Fight Forever: Wrestling Soulmates [Part 2]
Making magic with every ring of the bell
“Fight Forever!” *clap, clap, clap clap clap* “Fight Forever!”
With this second installment in the Wrestling Soulmates series, there are even more rivalries that were worthy of this iconic chant. These wrestlers take every opportunity they can to produce history making matches.
For Example:
1~ The New Day vs The Usos
Tag. Team. Wrestling.
These 2 teams re-defined tag team wrestling. More so within the past 10 or so years, The New Day (Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston & Big E) and The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) showed the world what tag team wrestling could be; and why tag team wrestling should be shown on the main stage.
The 1st of many matches these 2 historic teams had was on Monday Night Raw on January 11th, 2016. This first face off would jump start the beginning of a feud that would span over 6 years. Just over a week and some change later, The New Day would successfully defend their Raw Tag Team Titles against The Usos. This matchup marked their first official championship matchup.
2017 would be a very crucial year in this rivalry.
Going into the summer of 2017, The Usos would hold the tag gold over on the blue brand. The brothers found themselves going toe to toe with their rivals once again. This time, leading into the title match, the 2 teams would take their promos to the next level.
With a RAP BATTLE!
This rap battle, on the 4th of the July edition of Monday Night Raw, would create memorable moments and bars from both groups.
“Ayy, Big E, let's just keep it PG; you know what's good
Just don't get all rated-R like your boy Xavier Woods” -Jimmy & Jey
“Now, Jim, Jim, Jim
You and your brother, you're tag champs; you turned the Universe into believers
But please always remember: you were absolutely nothin' 'til your wife put you on Total Divas!” -Xavier Woods
A few weeks later, at the Battleground PPV, New Day would defeat the Usos and gain the Smackdown Tag Team Titles. The Usos would not let this defeat deter them. The brothers would challenge the trio, and regain the titles at the biggest party of the summer- SummerSlam. This would also mark the last time the teams would face off in the Kickoff of a PPV, thus proving how much they helped tag team wrestling elevate to the position it is currently.
What is the perfect match type to solidify a feud that has reached a new level?
HELL IN A CELL.
This Hell In A Cell match, at that eponymous PPV, has been regarded as the 2 teams best match against each other. After losing the titles again, on the Sin City Smackdown the month prior, the Usos would regain the belts once again. After this HIAC matchup, the feud between these tag teams would be on the backburner for quite sometime.
2019 would be a very big year for both teams- together as well as separately.
This is the year that Kofi Kingston would win the WWE title at WrestleMaina 35-more commonly referred to as Kofi-Mania. One of the ways that this magical moment came to be was a Tag Team Gauntlet. Big E and Woods had to make their way through the tag teams of Smackdown and if they defeated them all, Kingston would get his opportunity. One of the last teams would be their rivals- The Usos.
After going through hell, and gaining the respect of their peers, the Usos made the decision to forfeit the match. This forfeit caught everyone off guard. It would help lead the New Day to beat the rest of the teams to push Kingston to his mania match & moment.
Now throughout the pandemic, New Day and Usos did not interact as much. There was an occasional match or interaction here and there, nothing too serious.
In 2022 however, these dynamic teams would meet one more time- quite possibly the final time.. After the New Day held the longest reigning tag team title reign at 483 days, the Usos were pulling up on the record at a blistering pace. On the November 11th edition of Smackdown, the record was on the line. With a hard hitting match, the Usos would defeat their long term foes to become the longest reigning tag team champions. This historic title run is currently still going, for how long? Only time will tell.
The way the New Day and The Usos helped create the path for tag team wrestling only continues to thrive and reach new heights. They put tag team wrestling at the forefront.
[2016-2022 (for now): Historic Tag Teams. Forever Changing The Game]
2~ Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa
Do It Yourself
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa were the “Indy Darlings” who came to the NXT brand in 2015. They were brought in separately, but quickly became a tag team. The chemistry was there, and it was not hard to see.
2015 brought the Dusty Cup Tag Team Tournament to the black and gold brand. This tournament brought Gargano & Ciampa 1 round of success before being defeated by Baron Corbin & Rhyno (who would make it to the finals of the tournament.)
