Wrestlemania Rankings - The Tag Team Titles

The countdown to Wrestlemania continues with a look at at the best matches for the Tag Team Titles being counted down. The upcoming title unification bout between Miz and Morrison against the Colons is going to be the 21st tag team title match, and to be honest, I think that it has a legitimate potential to be in the Top 3 all time.

Here are it's contenders...

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#20.
Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett (c) vs. D'Lo Brown and Test
Wrestlemania XV
First Union Center
Philadelphia, PA

Such a shame that a match with four talented workers can be ranked so low, but them's the breaks. See the back story to this match was pretty negligible. Owen and Jarrett were without a challenger (since Mark Henry had suffered an injury, thus leaving D'Lo without a partner), as such, the WWE decided to have a special battle royal during the pre-show with the last two finalists getting to challenge for the title, thus the random pairing of D'Lo and Test. The match was very short and unspectacular, with the champions retaining after the challengers continued to fight. Given the talent in this match, it could have been great with more time or more of a story, but sadly it lacked both, and remains a boring and sad footnote on Wrestlemania history.

#19.
Money Inc. (c) vs. The Natural Disasters

Wrestlemania VIII
Hoosier Dome
Indianapolis, IL

A sad addition to one of my favourite events of all time. The super team of Ted Dibiase and IRS were running rough-shot over the tag team division. The Natural Disasters of Earthquake and Typhoon seemed like logical opponents. However, even the veterans of Dibiase and Rotunda couldn't pull a great match out of the big lugs, and gave us a slow, plodding affair. Worst of all, the champions walked out for an intentional countout in a pretty low and boring move.

#18.
The Smoking Gunns (c) vs. Owen Hart and Yokozuna
Wrestlemania XI
Hartford Civic Center
Hartford, CT

The match was originally billed as Owen Hart and a "Mystery Partner" challenging The Smoking Gunns. While at the time, it seemed like Jim Niedhart would be the most logical partner, it ended up being the 500lb former world champion. The match was essentially an extended squash as the challengers simply manhandled the Smoking Gunns. The match was a rather slow and uneventful affair, with the only worthwhile moment coming after the finish of the match when Owen Hart celebrated like he won the World Title, Academy Award and Super Bowl all at once.

#17.
The Colossal Connection (c) vs. Demolition
Wrestlemania VI
Skydome
Toronto, Ontario

Demolition were a very good tag team, and both members of The Colossal Connection, Andre the Giant and Haku had their share of good matches, but this was certainly not the time or the place. Andre the Giant was at the end of the line, and he very clearly knew it. He did not step into the ring, as Haku spent the entire match in the ring. This was simply an excuse to get the title off of The Colossal Connection and to turn Andre face, so that he could fade off into retirement soon after. A sentimental affair, but not much more than that.

#16.
The Quebecers (c) vs. M.O.M.
Wrestlemania X
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

You have to hand it to these guys, as this was probably the best match that these two teams were capable of, certainly with a count-out finish. That being said, it really wasn't that great, with the double suplex of Mabel being the high point of the match. As with most of this card, it really served as filler between the big matches.

#15.
Fatal Four Way Match:
Rob Van Dam and Booker T (c) vs. La Resistance
vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. Garrison Cade and Mark Jindrak
Wrestlemania XX
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

Speaking of filler, we have the very definition of it here. This match was randomly announced, with the three challengers having to qualify a few weeks before the event. This match was short and largely forgettable. Thankfully though, the team that was far too good for this match ended up winning.

#14.
Money Inc. (c) vs. The Mega Maniacs
Wrestlemania IX
Ceaser's Palace
Las Vegas, NV

If you want to see why this card is so despised look no further. This was easily the second best match of the night, and see where it ranks on this list. This was Hogan's big return to challenge the evil heel tag champions with his good friend Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake. This match was heavily hyped with the crowd being really into it. That being said, the lame disqualification finish did nothing for me, and made me feel like I was wasting my time.

#13.
Fatal Four Way Match:
Rikishi and Scotty Too Hotty (c) vs. APA
vs. The Basham Brothers vs. World's Greatest Tag Team

Wrestlemania XX
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

Wrestlemania XX was the only card to see both the WWE Tag and World Tag titles defended (since the World Tag Title match at XIX was on the pre-show) and neither of them had much in the way of back-story to them, and neither of them were very good. Chances are, these matches being what they were no doubt helped lead to the creation of the Money in the Bank match taking palce the next year as a way to get the mid to upper card wrestlers a place on the card.

This match was marginally better than the other one, and that was mostly due to the portion of the match when Haas and Benjamin controlled the offense. The champs retained in this match, in yet another bland match that was not much to write home about.

#12.
The US Express (c) vs. The Iron Shiek and Nikolai Volkoff
Wrestlemania
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

Fine little match that the crowd was firmly behind. The very pro-America tag team champions defended against the common foes of the Soviets and the Iranians (note: Wrestling has never fully matched the real world of geo-politics). However, the heels were able to pull of a huge upset of a victory, which nearly sent the crowd into a riot. Like the Maniacs-Money Inc. match, the crowd helps pull this one up a few spots.

#11.
Kane and The Big Show (c) vs. Chris Masters and Carlito
Wrestlemania 22
All State Arena
Chicago, IL

The only match on this list that I previously mentioned. Not the greatest match at all, and I fully believe that the wrong team won here. Not much to add that I didn't mention already. Hopefully Carlito can deliver more this year!


