Top Five Flopped Singles Stars From Successful Tag Teams

Lowlife Louie Ramos and Brian Damage

We continue where we left off with last week’s selection. What wrestlers did NOT have success after the break up of their popular/successful tag teams. Basically, who were the Marty Jannetty’s of teams?

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Louie

This is a tougher one than the other way around because despite not reaching the success their partners did .they would be far from total flops.

5) Mustafa Saed…One half of the feared Gangstas along with the one and only New Jack..Mustafa sadly floundered without New Jack. He would be an independent staple,but not much else of note except his various appearances with Jack at various ECW, and TNA reunion type events..

4) Rick Steiner.. its very, very difficult for me to call one of the most successful tag team wrestlers of all time a flop. But, Rick as a singles competitor and in other teams without his brother Scott, would be placed in the middle of the card. Scott went on to be a multiple time U.S and world champion ( someone who may have belonged on last weeks installment lol) Rick, again while successful never touched the success of the Steiners or his brother on his own.

3) Jim Neidhart… again.this one hurts..because the Anvil..was a favorite of mine growing up. And is a 2 time tag team champion with Bret Hart as the Hart Foundation. But..we all know how much Bret achieved as a singles. Without the hitman, the Anvil was relegated to mid or lower card. His new Foundation team with Owen Hart went nowhere, he was a broadcaster (which he was great at,in my opinion) repackaged as WHO, and later would hit the indies under a controversial nazi like gimmick.

2) Bart Gunn…again .it’s tough. Bart went on to win the 1 and only brawl for all..but then got K.Od by Butterbean…before that ,he was repacked as bodacious Bart in a failed midnight Express reimagining, and after mania 14 he would be somewhat successful in Japan..but he would never be able to touch the success of his former partner Bad Ass Billy Gunn..another person who could have cracked last weeks list with his tremendous resume.

1) Stevie Ray… has to be repeated ,As a tag team wrestler. Big Stevie Ray was part of one of the greatest units ever ..Harlem Heat.. But again ,when you match his career with that of his brother, 5 time world champion Booker T, its not even a fair comparison. Booker T would go on to main event during the last few years of WCW, and would be involved in tremendously memorable moments during his singles career in the WWE including his times king Bookah. Stevie on the other hand was relegated to stooge of one NWO faction,never main evented or had any meaningful programs..and quietly slipped into semi retirement. Sad, because I feel he was never given the opportunities Booker T was.

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Brian

5. John Kronus – At one time, Kronus and Perry Saturn were one of the most dominant tag teams in ECW known as the Eliminators. Saturn eventually broke up the team and headed for a singles career in WCW. He would also parlay that into stints with WWE and TNA. John Kronus on the other hand seemed to struggle in his career without Saturn. Yes, he did win ECW tag team gold with New Jack, but ultimately Kronus never had much of a solo career for himself. Tragically, he passed away from an enlarged heart at the age of 38.

4. Mo – Mo certainly got the short end of the stick when the WWF decided to give Mabel a push. Mabel went on to win the King of the Ring tournament and challenge Diesel for the WWF title. Meanwhile, Mo was reduced to becoming Mable’s lackey instead of his tag partner.

3. Stevie Ray – Stevie Ray did have some singles success earlier in his career…but he most known for his time teaming with his brother Booker T as the Ebony Experience/Harlem Heat. After the team broke up, Stevie found little success as a singles wrestler with the NWO and other storylines, while Booker had a remarkable singles career.

2. Samu – Samu and Fatu formed a very strong tag team as the Samoan Swat Team/Headshrinkers for various places like World Class, WCW and WWF. Fatu went on to have a very good singles career, while Samu struggled to find an identity for himself without his cousin.

1. Marty Jannetty – If Shawn Michaels was the perfect prototype for a successful singles run after breaking away from a tag team…then his partner Jannetty is the exact opposite. Look, I realize that Jannetty had a run with the Intercontinental title (albeit mostly forgettable) and he did have some successes, but for the most part, he was a major flop. Mostly due to his own personal demons that got in the way of having any type of meaningful push.

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You can read all previous Top Five pieces here.

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