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You might ask the question, what is a wrestling stable? Simply put, it's a group of sports entertainers bound together by a common cause. This could be Black Supremacy (Nation of Domination) or just general tomfoolery and rebellion (Degeneration X.) Other times, the main thing that seems to bind a group of wrestlers together is that they share a common manager, such as the Heenan Family.
Wrestling Stables were conceived for one reason and one reason only - marketability. Much like the Avengers, the idea is that if you put a group of wrestlers together they will be more marketable than the individual parts.
This theory is met with varying degrees of success. While you might see highly successful stables like the NWO, you also have stables like the Disciples of the Apocalypse, who almost no one can remember.
Without further ado, here are some of the most memorable stables from WWE history.
The Heenan Family
Our first stable on the list is also one of the most venerable. The Heenan Family was right there at the beginning of the WWE's classic era, and featured men who would main event Wrestlemanias.
Pretty Boy Bobby Heenan was a babyface wrestler in the WWA promotion, which was run by Dick the Bruiser. Although he was accomplished enough as a wrestler, his gift of gab and small size made him a natural manager.
Heenan would change monikers from Pretty Boy to The Brain, and often rubbed the fans noses in how much smarter he was than them. He joined the WWE in 1984 for the express purpose of managing Jesse Ventura, but when the Body had to retire due to medical issues Heenan became the manager for Big John Studd.
Heenan served double duty, acting as both an announcer and as a manager. He was often paired with Gorilla Monsoon at the announce table. During his tenure with WWE he would manage many of the top superstars of the era.
Ravishing Rick Rude, Andre the Giant, The Brain Busters (Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson, former Horsemen) King Kong Bundy, Harley Race, and Haku are just some of the names Heenan managed during his tenure with WWE.
While there wasn't any overriding theme to connect the Heenan family members, they were individually some of the best wrestlers of the classic era.
Heenan eventually tired of taking bumps as a manager, and joined WCW exclusively as a broadcast journalist. During his tenure wrestlers he managed reached the main event of Wrestlemania twice, with King Kong Bundy at WM II and Andre the Giant at WM III.
The First Family of Wrestling
Jimmy Hart is one of the most recognizable managers from WWE's classic era. Many fans also know him from the Monday Night War era of WCW, where he managed Hulk Hogan among others.
Hart joined the WWE in 1985 on a recommendation from his good friend Hillbilly Jim. Hart had already managed stables known as the First Family in other promotions, and he was able to keep the name when he joined WWE. The only addition made to his character was a megaphone, which amplified his already big mouth to new, annoying heights--and also made a convenient weapon to toss to his talent.
Some of the biggest names in wrestling history have been managed by Jimmy Hart. These include The Hart Foundation of Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart, Greg Valentine, King Kong Bundy, and of course the Honky Tonk Man, whom Hart managed during his lengthy, history making Intercontinental championship run.
Jimmy Hart, much like Bobby Heenan, joined WCW after his tenure with WWE. Unlike Heenan, he continued to manage wrestlers, though he was never able to raise them to the same levels he had in WWE.
The Hart Foundation
The WWE was a strange place after the departure of Hulk Hogan and many other stars of the WWE's classic era. There was a huge void for major heels that would be recognizable to fans. While the WWE tried, and failed, to fill this void with everyone from King Mabel to Kurrgan the Interrogator, they struck gold with the Hart Foundation.
Bret Hart, often the World Champion during this era, was the group's leader and defender of the Hart family dynasty. He was joined by brother Owen, former tag partner Jim Neidhart--who was also his brother in law--American wrestler Brian Pillman, dubbed the loose cannon, and British Bulldog, who also married one of Hart's sisters.
Primarily the group worked as heels in North America, but when they journeyed to Canada they would be cheered as baby faces. Allegedly, Bret Hart was regretful of having to put down American wrestling fans as part of his gimmick, but even he agreed it was brilliant booking.
At one point the Hart Foundation held nearly every title in WWE, and were sort of a pre cursor to the NWO faction which would form in rival WCW.
The Nation of Domination
The Nation of Domination had perhaps the best-realized gimmick of all the stables on our list. Their purpose was to fight for the traditionally exploited African American community, but they were billed as heels.
Wrestling is a working-class form of entertainment, and working-class Americans often stand shoulder to shoulder with minorities on the job. So the Nation of Domination were received with boos, many fans believed in their cause, somewhat limiting their effectiveness as heels.
Farooq, aka Ron Simmons, founded the group, which also included The Rock, Mark Henry, Kama Mustafa (Papa Shango and the Godfather) and D-Lo Brown. Eventually, the Rock assumed leadership of the faction and no longer pushed a black separatist agenda.
The group disbanded when the Rock broke out on his own, and Farooq wound up with the Ministry of Darkness.
