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TAG TEAM WEEKLY

Oct 18th – October 24th, 2007

Introduction:

Well it sure seems as though the WWE is turning it up a notch in the world of tag team wrestling.  Three weeks ago I believe we could only count to three or four when looking at tag teams who were on Smackdown.  As of this writing, Smackdown has six teams.  Beyond that, because WWE seems to be deciding to do their best to market ECW better, Smackdown stars are now able to go to ECW for matches and vice-versa.  Jesse and Festus did it this week and had a great match.  It really is a great way to have the up and coming tag teams get more spotlight time.  TNA turned in a solid show this week….so who gets the Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?  Let’s find out….

RAW

Cade and Murdoch

They had a solid 6 man tag teaming up with Melina against Mickie James and London and Kendrick.  Cade and Murdoch continue to impress me, what doesn’t impress me is how few and far between they have put the titles on the line on a PPV or Raw show.  I know they have defended them on house show tours, even loosing them and regaining them in Africa , but they need to defend those titles on television for the world to see.  As far as the Raw match goes, they lost because of a mistake and the ending really bothered me.  One member hit the other “mistakenly”; I fear the worst as I totally could see creative wanting to book both men as singles stars.  Thumbs in the middle.

Kendrick and London

Their timing is impeccable and having Ms. James on their team did nothing to slow them down.  They capitalized on a mistake which was a really good ending to the bout for them.  London is just scary at the risks he takes every single night.  Thumbs up.

The Highlanders

Hello…Is it me your looking for?  Where were you guys?  Thumbs down.

WGTT

Hey, they are back and getting to job to Cody Rhodes again!  Cool…NOT!  Thumbs down

Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly

They tagged overseas and apparently they did well enough together to prove to WWE creative to take a shot with them as a tag team.  Now, they didn’t tag on television yet so I have no idea what these two will bring to the table but they followed up their storyline and entered a feud with WGTT which is great.  I think they might be a great team, it remains to be seen.  Thumbs in the middle.

William Regal and Harry Smith

I am still a bit confused as to where and when the match occurred but apparently Smith and Regal teamed up in or around England at a house show and took on Cade and Murdoch in a title match.  Because it was in Brattain it was said that the crowd was nuts.  Now officially, these guys aren’t a tag team and might never be but I could see how these two styles and personalities could mesh well. I watched the singles match that Harry had against Carlito in its entirety and he is a very skilled, yet a little green, worker.  He is going to be a fantastic WWE star someday.  Thumbs up to Smith and Regal for giving the British fans what they wanted!

Smackdown/ECW

Elijah Burke and Nunzio

I don’t think we’ll be seeing these two guys very son together again as I think it was a one shot deal to begin the inter-promotional merger of ECW and Smackdown.  However, they had a great bout with Jesse and Festus.  Burke is really a great Heel who I think really deserves to be taking shot at the IC title and US title at this point.  He is the next MVP, but creative just isn’t being creative enough for his character. 

Deuce and Domino

This week D and D were on the loosing end of a battle with what might be a brand new tag team.  The good news is that they really made it so the teams had a great bout together.  It seems as of late the back alley-retro-50’s-Cadillac-driving-roller skating-Fonzie-wannabe’s are coming up on the short end of the stick in the win column but they are advancing a lot of storylines and that is excellent.  Thumbs in the middle.

Matt Hardy and MVP

They both had single bouts that were really great, especially MVP vs. Rey, and are moving their US feud along well.  Also, whether on purpose or not I feel this tag team has done what none other has done in either WWE, TNA, ROH or ECW, and that is they have put that gleaming luster back on the tag titles, any tag titles.  The straps seem important now.  Thumbs up.  

Jesse and Festus

At a house show over seas Jesse and Festus beat D and D and apparently it was very well received. They also moonlighted over on ECW this week and might well have had the best match of the night, which is not saying much considering what the other bouts were on the card, but still they did a great job and won.  Thumbs up.

Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore

These two had an excellent match with D and D and I hope the WWE takes notice as to how much the crowd popped for them and their move set. They could be a great addition to the brand.  Thumbs up.

Major Brothers

Well for a second week in a row at least the brothers Major have been on TV. Unfortunately it was a singles bout and it was a lost.  Thumbs down.

Taylor and McIntyre

I really have no idea if these two are going to be getting over or not.  They seem a bit dull and they are tied up in a feud that is rather half baked with the Major Brothers.  It just doesn’t seem to have the appeal that say Jesse and Festus’s first two weeks in the ring does.  Thumbs down.

TNA

Team 3D

So now Team 3D wants to hurt those in the X division of TNA.  I don’t get this storyline and I don’t understand TNA’s use of a team like 3D as of late.  The stuff with the Steiner’s was great but as for the rest of the year it just has been hit or miss.  Let these guys do what they do best.  Be great heels both in the ring and on the mic, put guys and gals through tables, and rule the tag division. Thumbs in the middle.

Styles and Tomko

They had some nice banter in the ring during the presentation of their tag titles.  Not much more to be said.  They are a great team.  Thumbs in the middle

In Closing

You’ll notice I didn’t highlight but two teams of the TNA brand.  Unfortunately TNA just didn’t bring it like the teams in the WWE this week which is unfortunate as they have some great teams like XXX, LAX, The Steiners and the now tag champions Styles and Tomko.  I hope TNA ups their tag division game next week.  We’ll see.

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