite how popular the team are on the internet. Admittedly, it did spawn the incredible "Christian! Christian! At last! You're on your ooown!" theme music.

One team that I feel are especially comparable to The Rockers and who you left out are none other than the Motor City Machine Guns. Now, you could say that I'm just bestowing that massive compliment on them because I'm a big Guns mark - despite not being a member of their fan club. I do think that there's a certain symmetry about them. You only have to watch a Guns match and then watch a Rockers match to see that. Unless, of course, that's just wishful thinking on my part. I wonder how memorable their "Barber Shop moment" will be...

Still, the one part of their careers where a team stops being comparable to The Rockers is just that - the break up. Edge and Christian both went on to have considerable success, so there's no parallel there. The Hardyz are still struggling with getting a rematch with Randy Orton and beating Mark Henry for the ECW title respectively, so nope, you can't compare them. Miz and Morrison, well, we'll just wait and see. The signs seem to be good for Morrison to go onto success and Miz to languish in the undercard.

But WWE's most successful failure? Absolutely.

 

[Slyfox696]

First off, saying the Rocker's breakup is a Top 10 moment is something I'm not so sure about. Sounds like a great thread IC.


Second, I don't understand where the "failure" part comes from. Who is the failure on? The Rockers? The WWF? Just who exactly failed? I plan to respond, but I would like to understand where this failure term comes from, regarding the Rockers. Like has been said, they were significant, and memorable. I don't see failure in that, from either side.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Great question, Sly. In terms of where I think you will bring this, The Rockers were a strong mid-card WWF tag team draw, and did their jobs to excite the fans, open PPV's, and act as a vehicle to launch two young careers into superstardom. They also served to successfully create a huge early 90's feud and solidify Michaels as a singles star. In that vein, they were a booming success.

But take the Tag Team of the Rockers and place them into a vaccum for a moment. No championship. No major victories. No push as a top tag team. Sure, Monsoon termed them "tag team specialists" but aside from that, VERY few accolades. Let's examine:

At WrestleMania 5, The Twin Towers defeated the Rockers in 8 minutes.

At WrestleMania 6, The Orient Express defeated the Rockers in under 8 minutes.

At Summerslam 1990, Power and Glory (yes, Roma and Hercules) beat the Rockers in 6 minutes.

The Rockers beat the Orient Express at Royal Rumble 1991 and Barbarian and Haku at Wrestlemania 7. They didn't compete at SummerSlam 1991, and split at Survivor Series.

So, at major PPV's The Rockers were 2-3, NEVER faced a high profile team, NEVER had a title reign, etc. They are also rarely included in the discussion of "Greatest Tag Team" despite the influence they obviously had. So, I consider them a Successful Failure. Not sure where the fault is - I supposed it's on Jannetty and Michaels since they were not always trusted or seen as a legit threat.

 

[Slyfox696]

Great question, Sly. In terms of where I think you will bring this, The Rockers were a strong mid-card WWF tag team draw, and did their jobs to excite the fans, open PPV's, and act as a vehicle to launch two young careers into superstardom. They also served to successfully create a huge early 90's feud and solidify Michaels as a singles star. In that vein, they were a booming success.

But take the Tag Team of the Rockers and place them into a vaccum for a moment. No championship. No major victories. No push as a top tag team. Sure, Monsoon termed them "tag team specialists" but aside from that, VERY few accolades. Let's examine:

At WrestleMania 5, The Twin Towers defeated the Rockers in 8 minutes.

At WrestleMania 6, The Orient Express defeated the Rockers in under 8 minutes.

At Summerslam 1990, Power and Glory (yes, Roma and Hercules) beat the Rockers in 6 minutes.

The Rockers beat the Orient Express at Royal Rumble 1991 and Barbarian and Haku at Wrestlemania 7. They didn't compete at SummerSlam 1991, and split at Survivor Series.

So, at major PPV's The Rockers were 2-3, NEVER faced a high profile team, NEVER had a title reign, etc. They are also rarely included in the discussion of "Greatest Tag Team" despite the influence they obviously had. So, I consider them a Successful Failure. Not sure where the fault is - I supposed it's on Jannetty and Michaels since they were not always trusted or seen as a legit threat.