The following year is the start of the rise of these 2 competitors, both as opponents and teammates.
Tournaments were a big factor in the NXT careers for these men. Firstly with the Dusty Cup and then with the Cruiserweight Classic. The Cruiserweight Classic brought these friends/teammates against each other in the very 1st round! The match saw the men give their all, and saw Ciampa be slightly hesitant towards his partner at the end of the match. This hesitance would allow Gargano to pick up the win and move on in the tournament. Gargano would be eliminated the following round by the eventual winner, T.J Perkins.
Focusing on being a team and wanting to reach new heights, Gargano and Ciampa (now deemed DIY) set their sights on the NXT Tag Team Titles. The tag team scene in NXT at this time was stacked; The champions at the time The Revival [FTR], TM-61 [Shane Thorne & Nick Miller], Enzo Amore & Big Cass (for a short period of time), and Authors Of Pain just to name a few!
DIY would get their shot at The Revival at NXT Takeover: Toronto. In a grueling 2/3 falls match, DIY would achieve their dream and become NXT Tag Team Champions! The bond between these men continued to grow and become stronger. Nothing would break them apart…or so we thought.
Toward the beginning of 2017, DIY would have their toughest challenge when they would have to go against Authors of Pain. The duo would lose the titles to AOP at NXT Takeover: San Antonio. The rematch however would be a crucial match for DIY. At NXT Takeover: Chicago in the 1st Ladder match for the tag titles, the match did not go in favor of DIY. After the match, Ciampa would turn on his best friend!
[This is the reason people now do no trust the lower third graphic at the end of shows]
This brutal attack saw both men out of action- Gargano due to the beat down, Ciampa due to a ruptured ACL he sustained during the match.
Gargano would have to push his feelings of betrayal aside and focus on his solo career. In 2018, he would strive to achieve the biggest prize in NXT- The NXT Title. Gargano would be the underdog in these title matches against then NXT Champion Andrade Cien Almas. At NXT Takeover: Philadelphia, Gargano would lose the match in the main event. After the match to add insult to injury, as he was attacked by his former friend Ciampa from behind!
Trying to get that title and put his former friend in the past, Gargano put his career on the line in his rematch with Almas. On the February 21st episode of NXT, Ciampa would cost Gargano not only his chance at winning gold, but also his NXT career.
This would not stop Gargano from getting his revenge on his former partner.
After constantly showing up and attacking Ciampa on NXT, the 2 men would finally come face to face. Since Gargano was not under contract, the match would have to be contested as an Unsanctioned Match- NO RULES. NXT Takeover: New Orleans, Gargano would defeat the man who ruined their friendship and regain his NXT contract.
With not being satisfied in defeat, Ciampa would continue to mess with and antagonize Gargano. The disdain these men continued to hit new peaks. This time, the 2 would face off in a Chicago Street Fight at NXT Takeover: Chicago II- the same event where Ciampa turned on Gargano a year prior. Ciampa would do everything he could to make sure he got his win over Gargano, and he did just that.
This win would propel Ciampa into his own journey to capture the NXT title. During his match against then champion Aleister Black, Gargano would come out and try to cost Ciampa the match- much similar to how Ciampa cost him. However this time, the effect would be different. The distraction would actually help Ciampa achieve the big gold [GOLDIE]! Distraught with his decision, Gargano would need to right this wrong.
NXT Takeover: Brooklyn IV, Gargano and Ciampa would face each other for the 1st time with the title on the line. But these 2 men could not be restrained to a normal match. The bad blood between them helped make this match a Last Man Standing. Goldie would not leave the arms or waist of Ciampa at the end of this match.
In 2019 Ciampa would come back to try and make amends with his former friend. Back to where it all began.
Dusty Cup Tag Team Tournament.
Eerily similar to the 1st tournament, the reunited DIY would be eliminated in the 2nd round by the eventual winners Ricochet & Aleister Black. Maybe re-thinking this reuinion, Ciampa turns his back on Gargano again! This time, Gargano was prepared and turned the tables on Ciampa, attacking him instead.
