It’s a story as old as time. The two stars will rise together as tag teams and capture the title and thrilling fans until the inevitable split. From there, one partner soars to new heights as a single star, and the other… well, not so much. Think about the locker WWE!
Sometimes it was a poor reservation that pulled back the former tag star. Otherwise, it was either bad timing or simply the fact that the star lacked a specific “it’s factor” for it to thrive on its own. Either way, the next 10 tag team wrestlers couldn’t escape the shadows of their partners and struggled to survive in the singles competition.
D-Von Dudley
D-Von Dudley didn’t achieve much without Bubba Ray
- Half of the most successful tag teams ever
- As a single star, he did little.
If the team is as successful as the Dudley Boys, almost every level of single success can be pale in comparison. However, his partner, Bubba Ray Dudley, enjoyed a revival of his career as a solo rival to the world champion, but the list of D-Von’s singles achievements actually does not exist.
Still, after enjoying the title reign of the most tag teams in history, D-Von’s legacy is safe despite not disappearing to Bubba.
JTG
Cryme Tyme’s career was not rewarded
- Teamed up with Shad Gaspard as Cryme Time
- It fell into the ambiguity of C-Show as a solo act
Cryme Tyme was once a popular duo, and mostly overcame charisma and chemistry strength. But almost all of JTG’s magic disappeared when Shad Gaspard stepped in.
His stock plummeted and he was relegated to WWE’s small, viewed C-level shows until he was dumped by the company.
John Cronus
Fade after the Eliminator disbanded
- Teamed up with Perry Saturn in ECW
- I struggled to find success after splitting
The Eliminator is an exciting team in Extreme Championship Wrestling, recognised for its innovative style and intense matches. However, a clash of personality led Perry Saturn to set out for solo runs in WCW, Cronus struggled to maintain momentum.
Saturn at least respected his ring abilities and left the business in 2002.
Heath Slater
Heath Slater had kids, but there was no heat.
- The best moments were part of the double act
- He was not fully utilized as a single performer
Whether he teamed up with Justin Gabriel in the Nexus, joined forces with Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal in 3MB or enjoying not running with Reno, Heath Slater’s biggest success has all come as a tag team wrestler.
Despite his charisma, solid ring skills and multiple gimmicks, Slater struggled when he was left to dodge for himself.
Chuck Parunbo
Multiple solo gimmicks now flattened
- Part of multiple teams from WCW and WWE
- Losing most of his solo run in the Sunday night heat
On paper, Chuck Palumbo had everything: youth, athletic ability, physique carved from granite. But all these assets seemed to serve him well in the tag team competition.
WCW’s team with Mark Jindrak and Sean O’Haire were highlights of his career with a prominent run with Billy Gunn and a short-lived, completely bloody Italian revival. As a single wrestler, he was a cannon fodder, mainly due to the heat of other low-ranked wrestlers.
Billy Gunn
Billy Gunn bombed as a solo star
- 3 partners and 10-time tag team champions
- Billy Gun’s single from the late 1990s flops
As Billy Gunn is respected as he is today, his legacy is largely defined by the success of his tag team. After spending most of the 1990s as a tag wrestler, first along with Burt Gunn, and later as part of the outlaw of a new era with Road Dog – Gunn was eventually pushed as a single star, winning the 1999 King of the Ring.
However, his subsequent famous feud with Rock only revealed his shortcomings as a solo performer, and he quickly returned to his comfort zone by reuniting with Lord Dog.
Bobby Eaton
It never replicated the success of Midnight Express
- He has held countless tag titles as a member of the Midnight Express
- Fadeed due to relevance in Monday Night War
Including Bobby Eaton on this list seems like a criminal. Because he was an incredible wrestler and was respected by both fans and peers because of his talent. Still, all of that talent doesn’t escape the fact that she couldn’t help the beautiful Bobby break down as a star in the singles.
Despite being one of the most successful tag teams of all time, Eton’s singles career never left. Over time he gradually defeated cards, spending the second half of his career primarily on others.
Stevie Ray
Stevie Ray did not have much success after the Harlem Heat
- Most WCW tag team titles govern Booker T
- After the team split, he joined NWO jobs.
Harlem Heat was the most successful tag team in WCW history. When they split forever in the late 1990s, Booker T was forced into the moon with rockets tied to their backs, but Stevie Ray played a bit of a part-time role in the NWO B-Team, a group of talented and talented NWO B-Teams like Vincent and Horace Hogan, which were nothing in anything.
The success of the singles was clearly not on the cards, so Stevie later found a calling at the commentary table.
Jimmy Lie
After splitting with Jay, direction left to left
- 8-time tag team champion with Jey Uso
- I struggled without his brother
USO is a successful team and has been a popular staple in WWE’s tag team division for many years.
When the Bloodline story pulled them apart, Jay Uso caught lightning bolts in a bottle in his “yet” routine and defeated Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 41. Meanwhile, Jimmy’s biggest role as a singles star was to serve as a plot device for his brother’s story.
Marty Janety
Marty Janeti’s name has become the codeword for singles failure
- He teamed up with Shawn Michaels for seven years as a locker.
- Could not replicate HBK’s legendary single carrier.
Looking at the early matches and promotions from the lockers, it’s clear why Marty Giannetti has become the team’s breakout star. He had the talent, energy and level of charisma that he rarely reaches the showcase after splitting from Shawn Michaels.
Despite the brief intercontinental title reign, personal struggles and missed opportunities meant that Jannetty’s name became a side word for wasted success, and that his former partner became a Hall of Fame star.
