My Tag Team Thoughts

[Guest commish13]

With Hogan/Edge vs. Lance/Xian at Vengeance coming up it looks like we're going to get the closest thing to an actual tag team getting the titles in Team Canada. Them getting the belts is a start on building a good tag team division. Now in my opinion, there are plenty teams to be made on SmackDown!, they just aren't being used correctly.

 

Reverend D'Von/Batista: D'Von is a very successful and experienced tag team wrestler, and having him as the leader of the team jumpstarts the credibility right away. With his tag skills and Batista just being Batista, they can be a very good team as they have shown in the past few weeks, and can immediately be a realistic threat to the titles.

 

Valbowski/Holly: A few weeks back Cole said that the two had been "thinking about teaming with eachother for a while", but after one outing they haven't tagged since. One may have forgotten about them, but with the two sitting together in the locker room last night on SD!, at least there's something to the team. They are both solid wrestlers who aren't going anywhere in singles competition, and Holly is an experienced tag competitor, which helps their credibility as a team.

 

Billy & Chuck: They've been the only 'real' tag team on TV for months, and they work well together. As was pointed out by Cole of all people last night, Billy is a very accomplished tag team star, and Chuck, while not 'as' experienced(though he had plenty of wCw tag time), is still a very good wrestler. They make up a great team, and Rico is the man.

 

Storm/Xian: As I said above, these two are almost undoubtedly going to grab the championships from Edge and Hogan come Vengeance, and it'll just give the people all the more reason to give a damn about them. They are the right men to hold the titles now, and both of them have proven themselves to be exceptional tag team stars.

 

Mark Henry/Faarooq: Yes, I know they were barely a credible team in 1998 whenever they were paired together, but at least they have some history. Just throw them in there at least as fodder for the champs/number one contenders. They are both over enough with the fans to make them seem like viable threats at the gold, and that's what counts. It also looks like Henry is done with Orton after a couple pairings after hearing the promo Orton cut about his partners.

 

Randy Orton/John Cena: Orton is currently on the road to 'Going nowhere fastville', and would be a great young addition to the tag division. Cena, while seemingly in for a bit of a push, can just use this team to oppose Team Canada, seeing as he has heat with Jericho who will eventually winding up being a very good ally to the group if not in it. Orton and Cena are both very much over and are a couple of good young wrestlers who will both, in my opinion make it big one day one way or another.

 

Al Snow/Maven: Al's the TE trainer. Maven's the first TE winner. They've tagged before. Looks like the perfect way to go with these two. Al is going to be on his way out of competing sooner or later, and if the team gets the chance to become big, Al can eventually put Maven over before he leaves. This team can't go into effect immediately with Maven's injury and Al doing another Tough Enough, but once they are both back at the same time, they can be put together and be credible right away. This also gives Maven a chance to continue his feud with Tajiri(if they are going to keep with it) before Al is back.

 

Hugh Morrus/Rikishi: Hugh isn't doing a damn thing other than showing up on Velocity once and a while, usually to do the job, and Rikishi isn't doing much more than playing fodder to any tag teams that need to be put over(B&C, Team Canada). With his current heat with TC, he can find a partner in Morrus and at least attempt to go after the belts. They are both respectable enough wrestlers, and with them getting to tag, neither one has to be in the ring for an entire 10+ minute match, which is a good thing for a pair of big guys like themselves. This team could definitely work.

 

The Island Boys: I don't know much about them, but one of them may be hurt. As soon as he heals, WWE should bring them up and put them in the division, as they have received much praise for good tag team work in the developmental territories. These guys should have made their TV debut months ago, and if they are both healthy, they should be brought up as soon as possible.

 

So there. I just came up with 7 teams that could be added to the tag team division that currently stands at 2, and I did it without even giving much thought on the subject beforehand. If Vince is really going to go through with getting a tag team division back again, then he has to do this or something similar fairly soon before people just stop caring about the randomly paired one-week teams to face the champs. Any thoughts/comments?

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

I don't know about the Henry/Farooq team. Henry is useless, and I don't think Farooq can physically hold up to a regular in-ring schedule at this point. They would have to be a part-time/jobber team.

 

I like Hugh, so *I'd* prefer to keep him away from waste-of-space Rikishi. Wait for Saturn to come back & team Hugh up w/ him (which was the original plan). If not that, team Hugh w/ Chavo, although that would most likely preclude Chavo from working in the cruiser division.

[Guest The Superstar]

I would rather if they team Saturn with Kanyon and make a New Eliminators team. However, Kanyon would probably be much better off on RAW with the IC and Euro title scene.

 

If only they had put the Euro title on SD! and made the tag titles float, we have these teams on RAW:

 

New Dudleys

BookDust

Benoit/Guerrero

nWo (*groan*)

Hardy Boys (although they're apparently going solo now)

 

There's 5 MORE teams to add to the division.

[Guest commish13]

That was kind of what I was eluding to with them just being fodder for other teams. It gives the actually contending teams a pair of guys to go up against without it looking like a complete squash from the start. They don't need any PPV matches, just some time on SmackDown! to make them useful.

