WWE Power Rankings: Rating the Top 10 WWE Tag Teams of All Time

Tag Team wrestling...a dying art.

Professional wrestling's long and storied history has been full of tag teams that entertained millions across the country and are responsible for some of the very best, most influential matches in the history of the sport.

Today, in 2011 however, the art of tag team wrestling is nearly extinct, sacrificed in favor of singles competition and lazy booking.

Join me as I take a look at the greatest tag teams to grace WWE television in what was a golden age for the pro wrestling art form.

Criteria

The tag teams listed in these rankings are those who have left lasting impressions. They are those who are fondly remembered by the WWE fans. They performed at a high level in the ring and were able to capture the fans' imaginations on the microphone and in the various angles in which they were involved.

This set of rankings is limited strictly to WWE tag teams. There were several tag teams from the National Wrestling Alliance and WCW organizations that may be considered better than any of the WWE teams, those such as the Midnight Express, the Rock and Roll Express, several variations of the Four Horsemen, and the Road Warriors.

It would also be incredibly ignorant of me not to admit that opinion does, in fact, also play a small role in the order of these rankings.

Information used in this slide was taken from the Online World of Wrestling. For more information on your favorite tag teams, singles stars, or organizations, check out www.onlineworldofwrestling.com for all of your wrestling information needs.

Others Receiving Consideration

There were several tag teams who could lay claim to a spot in these rankings. Those I took into consideration include:

MNM

A highly-underrated team from the dying days of tag team wrestling. Johnny Nitro and Joey Mercury, with Melina as manager, were as talented performers as any in the waning days of the art of tag team wrestling.

Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit

Take two of the greatest in-ring technicians of all-time and pair them together. Watch the magic happen.

The Smoking Gunns

The most dominant tag team during the mid-90s, an era of poor tag teams and angles. Comprised of Billy Gunn and Bart Gunn.

The World's Greatest Tag Team

Two young, talented in-ring performers partnered together and trusted with several tag title reigns. Shelton Benjamin would go on to bigger and better as a singles competitor. Charlie Haas, however, would be largely resigned to the tag division. Lack of mic skills hampered both members' careers.

Brian Kendrick & Paul London

A high-energy, dynamic team that dominated from 2006-2007, unfortunately when there was little competition for them on either brand.

The APA

Bradshaw and Faarooq comprised this ass-kicking, take-no-prisoners tag team that sold its protective services to the highest bidder. Feared by many a WWE Superstar, both on-screen and off.

10. Los Guerreros

Notable Highlights from Online World Of Wrestling:

-September 19, 2002: Defeat Edge and Rikishi in their first television appearance as a tag team

-November 17, 2002: Los Guerreros defeat Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit and Edge & Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat Match to win the WWE Tag Team Championships at Survivor Series

-November 28, 2002: Los Guerreros defeat Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit to retain the titles on Smackdown

-January 16, 2003: Los Guerreros defeat John Cena & B2 to retain the tag titles

-September 11, 2003: Los Guerreros defeat Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin to regain the WWE Tag Team Championships

Eddie and Chavo Guerrero proved to be one of the last real tag teams WWE had. Growing up and dreaming of becoming world tag champions, Eddie and Chavo were aware of what each other was planning to do inside the squared circle long before they actually did it.

They had a tag team awareness that has not been seen since and as a result, could drag a good match out of any opposing team.

Unfortunately for the duo, by the time late-2003 rolled around, Eddie had become so popular and was poised to break out of the mid-card and into the main event scene so quickly that the Los Guerreros team was disbanded quickly and Chavo was turned heel.

Despite the rather small period of time in which they teamed, Los Guerreros earned their spot on the list for several reasons. They were extraordinary in-ring performers. Eddie and Chavo proved to be seriously entertaining behind the microphone and in several pre-taped videos.

And most importantly, they reminded fans of what could be when Vince McMahon and company pushed a valid tag team as a featured act on one of their programs.

9. The Rockers

Notable Highlights from Online World of Wrestling:

-March 11, 1989: Fought to a double count-out with Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard on Saturday Night's Main Event.

-April 2, 1989: Made their Wrestlemania debut, losing to Big Boss Man and Akeem.

-April 28, 1990: Fought to a Double DQ with the Hart Foundation on Saturday Night's Main Event after Demolition interfered.

-October 1990: Defeated the Hart Foundation to win the WWE Tag Team Championship during a taping of Saturday Night's Main Event. During the match, the top rope was broken and, as a result, the match never made it to air and the title reign of the Rockers went unnoticed. The Hart Foundation remained champions.

