I RANK THE 28 GREATEST TAG TEAMS IN WRESTLING HISTORY

28. THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS

Though they often shuffled the members of the team, The Midnight Express dominated tag team wrestling for well over a decade. Their in-ring work was remarkable – particularly with the tandem of Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey. They also had one of the best managers the business has seen in Jim Cornette. Their rivalry with The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express is iconic, with the duos putting together memorable matches that have withstood the test of time.

27. THE DUDLEY BOYZ

There aren’t too many tag teams in history that have sported more gold in their careers than the Dudley Boyz. Bubba Ray and D’Von Dudley were dominant throughout the early 90’s into the new millennium, capturing 18 tag team championships during their collective tenure between ECW and WWE. Their patented 3D (Dudley Death Drop) stands with moves like the Stone Cold Stunner and the Rock Bottom as one of the most iconic finishing maneuvers in pro wrestling during that era. They were hard hitting and unapologetic – the perfect representation of ECW.

26. EDGE & CHRISTIAN

The background for both of these tremendous competitors is what made this tag team so great. Having been lifetime best friends, Edge and Christian broke into the WWE at roughly the same time as a part of Gangrel’s Brood. The pair would eventually break away from their vampire roots and form what would become one of the most decorated tag teams in sports entertainment history. Edge and Christian were the heels you loved to hate, but ended up cheering for anyway. Their hilarious “five-second poses” and devastating Con-Chair-To’s made for some historic moments. The pair’s eventual breakup led to two great singles’ careers, further proving the notion that individual stars can make a fantastic tag team.

25. THE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL EXPRESS

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express were THE tag team in the South during the 80’s. Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson formed a terrific tandem, chock-full of charisma and wrestling talent. Originally put together by Jerry “The King” Lawler, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express gained a ton of steam in the Mid-South before joining Jim Crockett Promotions (before it became WCW). Morton and Gibson captured the NWA World Tag Team Championship 4-times during their stint. They pioneered tag team wrestling — bringing the division to new heights with their incredible athleticism and chemistry.

24. THE HARDY BOYZ

Originally used as jobbers in the WWE, real life brothers Matt and Jeff Hardy rose from obscurity to become a top act in the company. The pair of high flyers galvanized audiences with their daredevil-like tendencies and boyish charm. The Hardy Boyz weren’t afraid to put their bodies on the line to entertain, and audiences took a strong liking in that mentality. Alongside the Dudley Boyz and Edge and Christian, the Hardys helped create the “TLC” match with their performances at SummerSlam 2000 and WrestleMania X-Seven. They’ve been top solo stars, and have reinvented themselves multiple times. Matt and Jeff are still going strong today as a part of WWE’s Monday Night Raw.

23. THE NEW DAY

We can’t have a list of top tag teams without including the longest reigning Tag Team Champions in WWE history. This boisterous trio comprised of Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods debuted in 2014, and are still going strong today. Originally conceptualized as a baby face act, it wasn’t until The New Day resorted to ‘heel’ tactics that they started winning fans over. Since then, they’ve reverted back to the good side, and have droves of fans from all age groups. Anytime there’s a cereal with the team members faces on it, you know you’ve made it.

22. THE YOUNG BUCKS

Supremely athletic brothers Matt and Nick Jackson have set the independent scene ablaze with their hilarious antics and great in-ring ability. Their work both in ROH and New Japan Pro Wrestling has made them household names around the wrestling community. They’ve innovated moves that nobody else could even dream of doing (see: Meltzer Driver). The Young Bucks are proving time and time again that you can have a highly-successful professional wrestling career outside of the WWE.

21. THE ROCK ‘N’ SOCK CONNECTION

Although they weren’t consistently featured in matches as a unit (Cagematch.net has a record of 21 in total), there’s no denying the impact these two enigmatic stars had on the Attitude Era. The Rock (future WWE Hall of Famer, gigantic acting star) and Mick Foley (current WWE Hall of Famer, best-selling author) were a perfect match for each other. They were a bit of an odd-couple, but were equally entertaining in their own unique ways.

20. BROTHERS OF DESTRUCTION

Bonus points are awarded here for having one of the coolest tag teams in the business. Kane was introduced as Undertaker’s “brother” — debuting at In Your House in 1997. The appearance spawned a historically great rivalry between the two competitors. Over the years, the not-really-brothers have battled it out against each other — though there have been times when the two have formed a daunting tag team. The athletic giants had the ability to face teams like Edge & Christian one week, and then Viscera and The Big Show the next. That sort of versatility made them special.