Degeneration X
Degeneration X were supposed to be the bad guys. Their rule breaking and lack of respect was intended to get them fired, so they could head 'down south' (ie, join WCW with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall).
However, the irrepressible shenanigans of HBK and Triple H would soon make them more babyface than heel. After HBK left the company to deal with nagging injuries, Triple H assumed leadership of the group, which became full-on midcard babyfaces.
They engaged in many pranks and feuded with Rock's version of the Nation of Domination. DX also 'invaded' WCW events as part of their gimmick, becoming unofficial standard-bearers of the WWE for the Monday Night War.
Years later, DX would return but consist of only Triple H and Shawn Michaels. They again engaged in a series of pranks, mostly targeting Vince McMahon. DX would up being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, including the late Chyna, who had been a fixture of the Attitude Era.
DX still shows up from time to time, but their impact will never be forgotten.
The Corporation
After the Rock turned into a villain, he teased a face turn before joining the Corporation after betraying Mankind.
He was joined by IC champion Ken Shamrock, Test, Kane, and the McMahon family as well as their stooges. Late editions included the Big Boss Man.
The whole point of the Corporation was that they were the WWE's 'approved' wrestlers. Meaning that people like Steve Austin, the Undertaker, and anyone who could not toe the corporate line were on the outside looking in. This of course made the group instant heels.
The Corporation were seen as Vince McMahon's favorites, guaranteeing them heel heat aplenty. They would go on to feud with both Steve Austin, Mankind, and Undertaker's Ministry of Darkness, the stable with which they would merge with to form the Corporate Ministry, perhaps the silliest stable in wrestling history.
The Ministry of Darkness
The Undertaker had been thrilling WWE audiences for nearly a decade when the WWE decided that the character was a poor fit for the Attitude Era. The Dead Man was re-imagined as a pseudo-Satanic cult leader, complete with a legion of followers. Undertaker wanted to usher in a new era of darkness for the WWE, with him sitting on the throne.
To that end, he recruited a bevy of mid card wrestlers, most of whom changed gimmicks to match the Ministry. These included Viscera, the former King Mabel from Men on a Mission, former Godwin Dennis Knight, who became Mideon, and Farooq and Bradshaw, who were known as the Acolytes.
Eventually the Brood would join as well. The Ministry was known for controversial segments, where Stone Cold Steve Austin and Stephanie McMahon were crucified, and Mideon was 'sacrificed' on live TV.
The Ministry was reasonably successful as a stable, but then they were merged into the Corporate Ministry, which ultimately pleased no one.
Evolution
Who is the most famous pro wrestling stable of all time? Probably the Four Horsemen. The Ric Flair led group is perhaps one of the most celebrated stables of all time, and enjoy a spot in the WWE hall of fame even though they never wrestled for WWE under the Four Horsemen name.
Triple H, who 'worships the ground' Ric Flair walks on, wanted to form his version of the Four Horsemen. To that end, he recruited the Nature Boy himself, and two relative unknown quantities, Dave Batista and Randy Orton.
Ric Flair and Triple H were already former world champions, and both Batista and Randy Orton would eventually follow suit. The star-studded supergroup managed to hold all of the WWE championships during the Ruthless Aggression Era, and are still remembered fondly years after their break up.
Evolution has temporarily reformed from time to time, but never stick around for long.
The Nexus
When it comes to feelings of 'what might have been,' you need look no further than The Nexus.
The Nexus were originally contestants on NXT, which wasn't a brand so much as a reality show competition at the time. Wade Barrett won the competition, but unexpectedly joined with his former rivals to form the Nexus and run roughsod on the entire WWE roster, including John Cena.
Heel stables aren't normally comprised of all rookies, but the Nexus worked. They clicked together and worked well as a unit.
In the eyes of many, WWE bungled the Nexus by having them all fall prey to John Cena during his 'super Cena' booking era. They tried to reform several times, under CM Punk and as the Corre, but the magic was gone.
Still, for a time it was one of the most compelling angles in wrestling, and made enough impact to be included on this list.
The Shield
The Shield were all called up from NXT together. Originally the team was supposed to be Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Kassius Ohno, but Vince McMahon made the decision to replace the former Chris Hero with Roman Reigns.
They originally were minions of CM Punk, ostensibly dedicated to justice but only interfering on his behalf. Then the Shield broke out on their own, and became one of the most dominant groups in wrestling history.
All three members of the Shield would go on to win the 'big one,' a WWE World Championship title. Outrageously popular yet edgy, the Shield is one of the biggest booking success stories in recent WWE history.
The Hounds of Justice wreaked havoc on the WWE roster before they disbanded after Seth Rollins betrayed the group. Then they re formed, and broke up, and reformed, and broke up for the allegedly final time when Dean Ambrose announced his departure from the WWE.
Though the group has disbanded, they remain an iconic stable in the WWE's illustrious history.
