STRIDE PRO WRESTLING: Tag team turmoil

Created by Sam Hunter

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Just over a year ago I stepped into the wrestling ring for what I thought was going to be the last time. That cage match was like nothing I ever experienced. 

Then a few weeks ago I stepped up and helped my friend Heath Hatton as he struggled against Stride Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions Jay Spade and Tony Flood. The Sin City Saints were double-teaming my buddy who was fighting alone after his partner, Scott Phoenix was attacked prior to the match. I should add that the Saints shoved me the previous month during a presentation of the new tag team belts.

Despite my efforts to help Heath win the match, I was low blowed by Flood and the champs were disqualified. General manager Sam Hunter instantly booked the match for Bash at the Ballpark. We're hours away for that event at Rent One Park. I'm not going to lie, I'm nervous as hell about this but looking forward to having one more match and an opportunity at the gold. 

Come out to Rent One Park tonight. Tickets are just $7 and include five wrestling matches and a baseball game (the Southern Illinois Miners take on the Lake Erie Crushers). Bell time is at 5:35 p.m. We'll see you there! 

AUDIO: Tag team wrestling

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By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Tag team wrestling is one of my favorite parts of the business. But sadly it's one of the most overlooked things too. At least in WWE. I'm joined by Garrett Turner (Dexter Roswell in Stride Pro Wrestling) on this week's podcast. We discuss our favorite tag teams and more. Be sure to listen here and subscribe. 

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Brooks, O'Riley go for the gold

Arron Brooks & Joey O'Riley
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Tag team wrestling has been a huge part of Stride Pro Wrestling. We've had some great teams come through the company; including Team XXX, the Midwest Mafia and Maximum Overdrive. Now, Joey O'Riley and Arron Brooks have entered those ranks and are making waves in the process. The duo has earned a tag team championship match as a result.

O'Riley and Brooks have a great history in independent wrestling in this region. Both have had success with other partners as O'Riley and Jay Spade were one-time tag champions here. Brooks' return in the fall came at the right time as O'Riley's new partner Cash Borden had parted ways with Stride Pro Wrestling.

The DR Party
Courtesy: Steve Belcher

This relatively new duo has had impressive wins in the months leading up to this Saturday night's championship contest. They'll face the current champs The DR Party, but the caveat as always is which members of the DR Party will be in the ring that night. They've instituted the Freebird Rules when it comes to defenses. My best guess is that Dexter Roswell himself will be one of the defenders that night. I doubt Brian Richards is in the match because he's in the opening round of the Stride Cup Tournament against Jose Magnifico.

No matter who Roswell picks as a partner, the match will be exciting. He's been in the ring against O'Riley and Brooks before in six-man competition. But I'm sure Roswell would rather forget that. If the challengers keep their usual fast pace, quick hits in this match, it'll be a short night and a short reign for the DR Party. However, the DR Party has the numbers and the great mind of J. Wellington Beauregard who I'm sure has something up his sleeve. Come out for the action. Bell time is 6:30 p.m. at the Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion.

Promo code: MY123CENTS

Foreign Object Friday: The Moondogs' bones

Vintage Moondogs
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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By the time I became a full-fledged, all-in wrestling fan in 1983, the Moondogs were being used as enhancement talent in the WWF. But in 1981 Rex and King captured the WWWF Tag Team Championships with some help from their manager, Capt. Lou Albano and a trusty bone.

Bone to the neck
Courtesy: WWE

If you don't remember the Moondogs, look them up. Even though when I watched them in action they lost most of their matches, Rex and Spot were still an entertaining duo. The original incarnation of the team was Rex and King. On March 17, 1981, the duo beat Tony Garea and Rick Martel (long before his modeling days) for the gold. Martel was fighting with Albano on the apron when Moondog King blasted Garea with the bone and allowed Rex to get the pin.

Rex & Spot
Courtesy: WWE

During the course of their run, King left the team. That's when Spot was added. The new Moondogs lost the tag team titles back to Garea and Martel later that summer. The 'dogs stuck around and put over other teams like Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda, The British Bulldogs and The Killer Bees. They continued to carry those big rawhide bones to the ring along with their mangy hair and tattered jeans. But they never dug up any more tag team gold.

