Opinion

Cook’s Top 5: Unappreciated Tag Teams

Cook touches on teams from multiple companies and eras! How good is this list? Who was missed?

Published

5 years ago

August 14, 2020

This past Wednesday, FTR held a Tag Team Appreciation Night on AEW Dynamite. As it turned out, it was all a ruse so FTR could attack the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express. It’s understandable, Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson beat all of FTR’s heroes back in the day. I can see why they would want some retribution on behalf of Arn, Tully and all of the people that were wronged over the years.

Today, I want to take a look at some tag teams that have gone unappreciated over the years. The ones that won’t be invited to AEW or WWE legend ceremonies for whatever reason. (OK, some are dead, but I don’t think that affects the invitation status that much.) We all know that certain tag teams have always got their proper respect. Others haven’t, and that’s why we’re here today, to right that wrong.

Here are the Top 5 Unappreciated Tag Teams of All Time!

5. North & South of the Border (Eddie Guerrero & Chris Jericho)

This team was so overlooked that they never even got a run! Anywhere! Jericho talked about this on one of the WWE DVDs produced after Eddie died. They teamed together on some WCW house shows and loved doing it, but never got much of a chance on television. A match or two here & there. Once they ended up together in the WWF they might have had a chance…but somehow it never happened. They had some matches against each other, and by the time the brand split happened they were pretty much always on opposite brands.

In an alternate universe, they would have ruled the tag team scene in some territory, maybe bounced around to a few others. We’re talking about two guys that were among the best heels of the 21st century, and could work face too if they wanted. It’s the best tag team of all time that never got a chance to be a full time tag team, and nobody can convince me otherwise.

4. Bad Influence/The Addiction (Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian)

I didn’t realize how underrated these guys were until a couple of months ago. Daniels & Kazarian had one of FTR’s first matches on Dynamite and it was pretty awesome, as anybody with any sense would expect. So I mentioned on offtheteam.com that FTR & SCU were having a badass match. Then, somebody watching on a delay got mad at me because it was the Daniels/Kazarian pairing, and didn’t involve Scorpio Sky.

I mean, that’s a hell of a compliment to Scorpio Sky. And, frankly, he should attain more in-ring success than his SCU compatriots in AEW. I don’t think Daniels or Kaz would disagree with me on that. It just made me realize that people don’t remember how awesome these guys were in TNA, and then Ring of Honor. You have to remember that these two guys were the heels in the whole “Claire Lynch” nonsense with AJ Styles & Dixie Carter. And, somehow, it didn’t kill them off! It actually worked for them, mostly because both of these guys are ageless and I wouldn’t be shocked if they were still active wrestlers in 2030.

Real Talk: Kazarian is married to Traci Brooks, the first person in wrestling that ever contacted me about my writing. And I think she did real well for herself. What does that tell you?

3. The Heavenly Bodies (Jimmy Del Ray, Stan Lane & Tom Prichard)

We all remember the Midnight Express. The tag team that put Jim Cornette on the map during the 1980s, and allows him the forum to keep talking on the Internet now is clearly recognized as one of the greatest tag teams of all time, whether WWE wants to put them in their Hall of Fame or not. It would be tough to find somebody that would deny that.

Sadly, this leaves Cornette’s team once Smoky Mountain Wrestling was formed criminally underappreciated. Since Bobby Eaton was left in WCW so he could feed his family, Stan Lane needed a partner. The Doctor of Desire, Tom Prichard, was recruited since he got all of the talent in the Prichard family. Lane & Prichard carried the new promotion while wrestling the Fantastics & Rock N Roll Express like all Cornette teams had to do. Once Lane retired, “Gigolo” Jimmy Del Ray stepped in & the Bodies carried the load in SMW while getting some WWF shots too. They were never treated like a big deal in the WWF, just the cost of doing business so Cornette could represent Yokozuna. They became a solid mid-card tag team there, which was good for feuding with the Bushwhackers and not much else.

I’m just saying, go back and watch that Smoky stuff and you’ll see one of the best tag teams of the 1990s that never got that cred.

2. America’s Most Wanted (Chris Harris & James Storm)

Harris & Storm wrestled each other on an independent show in Nashville that TNA was using as a test run for their announce team and to scout talent. Their match on that show got them signed. They became one of those tag teams with different personalities in the early days of TNA. Harris was all business, Storm was all about being a cowboy. They got things in gear eventually, and became 6-time NWA Tag Team Champions. Back in the 2000s, the AMW vs. Triple X (Christopher Daniels/Elix Skipper) matches got hyped to the moon, and for good reason. They were the best tag team wrestling being done at the time on televised outlets.

So why do we not remember them now? Well, Storm moved on to a more appreciated team in Beer Money Inc. with Robert Roode. He’s also one-half of the current NWA World Tag Team Championship team with Eli Drake. As for Chris Harris…well, he got signed by WWE and became Braden Walker. He was never the same afterwards. I don’t know what happened during his time with WWE, but whatever it was killed his desire to be a pro wrestler ever again. Even when Harris made a random TNA return as a surprise tag team partner of Matt Hardy to spook Storm & Roode, people had already kind of forgotten about AMW. I remember Harris’s return getting a less than expected response from the Impact Zone. A shame, as a fellow Northern Kentuckian I was rooting for the Wildcat. It’s a sad state of affairs that nobody remembers him now.

1. The Hollywood Blondes (Steve Austin & Brian Pillman)

The teaming of Austin & Pillman apparently wasn’t supposed to be a big deal. It was something to give two guys something to do. WCW made the mistake of underestimating the talent of both Austin & Pillman, and they made the Hollywood Blondes the best tag team in the business. For whatever reason, that made people backstage mad, and they had to break that up as soon as possible. For most of WCW’s existence, the thing they feared most was success…for the wrong people.

Those of us that have heard Austin’s life story several times know he wasn’t too keen on it at first either. He was promised a big singles run, then one day here’s Brian Pillman telling him they’re going to be a tag team. That wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but it ended up working out really well. Brian & Steve had great chemistry & great minds for the business. That video up top…the only thing missing from Austin’s contribution being a Stone Cold promo was “and that’s the bottom line cause Stone Cold said so.”

It was an important part of the road to making Stone Cold Steve Austin & the Loose Cannon Brian Pillman.

Who’s your favorite unappreciated tag team? Let me know on the Twittah!

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Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

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THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We all enjoy Pro Wrestling so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

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Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

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Classic POD is WAR

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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1