Ranking the WWE Tag Team Division

Did you know that the WWE Tag Team Championship isn't the ORIGINAL WWE world wag title? I don't mean it's been replaced with a gaudy bronze circle that looks more like a subway token than a championship belt. I mean, that's true as well —but the original tag titles were retired in 2010 in favor of a more recent lineage dating back to just 2002. It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment wherein the WWE tag division began its descent and subsequent downward spiral into obscurity, but I'd guess it was around 2005. Duos like Billy & Chuck, La Resistance, the World's Greatest Tag Team, and the Dudleyz helped transition a bustling tag team title scene into the Ruthless Aggression Era , but in 2005 many of those great teams disappeared from television. We are now on the precipice of a Tag Team Revolution in World Wrestling Entertainment. With fourteen fulltime tandems on both the WWE and NXT rosters, the future of tag team wrestling looks bright. Let's take a look at some of the talented young stars who comprise this competitive division—we're Ranking the WWE Tag Team Roster.

Note: I chose NOT to include the Wyatt Family. Perhaps I should have? I consider them more of a stable than a tag team component, but maybe I'm wrong. Let me know what you think.

14. Enzo Amore & Big Cass
Coming in at number fourteen isn't a bad thing when you're listed among a number of household names, as part of the biggest wrestling company in the world . No disrespect to Enzo Amore and Big Cass, but it had to be someone , so why not a team that's currently sidelined due to injuries? Enzo and Cass have made waves since docking in sunny Central Florida and it'll be interesting to see how they adapt, should they ever get promoted to the main roster.

13. The Ascension (1x NXT Tag Team Champions)
The most dominant tag team in the history of NXT has had quite a difficult time adapting to the main roster. But that shouldn't take anything away from the unprecedented 364-day title reign of Konnor and Viktor, known collectively as the Ascension. When the wayward wanderers billed from the "Wasteland " first appeared on Monday Night Raw, they were presented as a throwback to teams like Demolition and the Road Warriors —but that didn't last long. Will the Ascension ever be true contenders to the WWE Tag Team Championship ? It remains to be seen but I would guess not.

12. Los Matadores (1x WWE Tag Team Champions)
Los Matadores—or the Los Matadores as certain WWE personalities refer to them—are probably my least favorite team in the entire WWE. Not only are they colorful and ridiculous, but their gimmick borders on the offensive. Everyone knows there are no bullfighters in Puerto Rico, but did you know the practice has been OUTLAWED since the early 20 ^th century when the United States took possession of the island? The Colon cousins need to ditch the masks pronto and revert to their inherit abilities should they wish to get over.

11. King Barrett & Sheamus
This could be a controversial pick, but Mr. Money in the Bank and the 2015 King of the Ring have been a tag team for almost a month now. Granted that could be all but haze in the ether by the time the next Raw rolls around, but I chose to include them. In addition to their numerous singles' honors, this pair has proved successful during the early stages of their partnership and could be on the way to tag team gold. Something neither man has ever worn.

10. The Hype Bros
Another tricky choice was whether or not to include Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley in the Top Ten . I've been enjoying their character work in recent weeks, but hadn't seen anything in terms of in-ring­ credibility. Ryder is a consummate performer, while Mojo leaves a lot to be desired as far as technique. But somehow they work! Somehow the combination works and both men are better for it. I chose to rank the Hype Bros at number ten because—unlike the aforementioned four teams—I think there's a bright future for Mojo and Zack as a combination.

9. The Vaudevillians (1x NXT Tag Team Champions)
I'm just not really into the Vaudevillians. I've never been one for overly ridiculous antics, and acting like someone out of time is almost as insane as Max Moon being billed from "the Cosmos." I was in attendance at NXT TakeOver Brooklyn when the Vaudevillians defeated Blake and Murphy—perhaps in an attempt at appealing to New York hipsters? I like Simon Gotch and Aiden English. I think they're both highly entertaining performers with a lot of upside. But I'm not sure how far the Vaudevillian routine can go, and therefore have reservations when it comes to debuting the act on the main roster.

