WWE: The Miz and Alex Riley and More Tag-Team Partnerships We'd Love to See

OK, we've agreed that the WWE aren't going to push tag teams any time soon. It's such a waste, though. Tag-teams deserve better than the placeholder squash matches they've had recently. And the roster is packed with duos who could improve the competitions from its current parlous state. After all, do we really need to see Big Show and Kane v Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater again?

The Miz and Alex Riley

Yes, I know they've tagged before, but mostly as a gimmick (see the Raw match a few weeks ago where they took on John Cena and Sin Cara, just to emphasise Cara's good guy status a bit more). They're a Raw/Smackdown pairing like Show/Kane, it'll give Miz something to do apart from feud with Cena (yawn), it'll give Riley a chance to demonstrate his considerable skills a bit more and they could absolutely legitimise the division. Plus, I love the dynamic between them. They must stay together forever.

Alex Riley and Zack Ryder

I can't take credit for this one—the excellent wrestling podcast Breaking Kayfabe lobbied for it in their show this week, and I can see very little wrong with the plan (unless of course it detracts from Miz and Riley's world domination). Riley seems to be getting a singles push in the upcoming months; Ryder is the reigning internet champion (according to his YouTube show) and keeps getting random cameos on Raw. And plus, their last names start with the syllable. Pair them up; watch them go.

Beth Phoenix and Natalya

OK, it's a Divas pairing, and WWE historically cares even less about the ladies than they do about the tag-teams. But I really enjoyed their work at TLC, when they beat Lay-Cool in impressive fashion (including a double sharpshooter), and if the signing of Kharma is indicative of a revamped women's division, then perhaps the tag-teams will be revitalised too.

Daniel Bryan and Derrick Bateman

The master and the apprentice is a popular storyline—they've made NXT out of it, after all—but Daniel Bryan and Derrick Bateman were special. I refuse to accept Bateman got knocked out of the competition; it must have been the injury that swung it. Daniel Bryan is woefully and criminally underused; if they're going to use him for comedy effect (see: Bella Twins and Gail Kim angle), they should get some decent wrestling in as well as the American Dragons compete for chicks and America. 

Mason Ryan and Yoshi Tatsu

Hear me out on this one. Mason Ryan needs to be used in small doses. There is no way he is going to be a singles champion any time soon on current evidence. But he is (unintentionally) hilarious. And Yoshi Tatsu needs someone to do the heavy lifting for him. Stick them together with their shared odd childlike characters; see what happens. And as a bonus, you'd get some great backstage segments as Yoshi wanders around with his now-famous action figure and beseeches Ryan to play as well.

Conclusion

Those are some of my suggestions. A friend of mine is keen to see chums Dolph Ziggler and Zack Ryder team up; another wonders whether Ricardo Rodriguez and Brodus Clay may have an in-ring future together on Smackdown after the departure of their boss Alberto Del Rio. What partnerships would you like to see? Let me know in the comments.