Rex gets smashed...
Courtesy: WWE

Fun fact, Rex is the Superstar who came up with the idea for the team Demolition and actually played Smash first. But fans recognized him through the makeup and continued chanting Rex during the team's first few matches, so he was replaced with Barry Darsow.

Tag teams that should have won gold

Rockers, Stallions and Islanders
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Many times we see on social media fans talking about wrestlers who should have been the World Heavyweight Champion. I've even written a blog or two about it myself. But tag teams are never really brought into the conversation. Here are three tag teams who should have won the WWF Tag Team Championship.

Tag team champs... NOT
Courtesy: WWE

The Rockers technically beat the Hart Foundation for the belts in the fall of 1990. However, there were issues with the ring that night and the footage never aired on TV. Back then there was a saying if it didn't happen on TV, it didn't happen, so Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty were never recognized as the champs. I always enjoyed the duo and was disappointed when they split them up. We all know Michaels went on to have an amazing solo career and also won the tag titles with various partners, including Diesel, Steve Austin and Triple H. Jannetty and The 1-2-3 Kid had a brief run as champions too. 

The Young Stallions vs. The Hart Foundation
Courtesy: WWE

Paul Roma and Jim Powers were both "enhancement talent" in the mid-1980s. But then in 1987, the two caught fire and The Young Stallions started climbing the tag team ranks. The two joined the Killer Bees as the survivors of the tag team match at the first Survivor Series. They seemed to be the perfect underdog duo and destined to eventually win the gold after years of toiling. Imagine had they beat the Hart Foundation for the belts in '87 instead of Strike Force. Not knocking Rick Martel or Tito Santana, but the angle could have gone very similarly with Roma turning heel and becoming the Model. Again, no knock to Martel who did extraordinary in that role. 

The Islanders vs. The Young Stallions
Courtesy: WWE

The Islanders were a solid babyface team in the 80s. Then one day they joined forces with Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. The trio worked well together as Haku and Tama put their years of experience to good work. Haku would eventually win the belts with Andre the Giant. The Islanders could have been The Brain's first champs, but it wasn't meant to be.

I realize putting the titles on any of these teams would have disrupted the history of the WWF. But it would have been nice to see these three hard working teams be rewarded for their skills. 

The New Day sets a new record

A tale of two teams
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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When Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E came together nearly 18 months ago I had no idea the trio would be setting a record in WWE. Their second reign as WWE Tag Team Champions has (or will) officially set a record as of December 14, 2016. The previous record holders Demolition were tag team champs for 478 days. 

There have been mixed feelings on social media about The New Day beating Ax and Smash's long-standing record. I'm a huge old-school fan, but I realize times change and new records have to be established for this generation. I also realize the lawsuit former Demolition members have against the WWE could have played a role in the changing of the guard.

 Demolition
Courtesy: WWE

I was watching live on closed circuit TV when Demolition beat Strike Force at WrestleMania IV for the titles. I also was tuned in when the Brain Busters beat Ax and Smash for the belts on Saturday Night's Main Event 478 days later. I witnessed New Day start their record-breaking reign after winning the against The Primetime Players, Lucha Dragons and Los Matadores at SummerSlam 2015. Who will be the team to dethrone them? My early pick right now is Enzo and Big Cass. 

New Day rocks!
Courtesy: WWE

Both The New Day and Demolition are great tag teams and each faced some of the best duos in the business. Demolition beat everyone from The Killer Bees to the Powers of Pain to the Hart Foundation. New Day has regained against the likes of The Dudleys, The Usos and two huge victories on Raw against The Club, Sheamus & Cesaro and Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins and Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens.

Congrats to The New Day on setting this new record. And congrats to Demolition for holding the record for 27 years. The accomplishment by Woods, Kingston and Big E does nothing to tarnish nor diminish what Ax and Smash accomplished in the 80s. Plus they've proven themselves not only in the ring but with merchandise sales too. 

New Day still rocks

Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion among some readers of this blog, but I hope The New Day retains the WWE Tag Team Titles this Sunday at Clash of Champions. For nearly 400 days Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods have held the bronze belts. Granted they don't need the titles anymore to "be over", but I've enjoyed the way New Day has changed the face of tag team wrestling.

