Back in 2009, WWE released a three-disc DVD collection focusing on tag team wrestling, titled “Allied Powers: The World’s Greatest Tag Teams” (which cleverly links two tag team names, even if the latter is a more generic handle). With the increase in historic spotlights of match types, divisions, promotions and the like around that time, it was inevitable that the tag team scene would get a Home Video release all of its own. Looking back on it eight years later, though, how does this DVD measure up from a modern perspective?
The artwork is pretty cool, having a nostalgic feel to it. That being said, the way in which Triple H and Shawn Michaels are placed front and center on the front cover is annoying because it implies that DX were the greatest tag team of them all, which is something that even HHH and Michaels would disagree with (and that’s coming from someone who did enjoy the DX reunions in the late 2000s). Otherwise, though, the artwork and presentation elements are spot-on, while the set is hosted by The Miz and John Morrison. Now, let’s get to the action!
Disc One
WWF – September 23, 1985 British Bulldogs vs. Hart Foundation
We kick off with a look at The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid), one of the truly great teams. They particularly had a classic rivalry with the Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart), and we get a sample of their feud here from MSG circa 1985. It’s old-school WWF tag team wrestling at its best, starring two teams who played a key role in the Federation’s legendary tag division of the mid-to-late 1980s.
NJPW/WCW Starrcade In Tokyo – March 21, 1991 WCW World Tag Team Championship & IWGP Tag Team Championship Match The Steiner Brothers (C) vs. Hiroshi Hase & Kensuke Sasaki (C)
Next up are Rick and Scott Steiner, one of the more underrated combos in my opinion, and a tough match against Hase and Sasaki from a joint WCW/New Japan Supershow. The famous Japanese Strong Style is on full display in this one as neither team holds anything back in one of the year’s best encounters.
WWF – October 9, 1987 Two Out Of Three Falls Match Killer Bees vs. Demolition
After a feature on aerial tag teams, we come to a curious inclusion, with Jim Brunzell and B. Brian Blair battling a team whose style couldn’t have been more different to high-flying, that being Ax and Smash. It’s a lengthy match given the stipulation, and see if you can work out the identities of the three-person commentary team.
WWF King Of The Ring 1999 – June 27, 1999 #1 Contenders Match Hardy Boyz vs. Edge & Christian
The Hardyz are the next team to be profiled, and we get their first PPV appearance against Edge and Christian from KOTR 1999. It’s a refreshing reminder as to what these two teams could do aside from Ladder and TLC matches (though we get one such match later on), and it packs plenty of action into a short amount of time.
WCCW – October 1983 Country Whippin’ Match Fabulous Freebirds vs. Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich
On that night, Matt and Jeff Hardy were managed by Michael P.S. Hayes, a tag team legend himself within the Fabulous Freebirds, and the next match shines the light on their timeless rivalry with the Von Erichs, in front of a hot-as-hell crowd.
Championship Wrestling From Florida Funk Brothers vs. Brisco Brothers
A slower pace and a somewhat more reserved crowd comes with the following match, which spotlights two brother tandems, and with all four entrants having had major singles careers aside from doubles wrestling: between Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., Gerald Brisco and Jack Brisco, only Jerry did not win the NWA World Heavyweight crown.
WCW Hog Wild 1996 – August 10, 1996 WCW World Tag Team Championship Match Harlem Heat (C) vs. Steiner Brothers
Booker T and Stevie Ray were one of WCW’s most under-appreciated teams, holding the tag division together at a time when few young tandems in WCW who received an opportunity were up to scratch. This battle sees Harlem Heat take on The Steiners, making it a showdown between two of WCW’s most important tag teams ever.
JCP/NWA The Great American Bash 1988 – July 10, 1988 NWA United States Tag Team Championship Match The Midnight Express (C) vs. The Fantastics
Before there was WCW, we had Jim Crockett Promotions, and one of the stand-out teams for JCP were The Midnight Express. This match sees them take on The Fantastics and, as you might expect, the crowd is well into this one. It’s a great example of doubles wrestling from the 1980s, the best decade ever for tag team wrestling in my opinion.