-January 19, 1991: Defeated the Orient Express at the Royal Rumble.

-March 24, 1991: Defeated the Barbarian and Haku in the opening contest of Wrestlemania VII

Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty were one of the most beloved tag team of all-time. The fact that they are ranked as one of the 10 best tag teams of all-time, despite never officially reigning as WWE Tag Team Champions, is a major testament to their legacy.

Michaels and Jannetty were students of the game. They utilized moves they had seen the Rock and Roll Express use and added their own intricate twists. Shawn and Marty were the pretty boys that the girls loved and the super-cool tag team that the boys wanted to be.

The Rockers influenced any number of the teams that came after them. The Hardy Boys and Edge & Christian displayed many a tag team tandem maneuver that Marty and Shawn had invented, according to former Michaels manager Sensational Sherri, with action figures in a hotel room.

8. Legion of Doom

Notable Highlights from Online World of Wrestling:

-Joined Vince McMahon's WWF in the summer of 1990

-November 22, 1990: Teamed with "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich and the Ultimate Warrior to defeat Mr. Perfect and Demolition (Ax, Smash, and Crush) at the Survivor Series

-March 24, 1991: Defeated Paul Roma and Hercules-Power & Glory-in 59 seconds at Wrestlemania VII.

-August 26, 1991: Defeated the Nasty Boys to become WWF Tag Team Champions at SummerSlam in New York City.

-November 27, 1991: Teamed with the Big Boss Man to defeat the Natural Disasters (Typhoon and Earthquake) and IRS at the Survivor Series.

-August 19, 1992: Defeated Money Inc. at SummerSlam 1992

-August 3, 1997: Defeated the Godwins at SummerSlam

-October 13, 1997: Defeated the Godwins to become WWF Tag Team Champions

-March 29, 1998: Returned as LOD 2000, with Sunny as their manager, and won a battle royal at Wrestlemania XIV.

The Legion of Doom is arguably the greatest tag team in wrestling history. Hawk and Animal may very well be the most marketable and most popular team in the history of the sport, as well. They sold out arenas on their own and were often imitated (including by a team further up this list).

Their influence on the sport is immeasurable. Every wrestling fan is aware of their greatness. If that is the case, why are they ranked only No. 8 on a list of the ten greatest tag teams in WWE history.

The truth is, despite collecting a few tag team championships during their run in the World Wrestling Federation, the Legion of Doom's best work was never in Vince McMahon's company.

Instead, Hawk and Animal saw the majority of their success, the success that led to the legacy they now enjoy, in the National Wrestling Alliance and in various stops in Japan.

For whatever reason, McMahon never quite understood the proper way to use the LOD. Perhaps it was because he did not create them. Perhaps it was because he had an, arguably, equally as successful, comparable act in his company.

There is no denying the impact Hawk and Animal had on the business. Their induction, alongside long-time manager Paul Ellering, into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 was long overdue.

But all of their accomplishments and all of the success they enjoyed in the industry does not erase what could be considered two very disappointing runs in the WWF.

7. The New Age Outlaws

Notable Highlights from Online World of Wrestling:

-Were paired together in the fall of 1997 as a way to give Billy Gunn and Jesse James something to do. Little was expected of the team.

-November 1997: Defeated the Legion of Doom to become WWF Tag Team Champions.

-April 26, 1998: Defeated LOD 2000 to retain the WWF Tag Team Championships at Unforgiven

-June 28, 1998: Defeated the New Midnight Express (Bart Gunn & Bob Holly) at King of the Ring

-December 13, 1998: Defeated the Big Boss Man and Ken Shamrock at Rock Bottom to retain the tag team champions

-April 25, 1999: Defeated Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart at Backlash

-September 21, 1999: Defeated The Rock and Mankind to win the WWF Tag Team Championship

-September 26, 1999: Defeated Edge and Christian to retain at Unforgiven

-November 8, 1999: Defeated Mankind and Al Snow to win the WWF Tag Team Championship

The New Age Outlaws are a tremendous success story in that little-to-nothing was expected from the duo. Teamed together because there was nothing better to do with either Jesse James or Billy Gunn, they quickly managed to get themselves over, despite a general apathy towards them from the WWF powers-that-be.

Entering every arena to "oh, you didn't know?...your ass better call somebody," the fans quickly took a liking to the anti-heroes that had mistakenly been created.

No matter how much the team was booked to be dastardly heels, the fan base-looking for something different after a decade of "good guys" and "bad guys"- ate their every action up.