What do I mean by that? New Day's blend of comedy and wrestling talent has put a new focus on tag team wrestling. Since winning the titles more than a year ago WWE has made it a point to make tag team wrestling matter. Over WrestleMania weekend, the trio's merchandise topped sales of every other WWE Superstar. That speaks volumes as I don't ever remember a tag team having that distinction. Now with the official sale of Booty O's cereal, the Funko Pop figures and next month champs get Pop Rocks named after them. It's a good time to be part of the New Day.

Gallows vs. Big E
Courtesy: WWE

Despite all the merch, New Day doesn't NEED the tag team titles to continue to be over with the fans. But having some stability in the championship department is something WWE has lacked over the last several years. I won't be surprised if Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows win the titles at Clash of Champions this weekend. I will be disappointed, in part because unlike many others, I haven't been swept away by The Club. I never followed them closely overseas and while I'm happy to have them in WWE, I'm not ready for New Day to drop the belts.

Can New Day carry on and eventually beat the REAL record for the tag team championship reign of Demolition? Only time will tell. The number to beat is 478.

Laying the smackdown on tag team wrestling

Chad & Kevin meeting the Headbangers in 2012

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Before reading any further, you should know this post may contain a spoiler for Tuesday's upcoming SmackDown Live! show. 

Tag team titles
Courtesy: WWE

Since the recent brand split with WWE, it's been announced that SmackDown Live will soon have a new Women's Champion and Tag Team Champions. When Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon made that announcement and Heath Slater interrupted it, there were only six teams announced for the tournament. Bryan told Slater if he could find a partner his team would be entered, which means seven teams. To round things out SmackDown Live needs an eighth tandem. 

I figured they'd piecemeal another team with a couple of single Superstars like Slater and his partner Rhyno or they'd enter Erik Rowan and Bray Wyatt in as the Wyatt Family. But with Bray focusing on Randy Orton, it makes sense to leave the Wyatts out.

The Headbangers
Courtesy: WWE

Word on the street is that former WWE Tag Team Champions The Headbangers are headed to the blue brand, at least for one night. In a post that has since been deleted, Mosh tweeted he and his partner Thrasher were headed to Dallas for Tuesday's show. I don't know if this is a one off to put over Rhyno and Slater or if the Headbangers are back. Seven teams on a regular basis can make a decent division, assuming the injuries and suspensions don't impact the respective Superstars.

Either way, I'm on board with the Headbangers coming back. I thought they were good workers during their time in WWF/E.  A return is no different from when Billy Gunn and Road Dogg reunited a couple years ago and the New Age Outlaws won the titles. I don't expect (or want) any returning Superstars to end up with gold, but having them back on TV and in the limelight for a bit is nice.

Future champs?
Courtesy: WWE

Many fans are probably backing American Alpha (and I'm sure they're destined to win the belts soon), but I think Slater and Rhyno are going to win it all.

Demolishing tag team history

Demolition
Courtsey: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I've been a wrestling fan for more than 30 years. But from time to time I learn something new or relearn something I've forgotten about the business. The most recent lesson came earlier this week when WWE proclaimed The New Day as the longest reigning WWE tag team champs. Xavier Woods, Big E and Kofi Kingston have held the titles since SummerSlam 2015 (338 days to date). 

Courtesy: WWE

While I'm a huge fan of the New Day, I questioned WWE's math and history skills, remembering that at WrestleMania IV in 1988 Demolition beat Strike Force for the gold and defended the belts a year later at WrestleMania V and remained champs until the fall of 1989. The total: 478 days. I also discovered in my research that the Valiant Brothers held the gold for 370 days. Both reigns are longer than The New Day's time as champs.

But then I read the fine print. WWE in 2002 established the WWE tag team champions. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit won those titles when the first brand extension happened. By 2010 the company retired the World Tag Team champion and the belts that were held by Ax and Smash.

The New Day
Courtesy: WWE

So technically speaking, it's true. The New Day are the longest reigning WWE tag team champions. But if you're a history and a fool for old school like me, the overall longest set of tag team title holders in WWE are in fact Demolition. #TheMoreYouKnow