Just for fun I'm going to look at WWE "Superstars" who aren't doing anything (or more accurately, WWE is not doing anything with), and pair them up to form some semblance of a tag team division which we can all agree, is sorely missed in wrestling these days. (By the way, WWE.com had a really terrible article on this subject that is partly responsible for me finding the motivation to do my own)
I love rambling on and on about things but instead of taking the scenic route, we're just going to get right into it. I'm trying to get this blog read and so in the interest of brevity, I'll spare you from all that could be said on this subject.
MASON RYAN & JUSTIN GABRIEL
I HATE Mason Ryan. I think he sucks in the ring and every time I see his face I want to punch it. I'm not a big fan of Gabriel either. Dude's got one move, that's it. BUT, that's why you stick guys in tag teams in the first place, because they can't really make it on their own. It gives them a chance to maximize their strengths, while hiding their weaknesses.
So why these two together? I like pairings of contrasting styles. Teams like the Hart Foundation which featured a power wrestler and a technical wrestler are even more rare than teams of two guys with similar styles. Matches with a team like this would build themselves. Gabriel takes a beating, eventually makes the hot tag to Mason Ryan who comes in and cleans house, sets the opponent up for Gabriel's 450 splash and -- Boom! Fans are entertained and both guys get over because they aren't floundering on their own for their shortcomings to be exposed.
Another thing working in their favor is they've both got that "rugged, good-looking European" thing going on (I know Gabriel's not from Europe but he sounds like he is and he freaking wears Speedos in the ring! All European guys wear Speedos, don't they?)
ALEX RILEY & JTG
Odd couples work, right? That's what I'm going for with these two. I personally think both guys could do well as singles competitors but the WWE clearly has no interest in using either one of them for anything meaningful right now so, why not team them up? I think they both have the charisma to make their interaction funny without getting so over-the-top goofy that they lose believability as a viable tag team.
CAMACHO & HUNICO
They're basically a tag team already and they've got the contrasting styles thing going for them. I know a lot of people hate the whole vato loco gimmick but I don't think anyone has ever used it to its full potential. We all laughed at Konnan because he was really more of a caricature. In real life, thugs are people to be feared. They could snap at any time for any reason and they don't give a damn about fighting fair. Push the gimmick as far as the PG rating will allow and you've got something worth watching.
CURT HAWKINS & TYLER REKS
They're already dressing alike. Might as well make them a tag team.
GREAT KHALI & JINDER MAHAL
I think they tried this already before but if anyone needs to have their weaknesses hidden it's Khali. Nobody cares about Jinder right now but in a tag team where he's always got Khali for a safety net, he'd have the chance to show whether or not he's a talented worker, either by doing some good old-fashioned heel bumping or building some heat as a ruthless cheater a'la the Iron Sheik when he was teaming with Nikolai Volkoff. He's clearly got "the look" to have a future in the business whereas Khali's probably already reached his ceiling. Why not get the most out of them in a tag team that, at least at first glance, looks scary as hell.
DREW MCINTYRE & JOE HENNIG
You read that correctly. Have Drew confront "Michael McGillicutty" about his bogus name and urge him to go back to being called by his given name. Both men have an "anointing" on their careers, one by the chairman himself, Vince McMahon, and one by the heritage of his legendary father. So it makes sense for them to team up to claim their destiny since going it alone has been fruitless. McIntyre could be the chief talker, but I'd even like to see them acquire a manager (someone other than Vicki Guerrero). And Joe needs to adopt his father's persona. He has to know it like the back of his hand and I would imagine no other gimmick would give him the same level of comfort and confidence.
TRENT BARRETA & TYSON KIDD
I think both of these guys belong in a tag team. I thought about pairing one of them with Ted DiBiase, who I also think belongs in a tag team but since he's on the shelf with an injury, I decided to throw these two together. Barreta is more of the carefree goofball whereas Tyson is the more serious wrestler. Tyson has great mat skills, and Trent is the reckless hi-flier. I even came up with a name for this one...T-N-T! They're both on the smallish side but they could have some GREAT matches with the current tag champs, Primo & Epico.
Johnny Curtis is another guy who is going to need a partner if he isn't put into a singles program with an experienced babyface vet whom he can go over. I've got several ideas for utilizing the creeper character he's apparently developed on NXT (I don't watch the show; I cheated and looked it up on Wikipedia. Shhhh!)
Throw in THE USOS and PRIMO & EPICO and you've got the makings of a pretty decent tag team division. It could happen, but this is World Wrestling Entertainment we're talking about here so...I'm not going to hold my breath.
Still it's fun to speculate. That's all I got for now. Discuss!
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