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TAG TEAM MONTHLY

By Joel C Croyle on 3/30/2009 9:33 AM

Well, it's Wrestlemania time and it is soon to be Lockdown time as well. Though the thought of matches like Eric Young vs. Danny Bonaduce, another HHH vs. Randy Orton match, a possible long John Cena run as champ again, a missed opportunity MIB match, a sad legends handicap match and a Hardy’s match that though will more than likely be great, a match I didn’t want to see, scare me…the world of the tag teams is about to get two major jolts.

Let’s start with TNA, shall we? 3D vs. Beer Money has been something I’ve wanted to see as a long program for a bit of time. Beer Money is quite probably the best tag team to be on the wrestling scene since the 1997 era. They are lean, they are charismatic, they are solid workers, they can talk, they cheat the way they are supposed to and when they needed to lose the “campiness” of their team and get real they did just that by throwing away their “loser gets fired” clause as well as Jackie to the curb.

On the other hand, Team 3D may just be better than they ever were before. They are stronger, bigger and much more methodical in their performances. Their promos on Beer Money have been outstanding. They stand for tradition. What I am hoping to see at Lockdown is a performance of a lifetime from both teams. I also am hoping 3D pass the torch and allow Beer Money to take the New Japan titles, thus making them the only tag team title holders in TNA. They deserve the nod.

As for WWE we have some of the best matches on ECW, RAW and SMACKDOWN happening by Morrison, Miz, Primo and Carlito every single week (and at house shows every single night I am sure). Though others may disagree, I think the use of the Bella Twins has also been well done. It has been limited, they had a slow build and the truth is no matter what happens at WM25 they can easily go back to being a team again, heel or face or be singles stars in the women division. A win/win situation if you ask me. 

As for the men in this triangle, to me it is obvious that The Miz is about to be taking a walk up that ladder of WWE greatness. They may put the titles on M&M (I love that pun), but soon after be prepared to see Miz go his separate way. The timing of both teams is just unmatched by any other tag team in WWE or TNA. It is too bad that Beer Money visits us on Thursday nights as a Friday night venue might be one heck of a match. As to WM25 I see the titles going either way though part of me believes that Carlito and Primo will walk out with both sets of belts, naming them the undisputed world tag team champions. I think WWE may just pull the trigger following their match on Morrison and Miz splitting. 

Now let’s talk about some of the not so good tag team issues. This past Friday Big Show decimated a once vibrant young team in Jesse and Festus and truth be told it may just be time to have ol’ Festus go singles anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I love this duo, and have from the start. But, Festus looked to be being primed for a singles role that could run with Undertaker, Kane, Henry and Kozlov until a recent downward spiral with Jesse. If they are going to be used for fodder I’d rather them be singles guys and stop destroying the tag division.

In TNA the tag team ranks have really gone south. AJ and Joe aren’t together. Rock and Rave is sandblasted. Lethal Consequences is neither in nor out of the tag team ranks, they just sit there. The guns seem to be more worried about the x division title. Honestly, if suicide weren’t so over, I’d say lets bring back XXX. Honestly I’d love to see a women’s tag division in TNA and WWE and I’d say that they both have just about enough women to do it now. 

In closing, it just seems that both of the “big 2” are just putting up what they have and hoping for gold at sometime in the future. So many teams that could be doing great things and revitalizing the tag situation are being denied. Cryme Tyme, Priceless, LAX, Joe/Styles, Biscuits and Gravy, The Bella Twins, and for God sakes the Hardy’s (why, Vince, why) are just being wasted in a lot of ways. I do look forward to WM25 for that title bout as well as Lockdown. I think Lockdown will also have a great match in the Joe vs. Angle team match. I hope we see a rise soon. 

Looking Back:
Heart Foundation vs. The Brain Busters – Summerslam 1989

This match is one of my favorites. As always in tag Team Monthly I try to take a look back on fond memories of the tag team ranks. To me, there may have never been any two better teams at a better time than these two. I just remember being a kid and being glued to this match, Bret and Arn making technically aggressive moves look easy when they weren’t. Tully and Neidhart being the cheerleaders and take no prisoners side men that they are to perfection. The close saw Anderson pin Bret who wasn’t legal at the time by hiding Bret’s face towards the referee. It was a classic “Hennan family” maneuver but just absolutely excellent. A must see for any newbie wrestling fan.

Current top 5 Tag Teams:

1.) Miz and Morrison
2.) Beer Money
3.) 3D
4.) Carlito and Primo
5.) Priceless