Hall of Fame Hopefuls – Part One: Tag Teams

Hall of Fame Hopefuls
Part One: Tag Teams
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty

Forgive me for being festive my wrestling brothers and sisters, but I'm in a joyous mood! I always like to say that wrestling is my religion—sort of jokingly, but there's no greater display of my dedication than during Wrestlemania season. Fastlane was the last stop on the "Road to Wrestlemania," a course set to shred the sports entertainment landscape all the way to Santa Clara, California. One of the most enjoyable evenings during the week-long festivities of Wrestlemania is of course the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Although considered by many to be a political gathering of Vince McMahon's closest friends, the Hall of Fame is a night where the WWE Superstars relinquish their spotlight to honor the iconic legends of yesteryear. With over 120 inductees since 1993, only SIX tag teams have ever been added! I thought that was sort of strange, so I compiled a list of TEN renowned wrestling duos whom I feel deserve credit for their contributions to "Sports Entertainment."

The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers
Members: Raymond Rougeau & Jacques Rougeau
Some of the greatest tag teams in history have been family, so it's no surprise that the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers are still remembered nearly 30 years after their WWF debut. Raymond and Jacques were from the Great White North, where their family controlled the highly lucrative Montreal wrestling territory until it was absorbed by the World Wrestling Federation. The brothers debuted together in the late 1970s and were signed by Vince McMahon in 1986. Originally brought in as white-meat babyfaces, the French-Canadians did little to win over their American audiences, and quickly became a pair of detestable heels. The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers never held the WWF tag team championship belts, but they did engage in memorable programs against legendary teams such the British Bulldogs, the Hart Foundation, and the Killer Bees, and even competed at Wrestlemania. Following their run as tag team competitors, Ray Rougeau found a new home behind the French broadcast desk. His brother however, would go on to earn greater accolades than ever before—finally winning the tag team titles alongside Pierre Ouellet, as well as the coveted intercontinental championship during his time as the Mountie. Although the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers never enjoyed the same success as some of their contemporaries, their contributions to the industry are greatly appreciated, as was their insanely catchy theme music. Let's hope these "All American Boys" can find their way into the WWE Hall of Fame sometime in the near future.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express
Members: Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson
One of the most iconic wrestling tandems in history is a duo of singles competitors that might never have met, had another tag team not gotten over in the way that they did. Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson were a pair of high-flying adrenaline junkies who helped develop the faster pace of the 1980s. In 1983, longtime promotor and world champion Jerry "The King" Lawler booked Morton and Gibson as an alternate to the wildly popular Fabulous Ones . Soon enough, the Rock �N' Roll Express surpassed the mold in which they were sculpted and carved out a legacy of their own. The �Express is considered by many to be the greatest tag team in history, perhaps hindered only by their lackluster run in WWF. During their time together, Morton and Gibson won the NWA world tag team titles on four separate occasions, and set the bar with an unprecedented TEN title runs in Smoky Mountain Wrestling. The Rock �N' Roll Express still leaves the station now and again, having made their mark in the NWA/WCW, WWF, ECW, WWC, SMW, USWA, AWA and dozens more around the world. They might not be the greatest team in WWE History , but the Rock �N' Roll Express is certainly worthy of being added to the illustrious WWE Hall of Fame.

The Fabulous Freebirds
Members: Michael "PS" Hayes; Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy; Buddy "Jack" Roberts; Jimmy "Jam" Garvin
If you're wondering why there are four names, you might be surprised to learn that the Fabulous Freebirds revolutionized the rules of tag team wrestling, by creating what's commonly referred to as the "Freebird Rule." When the group took possession of a tag team championship, any two members of the group were allowed to defend the belts interchangeably. The �Freebirds began as a trio comprised of Michael "PS" Hayes, Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy, and Buddy "Jack" Roberts. Eventually they would grow to include Jimmy "Jam" Garvin, and created a legacy which spanned several promotions including the AWA, WCCW, UWF, NWA, WWF and WCW. The �Birds were awarded championships in a variety of territories, but were most highly-regarded for their work in World Class Championship Wrestling down in Dallas. In addition to wrestling, the Fabulous Freebirds fancied themselves a group of songwriters, and recorded a few original anthems such as "Badstreet, U.S.A." The group splintered away from one another throughout the years, with the final incarnation of Hayes and Garvin going their separate ways when Michael "PS" Hayes became Dok Hendrix with the WWF. Since then both Terry Gordy and Buddy Roberts have passed, in 2001 and 2012 respectively, leaving but two living members to accept the honor, should the WWE decide the Fabulous Freebirds belong in the Hall of Fame.

