Top 5 Greatest Wrestling Stables

In this edition of The Wrestling Estate roundtable, we present our top five greatest wrestling stables.

Jack Goodwillie’s Greatest Wrestling Stables

Before I give this list, I wanted to clear up a legitimate question I had in my own mind about the difference between factions and stables in pro wrestling. I previously used both to describe essentially the same thing, but it never felt quite right. I now have the answer as to why. Factions are just groups of several wrestlers who band together and protect each other during matches – like an alliance. And they’re generally larger than stables. But make no mistake, the Dangerous ALLIANCE is a stable, because it has a central mouthpiece or focal point, in this case Paul E. Dangerously. THE Alliance, however, was a faction. My apologies for taking your mind on that journey. Here are my top 5:

1. nWo, Leader: Hollywood Hulk Hogan

In our nWo roundtable, I went out on a limb and called the black & white the best stable of all time, and I’m sticking to that here. The creation of the stable – the moment Hulk Hogan unveiled his intentions to join Outsiders Hall & Nash – can be put up against any of wrestling’s greatest moments and hold up just fine. That matters, as do the 83 consecutive weeks WCW beat WWF BECAUSE of the nWo. To me, these are achievements that will trump a war chest of titles any day of the week. Make no mistake, when the nWo was bad, it was awful, but when it was great, it was the greatest stable of all time.

2. Evolution, Leader: Triple H

Evolution is, quite obviously, a modern-day remake of the Four Horsemen. Hell, both even include Ric Flair! But the fact that Evolution did manage to yield future WWE cornerstones such as Randy Orton and Batista gives it a slight edge over the Horsemen, where all members were sort of complacent in their roles. That’s not meant to be a knock on the Horsemen. All three (Evolution, Horsemen, NWO) are in a tier of their own as far as stables go. But Evolution ran roughshod on Raw, and the fact that Triple H was likely on a backstage ego trip at the time made them even more fascinating to me. As a kid, I HATED these guys, and Triple H specifically was an enemy to some of my favorite wrestlers, such as Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels. Not to mention the fact that we later got to see some infighting, really between every possible combination of members except for maybe Batista and Ric Flair, gives them another leg up on the Horsemen.

3. Four Horsemen, Leader: Ric Flair

Another reason I don’t have the Horsemen higher was because there were so many combinations and renditions of the stable, it can be confusing as a fan to distinguish the best version at its absolute peak. So, I’m going to do that right now: Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and manager J.J. Dillon are the best incarnation. Ole Anderson had a little more longevity, but at this point Windham was just superior to Ole in every way. These guys DOMINATED Jim Crockett Promotions during their heyday and that has to count for something. The interviews were legendary, regardless of who had the mic. Not to mention, the Horsemen innovated the concept of what a heel stable can do for its company. While nWo and Evolution took the Horsemen’s blueprint and expanded on it, neither would exist without them and that is definitely worth mentioning.

4. Hart Foundation, Leader: Bret Hart

The six-month run of The Hart Foundation in 1997 was the golden age of Bret Hart’s character work in the WWF, which prior to was often criticized. But this stable was a case of everything coming together at the right time. Bret Hart needed equity as a heel after spending virtually his entire singles career in the WWF as a face. What’s the easiest way to do that? Build a wall around the heel. And it just so happened that three members of Hart’s family were already established heels, and Brian Pillman, a Hart Family member in spirit, was as hot as ever months removed from the “Pillman’s Got a Gun” angle. Bret’s mic work was sharp and irritating by design, and the dynamic they were able to create between American fans and Canadian fans is something never seen before or since. Moreover, the 10-man tag at Canadian Stampede ranks as one of the best matches of its kind. Why the WWF couldn’t get more out of Owen, Bulldog and Neidhart on later streets is a complicated question. The company has only itself to blame with Owen, while Bulldog and Neidhart have only themselves to blame. This stable also played a pivotal role in the meteoric rise of Steve Austin, cementing its place on this list.

5. D-Generation X, Leader: Triple H

I didn’t want to put D-X on this list because it gets more than enough credit from inside WWE as the “it” faction of the time. Yawn…I wanted to include The Nexus, but the run on top wasn’t long enough. I wanted to include The Corporation/Corporate Ministry, but it had too much by way of numbers. The New Day and Fabulous Freebirds are more extended tag teams to me. Same goes for The Shield. I suppose the Heenan Family could have made a case as well, but I ultimately had to go with D-X. Although it had multiple incarnations, the premise always remained the same: a group that did what they wanted, however they wanted, whenever they felt like it; and it worked as both a face and heel group. A lot of D-X’s success in the late ‘90s was proportionate to the amount of screen time they were given, but they were very over and it speaks volumes about Triple H’s credibility as a stable head. The McMahon-Helmsley Era, D-X, Evolution, The Authority, call him what you will, but the guy knows a thing or two about getting stables over, so I guess it’s only fitting he gets two stables on my list.