The 2 were going to face each other at NXT Takeover: New York, but due to severe neck injuries, Ciampa would be put on the sidelines for about a year. In his time away, Gargano would capture the reqliunished NXT Title and become a Triple Crown Champion.
2020 would be the final stand-off between these men. With their history, of course it would be no ordinary match. In an Empty Arena, No Holds Barred Match, Gargano would fully turn heel and defeat Ciampa.
Although the 2 would reunite a few times more after this match, they have not interacted with each other on the main roster. Will it happen? Will we see another DIY reunion?
Only time will tell.
[2015-2020: DIY. Betrayal. Reunions]
3~ Rey Mysterio & Eddie Guerrero
The late great Eddie Guerrero and living legend Rey Mysterio. These 2 men took storytelling to new heights.
Back in WCW, Guerrero and Mysterio were among some of the standouts, especially in the Cruiserweight division. In what would be considered their best match, and one people still talk about to this day, is their match at Halloween Havoc, 1997.
Title vs Mask
With his mask on the line and that now iconic purple question mark gear, Mysterio would defeat Guerrero for his 2nd Cruiserweight Title. The 2 would have a few more matches against each other before Guerrero would “jump ship” WWF in early 2000.
With WCW on the tail end of its run, Mysterio would stay with the company until the final Nitro, holding Tag Team gold. After WCW, he would do a few independent circuits before joining WWE in 2002.
Between 2002-2003, both men would be a part of the core group of superstars making a name for themselves on the blue brand- The Smackdown Six. [Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, and Edge.]
Although the 2 would have success in separate tag teams; sometimes against each other. It wouldn’t be until around the beginning of 2005 when the men would team together. At the No Way Out PPV on February 20th, they would capture tag team gold with each other for the 1st time.
2 months later at the grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania 21, the duo decided to not defend their Tag Team titles. Instead, the 2 decided to face each other instead one on one. Friendly competition right? In Mysterio’s eyes (who won the match) it was just that. But to Guerrero, it was the beginning of anger growing against his partner. Over a week later, the duo would defend their tag titles against MNM (Joey Mercury & John Morrison). Guerrero would abandon Mysterio during the match, leaving him alone to defend the titles.
He would not be successful.
The May 5th edition of Smackdown, Mysterio would confront his friend and partner. Why would he leave him during the match? Instead of giving a verbal answer, Guerrero would brutally assault Mysterio. The next few weeks, Guerrero would tease he knew a secret- a Mysterio family secret. Determined to not let this secret get out, Mysterio wanted a match against Guerrero. If he won, Guerrero would not be allowed to spill the secret. And although he did win at the Great American Bash (July 24th), Guererro revealed the secret anyways.
He was Dominik Mysterio’s real dad.
And thus “Im Your Papi” was born. He would tell Dominik stories, meet him in the park and try to convince this 9 year old kid that he was his real dad. Guerrero would tell the world the story of how Mysterio and his wife were having issues starting a family, so Guerrero left Dominik on their steps as a baby. He threatened to take custody of Dominik- going as far as having his lawyer draw up custody papers to give to Mysterio to sign.
Having enough of this torment from his former friend, Mysterio wanted a match with Guerrero. A ladder match at SummerSlam, with the custody papers of Dominik hanging above them. After interferences from Guerrero’s wife Vickie, and Dominik himself, Mysterio was able to defeat his former partner and friend.
This would be the last match the 2 would have as sadly in November that year, Guerrero passed away. Through all the ups and downs, Mysterio would lay his mask down during the tribute show following the news of Guerrero’s passing, showing respect to his enemy and best friend.
At the Royal Rumble a few months later, Mysterio would enter the match at #2, coming out in a low rider to represent his lost friend. Mysterio would go on to win that match, securing himself the main event of WrestleMania.
[1997-2005: Familia, hermanos, enemigos ]
4~ Bayley & Sasha Banks
The Boss and The Hugger.
The 1st match Sasha Banks and Bayley had against each other was on NXT back in 2013. There would be a few other matchups the ladies would have but things did not pick up for them until 2015.
At NXT Takeover: Rival (February 11), all 4 of the self proclaimed (and rightfully earned) WWE Horsewomen would face off for the NXT Women’s Title. Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bayley and the winner of the match, and new champion Sasha Banks. The Fatal 4 way match would establish all the women as stars and help them become established as individuals.