WCW SuperBrawl VI – February 11, 1996 Anything Goes, Falls Count Anywhere Street Fight Public Enemy vs. Nasty Boys
The somewhat vague label of “Honourable Mentions” includes several mini-bios, before we head to a brawl between Public Enemy and The Nasty Boys. I always find it interesting to watch a Hardcore match in the pre-nWo era of WCW, since the genre seemed to clash with the more conservative WCW style. Fortunately, this brawl is well worth watching.
WWF – March 18, 1989 The Rockers vs. Brain Busters
Disc one ends with the greatest team never to officially win the WWF/WWE Tag Team Championships: The Rockers. This MSG battle with The Brain Busters is something of a dream match, and it’s a quintessential example of tag team wrestling from the era. Shawn Michaels notes in his autobiography Heartbreak & Triumph that he felt like they could work “the” tag team match after battling Arn and Tully, and matches like this provide sufficient evidence for that theory.
Disc Two
WWF WrestleMania IV – March 27, 1988 WWF World Tag Team Championship Match Strike Force (C) vs. Demolition
Disc two opens with Demolition, a team who by rights really should have been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame a long time ago, if not for various factors. Here, they battle Strike Force in the match which would instigate their 478-day tag team title reign, a record only broken in late 2016 by The New Day.
WWF WrestleMania – March 31, 1985 WWF World Tag Team Championship Match The U.S. Express (C) vs. Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff
A mini-bio on international combos leads us to a match whereby The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff challenge The U.S. Express for tag team gold at the first WrestleMania. Compared to other matches on this DVD, it’s an average bout, but it draws great heat from the MSG crowd.
WWF Survivor Series 2001 – November 18, 2001 WWF World Tag Team Championship & WCW World Tag Team Championship Unification Steel Cage Match Dudley Boyz (C) vs. Hardy Boyz (C)
The Dudleyz are up next, and with respect to Road Warrior Animal, Bubba Ray and D-Von are definitely a legendary tag team. This Cage match against The Hardyz has been featured on several sets, but it’s still a really good bout, and arguably the last meaningful clash between the two teams in the WWF/WWE.
WCW Halloween Havoc 1996 – October 27, 1996 WCW World Tag Team Championship Match Harlem Heat (C) vs. The Outsiders
Kevin Nash and Scott Hall are a real-life team, having been best friends for more than two decades. The Outsiders reigned supreme as WCW Tag Team Champions during the glory days of the nWo, which began with this showdown against Harlem Heat, where Nash and Hall are the clear crowd favorites despite being heels, the early signs of a now-common trend in wrestling.
JCP/NWA The Great American Bash 1988 – July 10, 1988 NWA World Tag Team Championship Match Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (C) vs. Sting & Nikita Koloff
The second match on this DVD which comes from the 1988 Great American Bash, the focus here is on Arn and Tully, as they battle Sting and Nikita Koloff with tag team gold at stake. Arn and Tully were tag team masters, making everybody that they faced look good while drawing tremendous crowd heat, and their style lives on in WWE today through The Revival.
AWA All Star Wrestling – December 1972 Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens vs. Red Bastien & Billy Robinson
A feature on vintage tag teams from the 1960s and 1970s brings us to the next match, from the AWA, as two of the greatest heels of the mid-20th century – Bockwinkel and Stevens – battle Red Bastien and Billy Robinson.
WWE Monday Night RAW – November 17, 2008 The Miz & John Morrison vs. Rey Mysterio & Shawn Michaels
Next up, it’s the turn of the hosts, as Miz and Morrison spotlight themselves (more so than usual). Their chosen match is a forgotten gem against a dream team in the form of Rey Mysterio and Shawn Michaels, which is exciting to watch and has a surprising result.
