Tag Team Wrestling is a true craft. During wrestling’s territorial days, tag teams were the major attractions for many promotions, highlighted by legendary rivalries like the Freebirds versus the Von Erichs and iconic duos such as the Rock ’n’ Roll Express, the Midnight Express, and the Road Warriors.
The landscape shifted when Vince McMahon took over WWE, showing less enthusiasm for tag teams. Despite inconsistent booking and frequent partner changes, WWE still featured some of the greatest tag teams ever seen. Here is a ranking of the best teams based on their chemistry.
10. The Rockers: Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty never officially held the WWE World Tag Team Championship between 1988 and 1992, but they remain one of the most thrilling and skilled teams in WWE history. Shawn Michaels eventually rose to become a top WWE star, winning multiple singles titles including WWE Champion thrice.
9. The British Bulldogs: Active between 1985 and 1988, Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid made a huge impact with their athletic and powerful wrestling style. They captured the World Tag Team Championship once and had legendary matches, especially their WrestleMania 2 bout with The Dream Team.
8. Legion of Doom (The Road Warriors): Hawks and Animal are widely regarded as one of wrestling’s greatest teams. Debuting in WWE in 1990, they won the World Tag Team Championship twice and left a lasting legacy through their dominance and fan appeal.
7. Demolition: From 1987 to 1991, Ax and Smash (later joined by Crash) were the top tag team of WWE’s golden era. They held the World Tag Team Championship three times and set a then-record 478-day reign that stood for nearly 30 years.
6. The New Day: Since their formation in 2014, Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods have shattered records, winning multiple tag championships including a 483-day reign. The group’s charisma and success helped Big E and Kofi Kingston break into WWE’s singles championship scene.
5. The Usos: Twins Jimmy and Jey Uso, WWE stars from 2010 to 2023, surpassed the New Day’s records with their dominant run. Their performances, especially after adopting new personas in 2016, elevated the tag division and led to Jey’s 2025 World Heavyweight Championship win.
4. The Hart Foundation: Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart, wrestling together from 1985 to 1991, excelled as both villains and fan favorites, owning the World Tag Team titles twice. Their teamwork and memorable matches solidified their status as an all-time great tag team.
3. The Hardy Boyz: Matt and Jeff Hardy, popular during the Attitude Era, became formidable tag contenders from 1998 on and captured several tag titles. Despite periods of inactivity, they remain beloved for their high-flying style and multiple championship reigns.
2. Edge & Christian: This duo, active between 1998 and 2001, was known for their entertaining antics and classic ladder matches. They won the World Tag Team Championship seven times and helped define the Attitude Era’s tag team competition.
1. The Dudley Boyz: Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley dominated tag team wrestling across promotions including ECW, WWE, and TNA. Together, they won numerous championships and became iconic partners thanks to their complementary wrestling styles and memorable personas.
Fan Take: This retrospective highlights the unparalleled significance of chemistry and innovation in tag team wrestling, showing how these duos shaped WWE’s history and fan engagement. For WWE fans, understanding these partnerships enriches appreciation for today’s tag divisions and the legacy future teams aspire to uphold.
