17. The Wild Samoans
via pl.wwe.com
Hulk Hogan likes to tell the story of how he and Afa and Sika were in a car pulled over by the cops for a traffic violation. Hogan wanted the Samoans to speak up for him but the two refused to break their act and speak English. That commitment was a key reason behind their success as these two could go from hulking brutes beating opponents down to leaping off the ropes, bare-footed, in amazing flying moves.
Their first run in WWE had them each challenging Bob Backlund for the title but then joining for two reigns as champions. After a brief NWA run, they returned to the WWF with Lou Albano as their manager and ran roughshod as tag champions once more. They were a fearsome pairing with their strength and deceptive speed and could surprise with their skill. Basically, they helped put over how bad-ass Samoans are as wrestlers and one of the wildest but successful teams in WWF history.
16. The Rockers
via wrestlingforum.com
Probably the greatest team to never hold WWE tag team gold (although it was to happen in 1990 but ended due to backstage politics). Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty had formed in the AWA, a take-off of the Rock n’ Roll Express but soon taking off nicely on their own with double-team moves no one had ever seen before. Their party style was also notable and Shawn has openly stated the two should have been fired a dozen times but saved themselves with their amazing ring work.
Their speed, reversals, double-teaming, all in perfect synch; it was fantastic and the fans truly adored them as they feuded with so many teams and a classic battle against the Orient Express at the 1991 Royal Rumble. A tag reign together was never to be as they would have the famous breakup that launched Shawn to his singles success. But a 2005 reunion showed they still had the spark as the Rockers never failed to give the fans a good time and loving it all.
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