I'm going to take your post to mean that they were a failure because they were never made the top tag team in the WWF.

I think there are several reasons for that.

1) The Rockers were a knock off on the Rock N' Roll Express, and were brought in as tag team filler, a team to get a crowd hot, but the last thing McMahon wanted to do was give a knock off on the NWA's most popular tag team credibility. I know people are going to say "What about Demolition", but keep reading.

2) The Rockers were no more over with the crowd at the time than were any of the tag teams IC named earlier. Hart Foundation, LOD, Demolition, Nasty Boys...all of those teams were every bit as over with the crowd as the Rockers were. So, not giving the Rockers a title reign isn't really that big of a deal, since the other teams were over as well.

3) The Rockers were working a style which was unique to the WWF. The WWF had made its bread on it's more cartoonish gimmicks, yet still featuring larger than life men and character. The Rockers didn't fit that mold. They were small, used moves which were fairly unrealistic at times, and looked like any other plain Joe in the audience. This is important, because it is hard to find tag teams which would work well with that style. I mean, it's no coincidence that the Rockers really only worked well with Hart Foundation, Brainbusters, and Orient Express, because those were the few teams who had workers versatile enough to play off of the Rockers style. Or, in the case of Jim Neidhart, he was so different that his contrast offered a different dynamic. But, there were plenty of teams that the Rockers couldn't have a good match with. Teams like the Powers of Pain, Nasty Boys, LoD, Demolition, the Twin Towers, etc., had styles that just wouldn't mesh well with the Rockers, but would mesh well with just about every other tag team on the roster.

4) I'm not for sure, but I think the WWF was still running house shows on the "A" "B" and "C" cycle. Tag team champions, I believe, were instrumental in making the "C" show draw. With guys who looked like an everyday person, who used a fairly unrealistic style at times, and who had to have opponents that just weren't found on the WWF roster, it stands to reason that it would be hard for the Rockers to remain any kind of draw for the "C" show circuit. Sure, they might would do well in the short term, but long-term would struggle. And, I mean, it's not like that's a unique situation, as we've seen time and again that wrestling fans prefer larger than life characters and large people to play them.

So, I'm not sure if I'd categorize the Rockers as a failure, just a team that was limited from the beginning.


Finally, let's examine this idea that the Rockers are the measuring stick for future tag teams. I don't think this is because the Rockers were so "great", I think it's because they were just the last of the tag teams, had a memorable breakup, and HBK has gone on to additional success. The differences between the Rockers and the Hart Foundation, LoD or the Outsiders lies in the memory of the breakup. It was the last time we saw a true tag team break up so cleanly into face and heels, and do so on non PPV TV.

I don't think that the Rockers were near as influential as people make them out to be, they just had a clean break and HBK is known by today's wrestling fans, where as no other is. 10 years from now, they'll be comparing tag teams to the Hardys, if for no other reason than because both Hardys will still be working, where as HBK will be gone.

And I'm sure Uncle Shocky will be so happy for that.

 

[Mr. TM]

Well a question I might ask. Who is the greater tag team for their generation, The Hardys or The Rockers? Both had to work with some and during the time of the greatest tag teams ever. The Hardy's had Edge and Christian, The Dudleys, and The New Age Outlaws. The Rockers had LOD, The Hart Foundation, and Demolotion. I would have to say The Hardys stand out more. Now the question is, out of the other tag teams that were, where was the challenge. I would have to say the Hardy's had the competition there.

Were the Rockers actually successful in any means? Sure people compare other tag teams to them, most Jim Ross, he loves to do that, but what did they ever do that was successful? no belts for them, no feuds for them, no main events. Even the Edgeheads have done more than them. The question remains, why are they so remembered? Could their defining moment be a shattered window? A future career star in Shawn Michaels? I really think that whoever compares up and coming teams to The Rockers is similar to comparing up and coming teams in the future to Edgeheads if one of them makes it big, and they have a nasty split.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Were the Rockers actually successful in any means? Sure people compare other tag teams to them, most Jim Ross, he loves to do that, but what did they ever do that was successful?

