5 Legendary Tag Teams From Wrestling History Who Can Still Go In The Ring (& 5 Who Should Stay Retired)

In an industry where individual prowess has always taken center stage over the years, tag team wrestling has proved to be a testament to teamwork as a unique and exhilarating form of action. Many wrestlers have benefited by being part of tag teams and other alliances, allowing them to share the spotlight with the main event performers in wrestling promotions like WWE, WCW, or elsewhere.

Many legendary names in the business made their careers out of being tag team specialists, revolutionized the form of action, and entertained the fans over the years before hanging up their boots. While many tag teams have come up to replace them in the current generation, there are some legendary tag teams who can still perform inside the squared circle. But that doesn't mean they all have to step inside the ring again. With that said, let's take a look at five legendary tag teams who can still go in the ring and five who should stay retired.

10 Should Stay Retired - The Steiner Brothers

The Steiner Brothers are one of the most successful tag teams in pro wrestling history, as Rick and Scott Steiner dominated the tag team divisions across various promotions throughout their prime days together. They have sixteen tag team championships to their names and were active in-ring competitors until their last match as a team in April 2019.

While Rick Steiner competed in his last match in September 2019, Scott Steiner's last known match took place in April 2023. Both of them are past 60 years old and have taken their place in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2022, and with all they have accomplished over the years, it's only fitting that they take care of their bodies and stay away from in-ring action.

9 Can Still Go - The Headbangers

The Headbangers are a tag team that has competed across multiple promotions between 1994 to the present. They had a brief stint in WWE between 1996 and 2000, during which time they held the WWE World Tag Team Championship on one occasion.

However, they didn't have the best reputations during their time in WWE as the company itself criticized them in the WWE Magazine in 2007 as not worthy of holding the tag team title in the company. However, Mosh and Thrasher went on to hold multiple tag team titles in the independent scene and are still active performers to this day. They are currently the reigning Atomic Legacy Wrestling Tag Team Champions.

8 Should Stay Retired - The APA

The Acolytes Protection Agency is one of the most legendary tag teams in WWE history. Bradshaw and Faarooq are multiple-time tag team champions in the company and were part of some of the best storylines during the Attitude Era and the early Ruthless Aggression Era. While Bradshaw got repackaged as John Bradshaw Layfield in WWE, Faarooq spent his remaining days on the sidelines before having his last match in 2012. Bradshaw continued to perform as a heel in WWE until he retired following his loss against Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 25.

Both of them have taken their separate places in the WWE Hall of Fame and might get inducted again as a team in the future. With all they have accomplished over the years, there's no need for them to step out of their comfort zones and return to the ring.

7 Can Still Go - The Rock 'n' Roll Express

Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton, The Rock 'n' Roll Express, have been active tag team performers since their formation in 1983. They competed across multiple promotions throughout their prime days in the business and captured multiple tag team championships, including eight NWA World Tag Team Championships.

While Gibson and Morton competed with other partners under other variations of the tag team, they reunited and continue to be in-ring performers to this date, are active in the independent scenes, and have also made several appearances for All Elite Wrestling.

6 Should Stay Retired - DX

While D-Generation X operated as a faction during their early days in WWE, Triple H and Shawn Michaels did work as a tag team for a while when they reunited in 2006.

They even captured the Unified WWE Tag Team Championships in December 2009 and held it for 57 days. After their final run as in-ring performers, Shawn Michaels retired in 2010 and Triple H in 2022, but had one last match at Crown Jewel 2018 where it was visible that age had gotten the best of them. With Michaels and Triple H taking on influential backstage roles and considering the latter's recent cardiac event, it's better that the two legends stay retired.

5 Can Still Go - E&C

Edge and Christian Cage at AEW WrestleDream

Edge and Christian are one of the most legendary tag teams in history as the two revolutionized tag team wrestling in WWE alongside the other tag teams in the company.

They went on to become 7-time world tag team champions in WWE and have won equally impressive singles accolades over the years. While Christian is (technically) the reigning AEW TNT Champion, Edge has also made his debut for the company in October 2023, leaving the doors open for a potential reunion in the future and ending their careers together the way it started.

4 Should Stay Retired - Harlem Heat

Harlem Heat was one of the most successful tag teams in WCW history, as Booker T and his brother Stevie Ray dominated the tag team division in the company throughout the 1990s and ended their careers with the company as 10-time tag team champions.

While Booker T signed with WWE following the end of WCW, Stevie Ray competed in the independent scene until 2003 before going into semi-retirement. He then returned to action in 2015 and had his last match in 2017, and announced his retirement. Booker T retired from action in January 2023, and it's safe to say that their time as in-ring competitors is over.

3 Can Still Go - The Dudley Boyz

The Dudley Boyz took tag team wrestling to the extreme during their prime days in the business and went on to win 25 tag team championships throughout their careers, including eight titles in ECW and 10 in WWE.

They made their presence felt across multiple promotions throughout their careers and recently had their reunion match at Impact Wrestling in September 2023. While Bubba Ray Dudley is still going strong as an active performer, D-Von has had only one match since 2016 but claimed he has a lot of gas left in the tank, leaving the doors open for a potential return.

2 Should Stay Retired - The Brothers Of Destruction

Despite starting out as foes in WWE, Kane and The Undertaker put their storyline childhood trauma aside and joined forces as The Brothers of Destruction. They were one of the most formidable tag teams in WWE history and went on to capture three tag team titles in the company.

They disbanded and reunited over the years and had their last match as a team against DX at Crown Jewel 2018. The legends have stepped away from in-ring competition and taken their rightful places in the WWE Hall of Fame, and with Kane taking care of his political obligations and Undertaker enjoying retirement, it's safe to say the in-ring chapter of The Brothers of Destruction is officially over.

1 Can Still Go - The Hardy Boyz

Along with Edge & Christian and The Dudley Boyz, The Hardy Boyz were the other prominent tag team in WWE throughout the company's Attitude Era. They won six tag team titles throughout the period before going their separate ways in 2002 and had several reunions over the years.

They have won around 20 tag team championships across various promotions over the years and are currently part of All Elite Wrestling. The clock is ticking in their time as active in-ring performers, but they could eventually make an impact in their current AEW run and end their careers with another tag team title run to their name.