Keys to the Game 4.20.07: Applying the Dynasty Tag
Posted by Joe Estee on 04.20.2007
Every sport has its dynasty. A closer inspection into the WWE tag team division reveals a team that may be worthy of that particular distinction.
Dynasty is a label for teams that dominate their respective sport for an extended period of time, yet it is very rarely applied to professional wrestling, perhaps due to the fact that the "team" aspect in wrestling is often overlooked, especially in recent years.
The decline in the WWE tag team division can be attributed to several factors. The brand split has certainly had its effect by creating an additional World Tag Title, splitting the competition between RAW and SmackDown!, while WWE Management has chosen not to promote tag team title matches as much as they have in the past. Back in the 80's and 90's, World Tag Team Title matches often received top billing; The Road Warriors vs. The Freebirds, The Bulldogs vs. The Hart Foundation, Edge & Christian vs. The Hardys vs. The Dudley Boyz are just a few examples. Wrestlers themselves also seem less interested in capturing the once prestigious championship. Just two weeks ago, we discovered how much Shawn Michaels valued his Tag Team Title when he intentionally sabotaged his title defense by eliminating his own partner, John Cena. Cena, student of the game that he is, appeared shocked by the betrayal; somewhere, Bret Hart and Marty Jannetty merely shook their heads and changed the channel.
Many wrestlers simply use the tag team division to gain experience and hone their skills while they prepare to break out as a singles competitor. Many have found great success after leaving the tag team ranks. Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Edge, and Christian have all gone on the win World Championships after having been known as primarily tag team wrestlers.
However, the tag team division is on the cusp of resurgence. New teams exclusive to the tag team division have emerged like Deuce & Domino, Cryme Tyme, and The Highlanders. Older stars have found new life in the sport by pairing up, as in the case of Regal and Taylor, or Val Venis and Viscera. Older teams like WGTT and the Hardy's have returned like that skeevy guy cruising past the high school parking lot in his IROC-Z attempting to recapture past glory.
Through all of this, a team has attempted to bring a measure of prestige back to the titles themselves. Witness Paul London and Brian Kendrick having held the WWE Tag Team Championship for nearly a full calendar year in a day and age where championships are passed back and forth more times than Sensational Sherri was in the 80's. Such staying power has been a great yet largely unnoticed accomplishment.
A true cruiserweight tag team, London and Kendrick are the lightest WWE Tag Team title holders in history at a combined 385 lbs. Interestingly enough, they both trained at Shawn Michaels' Texas Wrestling Academy. Michaels, of course, knows something about overcoming the limitations of size being the lightest WWE Champion in history at 227 lbs.
During their championship reign, London and Kendrick have defeated the likes of MNM, The Mexicools, The Full Blooded Italians, The Pit Bulls, KC James and Idol Stevens, William Regal and Dave Taylor, the Hardy's, and Deuce & Domino.
UNCERTAIN BEGINNINGS
Both men entered the WWE within a few months of each other. Kendrick would attempt to come to his friend's aid during London's try out match against Brock Lesnar in July of ‘03. Following this, the pair formed a high-flying cruiserweight tag team and competed regularly on SmackDown!'s sister show, Velocity.
Brain "Spanky" Kendrick soon found himself on the wrong end of a very one-sided feud with an up and coming John Cena over whose hip-hop style was superior. Soon afterwards, Kendrick requested his release from the WWE citing dissatisfaction with his salary though some believe the vicious beat downs at the hands of the Dr. of Thugonomics also may have played a part. Kendrick would bounce around to several different promotions, honing his skills in the upcoming year.
LONDON STANDS ALONE
With Kendrick gone, the next year would bring Paul London a Tag Team Title with Billy Kidman and an eventual Cruiserweight Championship. In between, Kidman turned on London, leaving him both injured and cursing his decision to skip that class at the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy.
Later that summer, as a result of numerous injuries due to high risk maneuvers, WWE management banned both the 450 splash and the shooting star press, London's two finishing moves. Upset over the ruling, London reportedly voiced his disagreement to the chairman of the board, Vince McMahon, who always welcomes dissenting opinions from his top Velocity stars…in an totally unrelated event, London was defeated for the Cruiserweight Title the very next week.