WWF – March 7, 1987 WWF World Tag Team Championship Match Hart Foundation (C) vs. Rougeau Brothers
The Hart Foundation close out disc two. I was hoping that their Two out of Three Falls battle with Demolition from SummerSlam 1990 would be here, but a rare match against The Rougeaus (with Jacques and Raymond playing babyfaces) is by no means a bad substitute.
Disc Three
WWF SummerSlam 2000 – August 27, 2000 WWF World Tag Team Championship TLC Match Edge & Christian (C) vs. Hardy Boyz vs. Dudley Boyz
Disc three kicks off with arguably the most memorable tag team rivalry ever. Edge and Christian are spotlighted via the first TLC match against The Hardyz and The Dudleyz from SummerSlam 2000 and, while it’s very familiar, it’s one of the best matches ever involving tag teams. Definitely the best match on the DVD, though one that you’ll have seen many times before.
JCP/NWA World Wide Wrestling – July 9, 1985 NWA World Tag Team Championship Match Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khruschev (C) vs. Rock ‘N’ Roll Express
Considering that the Rock ‘N’ Roll Express are most famous for their battles with The Midnight Express, it’s a surprise that their showcase match comes against another team, Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khruschev. Still, this is really good, with Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson demonstrating why they were the ultimate white-meat babyface combo.
WWF Armageddon 1999 – December 12, 1999 WWF World Tag Team Championship Match New Age Outlaws (C) vs. Rock ‘N’ Sock Connection
The New Age Outlaws are up next. It’s hard to pinpoint the most famous match for Billy Gunn and Road Dogg, so the inclusion of their battle with The Rock and Mankind is acceptable, even if it has an ending which would confuse anybody watching this out of context.
WWE Cyber Sunday 2006 – November 5, 2006 Special Guest Referee: Eric Bischoff D-Generation X vs. Rated RKO
After a section on star-studded tag teams, we finally get to see cover stars DX, who take on Rated RKO. It’s watchable, but the outcome is ironic considering my earlier gripe about HHH and HBK being essentially positioned as the greatest tag team ever on the cover sleeve.
WWE SmackDown! – December 11, 2003 The World’s Greatest Tag Team vs. Los Guerreros
When people discuss classic tag team rivalries within WWE, one such feud which doesn’t receive enough praise is the feud between Los Guerreros and The World’s Greatest Tag Team. Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas are the team being spotlighted, but both duos look good here, in one of many great matches between the two squads. (As an aside, there was a minor backstage skirmish between Eddie Guerrero and Haas after this match because Eddie believed that Haas was too stiff when working on Eddie’s legitimately injured shoulder, though Charlie was apparently unaware of the injury; watch this match and see if you agree.)
JCP/NWA – April 11, 1987 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament Final Match Tully Blanchard & Lex Luger vs. Nikita Koloff & Dusty Rhodes
The penultimate clash focuses less on specific teams and more on a concept, that being the Crockett Cup, a short-lived annual tag team tournament. We’re treated to the 1987 final here, as Dusty teams with Nikita to take on Four Horsemen reps Tully and Lex.
WWF SummerSlam 1992 – August 29, 1992 Legion Of Doom vs. Money Inc.
Finally, it’s the (actual) greatest tag team of them all, the Legion Of Doom. Some may disagree with that, but it’s hard to argue with a team who were so popular, so destructive and so successful for so long. This match against Money Inc. was actually their last during their original WWF tenure, and is perhaps most notable for Bobby Heenan’s brilliant one-liners at the expense of the LOD.
The Extras
I won’t analyze the extras one-by-one, since the majority are fairly short promos and angles. I will mention that the inclusion of the “Badstreet, USA” music video is a nice touch, and that Gene Okerlund visiting The Hart Foundation’s “headquarters” is a perfectly hammy 1980s skit.
Oh, and we get the segment where Shawn Michaels superkicked “Stan”, now Tye Dillinger, prior to the aforementioned DX vs. Rated RKO bout. (By the way, there is a version of this angle somewhere on YouTube with the audio speeded up; if you can locate it, it is well worth watching.)