Harlem Heat
Members: Booker T & Stevie Ray
Another set of siblings made famous by their tag team acumen are the 10-time WCW world tag team champions Booker T and Stevie Ray—Harlem Heat. They made their debut in 1989, wrestling under their real names before earning their reputation as the Ebony Experience. They were signed by World Championship Wrestling in the early-to-mid �90s where they were renamed Harlem Heat and positioned with Colonel Rob Parker. By the end of 1994, Harlem Heat captured the WCW world tag titles for the very first time. Both Booker and Stevie had successful singles careers following their eventual split; Stevie Ray became the new leader of NWO Black and White as well as a heel faction with Ahmed Johnson and Clarence Mason called "Harlem Heat 2000." Booker T and Stevie Ray each held the world television championship, but Booker did something his big brother never could—he became WCW world heavyweight champion. Booker is already a member of the Hall of Fame due-in-part to his stellar career with the WWE, but also thanks to his extraordinary success as a tag team competitor. Harlem Heat is quite possibly the best tag team in WCW history, but their legacy will forever be held in limbo until the WWE inducts them as a duo.

The New Age Outlaws
Members: The Road Dogg & Billy Gunn
The number one tag team during my childhood was the impractical pairing of the "Road Dogg" Jesse James and "Bad-ass" Billy Gunn. The New Age Outlaws arrived on the scene just as the WWF had all-but given up on two undesirable characters—"Rockabilly" and the "Roadie." The �Outlaws were infused with the same Attitude for which the WWF would soon be known—wearing South Park t-shirts, talking about marijuana, and making sexually explicit gestures became part of their routine on a nightly basis. Billy Gunn was already a proven tag team specialist, and provided the athletic edge, while the Road Dogg functioned as their colorful mouthpiece. In lieu of traditional pre-recorded theme music, Jesse James used their entrance as an opportunity to work the crowd with his refined verbal abilities. In 1998, the New Age Outlaws joined Triple H, X-Pac and Chyna for the second generation of Degeneration X. The �Outlaws won the tag titles five times during their initial run, and once more nearly 15 years later in 2014. Despite a short hiatus while working with TNA, both men are WWE employees once again; Billy Gunn is a trainer for the WWE Performance Center and Brian "Jesse the Road Dogg" James is a producer for Monday Night Raw. No matter what you think of their presentation between the ropes, nobody can deny the fact that the New Age Outlaws were the most popular tag team during the Attitude Era, which is most certainly Hall of Fame-worthy.

The Steiner Brothers
Members: Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner
The first tag team in history to win the WCW, WWF and IWGP titles were Detroit-natives Rick and Scott Rechsteiner, otherwise known as the Steiner Brothers. After competing at the collegiate level, Rick and Scott decided to try their hand at professional wrestling. They made their professional debut in 1989 and would go on to become the NWA/WCW tag team champions seven times. Through WCW's working relationship with New Japan, the brothers were afforded the chance to travel overseas and on two occasions captured the coveted IWGP heavyweight tag team titles. The Steiner Brothers signed with Vince McMahon in 1992 and made their WWF pay-per-view debut at the Royal Rumble 1993. The Steiners won the WWF tag straps twice, but left the company in 1994 shortly after Scott failed to qualify for that year's King of the Ring. They spent the better part of 1995 working for Paul Heyman in Extreme Championship Wrestling, and in 1996 returned home to WCW. Both brothers were the penultimate champions of WCW; Rick dropped his U.S. heavyweight belt at WCW Greed, and Scott lost his world championship just one week later on the last episode of Nitro. Both men relinquished their gold to Booker T. The Steiners have had an historic career that's lasted nearly 30 years and continues to play out on the independent scene today. Maybe the next time Wrestlemania goes to Michigan, we might expect to see the "Dog Faced Gremlin" and the "Big Bad Booty Daddy."

The Dudley Boyz
Members: Bubba Ray Dudley & Devon Dudley
They've been called the most decorated team in professional wrestling history, and it doesn't take more than a minute's worth of research to understand why. Devon and Bubba were originally cast as two members of an ECW stable that also included Spike, Big Dick, Sign Guy, and several others. But it was the synchronistic style of Devon and his "brother" Bubba Ray that wowed audiences and achieved championship accolades all around the world. Their accomplishments are comprised of nearly two dozen distinct title reigns including eight ECW, nine WWE, two TNA, two IWGP, one NWA, and one WCW. The Dudley Boyz are regarded as trailblazers in tag team ladder match competition, and helped introduce the entire world to a concept known simply as "Tables, Ladders, and Chairs." Although they're considered strict tag team wrestlers, both Bubba and Devon have had their share of singles success in the WWE, as well as in TNA. Last month, Bubba Ray Dudley shocked the world when he entered the Royal Rumble at number three, eliminating R Truth and the Miz before being sent over the top rope himself. After nearly a decade working for the number TWO promotion in America, it appears Bubba Ray has finally returned home. Does that mean Devon is also on good terms with the WWE? And if so, when can we expect to see these TNA Hall of Famers honored by the WWE?