Juan Bautista’s Greatest Wrestling Stables

1. Four Horsemen

Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson and Ole Anderson made up what some argue is the best stable in wrestling history. They won multiple championships (holding them at the same time, too) and have had a long-lasting legacy.

2. Bullet Club

All the leaders have been world champions. They’ve also had the top tag teams in New Japan at the time, whether it be the Young Bucks or G.O.D.

3. NWO

They ran rough shot over an entire company. It took Sting going to his darkest place to (briefly) stop their momentum.

4. Team Canada

Unfortunately, they were disbanded before the iron got hot. Led by Scott D’Amore, A-1, Bobby Roode, Petey Williams and Eric Young won the 2004 America’s Cup and later won The World X Cup. They would go on to win the 2006 World X Cup as well.

5. Evolution

While their run was short, the collection of talent definitely made an impact. All are former world champions – Triple H ruling the roost for most of the group’s tenure – with Randy Orton winning the Intercontinental Title and Ric Flair and Batista winning the Tag Team Titles during their reign of terror.

David Gibb’s Greatest Wrestling Stables

1. Four Horsemen

The Horsemen had longevity, legitimacy and a natural, unquantifiable connection with the fans (both those who hated them and those who persistently cheered them) in Jim Crockett Promotions and WCW. Even though each iteration of the group got a little less special over time, the Horsemen brand was always the go-to for WCW in times of need or instability.

2. Hart Foundation

The anti-American Hart Foundation of the pre-Attitude Era changed the WWF in ways that made what came after them possible. Bret, Owen, Anvil, Davey Boy, and Pillman all exuded real confidence in their athleticism, personal convictions and national pride in a way that stood out compared to the sometimes cartoonish, sometimes sophomoric world of Vince McMahon’s vision for wrestling. Their intensity and zest for being legitimately disliked set a new bar for realism and commitment in the promotion.

3. New World Order

Before it got bad, the nWo was very, very good. They ducked and weaved in, out, around and through wrestling’s pre-constructed reality in a way that had only been explored in fits and starts before. The nWo storyline was so successful it basically broke wrestling’s mold in a way that we’re still recovering from today.

4. Stud Stable

The Fullers and their extended network of cousins and paid assassins chased “Bullet” Bob Armstrong and his family for years in Southeastern and Continental Wrestling in what’s considered by many to be the classic southern wrestling feud. Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden continued the tradition through the ’90s in Smokey Mountain and WCW, and rumors of Colonel Parker reviving the faction for the second time in MLW are rampant.

5. Heenan Family

Bobby Heenan was as big a part of the early WrestleMania era as Hulk Hogan. His stable included luminaries like Andre the Giant, King Haku, Rick Rude and beyond. While the “Family” never dominated the territory like the Four Horsemen or even DX, they consistently made television and live events interesting in a time where the WWF’s top babyfaces were basically unbeatable.

Matthew Smith’s Greatest Wrestling Stables

1. Four Horsemen

If we’re talking greatest wrestling stables, we have to talk about Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson and Tully Blanchard. A group that still gets referenced when you talk about Evolution, Bullet Club and especially the Four Horsewomen.

2. Evolution

Ric Flair, Triple H, Randy Orton and Bautista dominated the Ruthless Aggression Era. The concept was simple: a legend of the past, champion of the present and the two stars of the future. This group ran Raw, taking out Goldberg, Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit and anyone else dumb enough to get in their way. Staying true to its name, Orton and Batista evolved into main event stars, something the company badly needed after the departure of The Rock and Stone Cold.

3. Bullet Club

Whether they were fine or not fine, the Bullet Club made pro wrestling fun again. Known for their hard-hitting style and “too sweet” hand gesture, they quickly took NJPW by storm. The success of Finn Balor, AJ Styles and Cody Rhodes, as well as the formation of AEW can all be traced back to the Bullet Club. As one leader left for WWE pastures and the Young Bucks served as the glue, they introduced new leaders and stars in fun and creative ways, not to mention all the merch moved in the process. The Bullet Club’s fingerprints are all over every wrestling promotion out there today, whether it be The Club forming on Raw, The Elite on AEW or G.O.D in NJPW.

