Post by Spearmint* on Dec 17, 2013 19:52:18 GMT -5
Between giving on-screen tutorials how to download an App and taking selfies, Michael Cole took a moment on commentary to, correctly, note the improved state of the WWE Tag Division.
Is everyone in agreement that we have a good Tag Team division these days? Or do we feel like there is still much work to be done to improve on it further?
I'll take a moment to try and outline each and every Team WWE has to offer currently - as a refresher to anyone still undecided on the matter - below. If you've already made up your mind, feel free to skip it...I'll just pretend I didn't spend a good thirty minutes working on it
The Teams
."Brotherhood" Cody Rhodes and Goldust. Tag Team Since: October 6th 2013. The current champions and the shot of adrenaline that really kick-started on the Tag Team rival. Yes, the titles had previously been on the shoulders of The Shield who are undoubtedly main-event featured talent, but it was the title change into The Brotherhoods hands in a moment-of-the-year contender on Raw October 14th that really turned a lot of heads towards the tag team scene. Its helped that Goldust is performing out of skin in almost every match these guys take part it, but even if that wasn't the case the fact these two are real (i.e not Bubba Ray and Dvon style) brothers helped win over a genuine feel-good wholesome support with the fans.
."The Shield" Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Tag Team Since: November 18th 2012. It does help if you debut by attacking John Cena and it also helps if you're in-ring debut is an instant classic, but make no mistake about it with the level of work rate they bring, The Shield were always going to make it. Two hugely talented in-ring workers, backed but by another in Dean Ambrose, these two were tag team champions for 148 days across 2013. Helping bring validity and importance back to the title belts long since forgotten by Team Hell-No, The Shield have been a massively important factor for the spotlight being cast back on "smart" tag team wrestling.
."The Real Americans" Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro. Tag Team Since: July 1st 2013. Often a last throw of the dice for two superstars struggling for heat is to throw them in a tag team together and hope something good comes out of it, often that doesn't work and the two superstars are never heard from again, but this time its paid off remarkably well. A stable of the IWC diet is to request "old-school managers be brought back to get some heat for the younger guys" and you can see why when you look at Zeb Coulters work for Swagger and Cesaro. Jack Swagger is attracting the kind of crowd reactions that have missed him most of his career and although Cesaro's in-ring talent speaks for itself, its positive he can add "heat magnet" to his CV. They may take most of the pinfalls, but this team are the low-down heels the division needs.
."The Usos" Jimmy and Jay Uso. Tag Team Since: June 8th 2007. The most experienced team by far on the current roster, these two brothers have been teaming together for almost 7 years, however its this year that they've finally gotten the elusive heat from the crowd that was the biggest missing ingredient in their work. Two talented workers, they've been constantly thrown in the tag title hunt over the last six months, and if they carry on connecting with the crowd the way they recently have, it might not be long until they finally get the gold.
."The Wyatt Family" Luke Harper and Erick Rowan.. Tag Team Since: November 7th 2012. After working six months on nXt, The Wyatt family gained quite a strong following from the IWC. They were promoted to the main roster in the Summer of 2013 and have captivated crowds ever since. So far staying away from the tag team title picture, it might not be long until the two big guys from the family turn their heads toward the gold.
."The Prime Time Players" Titus O'Neil and Darren Young. Tag Team Since: February 1st 2012. Constantly on the brink between obsolete Superstars talent and next break out stars, its been a credit to WWE that they haven't already broken up the PTP and have kept faith in the young charismatic team. Their in-ring work has gotten better in recent time, and what with Darren Young gaining some heartfelt public support recently, the PTP may just get that breakout moment and finally earn their million of dollars,million of dollars,million of dollars etc
."Los Matadores" (Unofficially: Primo and Epico). Tag Team Since: (Off Gimmick: November 11th 2011, On Gimmick: September 30th 2013). A repackaged team can sometimes work, and sometimes it can crash and burn. The Jurys out on this one, but sadly it looks like it may be heading towards the burn pile. Talented high flyers though they be, Primo and Epico are still looking for the situation where they can draw the kind of heat to justify another attempt at the titles.
."3MB" (aka "The Union Jacks" aka "The Rhinestone Cowboys" aka "The Fabulous 3Birds" Any Combination of: Heath Slater, Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal. September 23rd 2012. The jobbers of the division, but hey at least they're entertaining vibrant and fun jobbers. Who doesn't love seeing Heath Slater take a finisher anyway?
.Rey Mysterio and Big Show. Tag Team Since: December 15th 2013. A very recent tag-team addition, it remains to be seen if the big'guy'little'guy tag team will stay together or if we are heading for another turn in the road for Big Shows career.
.R-Truth and Xavier Woods. Tag Team Since: November 18th 2013. Known as "Truth and Consequences" in TNA, these two have had a brief history tagging together before. Although it remains to be seen if WWE will keep the pair together for the long run, it is promising to see WWE take a chance on a team made famous in "that other promotion in Orlando"
.Big E Langston and Mark Henry. Tag Team Since: December 16th 2013. Again, tough to know if these two will stay a team. WWE certainly seemed to be suggesting they would be, but who knows whose wig will be split come next week.
. RybAxel.Tag Team Since: November 26th 2013. ... I've got nothing.
FORMER TAG TEAMS OF 2013:
. Tons of Funk - Sweet T and Brodus Clay
. Team Hell No - Daniel Bryan and Kane
. The Beard and The Best - CM Punk and Daniel Bryan
. Team Rhodes Scholars - Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow
. Dolph Ziggler and Big E
So there we go, thats our tag division. What do you think?