They were, arguably, the tag team that revolutionised tag team wrestling. Maybe without them the Hardy Boyz wouldn't have been the Hardyz. No team before them had had that charisma. Most importantly, look at tag matches before and after The Rockers. they were the first team tor egularly work asd a team. they took advantage of those seconds between a tag where 2 wrestlers are allowed in the ring. They made their moves work together. There matches weren't just like 2 singles matches going on at once. There matches were tag TEAM matches.

The question remains, why are they so remembered?

See above.

Could their defining moment be a shattered window?

Defining moment in the WWE. This is something that had NEVER been done before, and from this forum I can see it's something people just will not forget.

A future career star in Shawn Michaels?

When discussing HBK, The Rockers doesn't come up that often actually. Which it should.

 

[klunderbunker]

I'm not sure where to go with this one. I wouldn't call the Rockers a failure, but I'd call them overrated. The Rockers allegedly were one of the best tag teams in the WWF in the late 80s/mid 90s, but who did they ever actually beat in a big match? They'd always have ppv matches with big teams but would always lose. They were a completely new style, that's true. They were also one of the first teams to seem to be able to think on the exact same frequency. THeir precision is the same as teams like the hardys, the Briscoes, the MCMGs and Londrick. The thing is, all of those teams have accomplished something. The Rockers have never actually won anything. THey were certainly innovative, but not exactly successful. I wouldn't say they're a failure, I'd say they're overrated.

 

[HBK-aholic]

I'm not sure where to go with this one. I wouldn't call the Rockers a failure, but I'd call them overrated. The Rockers allegedly were one of the best tag teams in the WWF in the late 80s/mid 90s, but who did they ever actually beat in a big match? They'd always have ppv matches with big teams but would always lose. They were a completely new style, that's true. They were also one of the first teams to seem to be able to think on the exact same frequency. THeir precision is the same as teams like the hardys, the Briscoes, the MCMGs and Londrick. The thing is, all of those teams have accomplished something. The Rockers have never actually won anything. THey were certainly innovative, but not exactly successful. I wouldn't say they're a failure, I'd say they're overrated.

People like you are the reason The Rockers are called a failure. What does it mean that they didn't win tag gold? Not a lot. The Rockers are very much like Shawn Michaels; it doesn't matter if they win or lose a match because the quality was always great. They're called a failure because they deserved to be recognised as the best, yet they never were.

I fail to see how you can call them overrated, when in fact they are very underrated. People don't acknowledge their work as a team, people don't acknowledge there effect on the Tag Team division, and people don't include them when discussing the best ever. Furthermore, they never won gold. Something a team of their calibre should easily, especially when you look at the teams we have as champion now. That's not overrated for you, it's underrated.

 

[Shocky]

Um, the simple answer to this question is the easy one. It's revisionist history, plain and simple. The same thing I get ripped on for is the exact same thing that you see today plainly right in front of you. The Rockers were a boring tag team, if not just below average. Why didn't they win a legitimate tag title, because they couldn't hold a candle to any of those teams that you mentioned. The only thing the Rockers did was tandem offense, big deal. It was classic rule breaking at it's best as far as having double teaming and all of that go on at the same time.

I'm sure this is going to open up pandora's box as far as I'm out of touch or what not, but whatever. I simply feel the Rocker's only get the credit they have now because of Shawn Michaels being Shawn Michaels. Shawn Michaels was going to be great, with or without the Rockers. Marty Jannetty accomplished next to nothing. The Rockers were simply all sizzle and no substance. The only reason people brought them up is because the Hardy's looked like them, and it has snow balled from there.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Um, the simple answer to this question is the easy one. It's revisionist history, plain and simple. The same thing I get ripped on for is the exact same thing that you see today plainly right in front of you. The Rockers were a boring tag team, if not just below average.

The Rockers were charasmatic, they were original, and they were entertaining. Pretty much every match they were in was good. That's why they are still mentioned today.

