Top 5 Most Memorable WWE Tag Teams of the 80s

Posted on | September 18, 2009 |

Honorable Mention: The Rockers

Honorable Mention: The Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty)

The Rockers had unbelievable entrance music. With ridiculous florescent outfits the WWE world was introduced to Marty Jannety and Shawn Michaels. This was before Shawn Michaels launched his “solo act” as The Heartbreak Kid and before HBK would elevate to the pantheons of the WWE. The Rockers were entertaining during their walk into the ring, during the match and after the match; they had mind blowing flare and charisma.

According the WWE history books, The Rockers have never been the World Tag Team Champions “but on October 30, 1990 Jannetty and Michaels did actually defeat the reigning champions The Hart Foundation in a two out of three falls match in Ft Wayne, to seemingly win the titles. The WWE (WWF) has never officially recognized The Rockers’ champion status. During the match the top rope broke by accident making the match a disjointed affair that would require serious clean up before it could be shown on TV,” says wikipedia.

#5 British Bulldogs

5) British Bulldogs (Dynamite Kid and Davey Boy Smith)

One-Time Champions for 294 Combined Days

The cousins from England comprised a formidable tag team in the WWE. Accompanied to the ring with the their pet bulldog (Matilda), the British Bulldogs possessed the great combination of high-flying ability and brute force. When the Bulldogs captured the title they had “Captain” Lou Albano and Ozzy Osbourne in their corner - how could they lose?

The Bulldogs most notable feud was with The Hart Foundation in which they had a series of memorable matches that constantly replay in my mind. The Bulldogs last Pay-Per-View event was in 1988 - the British Bulldogs are one of the true 80s icons of professional wrestling.

#4 The Nasty Boys

4) The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags)

One-Time Champions for 155 Combined Days

Hailing from Nastyville, The Nasty Boys were punk-rocker, anti-social, in-your-face, anarchists with outfits and haircuts to match the described persona. They would wear ratty t-shirts that were ripped, torn, smelly, and spray painted. Their hair was the rare combination of one part shaved, one part mullet. The Nasty Boys would wear chains around their necks and were managed by the most iconic WWE wrestling manager of all time: “The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart.

One of The Nasty Boys signature moves was called “Pity City”. Around 10 minutes into the match when The Nasty Boys were good and sweaty they would send you into the turnbuckle and rub their sweaty arm pits all over you. If the stench didn’t knock you out, their pummeling style would. The Nasty Boys captured the World Tag Team Championship during Wrestlemania VII after defeating The Hart Foundation.

#3 Demolition

3) Demolition (Ax and Smash)

Three-Time Champions for 698 Combined Days

Demolition captured the World Tag Team Championship an astonishing 3 times and currently hold the record for the single longest reign. Demolition had a crazy look sporting a wild combination of red, black, white and gray face paint and wore spiked outfits on their way to the ring. They might go down as the most dominant tag team in WWE history. The reign of terror would begin during Wrestlemania IV when demolition defeated Strikeforce resulting in their first WWE tag team championship.

“Ax and Smash also memorably squared off against each other as entrants #1 and #2 in the Royal Rumble match at Royal Rumble 1989 before being joined in the ring by the third entrant, André the Giant,” says Wikipedia. If Jimmy Hart is the most iconic WWE wrestling manager of all time, Demolition’s would be 2nd: Mr. Fuji. If you didn’t pay close attention, Mr. Fuji would throw a storm of blinding salt directly in your eyes.

#2 The Hart Foundation

2) The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart)

Two-Time Champions for 483 Combined Days

“The Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart was at the center of The Hart Foundation. Although many comprised the stable, the two main stallions of The Hart Foundation’s golden era were Bret “The Hitman” Hart and Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. Bret Hart would later go on to have one of most illustrious professional wrestling careers of all time and is arguably the best, most iconic professional wrestler there is, there was, and there ever will be.

“What set the Harts apart from their contemporaries was their respective wrestling styles - Neidhart was more of a brawler/power wrestler, whereas Bret on the other hand was a more agile, sound and polished technician who used ring psychology to his advantage. This characteristic and uniqueness in the Hart Foundation was at that time rare yet successful, leading to two reigns as WWF Tag Team Champions,” says wikipedia.

During their original conception, The Hart Foundation were bad guys and were constantly feuding with The British Bulldogs and The Rockers.

1) The Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal)

Two-Time Champions for 213 Combined Days

There is no more memorable WWE Tag Team of the 80s than The Legion of Doom. The Legion of Doom’s #1 adversary was Demolition. Sporting similar face paint and NFL-style shoulder pads with spikes coming out of the them; The Legion of Doom were scary looking. Although both big bruisers, Hawk and Animal had an uncanny ability to fly through the air and utilize many mid-air maneuvers to spill their enemies.

The Legion of Doom were also featured on the epic arcade game WWF Wrestlefest in which they were the unplayable tag team champions you faced off against to win the game.

Share the Post