(EDITOR'S NOTE: Here is an infamous break point, as the matches above here get considerably better)

#10.
Handicap Match
Demolition (c) vs. The Powers of Pain and Mr. Fuji
Wrestlemania V
Trump Plaza
Atlantic City, NJ

Fun little match, as the face champions, Demolition, fought against their old manager and his new clients in a handicap match. The build to this match is one of the few times that the WWE has been able to pull of a double turn successfully and they deserve to be commended here. The finish to the match came as Fuji got stuck in the ring with Demolition, only to be hit with the Decapitation Device, for the victory. While not a classic, this was fun, harmless, and had a satisfying ending.

#9.
Four Way Elimination Match:
Billy and Chuck (c) vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. APA vs. The Dudley Boyz
Wrestlemania X8
Skydome
Toronto, Ontario

Unlike the Wrestlemania XX matches, this would be an elimination match. This match started out decent enough, with all teams running around and hitting their big moves, but after the rapid-fire eliminations of the APA and the Dudleyz, the quality dropped. Like the Wrestlemania XX matches, the champs retained, and also like the Wrestlemania XX matches, not much was done as a follow up to this. But a big step up from the XX matches.

#8.
Dumpster Match:
New Age Outlaws (c) vs. Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie
Wrestlemania XIV
Fleet Center
Boston, MA

Essentially a tag-team equivalent of a casket match, as both members of a team had to be thrown into a dumpster and the lid had to be closed. This was in the middle of the New Age Outlaws rise to fame, but just before they joined DX, so they were not quite at mega-star level yet. The crowd was quite into this feud as it had gotten rather personal, since the Outlaws had severely injured both Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie. The match was a great hardcore style encounter, with all four men pulling out some fan hardcore spots. The finish came when the challengers used a forklift to put their opponents into a dumpster backstage. Even though the Outlaws would regain the title the very next night on RAW, the challengers needed a moral victory (like this) on a big stage to give closure to the feud. Well done by all.

#7.
The Hart Foundation (c) vs. The Nasty Boys
Wrestlemania VII
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Los Angeles, CA

The Hart Foundation was seeking revenge against their original manager, Jimmy Hart, who was with his new clients, The Nasty Boys. In a great fast-paced match, Jimmy Hart used his megaphone against a team that had been the beneficiary of those shots more than any other over the course of their career. This would be the last match for the Hart Foundation, as Bret would start his rise to superstardom after this. A solid ending to a great team.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Here is one of the famed splits, as the matches above here are into the very-good to great range)

#6.
Owen Hart and The Brittish Bulldog (c) vs. Mankind and Vader
Wrestlemania 13
Rosemont Horizon
Chicago, IL

Fun match on an otherwise horrendous card. Given the absolute glut of talent involved in this match that really should be of no surprise. This is one of the rare occasions when the WWE has ever really done a heel vs. heel match, certainly at Wrestlemania. They had been teasing a Bulldog face turn (which would have fit nicely), but apparently they wanted to keep Hart and Bulldog as heels so that they could reform the Hart Foundation since Bret was turning heel, so those plans were scrapped at the last minute. The alignments certainly hurt the match, as it made it difficult to cheer for either team, however the worst part was definitely the finish to the match, as it ended in a double countout. That being said, this is easily the best double countout match between two heels that you will ever find.

#5.
Triple Threat Match:
Team Angle (c) vs. Los Guerreros vs. Christ Benoit and Rhyno
Wrestlemania XIX
Safeco Field
Seattle, WA

Great match between six great performers. The champions retained in a wild flurry of a finish, that saw them steal a pin on Chavo Guerrero after he was nailed with a Gore by Rhyno. While it was a touch short, it certainly was a great one. Were this match to take place on a weaker card it would probably be more fondly remembered.

#4.
Strike Force (c) vs. Demolition
Wrestlemania IV
Trump Plaza
Atlantic City, NJ

Demolition kicked off their legendary 478 day reign with a bang in this great match. Both teams played off one another well in one of the few good matches on a long and boring card. A simple, effective big team vs. little team encounter, and certainly well worth a view.

#3.
The Dream Team (c) vs. The British Bulldogs
Wrestlemania 2
Rosemont Horizon
Rosemont, IL

Finally, Wrestlemania 2 gets some praise on this blog! This was easily the best match of the night, as both teams delivered and then some in the main event of the Chicago portion of the evening. This match has one of the most creative finishes ever, as Davey Boy Smith uses his partners head (which was notoriously hard) as a foreign object to lead to a victory.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Like the Intercontinental Title List, this was a clear cut choice between 2 matches. However, unlike the other list, these two matches are remarkably similar)

#2.
Triangle Ladder Match
The Dudley Boyz (c) vs. Edge & Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz
Wrestlemania 2000
Arrowhead Pond
Anaheim, CA

A great match that put all six men on the map, in their Wrestlemania debuts. The men absolutely revolutionized both the ladder match and tag team wrestling, and took it to new heights (quite literally). A great match from start to finish, and it could only be topped by one thing, a rematch.

#1.
TLC II
The Dudley Boyz (c) vs. Edge and Christian vs. The Hardy Boyz
Wrestlemania X-Seven
Astrodome
Houston, TX

Simply put, watch this match. These men took everything that they had done the year before and upped it. While I think that their encounter from Summerslam 2000 was the best of this trilogy, this match is not far behind. The addition of Lita, Spike Dudley, and Rhyno, essentially made this a nine person affair, and only added to the carnage. From Jeff Hardy's super Swanton to Edge's mega spear, this match is full of jaw dropping moments. You can understand why the WWE did not decide to redo this again the following year, since it simply would have been too much, and someone could have gotten seriously injured, thus making this match all the more special.

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If the participants are given enough time and attention, they really can end up in the Top 5, and possibly Top 3 on this list. But I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Until next time,

G


Achieved Posts:

The Openers
The Intercontinental Title
The Tag Team Titles
Celebrities
Extreme Rules
Women's Matches
The Dead Man
The Showstopper
The Main Events