The Verdict
For those who enjoy their tag team scraps, this is a really good and comprehensive collection. Note that this is not a compilation of the greatest tag team matches ever (though that might be a fun concept for WWE to explore one day), but it does provide over two dozen battles which, in their own way, allow the vast majority of the featured teams to shine, whether it be due to their flashy offence, their destructive move-sets or their dramatic selling. As mentioned earlier, the variety in match types and situations keeps things fresh, which definitely helps when watching a three-disc set.
With a ton of content, a plethora of matches spanning various eras and styles, and the spotlight being shone on so many different teams, Allied Powers is one of the better WWE historical compilations, and yes – it’s still a worthy tribute to the art of tag team wrestling.
It was a great set of matches, but I was one of those who just didn’t care for the set much as there wasn’t much insight into the teams. There were really short highlight packages showing clips of each team doing double-team moves, etc. and then it was straight into a match, rather than decent profiles, etc. I dunno, I just didn’t feel it. I actually had it and sold it when I realised after 3 years that I’d never felt like watching it. If it had been presented more along the lines of the “Greatest Stars of the…” sets with proper profiles and voiceovers, I’d have kept it. But as a I said, great match compilation, just not for me. I felt the same about the “High Flyers” set and sold that too.
It was and still is a worthy set of tag team wrestling. A follow up on this would be nice. Candidates for hosts:
Usos – probably the best team on SDL right now.
New Day – broke Demolition’s tag team title record and now hold the longest title reign record themselves.
RNR Express – legendary team, inducted this year into the HOF.
As for what dvd to review next, Greatest Stars of the 90s or Top 50 Superstars would be good.
I remember people bashing this set endlessly. Is it the best DVD ever? No, not even close but it’s also not even close to the worst. It’s one of those sets that can be appreciated now after it’s been out and I’m glad it got an in depth review.
either it was criticized that the set included several matches that had been released earlier (so it seemed like a wasted opportunity) … or it was the lack of quality matches (of course, more high profile tag matches would have probably resulted in even more “repeats”).
Thank you so much for reviewing this set after I and some others suggested it 🙂
An excellent review which I really enjoyed reading. I think this is a very underappreciated set, with a lot of hidden gems that are still (as of writing this comment) unavailable on the WWE Network.
Would it be possible for you to review “The Triumph and Tragedy of WCCW” next time?
That is another set which I enjoyed greatly, and would like to hear your thoughts on? 🙂
There is also another (non-WWE) release about WCCW called Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs and the Rise and Fall of World Class Championship Wrestling which is also worth the watch.
I’ll definitely look at doing The Triumph and Tragedy Of WCCW in the near future; I know that Heroes Of World Class is also considered a strong documentary on WCCW, although Triumph and Tragedy includes quite a few bonus matches which boost the appeal of the set. It’ll be fun to check it out again!
It’ll probably be the Jake Roberts DVD next based on previous suggestions, and then I’ll be focusing on others such as the World Class set, thanks again for your comments 🙂
How about the Hulk Still Rules set from 2002 for a future retro review?? Since its been 15 years since its release I think It would be a good consideration. Hulk is arguably the biggest name in the history of the business and to my knowledge it was his first dvd ever put out by WWE.
Yes I have watched both WCCW sets and found them both very interesting. I think what I also enjoyed about the WCCW sets was that (for the most part) WWE did not have much interaction with their product during the 80s and 90s, so they had almost a third party take on proceedings taking place in Texas. Also, the story itself is so bewildering that it had me hooked, and hearing first hand accounts from many of the people involved was an education in the wrasslin’ style.
I am looking forward to the Jake “The Snake” Roberts review as that is another favourite set of mine, especially with Jake’s recent successes.