 

Hugh/Saturn seems good enough to me, and I do at one point remember something being said about the two working together and liking what I heard. I didn't think of Saturn's name though, since he's been out for so long. I do happen to like Rikishi, though.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

I would rather if they team Saturn with Kanyon and make a New Eliminators team. However, Kanyon would probably be much better off on RAW with the IC and Euro title scene.

I think Kanyon has the potential to be a big star as a single, so I wouldn't want to team him (saddle him?) w/ Saturn, who isn't exactly the most charismatic wrestler in the fed.

[Guest commish13]

Saturn not the most charismatic wrestler? You lie! Kanyon, though he would be just fine in a tag team, would be, in my opinion, a much better addition to the IC or Euro division for the time being when he returns. Speaking of the IC title... Kanyon vs. RVD = Ratings.

[Guest Brian]

Saturn and Malenko as that bad-ass, we just get the job done team. Pair them with Raven (w/o the braids). Throw in your generic big man and you have another heel stable.

[Guest BigTim2002]

I still like the whole Saturn/Kanyon team, but I heard of a Hugh Morrus/Saturn team. Hmmmm...

 

Oh, and you heard it here...well, second. Edge turns at Vengeance to make Team Canada look BUENO...mark my words. Then we can have Hogan and a bunch of the "Real Americans" fight on...yay.

[Guest Brian]

I hope we get the great Edge and Christian interactions and start turning Lance into a down to business, no bullshit guy so he can just look on, bewildered. I think Hogan is prepping his last run by jobbing to Edge.

 

Well, one of his last runs.

[Guest BionicRedneck]

"Wait for Saturn to come back & team Hugh up w/ him (which was the original plan). If not that, team Hugh w/ Chavo, although that would most likely preclude Chavo from working in the cruiser division."

 

I think Raven and Saturn would be a better team

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

I think Raven and Saturn would be a better team

Possibly (they have the history), but Raven has been relegated to appearing solely on Heat.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

What the hell is up with that anyway? Raven was almost a household name in WCW ( Who was definetly one of the most talent misusing federations ever) and now is a jobber in

WWE. Got charisma , decent in the ring, good on the mic as the true "Raven" and they just throw him away.

 

Is this all stemming from his not wanting to sit and commentate? Look at Tazz! Talk about Just Another Victim!

[Guest Brian]

If Tazz ever got back into shape, I'd have him start trash talking while announcing until a face decides to punk him out for being a non-wrestler and Tazz just beats the hell out of him and chokes him out.

 

Raven, Saturn, and Malenko need to be in a little stable. Teaming all three is good. Maybe Saturn and someone else could get relegated to HEAT and than Malenko brings them together.

[Guest converge241]

Saturn/Awesome

Regal/Harvard

any combo of former Natural Born Thrillaz

New Dudleys

Hurricane/ Nova

a "new Flock" combo

Acolytes (again) with a switch or trade

Rikishi w/someone who dances or gets a cheap pop out of crowd

Show/XPac

Chavo/Eddie (with another switch/trade)

[Guest Zack Malibu]

Malenko would probably be nothing more than an adviser/occasional wrestler, since he's too involved with being a road agent. I do wish he'd step into the ring one last time, though.

 

Getting back to the tag team ideas, the Holly/Venis combo isn't bad workrate wise, but both guys are just so un-over and bland these days. They'd either need a major tweaking in a full-on tag gimmick, or they'll never make it.

 

They called up Rob Conway, but I can't see why Nick Dinsmore hasn't been called yet. The two have gotten positive reviews for their Lords of the Ring tag team.

 

The Island Boyz will probably be good doing a style similar to the Dudley Boyz (big brawler/power types)

 

While I'm by no means a Mark Henry fan, giving him the "Big Show" tag team push (have him be the big guy who gets the hot tag and cleans house) could help him. The team with Faarooq wouldn't do well, IMO, and I don't know about a full-fledged teaming with Orton.

 

I thought Christian and Test would be the unit within Team Canada, but apparently it's Storm and Christian going for the tag belts. Storm is building good heat with this angle...I honestly think it will suck if they kill it by having Edge or Jericho come in and take over as the leader. Granted, they need "upper level" talent to make it work (the lack of it is what killed the RTC gimmick dead), but Storm should still be the mouthpiece and a focal point. The team of Christian and Test would be better, with Storm moving onto singles glory.

[Guest converge241]

"They called up Rob Conway, but I can't see why Nick Dinsmore hasn't been called yet"

 

yes!! i would love that

[Guest nl5xsk1]

There's been rumors about Saturn teaming with Kanyon, and rumors about Saturn teaming with Morrus. What about if BOTH happened?

 

It could be like the Freebirds were in the 80's, where there's three members but they would say that any combination of the three could wrestle together. It's been used since, by both Demolition and The Triad, but otherwise hasn't been used too much. It'd bring some heel heat if used correctly.

