19. Cho-Ten
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For a decade, Japanese wrestling fans watched as Masahiro Chono and Hiroyoshi Tenzan put on one marvelous match after another and never showed any signs of slowing down. Formed in 1995, Cho-Ten would challenge for the IWGP titles numerous times, holding them on five different occasions and stunning fans with their speed, skill and great tag work. Their double-team moves (like the wild CTC and Shining Assault) are still brutal to watch as both men did their best to carry opponents and worked against all the top teams of that period.
They finally split up in 2006 with much of their run ignored by U.S. fans but for that decade, few teams were better than they were and still rank among the greatest to come from the Land of the Rising Sun.
18. The Hardyz
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Michael Hayes laughs at how he wanted to turn Jeff and Matt into a “New Freebirds” and they point blank told him “dude, it’s 1999, get with it.” One their own, the two soon pushed the “Team Extreme” label big time, becoming one of the flashiest and amazing teams to watch with their high-flying, double-teaming and good fan heat getting them over fast. Their feuds with the Dudleyz and Edge & Christian were amazing to watch unfold with Jeff showing off his near-insane style with leaps off ladders and through tables.
They would hold multiple tag team gold, reuniting in 2006 for some good stuff and their recent TNA run marred by Jeff’s injury but still showing they had the stuff in the feud with the Wolves. They got wild but in a good way, a team perfect for the early 2000’s and showing how “extreme” tag team wrestling can get.
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