Is everyone in agreement that we have a good Tag Team division these days? Or do we feel like there is still much work to be done to improve on it further?
I'll take a moment to try and outline each and every Team WWE has to offer currently - as a refresher to anyone still undecided on the matter - below. If you've already made up your mind, feel free to skip it...I'll just pretend I didn't spend a good thirty minutes working on it
The Teams
."Brotherhood" Cody Rhodes and Goldust. Tag Team Since: October 6th 2013. The current champions and the shot of adrenaline that really kick-started on the Tag Team rival. Yes, the titles had previously been on the shoulders of The Shield who are undoubtedly main-event featured talent, but it was the title change into The Brotherhoods hands in a moment-of-the-year contender on Raw October 14th that really turned a lot of heads towards the tag team scene. Its helped that Goldust is performing out of skin in almost every match these guys take part it, but even if that wasn't the case the fact these two are real (i.e not Bubba Ray and Dvon style) brothers helped win over a genuine feel-good wholesome support with the fans.
."The Shield" Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Tag Team Since: November 18th 2012. It does help if you debut by attacking John Cena and it also helps if you're in-ring debut is an instant classic, but make no mistake about it with the level of work rate they bring, The Shield were always going to make it. Two hugely talented in-ring workers, backed but by another in Dean Ambrose, these two were tag team champions for 148 days across 2013. Helping bring validity and importance back to the title belts long since forgotten by Team Hell-No, The Shield have been a massively important factor for the spotlight being cast back on "smart" tag team wrestling.
."The Real Americans" Jack Swagger and Antonio Cesaro. Tag Team Since: July 1st 2013. Often a last throw of the dice for two superstars struggling for heat is to throw them in a tag team together and hope something good comes out of it, often that doesn't work and the two superstars are never heard from again, but this time its paid off remarkably well. A stable of the IWC diet is to request "old-school managers be brought back to get some heat for the younger guys" and you can see why when you look at Zeb Coulters work for Swagger and Cesaro. Jack Swagger is attracting the kind of crowd reactions that have missed him most of his career and although Cesaro's in-ring talent speaks for itself, its positive he can add "heat magnet" to his CV. They may take most of the pinfalls, but this team are the low-down heels the division needs.
."The Usos" Jimmy and Jay Uso. Tag Team Since: June 8th 2007. The most experienced team by far on the current roster, these two brothers have been teaming together for almost 7 years, however its this year that they've finally gotten the elusive heat from the crowd that was the biggest missing ingredient in their work. Two talented workers, they've been constantly thrown in the tag title hunt over the last six months, and if they carry on connecting with the crowd the way they recently have, it might not be long until they finally get the gold.
."The Wyatt Family" Luke Harper and Erick Rowan.. Tag Team Since: November 7th 2012. After working six months on nXt, The Wyatt family gained quite a strong following from the IWC. They were promoted to the main roster in the Summer of 2013 and have captivated crowds ever since. So far staying away from the tag team title picture, it might not be long until the two big guys from the family turn their heads toward the gold.
."The Prime Time Players" Titus O'Neil and Darren Young. Tag Team Since: February 1st 2012. Constantly on the brink between obsolete Superstars talent and next break out stars, its been a credit to WWE that they haven't already broken up the PTP and have kept faith in the young charismatic team. Their in-ring work has gotten better in recent time, and what with Darren Young gaining some heartfelt public support recently, the PTP may just get that breakout moment and finally earn their million of dollars,million of dollars,million of dollars etc
."Los Matadores" (Unofficially: Primo and Epico). Tag Team Since: (Off Gimmick: November 11th 2011, On Gimmick: September 30th 2013). A repackaged team can sometimes work, and sometimes it can crash and burn. The Jurys out on this one, but sadly it looks like it may be heading towards the burn pile. Talented high flyers though they be, Primo and Epico are still looking for the situation where they can draw the kind of heat to justify another attempt at the titles.
."3MB" (aka "The Union Jacks" aka "The Rhinestone Cowboys" aka "The Fabulous 3Birds" Any Combination of: Heath Slater, Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal. September 23rd 2012. The jobbers of the division, but hey at least they're entertaining vibrant and fun jobbers. Who doesn't love seeing Heath Slater take a finisher anyway?
.Rey Mysterio and Big Show. Tag Team Since: December 15th 2013. A very recent tag-team addition, it remains to be seen if the big'guy'little'guy tag team will stay together or if we are heading for another turn in the road for Big Shows career.
.R-Truth and Xavier Woods. Tag Team Since: November 18th 2013. Known as "Truth and Consequences" in TNA, these two have had a brief history tagging together before. Although it remains to be seen if WWE will keep the pair together for the long run, it is promising to see WWE take a chance on a team made famous in "that other promotion in Orlando"
.Big E Langston and Mark Henry. Tag Team Since: December 16th 2013. Again, tough to know if these two will stay a team. WWE certainly seemed to be suggesting they would be, but who knows whose wig will be split come next week.
. RybAxel.Tag Team Since: November 26th 2013. ... I've got nothing.
FORMER TAG TEAMS OF 2013:
. Tons of Funk - Sweet T and Brodus Clay
. Team Hell No - Daniel Bryan and Kane
. The Beard and The Best - CM Punk and Daniel Bryan
. Team Rhodes Scholars - Cody Rhodes and Damien Sandow
. Dolph Ziggler and Big E
So there we go, thats our tag division. What do you think?