After lengthy feuds with the Legion of Doom and the team of Cactus Jack and Terry Funk, Gunn and James were paired with Triple H and X-Pac to form a newer incarnation of D-Generation X.

The Outlaws were the epitome of the Attitude Era. They were lewd, crude, and had no problem breaking any rules set for them or their segments by Vince McMahon or the writers.

From 1998-2000, the Outlaws were the featured tag team and were, arguably, as big of stars on the Monday and Thursday night Raw and Smackdown programs as any one not named Steve Austin or The Rock.

While many believe James and Gunn tarnished their legacies when they reunited for a less-than-stellar run in Total Nonstop Action wrestling, it is extremely difficult to argue their tremendous success in the late 90's, a time where the wrestling business was prospering and performers became household names.

6. The Dudley Boys

Notable Highlights from Online World of Wrestling:

-January 23, 2000: Participated in, and lost, a Tag Team Tables Match to the Hardy Boyz at Royal Rumble in Madison Square Garden

-February 27, 2000: Defeated the New Age Outlaws to become WWF Tag Team Champions at No Way Out

-April 2, 2000: Participated in, and lost, the Triangle Tag Team Ladder Match for the WWF Tag Team Championship at Wrestlemania 2000. Edge and Christian won the match and the titles.

-Feuded with the team of T&A (Test and Albert) and Road Dogg & X-Pac in the summer of 2000

-August 27, 2000: Participated in, and lost, a TLC match for the Tag Team Championship at SummerSlam.

-September 14, 2000: Defeated The Rock and The Undertaker in a Tag Team Tables Match on Smackdown.

-January 21, 2001: Defeated Edge & Christian to become WWF Tag Team Champions at the Royal Rumble

-February 25, 2001: Defeated Edge & Christian and Undertaker & Kane in a Triple Threat Tag Team Tables Match at No Way Out

-March 19, 2001: Defeated Edge & Christian to win the Tag Team Championship on Raw

-April 1, 2001: Competed in, and lost, TLC II at Wrestlemania X7

-May 21, 2001: Won the WWF Tag Team Championship from Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit

-September 17, 2001: Defeated Undertaker and Kane to win the Tag Team titles

-November 18, 2001: Defeated the Hardy Boyz to unify the WWF and WCW tag titles

-January 19, 2003: Defeated William Regal and Lance Storm to win the World Tag Team Championships (formerly the WWF tag titles)

-September 21, 2003: Defeated La Resistance in a Handicap Tag Team Tables match to win the World Tag Team Championship

The Dudley Boyz are among the most decorated tag teams of all time. They have collected more tag team championships than any other team in the history of the business. With a career spanning three different companies, and championships from each, it is hard to make an argument against the brothers from Dudleyville. I will, however, try.

The reason for the Dudley Boyz lower ranking in these rankings is that their list of championships was padded.

There were several times the brothers were given runs with the tag team gold simply because there were no other teams valid enough to earn a reign, especially from late 2002 until the end of their WWE careers in 2005.

During that period, it was not so much that Bubba Ray and D'Von were the best tag team. Instead, they were the only team to hold the gold.

Some will argue that the faith invested in the Dudleys during the years of 2002 to 2005 only verifies their greatness. 

I argue, however, that the Dudleys faced weaker competition over that period and, as a result, any championships awarded to them by the writers and bookers at the time should not be discussed in any argument surrounding their greatness.

With that said, there is no arguing how great of a tag team the Dudley Boys were. I am not here to do that, and it would be foolish to try.

Formerly a "garbage" act in ECW, a team too reliant on weaponry and hardcore wrestling, Bubba Ray and D'Von evolved as performers and by 2001, had become well-rounded tag team wrestlers in the WWF.

The only thing working against them was the existence of Edge and Christian and the Hardy Boyz, two teams who were more popular and were better in-ring workers.

5. The Hardy Boyz

Notable Highlights from Online World of Wrestling:

-Officially added to WWE roster in 1998

-June 27, 1999: Defeated Edge & Christian at the King of the Ring

-July 19, 1999: Defeated the Acolytes to become WWF Tag Team Champions

-October 17, 1999: Defeated Edge and Christian in a Tag Team Ladder match to win $100,000 and the managerial services of Terri Runnels. The match is considered highly revolutionary and would serve as the emphasis for the renewed interest in tag team wrestling throughout the early 2000's.

-April 2, 2000: Competed in, and lost, a Triangle Ladder Match, at Wrestlemania 2000. Edge and Christian would win the match and the tag titles.