The Hart Foundation
Members: Bret "The Hitman" Hart & Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart
Bret "The Hitman" Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006, but might never have become a household name if it wasn't for his brother-in-law. When Bret burst onto the scene, he was "saddled" with the identity of a cowboy, with plans in place for him to ride a horse to the ring. Bret argued against the character, and instead petitioned to work with his sister's husband, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Vince McMahon was against the idea because he didn't feel Bret possessed the right skillset to convey the evil intentions of a heel. Months later, the WWF finally gave him what he wanted, and booked him alongside both Neidhart and "Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart. The Hart Foundation made their pay-per-view debut at Wrestlemania 2, competing in the 20-man battle royal. The Hart Foundation's greatest rivalry would be against their real-life relatives, the British Bulldogs. The Hart Foundation beat the �Bulldogs on February 7, 1987 to win their first tag team championship. After ten months on top, the Hart Foundation dropped their belts to Strike Force. Bret and Jim turned �face during their dispute with the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers, and eventually split following Wrestlemania 7. The Hart Foundation lasted longer than most WWF tag teams and made history on several occasions against the biggest names in the sport. Bret might already have a Hall of Fame ring, but he's due another so that this legendary tag team may be properly honored.

Demolition
Members: Ax & Smash
It was Steve Jobs who said, "Good artists copy, great artists steal." The WWF has always been regarded as the pinnacle proving-ground for top-drawing talent. Look at the WCW roster in the mid-to-late �90s— ALL former competitors from the World Wrestling Federation. But that isn't to say Vince McMahon hasn't "borrowed" ideas from other promotors throughout the years, most notably his vain attempt at recreating the Road Warriors. In 1987, Animal and Hawk were signed to World Championship Wrestling, the flagship promotion for the National Wrestling Alliance. Fearing he may never get the chance to reap the rewards of the Road Warriors, McMahon opted to craft his own version and introduced the world to Demolition that very same year. Bill Eadie portrayed the hulking powerhouse Ax, while Barry Darsow competed under the name Smash. The pair was booked with Mr. Fuji as their manager, and quickly climbed the ranks of the tag team roster. Ax and Smash won the WWF tag titles from "Strike Force" at Wrestlemania IV and held them a record-setting 478 days before being defeated by Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. During their first title reign, Demolition turned babyface and feuded with their former manager Fuji and the "Powers of Pain." Both Bill Eadie and Barry Darsow enjoyed longevity as singles performers, but it was as the leather-clad, silver-studded, face-painted Demolition, that either man will always been remembered. Regardless of whether they started in the shadow of the Road Warriors, Demolition created an identity of their own, and deserve recognition for their unprecedented run on top of the WWF tag division.

The British Bulldogs
Members: Davey Boy Smith & The Dynamite Kid
During the early 1970s, David Smith was an aspiring professional wrestler, working throughout the European territory system with his cousin Tom Billington. After years of working side-by-side, the duo was drafted to Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Alberta. It was there that the real-life cousins were torn apart and made to work against one another, culminating in what was perhaps the BIGGEST program in Stampede history. The quality of their work was so impressive that it attracted eyes from yet-another ocean away, this time in the "Land of the Rising Sun." They brought their battles to New Japan where their rivalry heated up due to the presence of the IWGP junior heavyweight championship. Their feud was incredibly controversial for the time, revolving around whether or not David was a "test tube baby," however the two managed to squash their beef just in time to win the Stampede International tag team championship. They were dubbed the "British Bulldogs" and continued to defend their titles until the WWF bought-out the original Stampede Wrestling, as well as dozens of talent contracts in 1984. The �Bulldogs debuted for the WWF that year and were named "Tag Team of the Year" by the Wrestling Observer in 1985. Smith went on to enjoy a mildly successful singles career, calling himself the "British Bulldog." He was the first-ever WWF European champion, as well as a multiple-time tag team champion. There are quite a few loyal fans lobbying for Davey Boy's inclusion in the Hall of Fame, and I'm most certainly one of them. But where does that leave Tom Billington? I suggest both �Bulldogs have earned their rightful spots in the annals of Sports Entertainment history, and would very much like to see David Hart Smith return to do the honors of inducting both his dad and the "Dynamite Kid."

What do you think? Did I list some of your favorite tag teams, or am I completely off-base? If you're curious about other "Hall of Fame Hopefuls," then you won't want to miss my next installment suggesting some serious CELEBRITY induction scenarios. Until then, this has been Mark Adam Haggerty for Cheap-Heat.com, inviting you to "Like" and follow me on Facebook by searching "Mark Haggerty's Pro Wrestling."