4. The Shield

For a trio that debuted in turtlenecks and slicked back hair, Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns became the coolest stable to possibly ever come onto WWE television. Reigns brought the power, Seth brought the grappling and high flying and Ambrose brought the grit. They were never separate and attacked everyone in their path. Their signature triple power bomb wiped out the whole locker room, even during an 11-on-3 handicap match. The Shield also pulled an evolution after beating Evolution: Rollins destroyed his brothers with a steel chair before ascending to the top of WWE. Ambrose and Reigns eventually joined him. At Money in the Bank 2016, all three men were WWE Champion at one point in the night, something that will probably never happen again.

5. New Day

On pace to break every tag team record in WWE, The New Day are future hall of famers. A team that was formed to bring change in the WWE saw them off to a rough start, getting heavily booed. (Remember we booed Kofi Kingston?) But being the top talent they are, they rolled with the punches and captured the tag titles, leading them to breaking the record for longest-reigning Tag Team Champions in WWE history. The New Day also led to Kofi finally winning the WWE Championship.

Steven Jackson’s Greatest Wrestling Stables

1. Four Horsemen

For my sins, I’m not a huge Horsemen mark. But I do respect the impact they have had on the industry and how important they have been since their inception. The greatest lineup was definitely Flair, Windham, Tully, Arn and J.J. Dillon, but I’m open to debating this!

2. Bullet Club

It was a toss-up whether it go with either the nWo or the Bullet Club and after much deliberation, the BC won out. The nWo were good, but the BC are great! The greatest run of any stable ever has to be when AJ Styles was at the helm and had Gallows, Anderson, the Young Bucks, Fale, Tonga and Omega by his side. Unstoppable gaijins!

3. Hart Foundation

The formation of the Hart Foundation in 1997 was a turning point for a lot of wrestling fans, including myself. It was a moment a lot of us never thought would happen. But somehow it did! Instant memories and joy come to mind when I think of the Hart Foundation, and while the latter years have been tinged with unimaginable tragedy, nothing will ever compare to that main event at Canadian Stampede, where the Hart Foundation stood as one!

4. Von Erichs

Much like the Hart Foundation, the impact the Von Erichs had on the wrestling industry is staggering. The love the people of Texas had/have for the Von Erichs is like no other! Their revolutionary and captivating feud with long-time rivals the Fabulous Freebirds meant every match was a must-watch.

5. Dangerous Alliance

Often overlooked, the Dangerous Alliance had an amazing run. With Paul E Dangerously at the helm, the Dangerous Alliance were a who’s who of pro wrestling’s past, present and future. Always working as a unit, and always excellent in the ring, the Dangerous Alliance might not have broken box-office records or had the highest merchandise sales, but their matches and influence can’t be taken for granted.

John Corrigan’s Greatest Wrestling Stables

1. Four Horsemen

Putting those four fingers together remains a symbol of excellence. Never before have a group of wrestlers banded together under the same principles of delivering in the ring, winning championships, making money and chasing skirt. The Four Horsemen paved the way for every stable thereafter, and none have surpassed Flair, Arn, Tully and whoever you want to slot in that fourth spot.

2. NWO

I’ve been binging Nitro from the beginning, my first time really watching WCW, and it’s fascinating how fast the New World Order cooled off. Sure, the group was around for years, but I never realized that the original three only lasted a month or so before recruiting more members and watering down the concept. However, the NWO’s influence on the industry is undeniable. Hell, black and white wrestling shirts are still the industry standard thanks to those “Buy the shirt!” commercials.

3. Hart Foundation

Family values is something we can all get behind. Bret captained an all-star lineup, reuniting with baby brother Owen and hot head brother-in-law Davey Boy. Then, they recruited brother-in-law Anvil and family friend Pillman to battle American antiheroes Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels. As the United States is once again divided, Bret’s criticisms of our country from over 20 years ago ring louder than ever.

4. Contra Unit

CONTRA! These mercenaries have run roughshod over MLW for over a year, quickly winning the World Heavyweight Championship. You’ve got Josef Samael barking death threats, Jacob Fatu steamrolling everyone in his path and Simon Gotch ready to choke someone out. Watch out for fireballs and spikes because no one is safe!

5. Team Canada

Impact Wrestling has had some of the greatest wrestling stables, but Team Canada stands above all. All decked out in red, with Coach Scott D’Amore waving the Canadian flag during an entrance theme that sounded like Maxx Payne playing “Oh Canada,” this group of up and comers dominated the X-Division, as well as the tag team scene, for two years. Bobby Roode and Eric Young went on to become world champions, and Petey Williams deserves his own wing in every wrestling hall of fame for inventing the Canadian Destroyer.