Who are the 15 best WWE Tag Team Champions of all time?
On June 3, 1971, tag team gold was introduced to Luke Graham and Tarzan Tyler. These tag team titles would go on to be known as the “WWF World Tag Team Championship” Many great names in the history of the WWE have gone on to don the prestigious title. Ric Flair, Stone Cold, The Rock, Triple H, and Andre The Giant to name a few. However; this list is about one band one sound. This list will showcase how superstars came together and dominated the tag team scene as a cohesive unit to become the best WWE Tag Team Champions of all time.
The tag team titles were combined a few times in history as well. When WWE purchased WCW in 2001 and again after the RAW and Smackdown brands unified the titles back in 2010 (sorry Harlem Heat, WWE champions only, but there is love for you as one of the greatest teams ever). There were many great moments and matches between awesome tag teams in WWE throughout history. These 15 teams proved to be some of the greatest champions in my eyes. You know what happens when you are the best tag team? Do you know what happens when you are the best of all time? You make The Dean’s List, that’s what. Finally, let’s reveal the 15 best WWE Tag Team Champions of all time.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
15. MNM
Surprised? Don’t be; this tag team belongs on the list. Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro (yeah he is the same guy as John Morrison, and uh Johnny Mundo too), and Melina made up the team MNM. They had a pretty unique gimmick (Tyler Breeze and Fandango please take notes on the WWE Network of this team), they had the look, they had the manager, red carpet entrances, the paparazzi, and most importantly they held championship gold three times. How many teams can say they have won championships in their debut match?
MNM made their Smackdown debut on Carlito’s Cabana in 2005. The flamboyant team made a big statement that night. Mercury and Nito interrupted one-half of the tag team champions, Rey Mysterio, and gave him a beatdown. They let it be known they were the new “it factor” on WWE’s tag team scene. This attack led to MNM getting a title shot for their in-ring debut appearance on Smackdown at Madison Square Garden. WWE Tag Team Champions Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio looked like they would retain, but when Rey was going for the 619 on Mercury; Melina stopped him then distracted Eddie. During the distraction, Nitro and Mercury hit Mysterio with the Snapshot to claim their first WWE Tag Team Championship.
MNM would go on to have the titles two more times (249 days total) feuding with L.O.D 2005, The Hardys, Batista and Mysterio, and their nemesis Paul London and Brian Kendrick. Their last run was their longest as champions before dropping the titles to London and Kendrick. MNM provided us with great in ring work thanks to Mundo, I mean Morrison, I mean Nitro, and who can forget that nasty nose job Joey Mercury got at Armageddon in a ladder match. That alone helps them on this list.
Photo Courtesy of WWE
14. Money Inc.
As a kid, I think I watched so much of “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, that I inherited his laugh. Seriously, it’s the coolest laugh to me. Everyone thinks I sound like this dastardly villain. Enough about me, Ted DiBiase and “I.R.S.” Irwin R. Schyster formed the group Money Inc in 1991 and showed that everyone has a price. They bribed, cheated, and outsmarted their opponents on the way to three WWE World Tag Team Championship reigns.
Money Inc.’s first title reign came when they defeated the Legion of Doom at a house show. They went on to feud with Natural Disaster: Earthquake and Typhoon. Money Inc ended up bribing Jimmy Hart to be their manager, stealing him away from Natural Disaster and giving them the inside track to being one step ahead of the formidable tag team. DiBiase and I.R.S. would eventually lose the titles to Natural Disaster. The second title reign would come when the come when Jimmy Hart sold The Nasty Boys contract to Money Inc for their official rematch with Natural Disaster. They finally defeated them for the titles, thanks to a distraction by The Headshrinkers.
Next, their second title reign was their longest at over 240 days. They had feuds with the Mega-Maniacs: Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake and the Steiner Brothers. They would finally lose the titles to the Steiner Brothers, during a third reign that lasted only three days.
Money Inc may not have been a powerhouse team, but they were a smart team. Their 411 days total as champions solidified themselves as one of the best in WWE history.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
13. The Wild Samoans
Coming in at 13 is a very wild (pun intended) tag team, The Wild Samoans. Sika and Afa come from the gimmick overload, yet strong tag team era of the 1980’s and early 1990’s. I remember them coming to the ring barefoot with crazy hair, no selling headbutts, and completely dominating opponents. The Wild Samoans may be known for producing some of the greatest WWE superstars to set foot in the ring, or for Sika, being the father of a certain “Roman Empire;” however, they won the tag team titles on 3 separate occasions on their way to a Hall of Fame career.
