Dot Net Awards: 2017 Best Tag Team

By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)

Dot Net readers were allowed a single vote each of the 2017 awards categories. The following are the results of our poll for Best Tag Team along with our staff comments. Thanks to everyone who took part in the voting.

1. Jimmy and Jey Uso (38 percent)
2. The Young Bucks Nick and Matt Jackson (17 percent)
3. Sheamus and Cesaro (12 percent)
4. The Revival Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder (7 percent)
5. Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa (6 percent)
Others (20 percent)

Jake Barnett’s Take It’s hard to imagine in 2014 and 2015 that the Usos would become as polished and well rounded as they are. It always felt like something was missing from their act, and I think they have found it with their updated look and promo style. They could always be counted on delivering in the ring, but they were rarely allowed to showcase much personality in their programs. Now that everything’s in place, I hope they can make a case for putting them on the Main WrestleMania Card this year after numerous pre-show appearances and snubs. Unfortunately, I’m not sure the state of the Smackdown Tag Division will allow it.

Will Pruett’s Thoughts: I didn’t expect to be able to recall so many great tags from 2017 when I sat down to think about it, but here we are. The Young Bucks need to be at the top of any list as they continue to headline ROH and bring NJPW to the United States. It’s also worth mentioning The Usos who had a breakout year that I absolutely loved.

Zack Zimmerman’s Thoughts: The voters got this one right. The Usos were the best wrestling tag team this year with their new personas and a weekly habit of very entertaining promos and matches. The Young Bucks are actively changing the game with their YouTube show and “mainstream” merchandise sales, but as a wrestling fan I have to admit that this success has led to them adopting more of a formulated schtick in most matches. That said, when it’s big match showtime, they always deliver. Sheamus and Cesaro have formed a very solid tag team from two singles guys who didn’t seem to be going anywhere, and I look forward to their matches on a weekly basis.

John Moore’s Thoughts: Not to steal their catchphrase, but the Usos do have the tag team division “On Lock”. This was a tough decision too given NXT’s strong tag division, The Young Bucks “Elite” year, LAX being the only good thing on Impact, combined WWE’s main roster tag division ending the year pretty depleted. The Usos had that heel run which introduced the viewers to the real personalities of the Usos. They were a heel act at one point but they were just so lovable, genuine, and talented both in the ring and on the mic that WWE’s hand was pushed to turn them babyface. They’ve been so good that they can work face and heel while elevating their opponents. That pre-show match against New Day was a sleeper match of the year candidate. What’s interesting is WWE’s tag team division at the end of the year was at a low point so the Fatu brothers have a ton of potential to have a strong 2018. The Young Bucks also stand alone as the next level tag team on the independents. That combined with Bullet Club equals a potential strong year from them too.

Haydn Gleed’s Thoughts: For this award, I’m not going to look past The Young Bucks. Okay, I may have complained at nauseam on audio about their lack of a clear babyface or heel role, and I know the old school fan in me will probably strangle me in my sleep for nominating them, but ultimately they are the only team in wrestling who are a true draw. When you see the Young Bucks on a card your interest immediately peaks and you know you are going to see an exciting match that you’ll remember, which is not something you can say for most of the spotlighted teams in 2017.

Jason Powell’s Thoughts: As much as I enjoy the work of the Usos, the Young Bucks get my vote. There’s not a more innovative team in the business and their matches are insanity. I have the Usos just a tick behind. It was a breakout year for the Usos, who delivered both in the ring and on the mic. It took a brief heel turn for WWE to finally unleash the Usos and they made the most of it by delivering their best mic work to date. Sheamus and Cesaro were in no man’s land as singles acts in WWE, but they became a hell of a tag team. I’d like to think The Revival would have finished in the top three had they not missed so much time due to injuries, but I’m skeptical given the half-assed push they’ve received on Raw since they returned.

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