19. THE NATURAL DISASTERS

The quaintly named “Natural Disasters” were made up of Earthquake and Typhoon. Uninspiring nicknames aside, these beasts were quite impressive in the ring. Their sheer size made them believable monsters, as the duo utilized basic splashes and sentons as their main offensive weapons. The Natural Disasters had classic feuds with some of the best tag teams during the early 90’s, including spats with the Legion of Doom and Money Inc.

18. MONEY INC.

The heel tag team Money Inc. is the perfect example of two fantastic gimmicks coming together to make something even better. “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase loved flaunting his money around, regularly paying audience members in attendance to do ridiculous acts such as kissing his shoe. Irwin R. Shyster was an IRS tax collector that harassed opponents and fans alike for failing to pay their taxes. The money-centric personas worked perfectly, and their individual skills were still able to shine.

17. LOS GUERREROS

The Guerrero family has wrestling in their blood, and this tandem featured two of the top members in the lineage. Eddie and Chavo were excellent workers — able to seamlessly shift between baby faces and despicable heels. Riding into matches in a low-rider convertible made them that much cooler. No matter how much they “lied, cheated, and stole,” you couldn’t help but love this great team.

16. KINGS OF WRESTLING

Before both starring in the WWE, Cesaro and Kassius Ohno ran the independent circuit together as the Kings of Wrestling. Back when they were known as Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Hero, the talented twosome captured tag team gold in ROH and Chikara. Their dynamic offensive attack — coupled with their elite athleticism and size — earned them a Tag Team of the Year award in 2010 by Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Fans of the tag team can still hold out hope that these two cross paths again during their WWE careers.

15. THE ROCKERS

The Rockers may go down as the greatest WWE tag team to have never won the championship titles. Their quick, fast-paced style was a welcomed change during an era of wrestling in which fans were used to seeing big, bruising power lifters. When Michaels and Janetty debuted with their high-flying style around the ring, they instantly became crowd favorites. Their eventual break-up was unforgettable, and sprouted one of the greatest singles careers in pro wrestling history.

14. HARLEM HEAT

From one set of brothers to another, real life siblings Booker T and Stevie Ray were a force in the WCW as the tag team “Harlem Heat.” Let’s try to forget about their ridiculous red-colored attire, as these two physical athletes from Houston could truly wrestle at a high level. These two were intense both inside the ring and outside. Booker T was a natural in front of the camera, delivering emphatic promos with regularity. They captured the WCW World Tag Team Championship 10 times, and were honored by Pro Wrestling Illustrated as the Tag Team of the Year in both 1995 and 1996.

13. THE WILD SAMOANS

Although it would be difficult to maintain the Wild Samoan’s gimmick in today’s day and age, it worked wonders during their time period. The duo rarely talked in promos, but were wildly entertaining in the ring. The group comprised of Afa and Sika, two legends in the Samoan wrestling community. During their time as a tag team, the Wild Samoans captured tag team gold in over ten different companies. Their induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 only further proves their impact upon the wrestling world.

12. THE VON ERICHS

More of a stable than a traditional tag team; the Von Erichs are a family of wrestlers that have been around the business for multiple generations. Their rise to prominence however can be partly attributed to the tag team of Kerry and Kevin Von Erich. Kerry was one of the top talents of the NWA during the 1980’s, holding countless titles including six reigns as one-half of the Tag Team Champions. Kevin was a star in his own right, winning the NWA American Heavyweight Championship five times. Along with their father (Fritz Von Erich), the family even helped pioneer the Six-Man Tag Team Division — an enormous feat for professional wrestling.

11. DEMOLITION

Before The New Day broke the record in 2016, Demolition held the distinction of being the longest reigning Tag Team Champions in WWE history. Using a gimmick drawn from the movie Mad Max, the tandem of Ax and Smash ran rampant on the tag team division in the late 80’s to early 90’s. Demolition were the consummate powerhouses, quickly dispatching their foes to the delight of the WWE fan base. They were tough and rugged, and served as excellent rivals for the Brain Busters and the Colossal Connection.

10. THE FABULOUS FREEBIRDS

We can’t have the Von Erichs on this list without mentioning their biggest rivals, The Fabulous Freebirds. Led by smooth talking Michael P.S. Hayes, the Freebirds were the heel group in the South during the 80’s. Hayes – alongside Buddy Roberts and Terry Gordy – tore up Mid South Wrestling, showcasing their incredible charisma and terrific technical ability. Their influence is felt even to this day, as teams that defend their titles using a rotation of members exercise the “Freebird rule.”