The Wild Samoans’ first title run came in 1980 after defeating Tito Santana and Ivan Putski. They would go on to hold the titles for nearly four months. They would drop the titles to Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales. Backlund and Morales would have to vacate the title, and The Wild Samoans would win them a second time in a tag team tournament. Their third, and final title reign came when they defeated longtime rivals, The Strongbow Brothers. The Wild Samoans then entered their last meaning feud. It would be against “The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment” father, Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas. After some good strong battles, they dropped the titles to Johnson and Atlas.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
12. The Usos
When I say Uce you say Os … UCE … anyone … anyone? Okay, don’t chant, just welcome the Usos at number 12. Just like their uncles that came in before them on the list, The Usos (son’s of Rikishi) come from the storied Anoa’i Family and have followed in the line of the championship pedigree.
The Usos started off as heels early in their career, but it wasn’t until they went babyface, donned the face paint, and did their Samoan War Dance, the Siva Tau, did things change. The Usos quickly became one of the most popular teams in the game. Jey and Jimmy can be credited too for helping to make the division watchable again. In 2014, The Usos would challenge the legendary team (and tag team champions at the time) The New Age Outlaws. On the March 3rd edition of RAW in Chicago, IL, The Usos would finally win gold, defeating The Outlaws. The Usos held the championship for an impressive 202 days. Strong feuds with The Wyatt Family, Rybaxel, and Goldust and Stardust helped their reign. At Night of Champions, they lost to Goldust and Stardust.
The Usos are now in their third reign as the current Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions. Can the Usos make this tag team run as dominate as the 2014 WWE Slammy Tag Team of the Year run? Only time will tell where their final place will be as the best tag team of all time.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
11. Mr. Fuji
Yes, I know he is known for being one of the greatest managers. However, Mr. Fuji was also a 5 time WWE Tag Team champion. Mr. Fuji as a competitor held the title for a combined 932 days. As a manager, add about another 400 plus days to that total.
Mr. Fuji and Professor Tanaka had plenty of success in the 1970s. The devious team won the WWE Tag Team Championship three times in that decade. After a successful run with Prof. Tanaka; Mr. Fuji would team with Mr. Saito in the early 80s. As a duo, they would feud with Fuji’s nemesis the Strongbows. Mr. Fuji would claim the tag titles twice more before he hung up his boots for good.
Mr. Fuji would manage the likes of Yokozuna and Owen Hart (tag team champions), The Powers of Pain, and of course Demolition. His legacy is cemented in the Class of 2007 Hall of Fame. This was just further proof. He was a larger than life character, and larger than life champion.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
10. Team Hell No
Where would the WWE tag team division be without the angry, unstable team of Kane and Daniel Bryan? After the tag division was hurting much of the early 2010s, it would be this unlikely pairing bringing back the glory. In 2012 Kane lost to Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam, and AJ Lee dumped DB for the RAW GM job. These downfalls lead the two being pretty enraged throughout the year. The “YES!” chants went to “NO!” chants for DB. Kane was causing havoc in the locker room until he got a rematch with Bryan. Instead of a rematch, AJ lee put the two together as a team, and Team Hell No was formed.
The tag team division in 2012 was boring and lame, but then came Team Hell No. Their backstage and in-ring segments were some of the highlights of 2012 and 2013. From the anger manager sessions, the anger management graduation, the “Kane is smelly” rap, and the “Newly Tag Team Game” all were gems. Thier biggest moment came when they would capture the tag team championship at Night of Champions defeating R-Truth and Kofi Kingston. Kane would claim, “I am the Tag Team Champions.” Byant would claim too, “No, I am the Tag Team Champions.” I don’t know if they ever figured out who was the tag team champions. Team Hell No held on to the titles for an impressive 246 before dropping them to Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.
