5 dream tag-team pairings fans never got to see in WWE

Unlike other sports, professional wrestling is the kind of industry where legends from the past could conceivably make a return to action and work with a current superstar. At Wrestlemania 18 we saw The Rock take on the 80s icon Hulk Hogan. 10 years later at Mania 28, The Rock was the former legend coming back to take on John Cena.

Fans love to fantasise about dream matches they never got to see, but we rarely give enough thought to who could have been paired with each other to make a dream tag-team. The best forms of entertainment are normally built out of professional tension and deep seated respect, and there are many superstars over the years that would have been just as effective teaming up with members of the current roster. Here are 5 dream tag-team pairing that fans never got to see in WWE:

#1 Owen Hart and Daniel Bryan

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As it stands, Daniel Bryan and Owen Hart are two of the most beloved superstars in history. Bryan personified the frustrations of many WWE fans who feel the McMahon regime does not listen to what they really want to see. The American Dragon was able to ride on a wave of fan support right onto the shores of Wrestlemania itself where he became WWE World Heavyweight Champion and has stayed in our hearts ever since.

Owen Hart's abilities in the ring and infectious personality speak for themselves, but unfortunately, we often remember Owen for the wrong reasons owing to his tragic death in 1999 during a WWE PPV. Whether he would garner the same level of respect and adulation today if he was still alive is another question, but there's no doubt he would have been considered a true legend.

Ironically, however, Daniel Bryan and Owen Hart probably would have made an exceptional heel tag team. Before he became the leader of the YES! movement, Daniel Bryan was an obnoxious brat who felt entitled to all of the opportunities the company had to offer. His YES! chant was originally a way to annoy his opponent and to brag about his advanced abilities over most of the roster.

In many ways, his actions were reminiscent of Owen Hart's fantastic heel run back in 1994. When he turned against his brother Bret at the Royal Rumble of that year, he suddenly became his own biggest fan, shouting loudly enough at people until they believed in him as the better Hart brother. The smallest victory would result in the most elaborate celebration and fans, whilst openly booing him, were secretly loving every second of it.

Imagine the two of them coming to the ring with over inflated egos, getting into the heads of opponents by throwing their arms up in unison and telling everyone who listens just how great they are. And that's not to mention how impressive they would be as a technical wrestling team as well. Between them, there is enough talent to tie the whole roster up in knots.

#2 Bray Wyatt and Jake 'The Snake' Roberts

Snakes in the grass. — Possible team name: Snakes on a Ranch.

If Owen and Bryan would prove effective at bragging and shouting their way to victories, Bray Wyatt and Jake Roberts would be the ultimate examples of sinister, calculated psychology. We have all become accustomed to the many types of heel personas in wrestling, but only certain individuals can use the dark side to their advantage with pure intellect and subtlety.

Back in the 80s and 90s, Jake Roberts was the master of psychology. In an era which tended to promote larger than life cartoon characters shouting at full volume into the camera, Jake could hit a promo with a much longer lasting impression by quietly tormenting his opponents with some choice words.

In a way, Bray Wyatt is this generation's Jake Roberts. He stands out from the rest of the roster as his own enigmatic character but does not enjoy the same level of success as the main event superstars around him. He too delivers unique promos that rely on mental manipulation as opposed to direct insults and put downs. He obviously uses more of the dark arts than Jake ever did, but the premise is very much the same.

They would also have looked great together and sent fear and trepidation into the soul of their rivals. Imagine having a bagged snake at one end of the ring and Bray Wyatt's spider walk at the other.

Even their in-ring styles would have suited each other. They wrestle an unconventional style and have high impact finishing moves, crashing their opponents' heads down onto the canvas. It would definitely be a tag team at risk of splitting up at any moment as neither man can be trusted 100%, but while it does last, it's likely to be fantastic.

#3 Neville and The Dynamite Kid

There's nothing that brings superstars together like nationality, particularly if you both happen to be foreigners in the US. Wrestling is a very American dominated sport so when a competitor comes from a different place, they often use that to their advantage as a way to stand out.