Banks was on a tear as the heel women’s champion. Her reign of 192 days was put to the test as the wildly over babyface Bayley would challenge her. In the 1st of their classic and well known matches, NXT Takeover: Brooklyn stole the show. Both women pulled out all the stops, but it would be the huggable Bayley who would gain her 1st NXT Women’s Title.
As if their 1st Takeover match wasn’t good enough- they upped the stakes just 2 months later. NXT Takeover: Respect pushed the women to their limits in a 30 minute Iron Woman Match. Bayley proved herself a fighting champion and successfully defended the title. This would be the pair’s last match against each other on NXT.
Little over a year later, Banks found herself on the main roster along with the other 2 Horsewomen- Lynch and Flair. Flair would find herself a protégé in Dana Brooke and relentlessly go after Banks. At the Battleground PPV, July 24 2016, Banks would need a partner to take on Brooke and Flair. To the surprise of the crowd, NXT darling Bayley came out as the mystery partner.
“Hey, we want some Bayley”
Having made her way to the main roster, Bayley was determined to prove herself. She, after all, was the final Horsewoman to get called up. 2017 would be Bayley’s time to shine.
WrestleMania 33- after winning the Raw Women’s Title off Flair 2 months prior, thanks to the help of Banks, Bayley found herself in her 1st mania match. She had no easy task as she defended the title in a Fatal 4 Way Elimination Match. Banks, Flair and Nia Jax would try their best, but were not able to defeat The Hugger.
The following 2 years, Bayley and Banks would occasionally help each other out and face off, but mainly focused on themselves. That was until 2019 when the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles were introduced. They knew what they had to do.
At Elimination Chamber on February 17th, a Chamber match was set to determine who would be the inaugural champions. Carmella & Naomi, Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville, Nia Jax & Tamina, The IIconics (Jessica McKay & Cassie Lee- fka Billie Kay & Peyton Royce), and The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan & Valhalla- fka Sarah Logan). These 5 teams would attempt to make history, but were unsuccessful. The now deemed Boss-n-Hug Connection would be the ones to make their mark.
After losing their titles to the IIconics, and failing to regain them, the team would embark on different paths once again.
Bayley would find herself on the hunt for the Smackdown Women’s Title, which she would obtain after winning and cashing in her Money In The Bank briefcase. Holding the Smackdown Women’s title, Bayley would turn heel for the 1st time in her career- joining her friend and tag partner Banks.
Even though she did not intend to defend the title at all at WrestleMania 36, she was forced to and in a big way: in a Fatal 5 Way Match. Bayley had the upper-hand though, having Banks in the match as one of her opponents. Banks joined Naomi, Tamina, and Lacey Evans as the 5 women battled for the gold. With the help from Banks, Bayley retained her title.
2020 is the year that The Golden Role Models (as they now deemed themselves) looked to take over the company.
Bayley, already Smackdown Women’s champ, and Banks set their sights once again on the Women’s Tag Titles. The pair would gain their second (and longest) reign by defeating Alexa Bliss & Asuka on the June 5th edition of Smackdown. Now Bayley as a double champion, Banks worked her way to do the same. She would achieve that goal a month later by defeating Asuka for the Raw Women’s Title.
Payback on August 20th, 2020, The Golden Role Models saw their tag teams slip away as they were defeated by Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler. The duo did try to regain them on Smackdown the following week. Being unsuccessful, Bayley snapped! She attacked her former friend ending their tag team once and for all.
After turning her back, Banks would not let her former partner and bestie get away with it. She wanted her one on one.
Inside Hell In A Cell!
With the title on the line, Bayley fought with her all, but unlike their Takeover matches, she would not be successful. This would be the last time these 2 faced off.
Bayley was injured in 2021 and was out for about 9 months. Currently, she is the self proclaimed leader of Damage Cntrl (with Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky- fka Iyo Shirai). Banks (now known as Mercedes Mone) would walk out of the company in 2022. Currently, she is slated to fight Kairi (fka as Kairi Sane) for the IWGP Women’s Title at Battle in the Valley next month.