Before the likes of the New Day and Enzo and Cass made RAW entertaining, Team Hell No did it. Their union was probably not meant to be a successful one, but it was a home run. Kane and DB only had one reign as a team, but it was the most prominent reign of the early 2010s.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
9. The Miz and John Morrison
Former bitter rivals turned BFFs!? That’s what happened from 2007-2009 when we got the pairing of “The Chick Magnet” The Miz and “The Shaman of Sexy” John Morrison (yeah the same guy as Johnny Nitro). The self-proclaim Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century had some great runs with the tag team titles. The Dirt Sheet, their web show, was so popular they won a WWE Slammy for the web series. They even went on to win the 2008 Slammy for Tag Team of the Year. From 2007 to 2009, The Miz and John Morrison ruled the tag team division across all three brands of RAW, Smackdown, and ECW.
The Miz and John Morrison got paired in a match against MVP and Matt Hardy for the WWE Tag Team Championship. In the match, Miz and Morrison defeated MVP and Hardy. They would be the first Superstars to bring a major WWE title over to the ECW brand. They would eventually lose the titles to Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder in a Fatal 4 Way match. The Miz and Morrison were never pinned but will go down as holding the titles for an awesome run of 247 days. After that title run, they would have a hilarious and entertaining feud with Degeneration-X. Soon after in 2008, Miz and Morrison would win two Slammys and the WWE World Tag Team Championship for their second run as champs. They held the titles for 112 days before dropping the titles in a unification match at WrestleMania XXV to Primo and Carlito.
The Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century provided us as fans with 359 days of some very entertaining moments of the late 2000s. When this team ended their tag team run, so did the run of competition in the tag team division. Today they are one of the best WWE tag team champions of all time.
8. Legion of Doom
Oh, WHAT A RUSH! Hailing from my hometown Chicago, IL, I present to you “Road Warrior” Hawk, and “Road Warrior” Animal, the Legion of Doom. This tag team is arguably the greatest to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots. On a list of best tag teams overall (outside of WWE), L.O.D is in top three for certain. However, on this list being in the top 10 isn’t so bad. The legend that is the Legion of Doom spans all over the world. It’s a shame they did not get to have a great run in WWE, but the impact was felt while they were around.
L.O.D. during the 80s had won champions in pretty much every fed throughout the world. But the team had not won in WWE. Hawk and Animal would burst on the scene in 1990, immediately getting into a feud with Demolition. After Demolition dropped the titles that same year, L.O.D. moved on to the pursuit of the tag team champions, the Nasty Boys. L.O.D. would fail quite a few times in their quest, but that changed at SummerSlam 1991. In a Street Fight, Legion of Doom would cement their legacy winning the WWE World Tag Team Championship. They were the first and only tag team to win gold in All Japan, New Japan, AWA, NWA, WCW, and WWE.
L.O.D. would hold on to the titles for 165 days before dropping them to Money Inc. Fast forward 5 years later and Hawk and Animal would be on top of the mountain again winning the titles from the Godwinns. They ended their WWE run holding the titles for a total 213 days. The Road Warriors have a legacy that far outweighs this list, no other team will accomplish what they have done.
7. Hart Foundation
Coming in at No. 7 is Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart and Bret “The Hitman” Hart. When you talk about the best WWE tag team champions of all time, the first incarnation of the Hart Foundation managed by Jimmy Hart, is in the conversation. Bret and Jim would become a formidable heel team throughout the late 1980s and into the early 1990s. Whenever the pink and black donning duo arrived in the ring a wrestling clinic was sure to come.
The Hart Foundation would feud mostly in 1986 with the Killer Bees, but soon after that feud was over they would go for the gold. In 1987 Jim and Bret would feud with Dynamite Kid and Davy Boy Smith (future Hart member) for the tag team titles. It was in February of that same year that The Hart Foundation would cheat their way to a win. In the first of two reigns as champions, they would have notable feuds with The British Bulldogs and Strike Force. Strike Force would be the team to bring the 274-day reign to an end. It would take three years before they would rule the tag team division again. This time they finally defeated Demolition for the titles thanks to interference from L.O.D.
The Hart Foundation held the titles a combined 483 days. However, if you look at every form of the Hart Family group, the total reign is more. Whether it was the Hart Foundation, The New Foundation, The NEW Hart Foundation, or the Hart Dynasty, this family is “the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.”
