The '80s were a golden age for tag team wrestling. During this decade, WWE was arguably the most talent-filled promotion for tag team wrestling, thanks to its numerous amazing combos. Several of these teams became legendary for breaking the mold and making themselves into incredible stars, and it’s fun to imagine some still able to do it today. Just look at the Rock n Roll Express winning the NWA tag titles in 2019.

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Yet, not every team of the ‘80s would be as successful. Some were frankly rough workers who would be more exposed today. Others were daring for the time, but the act wouldn’t click with today’s crowds. Here are five teams of the '80s that would still be great today and five that wouldn’t to show how time can be kinder to some pairings than others.

10 WOULDN’T BE GREAT TODAY: Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik

A major heel team duo of their time, Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik made history for winning the tag championship in the first-ever WrestleMania title change. Sheik had skills, Volkoff strength, and they riled up fans by having Sheik wave the Iranian flag or letting Volkoff sing the Soviet national anthem.

This cheap heat that worked so well in the ‘80s wouldn’t be as effective today, though, as it would just come off as cartoonish. Not to mention how rough both men were in the ring in long matches, as they would often get overwhelmed by other teams. They’d be decent fodder to get someone else over, but not too successful on their own.

9 WOULD BE GREAT TODAY: Midnight Express

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While the Rock n Roll Express were good, the Midnights were even better. Jim Cornette was the motormouth with Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey a skilled team. When Condrey left, Stan Lee stepped in and he and Eaton looked like they’d be teaming for years.

They were a fantastic partnership that held multiple tag team titles, and only natural they would be just as great today. Eaton and Lane scored well with their act while Cornette’s presence alone guaranteed the Midnights could rile up fans for success.

8 WOULDN’T BE GREAT TODAY: Fabulous Freebirds

In terms of promos, few could touch the Freebirds, especially Michael Hayes. Yet while a sensational talker, Hayes was just so-so in the ring. Buddy Roberts could absorb punishment and be a touch scrapper but not a great worker either.

Terry Gordy was an amazing worker to be sure, and the trio did great in their war with the Von Erichs. They might be okay today but held back by too many shifts between partners. There was also the issue of using a Southern theme that would not work well today and harm much of the Freebirds’ appeal.

7 WOULD BE GREAT TODAY: British Bulldogs

Unfortunately, the ways in which Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid's careers ended clouds their in-ring legacies. The British Bulldogs were pulling off sensational moves and known for their stiff manner in the ring. True, they didn’t make friends with their backstage pranks, but their in-ring work was groundbreaking and undeniable.

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They would likely have gone longer had Dynamite’s horrible back injury not cut things shorter. Given their athletic abilities alone and assuming things went their way, the Bulldogs would be a top team in today’s wrestling.

6 WOULDN’T BE GREAT TODAY: The Fantastics

On the one hand, the fact that Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers spent two decades working together shows the strength of their long-term staying power. The Fantastics were a good team in their time, holding titles from UWF to the U.S. tag belts. They were very athletic yet not too much different from other young teams of the time.

However, they lagged behind the Rock N Roll Express in charisma and the fact they never rose higher than the mid-card shows they lacked the flash of other teams. They would be decent in today scene, but not the top-tier talent that their combined athleticism may imply.

5 WOULD BE GREAT TODAY: Brainbusters

It took a while before Arn Anderson, and Tully Blanchard became a regular tag team, but they made up for it. They reigned as NWA tag team champions and members of the Four Horsemen. The pair then shockingly jumped to WWE where, with Bobby Heenan as their manager, they held the tag titles as the Brainbusters.

Both men were amazingly skilled in the ring and master heels who easily got the crowd to boo them. Arn is still captivating in AEW so obviously, he and Blanchard could still be a great heel team for fans today.

4 WOULDN’T BE GREAT TODAY: Demolition

Demolition is probably the most successful blatant rip-off act in wrestling history. It was apparent that the WWF wanted their own Road Warriors, but Ax and Smash rose above just being copycats. As Demolition, they held the tag team titles for almost a year and a half in arguably the most talent-filled period in the tag team division.

Yet their success owed more to popularity than real ring skill and the fact they were still copycats of the Road Warriors. The main roster failure of the Ascension (another Road Warrior inspired duo) in the early 2010s shows how this particular gimmick may not work well today, no matter how successful Demolition was in its heyday.

3 WOULD BE GREAT TODAY: The Hart Foundation

The Hart Foundation was a perfect melding of styles. Bret Hart was the skilled ring technician, while Jim Neidhart provided the muscle. As the Hart Foundation, they were tops in a significant period for tag teams in WWE.

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They held the belts twice and faced almost all comers in the process. It’s easy to see them doing just as well now, with Bret showing the leadership and Neidhart as the backbone to help out and ensure the Foundation's strength.

2 WOULDN’T BE GREAT TODAY: Road Warriors

On the one hand, the Road Warriors would still be getting over with their looks and promos. However, their impact was that no one had seen anything like them before in 1983. Their face paint, spikes, and attitude captivated fans as they crushed anyone in their path.

The brutal truth is Hawk and Animal were bad in-ring workers and in today’s wrestling world, fans expect more than some smash-mouth brawling and sweet outfits in a tag match. Their later runs as the Legion of Doom in WWF showed that they were great innovators who were sadly unable to adapt to the changing times.

1 WOULD BE GREAT TODAY: Rockers

It quite possible that the Rockers are the greatest tag team of their time not to be WWE tag team champions. Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty were making moves no one could imagine from fantastic double-teaming to perfect dual attacks.

They were a sensational pair that tore it up all over and wowed fans with their antics. There were plans to get the belt in 1990, but it fell apart (literally, a rope broke) and thus prevented them from that level. Today, the Rockers would surely get the gold and keep up with some breathtaking matches as quite a few teams have followed in their footsteps.

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