-July 23, 2000: Teamed with Lita to defeat T&A (Test and Albert) and Trish Stratus at Fully Loaded.

-August 27, 2000: Competed in, and lost, TLC to Edge and Christian at SummerSlam. (Also involved the Dudley Boyz)

-September 24, 2000: Defeated Edge & Christian in a Steel Cage match to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.

-March 5, 2001: Defeated the Dudley Boyz to win the WWF Tag Team Championship

-April 1, 2001: Competed in, and lost, the TLC II match at Wrestlemania X7

-October 8, 2001: Defeated Test and Booker T to win the WCW Tag Team Championship

-December 3, 2006: Defeat MNM at December to Dismember

-April 2, 2007: Win the World Tag Team Championships in a battle royal

The Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz could very well swap places in these rankings. To be honest, there are too very insignificant reasons as to why one is above the other.

First, the Hardy Boyz were, arguably, the most popular act of any WWE program in 2000-2001, on par with The Rock and Steve Austin in terms of fan reaction. That fan appreciation led to a boatload of merchandise being sold and a hugely marketable act.

Secondly, I just liked the Hardys more than I did the Dudleys. Sometimes, it is that simple.

4. Demolition

Notable Highlights from Online World of Wrestling:

-March 27, 1988: Defeated Strike Force to become WWF Tag Team Champions

-August 28, 1988: Defeated the Hart Foundation at SummerSlam to retain

-April 2, 1989: Defeated The Powers of Pain (Warlord and Barbarian) and Mr. Fuji in a 3-on-2 Handicap match to successfully retain their WWF Tag Team Championship at Wrestlemania V

-October 2, 1989: Defeated the Brain Busters (Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard) to regain the tag titles

-April 1, 1990: Defeated Andre the Giant & Haku to win their third WWF Tag Team Championship.

-Health problems would sideline Bill Eadie (Ax) and force him to be replaced by Crush.

Demolition was a tag team built very much in the same frame as the Legion of Doom. Two tough, no-nonsense brawlers, Ax and Smash dominated the tag team scene from 1988-1990 and were the first clear indicator that the fans did not just cheer the happy-go-lucky babyfaces.

They sported black gear that may or may not have been better suited for the fetish section of a local adult store and face paint that added the "cool factor" to their appearance.

The funny thing about Demolition is that they would go on to have a much more successful career in the WWF than the tag team they were imitating, the Legion of Doom. While their run lasted only two years, Demolition was the main attraction of the tag division at the time and proved to be one of the more popular acts on the entire roster.

For men of their size, Demolition was also a part of many quality tag matches of their era, including battles with the Hart Foundation, the Brain Busters, Strike Force, and the Killer Bees.

In an era where tag team wrestling thrived, the fact that Ax and Smash so clearly were the focus of the division is a testament to their abilities and popularity.

3. The British Bulldogs

Notable Highlights from Online World of Wrestling:

-April 5, 1986: Defeated Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake to win the WWF Tag Team Championship at Wrestlemania II.

-Engaged in a now-legendary rivalry with the Hart Foundation over the tag titles from 1986-1987.

-March 29, 1987: Teamed with Tito Santana in a losing effort against the Hart Foundation and Danny Davis at Wrestlemania III.

-Feuded with the Islanders throughout late 1987 to early-1988

-August 28, 1988: Fought to a No-Contest with the Rougeau Brothers in the very first SummerSlam match.

The British Bulldogs revolutionized tag team wrestling in the 1980's, alongside the Hart Foundation. While the Rock & Roll Express was doing battle with the Midnight Express in the NWA territories, the Harts and Bulldogs were tearing down the house across the country for Vince McMahon's WWF.

The crowd reactions for the matches were such that the tag teams were trusted to do business in the main events of shows while WWF Champion Hulk Hogan was placed in an undercard position so he could make it back to the hotel in time for room service.

The Bulldogs were beloved by the fans. Davey's power and Dynamite's unapproachable in-ring skills captured the fans' attention and their ability to know what the other was going to do in the ring before they did it made for an often-flawless contest.

From 1986-87, the Bulldogs were among the most popular act in all of professional wrestling and one that still is fondly remembered to this very day. Unfortunately, a back injury to Dynamite Kid in 1986 really derailed momentum for the team and in late '88, it was apparent the Kid's in-ring days were winding down.

Davey Boy Smith would go on to have a fairly successful career as a singles star. However, he may very well be remembered as one of the greatest tag team competitors of all-time.