6. Demolition
The countdown would not be complete without this team being added. Ax and Smash comprised the team Demolition. The duo looked like a typical 1980s rock band with the attitudes to match. They came to the ring in spiked out jackets, leather hockey masks, and face paint. Thus this gimmick for them was perfect for the heels they portrayed. No other team in the WWE dominated like Demolition did in their prime. They have three title reigns to prove they are one of the best tag team champions of all time.
In the 1980s and early 1990s, the tag team division was crowded and very talented. So, for Demolition to do the things the did during this time is impressive. Furthermore, they went on to have the longest reign as WWE World Tag Team Champions. Ax and Smash ran through every tag team that was a babyface in the WWE at the time (Hart Foundation, British Bulldogs, and Money Inc included). As a result, they received their first title shot at WrestleMania IV against Strikeforce. The victory there started the record breaking journey.
After beating team after team, Demolition would come into one of their biggest feud with the Powers of Pain. While this team would prove to be their biggest test, it was not good enough. Demolition would even turn face after then manager Mr. Fuji turned on them in favor of Powers of Pain. Ax and Smash would survive with the titles for 478 days before dropping them to The Brain Busters.
The last two reigns for Demolition did not have the same dominance that the first reign had. The group had lost a member (Ax) and gained a member (Crush), thus taking away the aura of the team. In addition to that, with L.O.D on the scene during Demolition’s decline, the feud between them did not have that big match feel it was supposed to have. In conclusion, Demolition place in the Hall of Fame will come one day. The record title run (before New Day claimed it), in addition to the 698-day total reign, puts them in the company of the best tag team champions of all time.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
5. The New Day
Aw Daily DDT, don’t you DARE be sour, CLAP for YOUR #5 BEST WWE Tag Team Champions, and FEEL THE POWER! This team right here is by far the most popular team ever assembled. Kofi Kingston, Big E, and the mastermind Xavier Woods formed the team of positivity, The New Day. What negativity is there to be said about The New Day? They are promo machines, merchandise sellers, seat fillers, great in and out of the ring, and owners of a record title reign. For two years straight The New Day carried a flourishing tag team division and that ain’t booty.
The Power of Positivity wasn’t always so powerful for his trio. The New Day formed in 2014 after Woods sold Big E. and Kofi on the idea of being heels. The team tweaked their gimmick and started getting real heel heat. This led to Extreme Rules being where The New Day would win their first WWE Tag Team Championship defeating Tyson Kidd and Cesaro. All three members would be viewed as tag team champions under the “Freebird” rule.
The real run to greatness would start at SummerSlam when The New Day would gain the championship for the second time. It was during this time that The New Day became much watch TV. They took on every tag team in WWE from the Lucha Dragons to The Dudley Boys. The New Day train rolled along all 2016 and then came December 12th. The New Day competed in two triple threat matches that threaten their reign. They would go on winning both those matches. As a result, New Day unseated Demolition as the longest reigning tag team champions of all time.
The New Day would drop the titles that Sunday to Sheamus and Cesaro. But New Day 483 day reign was in the record books. The Power of Positivity is now on display for the blue brand, and it seems like another title reign will be on the way. Consequently adding to the magic that is New Day as the best tag team champions of all time. BECAUSE … NEW … DAY… ROCKS!
Photo Courtesy of WWE
4. New Age Outlaws
Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls and children of all ages. I proudly present to you, your #4 best WWE Tag Team Champions of the World! “The Road Dogg” Jesse James, “The Bad Ass” Billy Gunn: The New Age Outlaws. Next on the list is the most charismatic team of the entire attitude era. Hence why they came in so high on the list. The Outlaws was one team that paved the way for the non-gimmicky tag teams. There weren’t too many tag teams that could hold a candle to this team. This was one great tag team, in one great era of the WWE.
Before they came together to be a team, Road Dogg and Gun were in meaningless feuds together. Rather than continue on in feuds that wouldn’t help them, Road Dogg and Gunn teamed up to form the Outlaws. The team quickly became heels; winning matches by any mean necessary. As a result of their fast rise in the division, they got a title match with L.OD. Because of their cheating ways, the New Age Outlaws were able to secure their first championship together. After the championship win, they continued to feud with L.O.D. and even joined with the popular Degeneration-X. It was during this union with D-X that the Outlaws popularity would soar.
