20 Greatest WCW Tag Teams
Real-life brothers made for some great duos.
In honor of World Championship Wrestling signing off 20 years ago, here’s a countdown of the 20 greatest WCW tag teams. For the purposes of this list, WCW began on Nov. 21, 1988, when Ted Turner purchased Jim Crockett Promotions and launched WCW.
20. Samoan Swat Team
Although they had more success as The Headshrinkers in WWE, Fatu and Samu fit in nicely in WCW’s deep tag team division heading into the ‘90s. Managed by Paul E. Dangerously, the Samoan Swat Team defeated the Midnight Express at Clash of Champions VI and also took part in War Games at Great American Bash 1989. When they switched managers to “The Big Kahuna” (Oliver Humperdink), their momentum cooled off.
19. The Mamalukes
With The Sopranos becoming the hottest hit on television, naturally Vince Russo wanted wrestling characters to emulate Tony, Sil and the gang. So, Disco Inferno fell behind on his gambling debts, leading to Big Vito, Johnny the Bull and Tony Marinara to come collect. Eventually, Disco replaced Marinara as their manager, guiding them to the Tag Team Titles twice. The wise guys also shared the Hardcore Championship, but we won’t get into that.
18. Pretty Wonderful
Paul Roma’s WCW run was D.O.A. due to being revealed as a new member of the Four Horsemen. However, he rebounded quite nicely by teaming with “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff. (That’s on top of Roma’s solid run as one half of Power & Glory with Hercules in WWE.) Managed by The Masked Assassin, Pretty Wonderful captured the Tag Team Titles twice and were arguably the top duo in the company in 1994.
17. Faces of Fear
They never won the Tag Team Titles, but Meng and Barbarian were a staple of WCW during the company’s zenith. The massive powerhouses imposed their will on a weekly basis, clashing with the Four Horsemen and even The Outsiders at Starrcade 1996. They might also be the most sought-after tag team in wrestling history, being recruited for the Heenan Family, Dungeon of Doom and Jimmy Hart’s First Family.
16. The Southern Boys/Young Pistols
Prior to joining WCW in 1990, Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers teamed up in Florida, the Continental Wrestling Association and during a tour of New Japan. The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys were a popular, yet mostly unsuccessful babyface pair, although they stole the show at Great American Bash 1990 in a classic with the Midnight Express. Turning heel and becoming The Young Pistols did them wonders, as they quickly captured the U.S. Tag Team Titles.
15. Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas
Not only are they both former NWA World Heavyweight Champions, but they also made a good team from the fall of 1992 until the spring of 1993. Young babyface Shane Douglas was a much different wrestler than “The Franchise,” and he gelled really well with the veteran Dragon. They had some barnburners with the Hollywood Blondes that are worth going out of your way to see.
14. Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio
A couple of Filthy Animals, Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio joined forces during the Russo Era of WCW. They consistently tore it up, selling their asses off, taking flight and creating new moves. They have the distinction of being the only duo to win both the Tag Team Titles and the short-lived Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles.
13. Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo
Did you know that Sean O’Haire and Chuck Palumbo were the last Tag Team Champions before WWE acquired WCW? They defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash in January 2001, an upset no matter how you look at it, and they held the belts until the Brothers of Destruction beat them on a summer episode of SmackDown. Part of the Natural Born Thrillers, both O’Haire and Palumbo should have been stars during the 2000s.
12. The Enforcers
Voted PWI’s Tag Team of the Year in 1991, Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko held the Tag Team Titles for only 75 days, but they made the most of their run. They made it to the finals of a tournament to win the belts, injuring Bill Kazmaier to secure the victory. Their destruction continued by breaking Barry Windham’s hand prior to Halloween Havoc 1991. Both men joined The Dangerous Alliance shortly thereafter.
11. Miracle Violence Connection
Talk about making an impact in a short amount of time. After joining forces in All Japan, Terry Gordy and Steve Williams came to WCW in 1992, destroying everyone in their path. They were simultaneous WCW and NWA Tag Team Champions for nearly three months and voted both PWI and the Wrestling Observer’s Tag Team of the Year.
[Check out the greatest WCW commentators list.]
