A wrestling stable is defined as a team or group of three or more people, typically heel, who share common motives, allies and adversaries within a storyline, or through a series of storylines.
Stables have been a part of professional wrestling dating back to the original Golden Era in the early 1930’s, and possibly even earlier. As the sport evolved, more and more stables began to emerge.
Once the nWo hit the scene, there was an explosion of stables popping up everywhere. At the height of the Monday Night Wars, WCW seemed to survive on the backs of the various factions that formed during this time.
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Eventually, the stables boom slowed down significantly. However, in recent years, there has been a resurgence in the number of stables being established, not only in the WWE, but all over the world.
The popularity of NJPW’s Bullet Club has once again started a trending effect. Suddenly, factions are cool once again and WWE creative officials have taken advantage of the growing demand of fans wanting to see more of these heel stables established.
Now that we have had a rebirth, of sorts, when it comes to stables evolving within the industry, which are some of the more successful factions that have emerged in recent years?
Lets take a look at WWE’s top 5 stables of the past 5 years.
#5 The Club
AJ Styles shocked the wrestling world when he made his debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble. After a tremendous career, in which he dominated all over the globe, The Phenomenal One was finally a WWE Superstar.
It wasn't long until his Bullet Club brethren would join him, as Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson joined the company just a few months after AJ arrived.
As members of The Bullet Club, Styles, Anderson and Gallows enjoyed the luxury of being a part of the most destructive faction on earth.
With the success that all three were having in New Japan Pro Wrestling, plus having the freedom to work for other promotions in their down time, some still questioned whether or not the trio would ever actually join the WWE.
However, once they did, business certainly picked up, as the WWE Superstars were now faced with a new team of foes to contend with, but this group had been tried, battle tested and ready for war.
Also read: 5 WWE Superstars added to great factions of the past
After several months of middle-of-the-road booking, Gallows and Anderson finally captured the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships. Meanwhile over on Smackdown Live, AJ Styles had already helped put the Blue Brand on an equal playing ground with its Monday Night competitors.
Now that all three members of The Club have won titles, the next step should be looking towards reuniting the guys back together under one banner. Rumours are currently circulating that after Wrestlemania, there could be a shake-up in the rosters, which could potentially result in The Club being back together once again.
#4 The Authority
Never before has someone dressed in a suit been able to draw so much heat, with minimal in-ring involvement. Triple H has been an outstanding antagonist executive ever since he traded in his trunks for a corner office at WWE Headquarters.
Together with his wife, Stephanie McMahon, wrestling’s ultimate power couple has led their underlings to battle, taking out anyone who dared to defy the orders handed down from The Authority.
Since their formation of the stable in April of 2013, The Authority has seen roughly a dozen members come-and-go.
Aside from Triple H and Stephanie, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Jamie Noble, Joey Mercury, Batista, Big Show, Kane, The New Age Outlaws and of course, Mr. McMahon himself, have all been affiliated with The Authority, at one time or another.
The brilliant thing about this stable, is that no matter what transpires on Raw or Smackdown, The Authority can once again rise back up and begin another reign of corporate terror. All it takes is one snap of the fingers by The Cerebral Assassin.
#3 The New Day
Once upon a time, the careers of three WWE Superstars had reached a point where things were somewhat stagnant, to say the least.
Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods all had tremendous talent, but each of them was individually in a creative slump, thanks to the WWE Creative powers, which could not figure out what direction to take with the Superstars.
At first, the idea behind The New Day gimmick appeared to be a stretch, as far as whether or not it would get over. Nonetheless, this was a chance not only worth taking, but a chance that absolutely needed to be taken.
In the beginning, The New Day was slow in taking off. Fans didn't really know how or if they could accept them at all. However, these three men were determined to make it work, which is exactly what they did.
The New Day would go on to usher back in the Freebird Rule, which allowed for an exciting added element to the Tag Team Championship scene.
As the three continued their historic journey, The New Day would eventually go on to break the record for longest WWE Tag Team title reign, previously set by legendary tag team, Demolition.
Regardless of how things started out for The New Day, one thing is now crystal clear... New Day certainly ROCKS!
#2 The Wyatt Family
It’s still hard to believe that the guy once known as Husky Harris would go on to be repackaged as the leader of the most monstrous stable of the 21st Century.
Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, known as The Wyatt Family, made their main roster debut in July of 2013 after a series of cryptic vignettes were aired each week on Raw.
Immediately upon making their debut, The Wyatt Family wanted to make a statement, and they did just that by taking out the demonic monster Kane. Bray would go on to defeat Kane in a Ring of Fire match at SummerSlam as well.
Since arriving on the main roster, The Wyatts have been a constant source of absolute destruction. The creative workings behind this idea were brilliant. After being repackaged, Bray Wyatt has been one of the most successful Superstars to ever change personas.
Things are much different today for The Wyatt Family. While Erick Rowan is recovering from injuries, Luke Harper has turned babyface and Braun Strowman has demolished everyone and everything on the Raw roster.
Currently, Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton are the only active members of The Wyatt Family, which has made for a very unique, yet highly successful combination. Together, the two have won the Smackdown Tag Team Championships, which they eventually lost to American Alpha.
However, all is not lost for the followers of buzzards. Randy Orton won this year’s Royal Rumble match, earning a spot in the main event at Wrestlemania.
Despite winning The Rumble, Orton subsequently opted out of the title shot following Bray Wyatt’s WWE Title victory at The Elimination Chamber, stating that he did not want to face his “master.”
Bray Wyatt is at the peak of his career thus far. After scratching and clawing away for many years, The Eater of Worlds has finally reached the pinnacle of his profession, as the WWE Champion.
#1 The Shield
When the WWE history books are one day re-written, fans will likely remember The Shield as one of the greatest stables in WWE history. Ever since this trio arrived on WWE’s main roster, at the 2012 Survivor Series pay-per-view, things were never the same.
Week after week, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins would lay waste to anything with a pulse. They didn't need a reason, just a victim. This trio was determined to shake the very foundation of the wrestling industry, a mission which they indeed accomplished.
As a faction, they were better than great. Once they split, each one would enjoy the benefits of their own success as singles competitors. As we now know, all three have held the top prize in the company, the WWE Championship, at least once.
The success that The Shield had, is something that very few stables have ever had, or will ever even dream of. Since they have gone their separate ways, they have all done well for themselves, but it’s probably safe to assume that we have not seen the last of The Shield as a united force.
In fact, there have been a number of instances in which a reunion was teased, but apparently, the time has yet to be right for a reset. Once this does happen, everyone who collects a WWE paycheck will feel it.
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