The Outlaws were tag team champions a total of six times. Finally getting one last run as a team with gold in 2014. The New Age Outlaws had a combined reign 505 days. They are one of the best tag teams champions because of what they accomplish during the Monday Night Wars and in the Attitude Era. Without them where would the division be?
Courtesy of WWE
3. Edge and Christian
This next tag team totally reek of awesomeness. So they had come in on the list at number three. Edge and Christian are what stories are made of. Two childhood best friends making their way to the WWE and winning championships together. E & C were apart of the WWE Attitude Era and were also a very funny duo during the time when The Outlaws were losing steam. The had the WWE universe eating out of their hands on the way to being on of the best tag team champions of all time.
Edge and Christian started out in the group the Brood, with Gangrel as their leader. After a lengthy run, they would split from him and become their own tag team. E&C would then feud with The Hardy Boyz who were now with Gangrel as the New Brood. During their first of many feuds with The Hardyz, they lost the Terri Invitational. Edge and Christian would turn heel and start to enjoy major success.
At WrestleMania 2000, after months a feuding with the Matt and Jeff Hardy, Edge and Christian would finally become tag team champions. They won in a triple threat tag team ladder match that included The Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz. This would be the start of the greatest feud between three teams in the history of sports entertainment. At SummerSlam that same year E&C retained their titles in the first ever Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. Edge and Christian would go on to win the title a total of seven times! So, to those with the benefits of flash photography, cherish the moment of one of the best tag team champions of all time.
Edge and Christian would go on to win the title a total of seven times! They gave us some hilarious moments and even greater moments in the ring. They are currently on have their on show on the WWE still funny as ever. So, to those with the benefits of flash photography, cherish the moment of one of the best tag team champions of all time.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
2. The Hardy Boyz
Before they were BROKEN and making foes OBSOLETE, this tag team at number two, was just Team Xtreme. Jeff and Matt: The Hardy Boyz. The Hardys brought a unique brand of wrestling to the WWE tag scene at the height of the Attitude Era. Matt and Jeff didn’t have any cool catch phrases. They just went out and put on an amazing high flying, high octane show. They were two brothers out there stamping their place in history as the best tag team champions of all time.
The Hardy Boyz would start their career managed by Micheal Hayes. In what was probably one of the more shocking wins of their young careers they defeated The Acolytes for their first championship win. After the losing the titles back to The Acolytes, they became heels and teamed up with Gangrel. This would signal the start to the feud with Edge and Christian. They would compete against them in the first ever tag team ladder match coming out victorious. The Hardys were also competitors in the first ever TLC match with Edge and Christian and The Dudley Boyz. These three teams would feud and trade the titles back and forth much of 2000.
The Hardy Boyz are enjoying the second coming of greatness as a tag team. This can be attributed to someone’s “Broken Brillance.” Matt and Jeff and their expedition of gold as brought them back to the “Great Game” and they are in their 7th reign as tag team champions. We all as fans are hoping that we will get to see “Broken” Matt Hardy, Brother Nero, King Maxel, Queen Rebecca, and Senor Benjamin in the WWE soon. Until then, their place in tag team history can not be DELETED.
WWE.com
1. The Dudley Boyz
OH, MY BROTHER … TESTIFY! Rounding out the top 15 WWE Tag Team Champions of all time is D-Von and Bubba Ray: The Dudley Boyz. What is there to say about this team here. Next to L.O.D. no other team has gone on to have the career these to have had. Winning championships in every promotion they have ever been in. It wasn’t until The Mayors of Dudleyville came to WWE that their place in history would be etched in stone.
The Dudleys would come to WWE after having a pretty storied run in ECW. Like the number two and three teams on the list, they came in the peak of the Attitude Era. They came over to much fanfare having already had a name and following. They would use be known as the team that put people through tables, as Bubba Ray frequently put women wrestlers through tables. The Dudley Boys would win their first tag team titles in 2000 from the New Age Outlaws. After their first run, they would enter in the battle for tag team supremacy with E & C and The Hardy Boyz.
Next: All 26 Champions in NXT History, Ranked
The Dudley Boyz can have a whole article written about their storied careers. Most noteworthy of the legacy that is the Dudleys is the fact that they won the WWE Tag Team Championship a total of nine times! No other team has held the titles that many times and no other team ever will eclipse that feat. That concludes my list of the 15 best tag team champions of all time. Comment below and let me know if you agree.