Welcome back Splashers! I was having a discussion with a couple of friends of mine, and the topic of Tag-Teams came up. Some of us mentioned how the WWE Tag-Team Division has really improved over the past couple of months. Then there were a few others who thought that some of these “throw-together” teams like Hell-No and Rhode Scholars, will not last more than a few months.

That made me start to think about the history of Tag-Teams as a whole. What Tag-Teams really stay together forever? If you look throughout history, even some of the greatest Tag-Teams have broken up. Why? Because each wrestler has always wanted that only one man can achieve: The Company’s World Title.

The Hart Foundation
Before he was “The Best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be!” he was tagged up with Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart. This team came into the WWF together, they won several titles together, and hell they are even family! Did that stop Bret from leaving the team behind, when Vince dangled the “brass ring” in front of Bret’s nose? Not a chance! And why should he? If the shoe was on the other foot and Anvil had the same opportunity, I’m sure he would have taken it. Granted they still kept the Foundation gimmick alive after Hart won the title, but it was a different beast by then.

Demolition
This was another great tag-team that was ripped apart. Demolition was together for 3 years, and they were also multi-Tag-Team Champions. However, neither Ax (Bill Eadie), Smash (Barry Darsow), nor Crush (Brian Adams) were able to grab a hold of any of Vince’s “brass rings”. Maybe Vince didn’t invent them yet….

The Rockers
When Shawn Michaels was a part of The Rockers, he did not have the gimmick we have all come to know when he retired. He teamed with Marty Jannetty for 7 years, in over 4 different companies! But when the day came, that Vince asked him to grab a hold of the “Brass Ring” what did he do? He put Jannetty through the Barber Shop window via Sweet Chin Music, and became HBK. Now if you ask me, do I think that was an improvement on his career? I say without a doubt yes!

The Hardy Boys
For many years it has been debated by many as to whether they were or not, if they were the best Tag-Team in history. But as the trend is starting to show us…even a team like Matt & Jeff Hardy just don’t last forever.

When the two split Jeff reached and grabbed the WWE’s Brass ring, and became a 3-Time WWE Champion. Jeff then signed with TNA and is now the current TNA Champion. The two brothers even made a small reunion in 2011 when Matt Hardy signed with TNA, but even that was short lived...as well as Matt’s career in TNA.

There is no doubt that teams like the Hardys will reunite for short periods of time, but the sad fact is, once they make that first split…the team is never quite the same again.


The Dudley Boys
If you measured a Tag-Team by their Tag-Team Titles won, then the Dudley boys would have to be the best Tag-Team in my book. I don’t know any other team that has over 20 Tag-Team Titles accumulated across the world. Yet even this team has split up more than once, and it appears that The Dudley Boys have decided to finally seek singles career for the remainder of their careers.

Could we see that final “One more match” with the Dudleys as a Tag-Team? It wouldn’t surprise me in the least, but on a full time scale…I’m not holding my breath.

Final thoughts
I could continue on with other Tag-Teams, like The Steiner Brothers or Harlem Heat. But the results would just be the same. Then I decided to look at the top 50 Tag-Teams of the WWE, and I noticed that the majority of the Tag-Teams were thrown together at one point in time. Jeri-show, The Rock-n-Sock Connection, Rated RKO, and many other established wrestlers were “thrown together” to make a Tag-Team.

Well that’s it for this edition of The Splash. As always feel free to post your comments below. Also This Wednesday @ 11pm ET, be sure to join me and the gang LIVE! on Hardcore Wrestling Radio! and look for us on Facebook! Until next time! See you when I see you! @RickStarr