Now I know that tag team wrestling still exists and that there are many tag teams in WWE, TNA, ROH etc. I also know that there are tag team matches every week on wrestling television. What I am referring to however is a proper, thriving tag team division within each company. A competitive league for the Tag Team titles is something which can really help build new stars for a company and tandem wrestling has always been popular with the fans. I've often thought that a team which has experience tagging should be able to fight off 2 random headliners (John Cena and Batista for example) because they have one thing going for them that their opponents do not – teamwork. This not only makes the tag team look good but it also raises the profile of the divisions title belts, making them look important and putting an emphasis on working together in order to obtain them.

I remember last summer, Carlito and Santino Marella formed a short-lived team because creative clearly had nothing else for either man to do. This cheapens the tag team titles in the eyes of the audience and they will surely treat the things as an afterthought if the writers are doing the same! Watching this 'team', I harked back to classic duos from the past in the World Wrestling Federation and also some in World Wrestling Entertainment. And with WWE releasing their new DVD “Allied Powers – The Worlds Greatest Tag Teams” this summer, this is good timing for this article!

Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels. The latter will be known by many a young grappling fan today whereas the former will likely not. Both men comprised the young and mega-talented team “The Rockers”. Working everywhere from the American Wrestling Association, Continental Wrestling Federation and the World Wrestling Federation, these guys made a reputation for themselves as high-flying, good looking, pantie-moistening wrestlers who were cheered by hot young blondes and graying old geezers alike. They looked like a team with their matching outfits and long hair. They worked like a team, with their double-team maneuvers which were ground breaking for the early 90's. They are a grade A example of what I'm talking about in tag team wrestling. They used teamwork to defeat much larger opponents in the WWF and looked damn good doing it. Of course we all know Michaels went on to achieve far more fame as a singles star but I'm sure he still fondly remembers his days of tearing down the aisle way to some generic cheesy rock track while slapping hands and pumping fists.

Another fantastic example of a team would be “The Roadwarriors”, otherwise known as “Legion of Doom”. Hawk and Animal had a striking look with crazy hairstyles, spiked shoulder pads and war-like facepaint. Fans could either hate them or get behind them because of their dynamic personalities and killer in-ring performances. Neither man ever really made it on their own but this is likely due to the fact that the characters they played as a tag team were so damn good. With Hawk's trademark catchphrase of “Oooooooooooooooooh what a rush!” and their crowd-popping finishing move “The Doomsday Device”, The Roadwarriors/L.O.D had an expansive career which crossed World Championship Wrestling, the WWF and even abroad in places such as Japan.

The biggest drawing point of both above tag teams is that they had 'a look' which was marketable to a certain audience. Both sold merchandise and had snappy ring outfits and innovative double team moves. I feel this is sometimes missing from today's tag team divisions. Of course, there are a few examples of teams in the modern era which have really created a thriving division. Edge & Christian, The Hardy Boys, The Dudley Boys, Eddie & Chavo Guerrero (Los Guerrero's) and Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin (Worlds Greatest Tag Team) have all captured fans imaginations and created a hell of a lot of interest in tag team matches. We need look no further than Summerslam 2000 where the first ever “Tables, Ladders & Chairs” match was held between Edge & Christian/The Dudley Boys/The Hardy Boys. This was likely one of the most anticipated bouts of that particular evening and is still regarded as one of the most important matches in modern WWF/WWE history.

This writer would really love both WWE and TNA wrestling to create a whole array of different tag teams, not being afraid to make them outlandish or cheesy (Demolition anyone?). Push the tag team belts as an important part of the product instead of just another title. These 2 belts can really enhance 2 wrestlers in the eyes of the customer. I feel the WWE has taken babysteps towards making the titles more prestigious again my unifying their 2 sets of tag belts and also bringing up teams such as the new “Hart Foundation”. Let's hope this will lead to a match at this years Summerslam which was as enjoyed as the one in the year 2000! We shall see fellow fans, we shall see. TAKE IT HOME!