Why didn't they win a legitimate tag title, because they couldn't hold a candle to any of those teams that you mentioned.

They never won a legitimate title because for some reason the WWe didn't trust them with that. However when you look at some of the teams we have as champion now, it's safe to say if they were a team now they'd abe huge, and they'd be champions.

I'm sure this is going to open up pandora's box as far as I'm out of touch or what not, but whatever. I simply feel the Rocker's only get the credit they have now because of Shawn Michaels being Shawn Michaels.

not true. Many people think of The Rockers and as Shawn Michaels as 2 different things, even though Shawn was in The Rockers. Conversations about HBK don't turn into ones about The Rockers. The Rockers would have exactly the same fan base they do now if Shawn wasn't huge, give or take a few.

Shawn Michaels was going to be great, with or without the Rockers. Marty Jannetty accomplished next to nothing.

True. But together they made a good team. They were alike. They had great matches, either as a team or against one another. And Jannety is remembered for this. If The Rockers were that bad, Jannety wouldn't be remembered at all.

The Rockers were simply all sizzle and no substance.

Not sure what you mean here.

The only reason people brought them up is because the Hardy's looked like them, and it has snow balled from there.

They were referenced to the Hardyz because both teams had young, talented, charismatic men in them. People saw the Hardyz as the team to finish what The Rockers had started, and that was to revolutionise the division.

 

[klunderbunker]

Um, the simple answer to this question is the easy one. It's revisionist history, plain and simple. The same thing I get ripped on for is the exact same thing that you see today plainly right in front of you. The Rockers were a boring tag team, if not just below average. Why didn't they win a legitimate tag title, because they couldn't hold a candle to any of those teams that you mentioned. The only thing the Rockers did was tandem offense, big deal. It was classic rule breaking at it's best as far as having double teaming and all of that go on at the same time.

I'm sure this is going to open up pandora's box as far as I'm out of touch or what not, but whatever. I simply feel the Rocker's only get the credit they have now because of Shawn Michaels being Shawn Michaels. Shawn Michaels was going to be great, with or without the Rockers. Marty Jannetty accomplished next to nothing. The Rockers were simply all sizzle and no substance. The only reason people brought them up is because the Hardy's looked like them, and it has snow balled from there.

I'd say this is almost dead on. Shawn Michaels was the Rockers, plain and simple. There's a reason he was the one that sent Jannetty through that window, not the other way aroudn. The Rockers are remembered for their speed and energy and their offense. Just about every other team in history are remembered for their tag titles, not their energy. Even Strike Force won a tag title in this time frame. The Rockers were the epitome of jobbers to the stars for tag teams. Their biggest feud that they did anything in was with who, the Orient Expresss? Their lone title win was because it was thought that one of the champions was gone and they gave the belts back to the old champions when Neidhart was staying. The Rockers are a lot like Jimmy Snuka or Roddy Piper to me. They never accomplished anythign as far as titles or actual accomplishments, but their influence is still important to this day.

 

[Slyfox696]

They were, arguably, the tag team that revolutionised tag team wrestling.

That's pretty impressive considering they weren't much more than a rip-off of the NWA's more popular tag teams.

For Christ's sake, their AWA tag team name was the MIDNIGHT ROCKERS. Seriously.

People like you are the reason The Rockers are called a failure. What does it mean that they didn't win tag gold?

It means they were never of high enough quality to be trusted by the company to carry a very lucrative house show circuit.

That's important.

Um, the simple answer to this question is the easy one. It's revisionist history, plain and simple. The same thing I get ripped on for is the exact same thing that you see today plainly right in front of you. The Rockers were a boring tag team, if not just below average. Why didn't they win a legitimate tag title, because they couldn't hold a candle to any of those teams that you mentioned. The only thing the Rockers did was tandem offense, big deal. It was classic rule breaking at it's best as far as having double teaming and all of that go on at the same time.

