Resurgence of the tag team division in the WWE

“My understanding is that Vince McMahon himself doesn’t like tag team wrestling. He’s grown bored with it, or tired, doesn’t like it anymore. I think it’s a real shame that they don’t do more to build the tag team divisions in wrestling. There’s a whole different thought process that goes into developing the tag match. I hope that they bring it back the way it was. I think there’s still some great tag teams in wrestling, but they’re not getting the highlight that they should.”

These are the exact words of WWE legend Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. Just like Bret Hart, most of us have been enthralled by the magic that the tag team division produces. Too bad that the WWE hasn’t utilized its full potential.

Over the years, both the WWE’s flagship shows, i.e., RAW and SmackDown had a tag team division of their own. However, since the titles were united, the division has lost its sheen.

The WWE are once again making amends, as they look to restore some lost pride to the now almost defunct tag team division. Let us have a look at the superstars who could aid the cause.

1) The Shield

The Shield

Let us start with the tag team champions themselves, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Ever since winning the tag team titles at Extreme Rules from ‘Team Hell No’, Rollins and Reigns have gone on to dominate the division. They have made successful title defenses in the past and are more than capable of defeating any team or opposition. The Shield members ( all of whom are champions ) were given a massive push by the WWE and they have utilized it better than anybody as of late. Reigns, with his imposing 6 foot 4 inch frame, is the power house in the team. He has taken out stars like The Undertaker, Mark Henry and Big Show with utmost ease. Rollins on the other hand is the athletic one.

The irony about The Shield is that they are all strong individual competitors and are most likely to forge solo careers in the future. However, despite being ‘heels’, The Shield has impressed the WWE universe with their ‘no nonsense’ approach. They have certainly restored some ample pride to the fading tag team title division. They are the team to beat, and are currently sitting pretty right on top.

2) The Uso’s

The Usos

Closing in on the The Shield are perhaps the most entertaining tag team in the WWE, The Usos. Son’s of former tag team specialist and WWE legend Rikishi, The Usos are doing all they can to remain popular and retain the Samoan flavor in the WWE. If there is one team that looks likely to defeat the Shield, it has to be the Usos. Ever since making their WWE debut in 2010, The Usos have had to prove themselves on a constant basis to scale the ranks. They recently received a major push with a tag team title shot against The Shield at Money In The Bank, which they lost after a valiant effort.

Unlike The Shield, who are most likely to break up in the near future, The Usos will remain booked under the tag team division for times to come and are certainly future champions in the making. With the crowd firmly behind them, Jimmy and Jey are a force to reckon with.

3) The Prime Time Players

The Prime Time Players

If this article was written a month or so ago, I really doubt if The PTP would have featured in it. Things have taken a ‘U’ turn for O’Neil and Young in the WWE ever since Darren Young decided to come out of the closet. Most fans will be surprised to know that the pair are undefeated in over a month on RAW. The WWE have pushed the Prime Time Players to such an extent over the weeks that they have become legitimate tag team title contenders.

Ever since their famous Nexus stint, O’Neil and Young have failed to find a footing in the WWE. Under the PTP banner, they remained jobbers for over a year. However, with the new found ‘push’ that the WWE has administered, The Prime Time Players have finally managed to garner some respect. For someone like Darren Young , whose only claim to fame is of being a ‘John Cena look-alike’, the tag of being a ‘tag team champion’ will certainly sound better.

4) The Real Americans

The Real Americans

When two superstars who have had amazing solo careers in the WWE are brought together, you expect ‘one helluva’ tag team. But that was not the case with respect to the Real Americans. Jack Swagger, a former world champion and Antonio Cesaro, a former U.S champion are now kings of ‘jobberville.’

The WWE has gone horribly wrong with these talented individuals who are currently catering to the jobbing needs in the WWE. They are aimlessly putting over talents week in week out, including the list of teams mentioned above. Zeb Colter, their manager, can do all the trash talk he wants about the immigrants and and their bad influence on America. But at the end of the day, this serves no purpose with respect to the current status of the Real Americans in the WWE.

5) Los Matadores

Los Matadores

Primo and Epico, adorning face masks and resembling Spanish Matadores is probably the last thing that the WWE needs right now. However, with all the hype that has been created around their debut, the WWE hopefully have some plans up their sleeve. Both of them have had miserable careers in the WWE so far. To be honest, nobody even realized the duo were absent from the WWE for a brief period.

However, with them being repackaged as ‘Los Matadores’, the WWE look to add another gimmick-based team to the tag team division. Little is known about this team who look set to debut in the near future. However, their newly-created gimmicks could help in solidifying the tag team division in the WWE.