When was WWE's tag division at its worst?

[J is Justice]

The current tag division is pretty rough so I was wondering when was it at its absolute worst? I didn't watch consistently between 2004 and 2019, so I'm not sure if it improved at any point during that time. Maybe around when The New Day and The Usos formed?

[Perpetual Nirvana]

Wasn't there a period in the earlier 2010s where the belts kept being swapped between various makeshift tag teams. And yet Cryme Tyme still never got a run with them.

[chazraps]

Probably 2005 or 2008. 1995/1996 was exceptionally rough too.

[thegreatnodnarb]

I feel like outside of 1999 to 2002 that the WWE tag division has been bad since 1992.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

I think you would have an easier time measuring the times when the tag division wasn't shit since the TLC days.

[Fade]

2006-2008. Highlander’s, Cade and Murdoch, spirit squad…That era. I’m sure it has its fans but I found it dreadful.

[smokinvokoun86]

Probably between 2010 to 2012 when Team Hell No won it. And that was the first time in a long time there was an interesting storyline that involved the titles.

Looking at the wiki. I have no memory of Cody and Drew being tag champs. But apparently they were. Then David Otunga/Michael McGullicutty…what a barn burner team that was. Air Boom had potential, but all I remember about them is being in that infamous champions photo.

But it does get better by the time Team Hell No won, but god that’s a dire list from 2010 to 2012.

[Lizuka #BLM]

Probably the period when London and Kendrick had them for a year entirely because there was no one to defend them against, and yet they still weren't considered important enough to get into the video games.

[TheMediocreWarrior]

I feel like right now is even worse than 2005-2007. The Smackdown belts just feel like a prop so Roman's lackeys also have a championship.

At least during the makeshift team eras, the titles were treated like something wrestlers wanted to win. I could go for Drew teaming up with someone to get the belts off of the Usos.

[DZ: WF Legacy]

There was a bit of a Renaissance around 2013-2015 with The Shield, Hell No, Wyatts, Usos coming into their own, New Age Outlaws coming back, The New Day turning heel then reverting into actually over-faces, the return of the Dudleyz, Goldust/Cody etc. It was legitimately pretty good again.

Outside of that, I would say the majority of the 2000s post-AE has been rough or inconsistent at least.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Apr 1, 2022 23:50:42 GMT -5 DZ: WF Legacy said:

There was a bit of a Renaissance around 2013-2015 with The Shield, Hell No, Wyatts, Usos coming into their own, New Age Outlaws coming back, The New Day turning heel then reverting into actually over-faces, the return of the Dudleyz, Goldust/Cody etc. It was legitimately pretty good again.

Outside of that, I would say the majority of the 2000s post-AE has been rough or inconsistent at least.

While New Day's big 400+ day run with the title seemed to get a bit drawn out towards the end (as it was clear the titles needed a new direction but New Day hadn't passed Demolition yet), one thing that does stick out was that they were never short on challengers, which is impressive for as long as they held those titles.

Also, it blows my mind that WWE, a company that almost always leans into nostalgia acts whenever they can, signed the Dudleys for a year, and not only did they never put the titles on them, the titles never changed hands at all during their run. WWE may never invest into a tag team as much as they did New Day ever again, at least while Vince still calls the shots.

[Mozenrath]

Apr 1, 2022 23:06:50 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Probably the period when London and Kendrick had them for a year entirely because there was no one to defend them against, and yet they still weren't considered important enough to get into the video games.

Which was extra bullshit because, I'd get it if they were treated with indifference, but fans liked them and they got good reactions, so it was puzzling.

[06vwgti]

It's frustrating when there have been times the division has the pieces to get good, yet it gets pulled back or gutted due to needless breakups, teams not getting titles in favor feuding singles stars, etc.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Apr 1, 2022 23:06:50 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Probably the period when London and Kendrick had them for a year entirely because there was no one to defend them against, and yet they still weren't considered important enough to get into the video games.

There was that time period where New Day vs The Usos was fantastic... until it was done 10 Million times...

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Apr 2, 2022 0:18:40 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Apr 1, 2022 23:06:50 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Probably the period when London and Kendrick had them for a year entirely because there was no one to defend them against, and yet they still weren't considered important enough to get into the video games.

There was that time period where New Day vs The Usos was fantastic... until it was done 10 Million times...

And then they added The Bar to the mix, and it was cool, until they did all the combinations to death.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Apr 2, 2022 3:30:31 GMT -5 Oh Cry Me a Screwball said:

Apr 2, 2022 0:18:40 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

There was that time period where New Day vs The Usos was fantastic... until it was done 10 Million times...

And then they added The Bar to the mix, and it was cool, until they did all the combinations to death.

Then they added The Bludgeon Brothers, which was cool, then Rowan got hurt... and it was back to square zero.

[Nosnorb]

Apr 1, 2022 22:56:43 GMT -5 smokinvokoun86 said:

Probably between 2010 to 2012 when Team Hell No won it. And that was the first time in a long time there was an interesting storyline that involved the titles.

Looking at the wiki. I have no memory of Cody and Drew being tag champs. But apparently they were. Then David Otunga/Michael McGullicutty…what a barn burner team that was. Air Boom had potential, but all I remember about them is being in that infamous champions photo.

But it does get better by the time Team Hell No won, but god that’s a dire list from 2010 to 2012.

That Otunga/Regular Joe Hennig team was so bad it even sucked in storyline - Jerry Lawler said the team hadn't proved anything and they really needed to.

[Lizuka #BLM]

Apr 1, 2022 22:56:43 GMT -5 smokinvokoun86 said:

Air Boom had potential, but all I remember about them is being in that infamous champions photo.

I mostly remember Sydal's dumb ass getting suspended while champion and being allowed to come back only to then immediately be suspended a second time.

Also they had a poll for the name and for some reason Air Boom won over the far superior Altitude Era.

[Deleted]

Apr 1, 2022 23:06:50 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Probably the period when London and Kendrick had them for a year entirely because there was no one to defend them against, and yet they still weren't considered important enough to get into the video games.

How about Deuce n Domino?

You couldn't promote the game with them that year cause they weren't in it.

[papagiorgio]

The Smoking Gunns, Bodydonnas, and Godwinns period in the mid 90s was bad. In recent times, the Otunga/Axel and Hart Dynasty times were rough. Both teams got made fun of on air.