I'm sure this is going to open up pandora's box as far as I'm out of touch or what not, but whatever. I simply feel the Rocker's only get the credit they have now because of Shawn Michaels being Shawn Michaels. Shawn Michaels was going to be great, with or without the Rockers. Marty Jannetty accomplished next to nothing. The Rockers were simply all sizzle and no substance. The only reason people brought them up is because the Hardy's looked like them, and it has snow balled from there.

While I wouldn't call them boring, I agree with everything else. Their entertainment came from rule breaking, and the only reason they're as loved as they are now is the success that Shawn Michaels has had.

The Rockers were charasmatic, they were original, and they were entertaining. Pretty much every match they were in was good. That's why they are still mentioned today.

When you say "original", you REALLY mean a cheap knockoff of the Rock N' Roll Express, who had the same exact gimmick, name, and match style, right? Hell, they even wore similar ring attire!

Spoiler: Comparing pictures

They never won a legitimate title because for some reason the WWe didn't trust them with that.

That reason I have already explained in my first post.

not true. Many people think of The Rockers and as Shawn Michaels as 2 different things, even though Shawn was in The Rockers. Conversations about HBK don't turn into ones about The Rockers. The Rockers would have exactly the same fan base they do now if Shawn wasn't huge, give or take a few.

No one is saying that one conversation turns to another, but what we ARE saying is that people are aware of the Rockers because of Shawn Michaels.

I mean, the Rockers don't hold a candle to the Rock N' Roll Express in ANY way, but you don't even know who they are. Why? Because Ricky Morton doesn't work anymore.

 

[Father:_Polley]

Becca, I have to disagree with you. You yourself have said that the Hardys and the Rockers have similarities between the men involved, yet WWE trusted the Hardys to carry the gold on multiple occasions while the Rockers never held it because in comparison to the teams around them, they just weren't that special. Demolition, Hart Foundation, LOD and Nasty Boys meant that in the 'Golden Age' of Tag wrestling, Shawn and Marty were little more than filler.

The Rockers were reknowned as being the base for HBK's rise to stardom, that is what they are, they are rarely spoken of as gods of the tag division. Did they work well as a team? Were they entertaining to watch? Yes. But as a tag team they can not be deemed a success with nothing to back it up.

As for Jannetty being remembered...the man is remembered in the same way Andrew Ridgeley is rememberd - as 'The Other Guy' (Ridgeley is George Michael's WHAM! co-member) Jannetty is famous because of HBK putting his head through a window, not because of the Rockers, they were simply there at the time. He put HBK out there as a singles wrestler.

 

[HBK-aholic]

That's pretty impressive considering they weren't much more than a rip-off of the NWA's more popular tag teams.

Their gimmick was similar, even taken from the Rock N roll express I believe. But they didn't 'steal' the talent they have. The Rockers had talent few other teams did.

It means they were never of high enough quality to be trusted by the company to carry a very lucrative house show circuit.

Doesn't mean they weren't a good teag team though.

While I wouldn't call them boring, I agree with everything else. Their entertainment came from rule breaking, and the only reason they're as loved as they are now is the success that Shawn Michaels has had.

I don't believe this is true. The Rockers would have been remembered for being The Rockers. If you look at other Tag matches, in the WWE at least, before this time the style of matches were different. The Rockers changed that, and would be remembered for doing so.

No one is saying that one conversation turns to another, but what we ARE saying is that people are aware of the Rockers because of Shawn Michaels.

As I said above, it's not the only reason.

I mean, the Rockers don't hold a candle to the Rock N' Roll Express in ANY way, but you don't even know who they are. Why? Because Ricky Morton doesn't work anymore.

I know who they are.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Becca, I have to disagree with you. You yourself have said that the Hardys and the Rockers have similarities between the men involved, yet WWE trusted the Hardys to carry the gold on multiple occasions while the Rockers never held it because in comparison to the teams around them, they just weren't that special. Demolition, Hart Foundation, LOD and Nasty Boys meant that in the 'Golden Age' of Tag wrestling, Shawn and Marty were little more than filler.

As I've also said, if they were a team today they would easily be tag team champions.

