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There is a true art to tag-team wrestling.
Whilst in a single's match, Superstars know their own strengths and weaknesses, being a tag star requires much more skill, a sense of trust as well as an extensive knowledge of both your partner and your opponents.
Failing to have this level of trust has broken up many great teams, with some Superstars going on to bigger things, and others are forgotten.
Even in the 21st Century, there have been teams that despite being relatively new in the annals of professional wrestling, have certainly left their mark in WWE.
Here are the 10 greatest WWE tag teams of the 21st Century
Note: As this feature will focus on teams that were active from 2000 onwards, successful teams from before, such as Demolition and the Hart Foundation, will not be on this list.
10: Rated RKO
The tenure together may have been brief, but Rated RKO was one of the most dominant teams in 2006.
Formed by Edge and Randy Orton, the pairing certainly came together with plenty of success, with Edge being a two-time WWE Champion already, whilst the Legend Killer boasting as the youngest World Heavyweight Champion.
Letting no-one stand in their way, the pair destroyed Ric Flair and 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper to capture the World Tag Team Championships, holding the titles until they were dethroned by the makeshift team of WrestleMania opponents John Cena and Shawn Michaels.
Going their separate way in 2007, both men would go on to hold tag gold with other partners but were never more successful as tag team Superstars than when their antics were Rated RKO.
9: The Undisputed Era
A staple of NXT, the teaming of Bobby Fish, Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong have been one of the most entertaining groups in the developmental brand's history.
With each man coming from the independent scene, they all had a mass of fans already, so putting them together has only made fans love them more.
Always using their numbers to their advantage, the four have all had championship success, with the NXT Tag Team Championships, and Cole being the first ever NXT North American Champion, a feat that the four won't let fans forget any time soon.
With the quartet still relatively young in their WWE careers, and expected to be joining the main roster in 2019, expect this team to move onwards to better and bigger things in the coming years.
8: The Usos
Fixtures of WWE television since 2010, the Usos have the longest uninterrupted tenure of any team on this list. Joining the main roster in 2010, the team has feuded with practically everyone, winning their first of five Tag Team Championships in 2014.
Despite spending years as admittedly, bland babyfaces, the team of Jimmy and Jey have always impressed with their aerial offence, and certainly added a new dynamic when then turned heel in late 2016.
Now with a new mean-streak and attitude to themselves, the Usos have continued to impress on SmackDown Live, with both men being happy with their roles as tag team wrestlers.
Perhaps they will eventually split in the future, though we can't see it happening anytime soon, as the Usos prove that blood is indeed thicker than water.
7: Edge and Christian
As pioneers of the TLC match, you would expect Edge and Christian to be much higher on this list. But, despite the incredible success of both men, as a team and as individuals, Edge and Christian were not long for this world, splitting in the fall of 2001.
From 2000-2001 though, the team certainly made an impact, helping innovate the TLC match, in epic feuds alongside the Dudley Boyz and the Hardyz, though we'll get to them later. Splitting, thanks to a jealous Christian, the pair both had great singles runs, even briefly reuniting in early 2005.
Even to this day, their good graces as a team with the fans has led to their own Network show.
6: Team Hell No
When Daniel Bryan was forced to take anger management classes by his jilting fiance AJ Lee, the former YES! man was not happy. Things got even worse for Bryan when he was partnered with Kane in one of WWE's oddest couples.
Despite their antics, the two were highly successful, and entertaining, providing exciting action in the ring and hilarious antics out of it.
Winning the WWE Tag Team Championships in the fall of 2012, the pair were very impressive, even if they couldn't decide which one man, was both tag team champions.
Perhaps the pair would've regained the tag titles they lost in May 2013, though the pair amicably split, to allow Bryan to move into the main event scene.
5: The New Day
The longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions of all-time, it's hard to properly state just how incredible the New Day have been.
Initially the blandest of babyfaces, the crowd turned against the group (akin to Rocky Maivia in 1997), chants of 'New Day Sucks' echoed across countless arenas.
Getting on board with the hatred, the team began chastising their host cities, in a sickly sweet condescending manner, which eventually got the fans on board with them.
Now one of the most over teams in history, the trio of Big E, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston are five-time Tag Team Champions in WWE and are hoping for number six very soon.
And with the group vowing never to split, no matter what, expect 2019 to be a very big year for the SmackDown trio.
4: The Shield
On that fateful November night at Survivor Series 2012, the landscape of the WWE changed forever.
Emerging from the crowd, the team of Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose destroyed everyone in their paths, with the group capturing the United States and Tag Team Championships, less than half a year into their tenure.
Always with the numbers advantage, the three constantly looked strong, rarely losing, and would bounce back from these losses very quickly.
Splitting in 2014, the three have each gone on to do great things as singles stars, with each man holding the WWE World Championship at Money in the Bank 2016. Whilst hopes of a reunion are sadly at their all-time lowest, the hounds of justice will certainly be remembered as one of the greatest teams of the 21st Century.
3: The Hardy Boyz
The Hardy Boyz are one of the most unique enigmas in wrestling, as fans have been able to see them grow as literal children in the ring, to adults, to champions, to now, where it seems both men have reached their end.
From 2000, the pair were consistently over with fans around the world, competing in TLC matches, before splitting in 2002.
Despite Jeff receiving a huge push on RAW, and Matt making waves on SmackDown, the two were never as popular as when they teamed, with the WWE reuniting them in 2007.
Once again splitting in 2009, after Matt cost Jeff the WWE Championship, the WWE Universe would have to wait until 2017 to see the two in ladder match action again, winning at WrestleMania 33 in one of the show of show's most epic returns, period.
2: D-Generation X
Whilst D-Generation X had success in 1997 and 1998, arguably their biggest success came in the 21st Century. In 2000, the team was riding high under the management of Triple H, who as the WWF Champion, was also running the shows.
Reuniting in 2006 (though this time with just Shawn Michaels and the Game), this new DX may have been more family friendly, but was in by no means any less successful. Ending in 2007 due to Triple H suffering his second quad tear, Michaels and the Game eventually reunited in 2009 at Summerslam, even holding the WWE Unified Tag Team Championships for several months.
Eventually going their separate ways in March 2010, the pair had one last hurrah last year at Crown Jewel, defeating the Brothers of Destruction and proving that no team could spit in the face of history quite like DX.
1: The Dudley Boyz
The most successful team in WWE history, the Dudley Boyz are true icons of tag team wrestling.
Joining the WWF in late 1999, the team of Bubba Ray and D-Von crushed all in their way, even their own brother, Little Spike Dudley.
Not just a pair of heavy hitters, the Dudleyz amazed fans as pioneers of the TLC matches, working with the Hardyz and Edge and Christian to create some of the greatest matches in wrestling history.
Leaving the company in 2005 with championships galore, the pair returned a decade later, though never won the WWE Tag Team Championships in this run, a crime in the eyes of many fans.
Regardless, the Dudleyz remain the greatest WWE tag team of the 21st century and took their rightful place in the Hall of Fame in 2018.
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