8. The Primetime Players (1x WWE Tag Team Champions)
The Primetime Players have had an incredible year when you consider the potential of Titus O'Neill and Darren Young. I know Titus is best friends with Batista and people think he'd make a stellar main event caliber performer—I don't see it. The same can be said for Darren Young, although I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone say he should be in the main event. A world tag team title reign is more than either man could've hoped for, and now it seems the Primetime Players are out to gain the gold for a second time.

7. The Dudleyz (1x WWE Tag Team Champions, 8x World Tag Team Champions)*
The Dudleyz are the most decorated tag team of the modern era and made quite a social media ruckus upon returning to the WWE. In the ten years they've been gone, Bubba Ray and D'Von have been busy collecting tag team honors all around the world. I've never been a huge Dudley fan, and while it's good to see them back, I'd rather the WWE focus on younger talent. But with that being said, it's really cool seeing up-and-coming talent mix it up with the nine time tag team champions. Well—really like 24 times or whatever, right?

*Does Not Include Other Titles from TNA, NWA, ECW, Japan, etc…

6. Blake & Murphy (1x NXT Tag Team Champions)
Coming in at number six are the former NXT Tag Team Champions Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy. The hyper-intensive tandem was introduced as a babyface combination, but soon showed their true colors when they defeated the Lucha Dragons for the coveted belts. Blake and Murphy's coordinated performance between the ropes is spectacular. And with Alexa Bliss keeping an eye on the action from the outside, it's no mystery how Blake and Murphy held onto their belts for 219 days.

5. The Lucha Dragons (1x NXT Tag Team Champions)
The Ascension were the most tyrannical twosome in NXT history. But monarchies crumble, and on September 11 ^th 2014, the Lucha Dragons defeated Konnor and Viktor to become the fifth tag team to wear the NXT gold. In addition to their popular run on NXT , the Lucha Dragons have become popular fan favorites amongst fans of Raw and Smackdown . The �Dragons debuted on the main roster the night after WrestleMania 31 , and went on to take part in the first ever tag team Hell in a Cell match.

4. The Usos (2x WWE Tag Team Champions)
The Usos are carrying forth the family tradition of tag team dominance enjoyed by their father Rikishi and great uncles the Wild Samoans. Jimmy and Jey have been part of the WWE's main roster since 2010 where they've run the gamut from detestable villains to main event babyfaces. In 2014 the Usos were named Pro Wrestling Illustrated 's "Tag Team of the Year," and took the same honor later that year at the WWE Slammy Awards . With two title runs totaling 257 days, the Usos are ranked fourth, not just on this countdown, but in regard to longest reigning WWE tag team champions ever.

3. Jason Jordan & Chad Gable
My favorite team across both rosters is the incredibly agile and precision-based tandem of Jason Jordan and Chad Gable. Jordan has had a rough go since signing with WWE; a developmental wrestler since 2011, he's had his up's and down's with very little in terms of mainstream success. After splitting from Tye Dillinger, Jordan was scouted by amateur wrestler and former Olympian Chad Gable. The two have been highly impressive since combining forces, and even made it to the semi-finals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic . The question isn't if Jordan and Gable will win tag team gold—but when?

2. Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson (1x & Current NXT Tag Team Champions)
The top two spots on this countdown are reserved for teams that currently carry gold en route to the squared circle. Coming in at number two are the newly crowned NXT Tag Team Champions Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson. Often called Dawson and Dash—or Dash and Dawson —the duo debuted as the Mechanics in the summer of 2014, and quickly rose through the ranks of the tag team division. Along with Jordan & Gable and Blake & Murphy—everyone is someone and someone else —the champions stand at the forefront of the incoming tag team tidal wave set to engulf the WWE Universe.

1. The New Day (2x & Current WWE Tag Team Champions)
I think it goes without saying—the best tag team in WWE right now is the three-person combination of Xavier Woods, Big E, and Kofi Kingston, better known as the New Day. The current WWE tag team champions made their collective debut in November 2014, after deciding to join forces four months earlier. In just one year the New Day has gone on to become two-time tag team champions, for a combined reign lasting 133 days and counting. In addition to being the most successful team in the last twelve months, the New Day is one of the most technically succinct teams in the sport, and could expand their efforts to include singles championships as well.

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