The Rockers were reknowned as being the base for HBK's rise to stardom, that is what they are, they are rarely spoken of as gods of the tag division. Did they work well as a team? Were they entertaining to watch? Yes. But as a tag team they can not be deemed a success with nothing to back it up.

They were never properly the Tag team Champions. But with the amount of prestige the title has lost, what does that really mean? As you said They worked well as a team, and were entertaining to watch. Isn't that the point?

He put HBK out there as a singles wrestler.

This astounds me. Please, elaborate.

 

[Slyfox696]

Their gimmick was similar, even taken from the Rock N roll express I believe. But they didn't 'steal' the talent they have. The Rockers had talent few other teams did.

What talent was that? A talent for fast paced matches, and aerial moves?

Yeah, score one for the Rock N' Roll Express. The Rockers could only have a good match with a certain style of tag team, a style that wasn't in the WWF at the time.

Doesn't mean they weren't a good teag team though.

Uh, actually, yes it does.

A good wrestler and a good tag team have the same goal. Using some arbitrary ranking style for matches means absolutely nothing, if you can't get people to watch you.

As I said above, it's not the only reason.

Actually, yes it is.

I know who they are.

Then how can you call the Rockers "original" when they were knock offs of the Rock N' Roll Express? I mean, they even dressed alike.

Spoiler

And the point is a LOT of wrestling fans DON'T know who the Rock N' Roll Express was. They don't know who the British Bulldogs were. They don't know who The Fabulous Ones were. A lot of new fans today aren't even aware of the Hart Foundation. The difference? Shawn Michaels still wrestlers. The others don't.

 

[HBK-aholic]

What talent was that? A talent for fast paced matches, and aerial moves?

Yeah, score one for the Rock N' Roll Express. The Rockers could only have a good match with a certain style of tag team, a style that wasn't in the WWF at the time.

The Rockers had a lot of good matches, win or lose. I watched Survivor Series 88 a couple of weeks ago. they did well in a 10 team tag match. They had great matches with both The Orient express and the Hard Foundation.

Uh, actually, yes it does.

A good wrestler and a good tag team have the same goal. Using some arbitrary ranking style for matches means absolutely nothing, if you can't get people to watch you.

The whole drawing argument again?

Then how can you call the Rockers "original" when they were knock offs of the Rock N' Roll Express? I mean, they even dressed alike.

Spoiler

Fine, in the WWE, they were original. They were new, young, innovative, people were interested by them. And their style was original. Even with the Rock N roll express being similar, the Rockers matches were better. They Rock N Roll express may have influenced The Rockers, but it doesn't mean they were a better team.

And the point is a LOT of wrestling fans DON'T know who the Rock N' Roll Express was. They don't know who the British Bulldogs were. They don't know who The Fabulous Ones were. A lot of new fans today aren't even aware of the Hart Foundation. The difference? Shawn Michaels still wrestlers. The others don't.

If the newer fans don't know who the Hart Foundation were odds are they wouldn't know who the Rockers were either, unless it was down to the reunion earlier this year.

 

[Father:_Polley]

Elaborate...ok.

Before Marty Jannetty's head got intimate with plate glass windows, HBK was merrily strolling along in the land of the Tag Teams. The second HBK threw Marty threw that window, shocking the world and having probably one of the most replayed moments in wrestling, HBK made a statement - I don't need The Rockers.

Look at all the success stories in wrestling. The almost all have a major point where you can pin point to show exactly where their rise started. Like it or not, HBK's started at that point where he put his partner through a window. And I believe the reason was because Shawn wanted to be a single's wrestler (Heartbreak & Triump: the Shawn Michaels Story). Within a year, Michaels (known as the Heart Break Kid) is IC champion and main-eventing against some guy known as Bret Hart.

Now I ask this...would HBK, a name he adopted after Jannetty have been what he was without Jannetty? Yes, but Marty definately helped speed the process along by being the guy to go through a window for Shawn

 

[HBK-aholic]

Elaborate...ok.

Before Marty Jannetty's head got intimate with plate glass windows, HBK was merrily strolling along in the land of the Tag Teams. The second HBK threw Marty threw that window, shocking the world and having probably one of the most replayed moments in wrestling, HBK made a statement - I don't need The Rockers.

