In the 1990s, WCW was known for having a number of strong tag teams gunning for the World Tag Team titles. WWE had a few strong teams, usually keeping two or three regular teams around. Then you have ECW tag teams.
Remembering The ECW Tag Team Scene
The thing with Extreme Championship Wrestling was that there was always one dominant tag team, combinations made by fate, and a rising, successor team.
Heyman’s formula meant that ECW always had a team that was paired together as a unit. Now, the company didn’t have a bunch of teams, after all, ECW was smaller than WWE and WCW and had a smaller roster.
Also important in wrestling is to have at least one charismatic team. I mean, it’s possible to have four really good tag teams that shouldn’t be anywhere near the mic. However, notable promotions always had that team that could do it on the mic or just had a presence.
WWE had The New Age Outlaws in the 1990s and WCW had The Outsiders. Both had The Steiners and The Road Warriors at different times. Going back, the NWA also had The Rock N Roll Express!
Let’s look at five of the best ECW tag teams of all time.
The Eliminators (Perry Saturn & John Kronus)
While The Eliminators weren’t the most charismatic tandem, they were your good-match team. These guys could be counted on to have at least a decent match with any regular team native or invading.
I also dug them because they were incredibly athletic and could do a straight-up match, a match with razzle-dazzle, or a brawl. The Eliminators took the dominant tag team crown while number three was the popular pick.
To be honest, I’m still curious about why this combination was passed over for our next entry.
Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge & Rocco Rock)
I won’t lie, The Public Enemy looked good against teams that loved to brawl and fight around the ring. Beyond that, things kind of swandive off a cliff with a boulder on its back.
Still, they were the prototype of charismatic brawling teams before The Gangstas and The Dudleys. They weren’t the OGs of ECW like The Pitbulls but could give you excitement in-ring.
Since this is just about their ECW stint, we won’t get into WCW or their brief WWE stint.
The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustafa)
These guys were basically a successor team to the dominant Public Enemy. Mustafa was the guy on the team who could brawl and give you a little extra—even if it would be basic by today’s athletic standards.
New Jack was a strong brawler who could hype a match on the mic. Together they were the perfect tag team to excite the crowd as a heel force.
They even managed to reshape their gimmick for a northern crowd when it was originally formed to garner Southern heat at the time.
Sabu & Rob Van Dam
This was a team that could deliver an exciting match and had this natural charisma. Now, that charisma mainly came from them as individuals and it shone in matches but it was there.
The ECW crowd loved them and they were dope as heels. When RVD talked more on the mic and Sabu only spoke in growls and sneering, their interactions in promos made them an odd couple with in-ring chemistry.
The Big Bosses of ECW Tag Teams: The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley)
Obviously, you’d save the best for last. The Dudley Boyz were two of three decent Dudleys—yes, the other is Little Spike Dudley. I only say three because I didn’t see Big Dick Dudley wrestle until XPW.
As for the Dudleys in ECW, once D-Von showed up and began poisoning the family with his heelish demeanor. After he turned Buh Buh Ray, Big Dick, and Sign Guy in 1997, the Dudley Boyz as we remember them were born.
Again, we’re looking at their time in ECW where they were the dominant tag team. They were charismatic as hell and could deliver matches worthy of being championship bouts.
What are your five favorite ECW tag teams? Let us know in the comments and stick around for our Top 5 WCW tag teams of all time!
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