9. THE BRITISH BULLDOGS

Talk about thunder and lightning. Davey Boy Smith brought the power and physique, while Dynamite Kid brought the agility and explosion. The blend of their unique styles made for a perfectly contrasted tag team, and served as a launching pad for both of their illustrious careers. The UK-born duo were enormously popular in the WWE as well as Canadian promotion Stampede Wrestling. Their special tandem offense set the bar for tag teams, establishing the standard for “big guy/little guy” teams that followed.

8. THE BRAIN BUSTERS

Just like their name would suggest, The Brain Busters were a vicious tandem that enjoyed inflicting pain on their opponents. Tough customers Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard were top stars in the NWA. The duo won the NWA Tag Team Championships twice during their run together, and eventually made the move to the WWE in 1988. Using the same name (keeping the same name over multiple companies was a rarity during this time); the Brain Busters debuted with managing wizard Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. For their excellent work in both companies, Anderson and Blanchard were enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.

7. THE HART FOUNDATION

Despite their bright-colored wrestling gear and heart-themed attire, the Hart Foundation were a hard-nosed tag team priding themselves in excellent in-ring work. Bret Hart is certainly one of the greatest wrestling talents we’ve seen. His offensive innovation and precision made him a top star in the WWE for a decade. Partner Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart’s pure power was a nice complement to The Hitman’s technical style. The group eventually grew in numbers, adding Bret’s Brother Owen Hart, The British Bulldog and even Brian Pillman to the mix. It was the original duo though that started it all.

6. THE ROAD WARRIORS/LEGION OF DOOM

Regardless of which name they were working under, The Road Warriors (or Legion of Doom) stand as the most iconic tag team in the history of pro wrestling. The 2-time WWE Tag Team Champions and 4-time PWI Tag Team of the Year were a dominant force in the tag division across multiple federations. Their creative and brutal finisher – the Doomsday Device – changed the way teams approached and viewed tandem offense. Fans became enamored with The Road Warriors’ intense promos, impressive physiques, and captivating managers that included Paul Ellering and Sunny.

5. THE STEINER BROTHERS

It’s a bit strange seeing Scott Steiner with a clean-cut and shave, but the Michigan All-American was still a physical freak in the 90’s while tagging with his brother Rick. The Steiner Brothers looked like they were both chiseled from granite, utilizing their high-level athletic backgrounds as springboards to great pro wrestling careers. Although the brothers found success as singles competitors, they will be best remembered for their work as a tandem.

4. THE SHIELD

Three individually great NXT stars surprisingly formed together to make the most dominant stable in the past decade. The Shield debuted with a bang — as Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns started out as “body guards” for CM Punk. They would go on to have a lengthy undefeated streak, and become one of the hottest acts in the business. After eventually disbanding in 2014, the three gifted athletes would all have successful singles careers. There’s still some hope for this team to move even further up this leaderboard — as Rollins and Ambrose have begun teaming up again. The duo currently holds the Raw Tag Team belts.

3. THE OUTSIDERS

Kevin Nash and Scott Hall have made up the Outsiders for the better part of two decades now, loaning their talent to multiple federations in the process. Both Nash and Hall (aka Diesel and Razor Ramon) were working for the WWE during the mid-1990’s. In 1996, both stars departed for the WCW — setting up an “invasion” of sorts. The duo signing with WWE’s rival company helped spur what would later be known as the Monday Night Wars. Nash and Hall began using their real names, and developed a habit of blurring the lines between reality and storyline. Anything form of 4th wall breaking you see today – from CM Punk’s pipe bomb to John Cena and Roman Reigns’ recent promo – can be partly credited to the Outsiders.

2. NEW AGE OUTLAWS

The New Age Outlaws are the gold-standard example of two individual wrestlers being thrown together (because the WWE had nothing else for them to do), and it working out absolutely brilliantly. Road Dogg was a maestro on the microphone, having crowds in every arena reciting his opening monologue in unison along with him. Billy Gunn was an excellent in-ring worker, and boasted the prototype professional wrestler body. Their inclusion in the second incarnation of DX was imperative to that stables success.

1. D-GENERATION X

Shawn Michaels makes the list for a second time – this time with his buddy Triple H. D-Generation X was the perfect rebel group of the 90’s, and served as the WWE’s answer to WCW’s New World Order. A bit like the NWO, DX eventually grew in numbers, with Triple H focusing on singles matches and the New Age Outlaws holding down the tag team division. Still, we remember the group’s first incarnation with HBK and The Game telling everybody to ‘suck it.’ They were great together, and even better when battling against each other.