10. Hollywood Blondes
Oh, what could have been. Steve Austin and Brian Pillman took WCW by storm in 1993, winning the Tag Team Titles and feuding with the Horsemen, mocking the legendary group with the classic “A Flare for the Old.” Unfortunately, the Hollywood Blondes’ momentum was cut short and they split up by the end of the year.
9. Midnight Express
Despite being in the top five tag teams of all time, The Midnight Express had a relatively brief run in Ted Turner’s WCW. That being said, Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane still delivered in the ring and had a hot feud with Paul E. Dangerously’s incarnation of the team: Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose. Unfortunately, Ole Anderson pissed off Jim Cornette in October of 1990, who told Lane he was quitting and within minutes, the legendary trio was split.
8. Fabulous Freebirds
From 1989 until 1992, the Fabulous Freebirds rocked WCW with a variety of members and managers. Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin, who were later inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, won the World and U.S. Tag Team Titles, as well as the Six-Man Tag Team Championships with Badstreet. They were more comedic than their badass run in World Class, but they also had more miles on them.
7. Nasty Boys
Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags came into WCW for a cup of coffee in 1990, and then returned in 1993 under the tutelage of Missy Hyatt. They brought a hardcore style to the company, engaging in garbage brawls with Public Enemy, Cactus Jack and other lunatics. With three title reigns totaling 259 days, they’re one of the top teams in company history.
6. Sting & Lex Luger
The opposite of good friends, better enemies. Sting and Lex Luger often banded together to fight nefarious forces, whether that be the Four Horsemen or New World Order. In addition to their five-month reign as Tag Team Champions, they had a classic match with the Steiners at the inaugural SuperBrawl.
5. Doom
David Gibb turned me onto Doom, a truly underrated badass team. Brought into WCW by Woman as mysterious masked henchmen, Ron Simmons and Butch Reed eventually revealed themselves and aligned with Theodore R. Long. Their near-year-long reign as Tag Team Champions is the longest single reign in WCW history.
4. Road Warriors
Another team that didn’t last as long as you’d think in Turner’s WCW. After gouging Dusty Rhodes’ eye with a spike from their shoulder pads (the bloody mess caused Rhodes to be fired), the Road Warriors held onto the Tag Team Titles for 155 days, taking on challenges from both heels and faces. They went onto win the Ironman Tag Team Tournament at Starrcade 1989 before leaving WCW in the summer of 1990. They returned for six months in 1996, but never returned to their former glory.
3. The Outsiders
They changed WCW – hell, they changed pro wrestling. Scott Hall and Kevin Nash won the Tag Team Titles five times between 1996 and 1999, although their defenses were few and far between. More importantly, they were a main event act as part of the NWO, taking the company to its greatest heights. Real-life best buddies, their chemistry was palpable and they were the most beloved villains wrestling ever had up to that point.
2. Harlem Heat
Nobody won more gold than Harlem Heat. The 10-time Tag Team Champions dominated the scene from 1993 until 1997, taking on all comers and winning the fans over in the process. Managed by Sister Sherri, as well as Col. Robert Parker, the rough and tumble Texans combined size, speed, power and agility. They even survived a breakup when Stevie Ray joined the NWO and Booker pursued singles gold. In 2019, they were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
1. Steiner Brothers
From 1988-1992, they were the top duo in WCW, becoming Triple Crown Champions (holding the WCW U.S., WCW World and IWGP Tag Team Titles all at once). In 1990, they were named Tag Team of the Year by both PWI and the Wrestling Observer. Of course, that meant their matches were exciting – with their legitimate amateur wrestling background from the University of Michigan, as well as their explosive power and agility, Rick and Scott developed a reputation for fucking people up.
Scott doesn’t get the credit he deserves for innovation, creating the 450 splash, Blockbuster suplex, Screwdriver and perhaps the reverse hurricanrana. That’s on top of popularizing the Frankensteiner! Although they won the WWE Tag Team Titles twice, they were never perceived as main eventers like they were in WCW. That’s okay, because when they returned to WCW and battled the Outsiders, they quickly regained their stature before Scott betrayed his bro in 1998 and became Big Poppa Pump.
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