Once again, you are welcome Mark and many thanks 🙂
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It was a great set of matches, but I was one of those who just didn’t care for the set much as there wasn’t much insight into the teams. There were really short highlight packages showing clips of each team doing double-team moves, etc. and then it was straight into a match, rather than decent profiles, etc. I dunno, I just didn’t feel it. I actually had it and sold it when I realised after 3 years that I’d never felt like watching it. If it had been presented more along the lines of the “Greatest Stars of the…” sets with proper profiles and voiceovers, I’d have kept it. But as a I said, great match compilation, just not for me. I felt the same about the “High Flyers” set and sold that too.
It was and still is a worthy set of tag team wrestling. A follow up on this would be nice. Candidates for hosts:
Usos – probably the best team on SDL right now.
New Day – broke Demolition’s tag team title record and now hold the longest title reign record themselves.
RNR Express – legendary team, inducted this year into the HOF.
As for what dvd to review next, Greatest Stars of the 90s or Top 50 Superstars would be good.
Underrated set for sure!
I remember people bashing this set endlessly. Is it the best DVD ever? No, not even close but it’s also not even close to the worst. It’s one of those sets that can be appreciated now after it’s been out and I’m glad it got an in depth review.
I can understand that, at least a bit.
either it was criticized that the set included several matches that had been released earlier (so it seemed like a wasted opportunity) … or it was the lack of quality matches (of course, more high profile tag matches would have probably resulted in even more “repeats”).
Thank you so much for reviewing this set after I and some others suggested it 🙂
An excellent review which I really enjoyed reading. I think this is a very underappreciated set, with a lot of hidden gems that are still (as of writing this comment) unavailable on the WWE Network.
Would it be possible for you to review “The Triumph and Tragedy of WCCW” next time?
That is another set which I enjoyed greatly, and would like to hear your thoughts on? 🙂
There is also another (non-WWE) release about WCCW called Heroes of World Class: The Story of the Von Erichs and the Rise and Fall of World Class Championship Wrestling which is also worth the watch.
Thanks for the positive feedback! 🙂
I’ll definitely look at doing The Triumph and Tragedy Of WCCW in the near future; I know that Heroes Of World Class is also considered a strong documentary on WCCW, although Triumph and Tragedy includes quite a few bonus matches which boost the appeal of the set. It’ll be fun to check it out again!
It’ll probably be the Jake Roberts DVD next based on previous suggestions, and then I’ll be focusing on others such as the World Class set, thanks again for your comments 🙂
How about the Hulk Still Rules set from 2002 for a future retro review?? Since its been 15 years since its release I think It would be a good consideration. Hulk is arguably the biggest name in the history of the business and to my knowledge it was his first dvd ever put out by WWE.
You’re most welcome Mark 🙂
Yes I have watched both WCCW sets and found them both very interesting. I think what I also enjoyed about the WCCW sets was that (for the most part) WWE did not have much interaction with their product during the 80s and 90s, so they had almost a third party take on proceedings taking place in Texas. Also, the story itself is so bewildering that it had me hooked, and hearing first hand accounts from many of the people involved was an education in the wrasslin’ style.
I am looking forward to the Jake “The Snake” Roberts review as that is another favourite set of mine, especially with Jake’s recent successes.
Once again, you are welcome Mark and many thanks 🙂
I think this set is still worth getting because more than a third of the matches aren’t available via WWE Network.
(and this is also especially valid considering you can likely get a very cheap used copy nowadays)
Can you review the History of the Hardcore Championship 24/7 next or Brock Lesnar: Here Comes the Pain (collectors edition)?
yeah i sorta wanna see a review for the hardcore 2016 bluray or lesnar eat sleep conquer repeat.
This was a great set. I would love to see more 80’s and 90’s tag team sets/compilations in the future.
This times a million!!!!
There is so many gems. Hell most of WWE great matches in the 80s were tag team matches.
JCP/ NWA had even better tag matches.
It’s sad but I’m not holding my breath for another set on tag teams. It’s a Damn shame too. Tag wrestling is the best wrestling there is.
I think it’s telling that a hardcore championship set was done before one about the tag team championship.
I enjoyed this set, I am hoping for volume 2 one day…