It's been a while since tag teams took center stage in sports entertainment. A cornerstone of the industry for generations past, professional wrestling all but scrapped the art in recent years. Now, though, teams like Total Nonstop Action World tag team champs The Wolves are leading a revival.
"Our goal is to prove tag team wrestling is not dead, and never will it die as long as we are around," said Eddie Edwards, who with partner Davey Richards comprises the team.
![2015-11-04-1446638933-5548454-TheWolves2.jpg]()
TNA World Tag Team Champs Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards, The Wolves.
"We want to show the art and beauty of tag team wrestling every time we go out there," continued Edwards during a recent telephone interview with the champs. "That's our main goal as a team, and that's all it's going to be in the foreseeable future."
During the 80s, pro wrestling was rich with recognizable teams. The Hart Foundation, Brainbusters and Rockers ruled World Wrestling Entertainment (nee, Federation). In rival National Wrestling Alliance, The Rock 'n Roll Express vs. Midnight Express feud and The Road Warriors (later the Legion of Doom in WWE) headlined. The Fabulous Freebirds owned the independent circuit.
In the 90s, Harlem Heat, The Steiner Brothers, Outsiders and Nasty Boys rose to prominence. Iconic teams like The Hardy Boyz, Edge and Christian and The Dudley Boys followed in the early 2000s.
Since that time, though, legitimate tag teams -- two grapplers dedicated to a common, cohesive identity and in-ring style -- seemed near extinction. Make-shift pairings of solo superstars became the norm. Now, slowly, one after another, teams cut from that classic mold are popping up around the globe.
"[Tag team wrestling] is experiencing a mass resurgence both here and overseas," acknowledged Richard, "All companies have great tag teams putting on terrific matches, and TNA is no different. Eddie and I are happy to represent that."
"It's a great time for tag team wrestling," agreed Edwards. "As long as [The Wolves] are at the helm of it in TNA, we will gladly carry it on. Our goal is always to be the best."
Thus far, the duo has proven itself repeatedly. Influenced heavily by the legendary teams above -- primarily former WWF tag team champs The British Bulldogs, says Richards -- The Wolves first joined forces in 2008 in Ring of Honor.
Two ROH World Tag Team title reigns later, they hit the independent circuit. After coming up short of gold in Germany's Westside Xtreme Wrestling and WWE's NXT, they jumped to TNA in 2014.
A month later, they captured the company's tag championships for the first time. Though up-ended by teams like The BroMans, The Revolution and interloping Global Force Wrestling stars Brian Myers and Trevor Lee, The Wolves continue to reign atop TNA's tag division.
Watch: The Wolves vs. The Hardy Boyz vs. Team 3D
Earlier this year, The Wolves faced not one but two of pro wrestling's most legendary teams. They squared off against The Hardy Boyz and Team 3D (now The Dudley Boys again in WWE) in a stellar series of matches.
"Credit needs to be given to The Hardyz and Team 3D," said Richards of the teams Edwards and he grew up watching on television. "They're rich. They're famous. They don't need any more feathers in their cap, but they respected me and Eddie enough to go out and do that."
"Professionally, it was a great opportunity to prove not only to the fans but ourselves that we belong in the same breath as not only The Hardyz but Team 3D," Edwards continued. "For a long time, I think maybe nobody thought we belonged there, but we went out and proved it."
The Wolves are now enjoying a history-making fifth run as TNA tag champs. Though seemingly lacking strong contenders -- "We're kind of sitting back, waiting to see which team steps up next," Edwards stated -- Richards says various pairings are "toying with" the idea of a run for the gold. Equally importantly, he says, deserving teams outside the company would enjoy nothing more than a shot at the belts.
"We're walking around with that target on our backs," Edwards concurs. "We're very comfortable with that. We want to go out there and face any team that's worthy of a match and show them what we can do."
Richards would love to defend against the best from around the world. Former IWGP
"Our goal is to prove tag team wrestling is not dead, and never will it die as long as we are around," said Eddie Edwards, who with partner Davey Richards comprises the team.
"We want to show the art and beauty of tag team wrestling every time we go out there," continued Edwards during a recent telephone interview with the champs. "That's our main goal as a team, and that's all it's going to be in the foreseeable future."
During the 80s, pro wrestling was rich with recognizable teams. The Hart Foundation, Brainbusters and Rockers ruled World Wrestling Entertainment (nee, Federation). In rival National Wrestling Alliance, The Rock 'n Roll Express vs. Midnight Express feud and The Road Warriors (later the Legion of Doom in WWE) headlined. The Fabulous Freebirds owned the independent circuit.
In the 90s, Harlem Heat, The Steiner Brothers, Outsiders and Nasty Boys rose to prominence. Iconic teams like The Hardy Boyz, Edge and Christian and The Dudley Boys followed in the early 2000s.
Since that time, though, legitimate tag teams -- two grapplers dedicated to a common, cohesive identity and in-ring style -- seemed near extinction. Make-shift pairings of solo superstars became the norm. Now, slowly, one after another, teams cut from that classic mold are popping up around the globe.
"[Tag team wrestling] is experiencing a mass resurgence both here and overseas," acknowledged Richard, "All companies have great tag teams putting on terrific matches, and TNA is no different. Eddie and I are happy to represent that."
"It's a great time for tag team wrestling," agreed Edwards. "As long as [The Wolves] are at the helm of it in TNA, we will gladly carry it on. Our goal is always to be the best."
Thus far, the duo has proven itself repeatedly. Influenced heavily by the legendary teams above -- primarily former WWF tag team champs The British Bulldogs, says Richards -- The Wolves first joined forces in 2008 in Ring of Honor.
Two ROH World Tag Team title reigns later, they hit the independent circuit. After coming up short of gold in Germany's Westside Xtreme Wrestling and WWE's NXT, they jumped to TNA in 2014.
A month later, they captured the company's tag championships for the first time. Though up-ended by teams like The BroMans, The Revolution and interloping Global Force Wrestling stars Brian Myers and Trevor Lee, The Wolves continue to reign atop TNA's tag division.
Earlier this year, The Wolves faced not one but two of pro wrestling's most legendary teams. They squared off against The Hardy Boyz and Team 3D (now The Dudley Boys again in WWE) in a stellar series of matches.
"Credit needs to be given to The Hardyz and Team 3D," said Richards of the teams Edwards and he grew up watching on television. "They're rich. They're famous. They don't need any more feathers in their cap, but they respected me and Eddie enough to go out and do that."
"Professionally, it was a great opportunity to prove not only to the fans but ourselves that we belong in the same breath as not only The Hardyz but Team 3D," Edwards continued. "For a long time, I think maybe nobody thought we belonged there, but we went out and proved it."
The Wolves are now enjoying a history-making fifth run as TNA tag champs. Though seemingly lacking strong contenders -- "We're kind of sitting back, waiting to see which team steps up next," Edwards stated -- Richards says various pairings are "toying with" the idea of a run for the gold. Equally importantly, he says, deserving teams outside the company would enjoy nothing more than a shot at the belts.
"We're walking around with that target on our backs," Edwards concurs. "We're very comfortable with that. We want to go out there and face any team that's worthy of a match and show them what we can do."
Richards would love to defend against the best from around the world. Former IWGP