His team with brother-in-law Owen Hart was a highly-entertaining one in the mid-90s and he was a part of a short-lived, moderately-successful duo with Lex Luger in 1995.

2. The Hart Foundation

Notable Highlights from Online World of Wrestling:

-April 2, 1986: Along with Andre the Giant, were the final three stars in the gigantic Wrestlemania II battle royal

-January 26, 1987: Defeated the British Bulldogs for the WWF Tag Team Championship

-March 27, 1987: Teamed with Danny Davis to defeat the British Bulldogs and Tito Santana at Wrestlemania III

-April 2, 1989: Defeated Rhythm & Blues (Greg Valentine and the Honky Tonk Man) at Wrestlemania V

-April 1, 1990: Defeated the Bolsheviks at Wrestlemania VI in 19 seconds

-August 27, 1990: Defeated Demolition to regain the WWF Tag Team Championship

If ever there was a perfect match of power and ability, it was the Hart Foundation.

Veterans of the Calgary Stampede wrestling days, Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart were assigned to Vince McMahon's WWF after the sale of the Stampede territory by Stu Hart to McMahon.

Paired together during the golden days of tag team wrestling that were the 1980's, the Hart Foundation was featured in one of the greatest tag team rivalries of all-time against the British Bulldogs.

When Dynamite Kid was injured and could no longer perform to the level he had, the Harts engaged in several other feuds, with the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, Demolition, and Strike Force.

Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart's ability to tell a story through their matches, with the bigger Neidhart wearing down an opponent long enough for Hart to use his technical skills to finish them off, was a staple of the tag team division in the company and made for several high-quality contests.

Outside of the Crockett territory and the Midnight Express and Rock & Roll Express, there may not have been another team more capable of delivering more consistently great tag team matches on a nightly basis than the Hart Foundation and, more than their marketability or popularity, is the reason they rank as highly as they do on this list.

1. Edge & Christian

Notable Highlights from Online World of Wrestling:

-Competed in the Terri Invitational Tournament vs. the Hardy Boyz in the summer and fall of 1999

-October 17, 1999: Lost to the Hardy Boyz in a Tag Team Ladder Match. The contest would instantly become of the of the most influential and unforgettable matches in the history of the business, launching four young men into superstardom.

-February 27, 2000: Defeated the Hardy Boyz at No Way Out

-April 2, 2000: Defeat the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz in a Triangle Ladder Match to become WWF Tag Team Champions for the first time.

-Edge and Christian quickly become the most hated tag team in the sport.

-June 25, 2000: Defeat Too Cool, T&A (Test and Albert), and the Hardy Boyz in a Fatal Four-Way match to regain the WWF Tag Team Championship at King of the Ring

-August 27, 2000: Defeated the Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz in TLC at SummerSlam.

-October 22, 2000: As the Conquistadors, defeat the Hardys to win the WWF Tag Team Championships at No Mercy

-December 10, 2000: Defeat the Right to Censor, the Dudley Boyz, and Road Dogg & K-Kwik in a Fatal Four-Way Match to regain the WWF Tag Team Championships at Armageddon

-April 1, 2001: Defeat the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz to become WWF Tag Team Champions once again, this time in TLC II at Wrestlemania X7.

-March 11, 2011: Defeat Alberto Del Rio and Brodus Clay in one of Edge's final contests.

Edge and Christian were the glue that held the tag team division together in the late-90s, early-2000s. As the antagonists, they were not afraid to play to goof-ball heels who cheated to retain their titles or the serious villains who used weapons such as chairs and ladders to send messages to any one attempting to wrest the tag team championships from them.

Unlike the 1980s, where the tag team division was so absolutely ripe with talented duos, the end of the Attitude era featured several popular face tandems but only one major heel duo.

The tag team division quite literally revolved around Edge and Christian. They were the bad guys who spent Raw and Smackdown irritating the good guys but were able to out-wrestle and out-smart them whenever necessary.

Edge and Christian proved to be one of the most entertaining acts on the entire show. They were the team fans loved to hate but also thought were very cool.

The long and lasting impression they had on the people, with such classic contests as the Tag Team Ladder Match, TLC I and II, and the steel cage match against the Hardy Boyz, is still felt today.

Edge and Christian grew up together in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, dreaming of being WWE stars.

It was the passion and the energy they brought to their performance that allowed them to compete at the highest level for the fans and to this day, those of us privileged enough to see them in their prime, as a tag team, in magnificent displays of death-defying maneuvers, will never forget it.