Over the next several weeks, London's attitude worsened, openly complaining with referees during matches, and unsuccessfully working on several substitute finishers, such as the 449 splash and the reverse bear hug with accompanying pelvic thrust. Sadly, none of these caught on, although the latter did intrigue Rico.
London would suffer a very long losing streak during this period until salvation finally came with the return of Brian Kendrick to the WWE.
A FIRE REKINDLED
The team of Kendrick & London would reappear in December 2005 with a remade image, appearing with theatre masks, matching colorful vests and shorts, as well as a new found passion and enthusiasm.
The HooliganZ, as they are sometime affectionately known as by their fans, would begin a short feud with the debuting Gymini before an impressive showing against the current WWE Tag Team Champions, MNM, in February of 2006.
Undiscouraged, the duo would eventually score a series of non-title as well as singles victories over the champions.
On May 21, 2006, at Judgment Day, Paul London would roll up Joey Mercury at the 13:43 mark to wrest the WWE Tag Team Championship away from MNM once and for all.
London and Kendrick would then move past a series of matches against Jaime Noble & Kid Kash (The Pit Bulls) culminating with a title defense at The Great American Bash, before feuding with K.C. James and Idol Stevens. At this point, London & Kendrick enlisted the aid of future Playboy cover girl and MENSA member, Ashley Massaro, to deal with the antics of manager Michelle McCool.
The Dynamic Duo would once again taste PPV victory at No Mercy when Kendrick covered Stevens after a Shooting Star Press from London.
Days later on October 14, 2006, London & Kendrick became the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions (SD! Brand) of all time, surpassing the previous record of 145 days held by MNM.
RANK DISSENSION
Hard times would soon follow as internal struggles took their toll on the team. Ashley Massaro, still acting as team manager/valet, seemed to cause a distraction for the team as both Kendrick and London competed for her favor(s). During this time, the team also suffered a losing streak to a new team comprised of veteran William Regal and his protégé Dave Taylor. In singles action, both men lost decisions to Regal and then on December 8th, the pair were defeated in tag team competition on SmackDown!.
At Armageddon 2006, the match most felt would finally end the high flying pair's title reign was compounded when it was changed to a Fatal Four Way Ladder match involving former champions MNM as well as the legendary Hardy's. With an astonishing showing, they grabbed the belts, once again victorious. With the boys seemly back on the same page, they would later successfully defend their title in traditional style against Regal and Taylor on SmackDown!
ENTER DEUCE AND DOMINO
In February of 2007, London and Kendrick suffered consecutive non-title losses to the rookie team of Deuce & Domino.
Later that month Deuce & Domino complained to WWE Headquarters that they were being overlooked as contenders, and were eventually granted a match for the WWE Tag Team Titles at No Way Out.
While Deuce & Domino were 2-0 against London and Kendrick, the Champions made their adjustments and the Do Wap Duo went down faster than the Big Bopper, Richie Valenz, and Buddy Holly.
Kendrick and London would then have a very brief series with the reunited MNM, and on March 17, 2007, the boys would celebrate their 300th day as WWE Tag Team Champions, marking the 4th longest streak in World Tag Team History.
MERE DAYS AWAY…
Though they have lost a good number of non-title matches, like true champions, Kendrick and London always seem to win the big ones. As evident by the fact that they are undefeated at PPV matches with a record of 5-0, the pair is bringing back a considerable measure of legitimacy to the Tag Team Championship.
Paul London and Brian Kendrick are the longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions since the belt's inception in 2002. More importantly, they are only four days away from surpassing the team of Toru Tanaka & Mr. Fuji (337 days) with the third longest reign in World Tag Team Championship history leaving only Jimmy & Johnny Valiant (370 days) and Demolition (478 days) with longer streaks.
All they need to do is prevail in their title match with Deuce & Domino tonight on SmackDown!. Surely, nothing-and I mean nothing-will get in their way of history…