Ahuh, but this was Shawn's decision, not Martys. Jannety had little to do with this, Shawn made Shawn what he is today, no one else.

Look at all the success stories in wrestling. The almost all have a major point where you can pin point to show exactly where their rise started. Like it or not, HBK's started at that point where he put his partner through a window. And I believe the reason was because Shawn wanted to be a single's wrestler (Heartbreak & Triump: the Shawn Michaels Story). Within a year, Michaels (known as the Heart Break Kid) is IC champion and main-eventing against some guy known as Bret Hart.

Now I ask this...would HBK, a name he adopted after Jannetty have been what he was without Jannetty? Yes, but Marty definately helped speed the process along by being the guy to go through a window for Shawn

If he hadn't have spent, what, 6 years? teaming with Jannety maybe he would have made it before. You never know. Shawn was already being noticed as part of The Rockers anyway. Sure, this was a big moment in WWE history, but it doesn't necessarily mean it had a huge effect on Shawns career.

 

[Father:_Polley]

Ahuh, but this was Shawn's decision, not Martys. Jannety had little to do with this, Shawn made Shawn what he is today, no one else.

Real life situations suggest otherwise. If Marty had his way, Shawn would have stayed a Rocker, maybe then this thread would be devoted to the Rockers being the greatest tag team of all time.

If he hadn't have spent, what, 6 years? teaming with Jannety maybe he would have made it before. You never know. Shawn was already being noticed as part of The Rockers anyway. Sure, this was a big moment in WWE history, but it doesn't necessarily mean it had a huge effect on Shawns career.

But would it really. People talk about young tag wrestlers all the time. Not all of them make it. The window incident gave Shawn something he could use to get a big push. The break up of a young popular team in such an earth (or glass more appropriately) shattering manner was shocking at the time. It got Shawn instant heat and made him easier to push as a heel. Without it, he would have had to find another way.
People remember the shocking, and this incident is as much an impact on Shawn's career as the ladder match with Razor Ramone or that other incident which shall not defile another HBK thread.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Real life situations suggest otherwise. If Marty had his way, Shawn would have stayed a Rocker,

Exactly. Showing throwing him through the Barber shop window was all down to Shawn.

maybe then this thread would be devoted to the Rockers being the greatest tag team of all time.

Indeed. Would have been very interesting to see what would have happened if they'd have stayed together long enough to face the Hardyz and the Dudleyz.

But would it really. People talk about young tag wrestlers all the time. Not all of them make it. The window incident gave Shawn something he could use to get a big push.

The amount of talent Shawn has shows that he would have made it either way.

The break up of a young popular team in such an earth (or glass more appropriately) shattering manner was shocking at the time.

I agree, it was amazing.

It got Shawn instant heat and made him easier to push as a heel. Without it, he would have had to find another way.

And he would have found another way. That's my point. This wasn't the ONLY way Shawn could have got over and made it. It was just the easiest way.

People remember the shocking, and this incident is as much an impact on Shawn's career as the ladder match with Razor Ramone or that other incident which shall not defile another HBK thread.

Lol. Yes, it was a great moment in history. But as I said, it wasn't the ONLY way this could have happened. Shawn was always going to be the star of them.

 

[MisterRob]

Whoever said the Rockers revolutionized tag team wrestling is out of their mind. That's a ludicrous statement. The Rockers weren't even original, nothing they did was original, so how did they revolutionize tag team wrestling? They ripped off everything from the gimmick, to the attire, to the style of wrestling from the Rock N' Roll Express who DID revolutionize tag team wrestling and DID carry companies as the top tag team and as tag team champions. I agree with others who've stated that the only reason the Rockers are remembered is because of Shawn Michaels. That's simply how it is; if Shawn Michaels never made it in the WWF then the Rockers would've been forgotten because they had no major success or accomplishments. All the Shawn Michaels fans know his history and know of the Rockers, and the WWF's reminded them of it in recent history, but that doesn't make the Rockers memorable at all. The only thing the Rockers are remembered for is the moment they split up and Shawn Michaels went solo, and if that's the legacy of your tag team and the best moment of your tag team that speaks volumes.