 

Plus, in time, Kanyon could branch out to being a singles star, and there's your insta-feud: Kanyon as a face against the heel team of Saturn and Morrus.

[Guest commish13]

They did the same thing with Droz and the Road Warriors, nl5xsk1, but we all know how that ended with the personal problems...

 

I do agree that your idea is a good one though. It would be likely to produce some high quality wrestling action.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

There's been rumors about Saturn teaming with Kanyon, and rumors about Saturn teaming with Morrus. What about if BOTH happened?

 

It could be like the Freebirds were in the 80's, where there's three members but they would say that any combination of the three could wrestle together. It's been used since, by both Demolition and The Triad, but otherwise hasn't been used too much. It'd bring some heel heat if used correctly.

 

Plus, in time, Kanyon could branch out to being a singles star, and there's your insta-feud: Kanyon as a face against the heel team of Saturn and Morrus.

As much as I like Hugh Morrus, this situation will do nothing for Kanyon. Kanyon's got the potential to be a break-out star, but not in this situation. Hugh & Saturn are mid-card at best, they'll just hinder Kanyon.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero]

Saturn and Malenko as that bad-ass, we just get the job done team. Pair them with Raven (w/o the braids). Throw in your generic big man and you have another heel stable.

Bautista has the right look and name to be on Raven's side. Switched Malenko with Kanyon and we're set. Malenko is a great wrestler, but better off retired.

[Guest Vyce]

Here's my picks for the tag division. It actually wouldn't be that hard to fix. Some of these teams have already been mentioned before.

 

Hogan / Edge: Personally, I don't think they should stay together for any great length of time. I can see Edge being "Hogan's little buddy" and teaming with Hulk every now and again, but as a regular tag team they leave something to be desired. Edge is better off in singles anyway (sorry, Anglesault).

 

Billy / Chuck: The gimmick's still dumb, but they work well as a team together.

 

Lance Storm / Christian: I'm hoping they win the tag titles at Vengeance. Not only would this be a solid tag team, but it helps continue the Team Canada storyline. Only better combination would be Storm / Jericho, but Chris is better off as a singles competitor.

 

D-Von / Bautista: I personally like Bautista better as a singles competitor, as I think he has the ability to be a breakaway star. But if you separate him from D-Von, D-Von has nothing to do. Which doesn't displease me at ALL, but since they need help in the tag division right away, I say keep them around as a tag team for awhile.

 

Valbowski / Holly: A great combination. They're doing pretty much NOTHING of interest with Val these days. And Holly is better off as a tag wrestler than being pushed in singles. The two of them together would form a good, solid tag team to help build up the division.

 

Mark Henry / Farooq: I'd prefer Henry & D-Lo, but they're on different rosters. Both guys are pretty bad at this point, but keeping them together is better than watching individual matches with the two. I'd banish them to Velocity.

 

Island Boys: Might as well bring in some new blood.

 

Randy Orton / Maven: I wouldn't want to team Orton up with Cena, as I think John has better opportunity to shine as a singles wrestler. Sticking him with Orton would be a waste. So I'd put Orton & Maven together. Call the two of them something silly like "The Rookies", and have them be the perpetual underdogs that are inexperienced, yet can still come close to puling off the big win.

 

Perry Saturn / Hugh Morrus: This is a team I'd be actually excited to see. I'd just make them lethal, stiff shitkickers who take great, almost orgasmic joy in brutalizing their opponents. Morrus is being wasted on Velocity so this is a better use for him; Saturn is great with Malenko, but Dean is all but retired and Kanyon deserves to shine as a singles star. A Saturn / Morrus combo could be great, if they market them right.

 

Rikishi / Meng: These two would maybe be the worst tag team in the division (outside of maybe Henry / Farooq), but I sure as hell don't want to have Rikishi pushed in singles. So might as well stick him with Meng, and have the two of them form a stable with the Island Boys. At this point, there are only 2 legit tag teams (Storm / Christian & Billy / Chuck), so might as well just go crazy and throw out something to pad the division.

 

Not counting Edge / Hogan, that'd give you 9 tag teams right there. But wait! If you throw in the cruizers (and I would), there's even more for you.

 

Kidman / Helms: These two have been teaming lately, and they could actually freshen up the tag scene. OR you could have -

 

Kidman / Rey Jr.: They teamed before as the Filthy Animals, why not again? I'm sure they want to push Rey as a singles star, but a Kidman / Rey tag team down the line would still be a good thing. That'd leave Helms in the cold, right? Wrong! You could have him team with:

 

Shannon Moore / Helms: Moore debuts tonight on Velocity. They've worked together as a team in the past, they could do so in the future. If they want to keep Moore on Velocity for more grooming, there's no reason you can't have Helms team with him there.

 

Tajire / Knoble: The two of them seem to have formed an alliance. I personally wouldn't be offended if the two hel the tag gold together.

 

That's 4 more possible teams right there, two of which (Helms / Kidman & Knoble / Tajire) you could use right now.

 

That'd give you 11 teams. Plenty enough to base your division around.