One country that has always been fairly well represented in WWE is Great Britain. From The British Bulldog to Wade Barrett, Brits have been delighting the US audiences for generations. When it comes to all-round wrestling ability, however, no two superstars have represented the UK quite like The Dynamite Kid and Neville.

Dynamite is probably the least well-known member of the British Bulldogs, a highly popular tag team from the 1980s who won the tag straps at Wrestlemania 2. Davey Boy far outlasted his partner, becoming a highly impressive single's star in his own right, but this probably has more to do with Dynamite's demons and health issues that raw talent. There was always something about Dynamite Kid that stood out regardless. His matches with Japanese legend Tiger Mask in the 80s, for example, are the stuff of folklore.

A modern day example of a highly talented wrestling Brit is Neville. He is currently holding the weight of the entire WWE Cruiserweight division on his shoulders and continues to amaze audiences across the world with his feats of athleticism. The sight of him flying around the arena with Dynamite Kid by his side would be just like watching a display from the Red Arrows over Buckingham Palace.

#4 Chris Jericho and Andre the Giant

A concept that has always worked well with WWE tag teams is to pair a big monster with a small athlete. This way, the smaller one can be the arrogant, obnoxious mouth piece and the monster can have his back when others grow tired of all the trash talking. It has worked for teams like Shawn Michaels and Diesel and Enzo and Cass over the years, to name but a few.

In the history of the business, perhaps nobody has been more effective in the obnoxious heel role than Chris Jericho. While currently playing a loveable babyface, Jericho's best work over the years has been as a narcissistic villain. His intellectual puts downs and his ability to talk rings around anyone has endeared Y2J to many a WWE fan.

He is no stranger to using the services of the bigger guys when his mouth got him into trouble. He had a thoroughly entertaining partnership with Big Show a few years ago, the dynamics of which worked perfectly. Imagine, however, if Jericho could have done the same with an even bigger, more talented Giant by the name of Andre.

Andre the Giant was not just the biggest man to lace up a pair of wrestling boots, he was also an innovator of the sport and drew in crowds from far and wide wherever he went. He could move around the ring at a faster pace than anyone his size should have been able to, and he could work equally well as a heel or babyface.

Andre was no slouch on the mic either, showing his abilities against Hulk Hogan in the build up to Wrestlemania 3. Having Jericho by his side, however, would allow him to do what he does best, intimidate opponents and teach them the meaning of respect. Jericho would also be the perfect mouth piece for Andre, fitting into that Bobby Heenan role back in the 80s that made heel Andre so effective.

This team has the potential to be one of the best of all time. Not only would they work as heels, but they could also put on some great comedy skits together as faces too. If only time had allowed his partnership to happen.

#5 Stone Cold Steve Austin and CM Punk

Another tactic the WWE has employed to get tag-teams over with the fans is to create an 'odd-couple'. Putting two guys together with very different tastes and lifestyle choices can work wonders, just ask Kane and Daniel Bryan, or The Rock and Mankind.

Two former WWE legends with different approaches to life are Stone Cold Steve Austin and CM Punk. One is a beer-swigging redneck, the other a straight edge martial arts enthusiast. One claims to be from blue collar America, the other likes to think of himself as a self-made role model for hard work paying off.

Over recent years, many fans have been hoping for Austin and Punk to meet in the ring as rivals. WWE even teased this a few years ago in a promo video for the latest 2k video game. Sadly, however, the match up never came to pass and is unlikely to ever happen in the future.

We did get another glimpse of the kind of chemistry the two would have had together back when Stone Cold was the guest GM of RAW. Punk came to Austin's office to talk about his match with John Cena and the pair put together a highly amusing segment with Austin offering Punk a beer and a shot of whiskey.

The team would mainly consist of the two them butting heads with each other back stage, but having each other's backs in the ring out of a mutual respect. Punk has talked about Stone Cold as being one of his idols and Austin, in turn, has always been quick to defend Punk, especially when he left the company back in 2014.

There's no denying this would be one of the most popular pairings in WWE history. Austin stood as everything that was right about the company back in the late 90s and early 00s, whereas Punk has been seen as a glimmer of hope in the less than impressive PG era. Seeing these two side by side in the ring would be almost as great as seeing them go head to head.

Edited by anirudh.b