The reason the Hardys are compared to the Rockers is simple: Its an easy comparison to make. When they were jobbers in their beginnings in WWE they paid homage to the Rockers and dressed like them, they have a similar look with one having blond hair and one having dark hair, and they had an exciting and far more high flying style. But the Hardys went far beyond any similarities or comparisons with the Rockers. It could actually be argued for the Hardys that they DID revolutionize tag team wrestling for this generation, in a time where tag team wrestling was slowly dying and forgettable.. they, Edge & Christian and the Dudleys brought a rebirth to it and made it memoriable again. The Hardys were a success, having countless tag team champion reigns, many memoriable feuds, matches that have gone down in history, and even alone, both are successful in their own right. They've both made names for themselves, so I really don't see it that difficult a choice who was the better tag team in the history of tag team wrestling.

 

[Slyfox696]

The Rockers had a lot of good matches, win or lose. I watched Survivor Series 88 a couple of weeks ago. they did well in a 10 team tag match. They had great matches with both The Orient express and the Hard Foundation.

The whole drawing argument again?

You said they had good matches, I said they had bad matches. Big deal. Who's right?

Well, who is right are the fans who do or do not pay to watch a wrestler perform. If the wrestler or tag team is entertaining, then they will get people to pay to watch them. There is no arbitrary quality listing for which to judge matches, just how the crowd responds to them.

and the simple fact is that the Rockers were never GOOD enough to be trusted as champions.

Fine, in the WWE, they were original.

They weren't original at all. At any level. They may have had a different style from other WWF tag teams, but they weren't original.

Even with the Rock N roll express being similar, the Rockers matches were better.

Says who? You? The biggest HBK fan on the forums?

No offense, but it's hard to take your opinion on that seriously, especially since the Rock N' Roll had MUCH greater success than the Rockers.

If the newer fans don't know who the Hart Foundation were odds are they wouldn't know who the Rockers were either, unless it was down to the reunion earlier this year.

But, they know who Shawn Michaels is, and thus, they hear of the Rockers.

Your position does not hold water. On no level can you be proven accurate.

Whoever said the Rockers revolutionized tag team wrestling is out of their mind. That's a ludicrous statement. The Rockers weren't even original, nothing they did was original, so how did they revolutionize tag team wrestling?

That's the answer I'm still waiting on.

They ripped off everything from the gimmick, to the attire, to the style of wrestling from the Rock N' Roll Express who DID revolutionize tag team wrestling and DID carry companies as the top tag team and as tag team champions. I agree with others who've stated that the only reason the Rockers are remembered is because of Shawn Michaels. That's simply how it is; if Shawn Michaels never made it in the WWF then the Rockers would've been forgotten because they had no major success or accomplishments. All the Shawn Michaels fans know his history and know of the Rockers, and the WWF's reminded them of it in recent history, but that doesn't make the Rockers memorable at all. The only thing the Rockers are remembered for is the moment they split up and Shawn Michaels went solo, and if that's the legacy of your tag team and the best moment of your tag team that speaks volumes.

The reason the Hardys are compared to the Rockers is simple: Its an easy comparison to make. When they were jobbers in their beginnings in WWE they paid homage to the Rockers and dressed like them, they have a similar look with one having blond hair and one having dark hair, and they had an exciting and far more high flying style. But the Hardys went far beyond any similarities or comparisons with the Rockers. It could actually be argued for the Hardys that they DID revolutionize tag team wrestling for this generation, in a time where tag team wrestling was slowly dying and forgettable.. they, Edge & Christian and the Dudleys brought a rebirth to it and made it memoriable again. The Hardys were a success, having countless tag team champion reigns, many memoriable feuds, matches that have gone down in history, and even alone, both are successful in their own right. They've both made names for themselves, so I really don't see it that difficult a choice who was the better tag team in the history of tag team wrestling.

Great post. Rep coming.