As a lifelong fan of professional wrestling, I’ve seen my fair share of successful stables and tag teams that have left lasting impressions on the industry. However, there are also those groups that, looking back, seem to have missed their mark by quite a bit. The list you’ve presented is a perfect example of these missteps, each one more cringe-worthy than the last.
Notable factions have emerged throughout professional wrestling history, such as the Four Horsemen, the Freebirds, the New World Order (at first), and the Bullet Club, which have influenced the industry significantly and boosted the careers of some unforgettable and outlandish sports entertainment icons. Yet, other groups have arisen that either failed to make a mark or were simply distasteful.
Here are 32 factions we didn’t need in wrestling…
NWO 2000
1996 saw a significant shift in the wrestling world when Hulk Hogan switched sides to become a villain, teaming up with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall as part of the New World Order (NWO). However, the group eventually grew too large due to an expanding roster and multiple offshoots. The NWO 2000, featuring Nash, Hall, and heel Bret Hart, was another iteration that failed to make a lasting impact and is now largely overlooked.
D-Generation X 2006 & 2009
In the late ’90s, D-Generation X was undeniably one of the most stylish and exciting wrestling groups. However, when Triple H and Shawn Michaels tried to recreate the magic in 2006 and 2009, it fell flat. The revamped version of the edgy group lacked bite, was overly tamed down, and seemed unnecessary. To make matters worse, their merchandise was disappointing, relying too heavily on glow sticks.
The New Blood
During the last 18 to 24 months of WCW, one poorly conceived plan followed another, and few ideas compare to the chaotic nature of The New Blood. Headed by Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff, this group aimed to highlight fresh talent, but they rarely succeeded due to frequent overshadowing by the two leaders and established WCW stars.
Raven’s Flock
In the late ’90s, Raven, who was unique and undeniably fascinating, acted as a charismatic leader, amassing a following that resembled a cult-like group. This band of followers, known as Raven’s Flock, included rising stars such as Kidman, Saturn, and others like Lodi. They had their own designated space within the WCW/NWO: Revenge roster. However, they primarily spent their time sulking and participating in matches based on “Raven’s Rules,” without making significant accomplishments.
The Dungeon Of Doom
Initially, the Dungeon of Doom offered an engaging deviation from WCW’s usual fare. However, with members such as The Taskmaster, The Giant, Kamala, Hugh Morris, and the Barbarian, this group appeared more like obstacles for Hulk Hogan rather than essential characters. Once Hogan switched sides, their presence seemed unnecessary.
Right To Censor
It seems that the repeated siren and “warning” theme song for Right to Censor isn’t particularly well-remembered today. This heel faction, consisting of members like Steven Richards, Bull Buchanan, The Goodfather, Val Venis, and Ivory, was known for their formal attire in the ring. They attempted to steer audiences away from the aggressive and explicit themes that characterized the Attitude Era.
The Social Outcasts
In the mid-2010s, Bob Dallas, Curtis Axel, Adam Rose, and Heath Slater, unhappy about lack of suitable bookings or title opportunities, formed a group known as The Social Outcasts, often regarded as one of WWE’s least successful stables. Essentially a contemporary version of The J.O.B. Squad (or any other group of jobbers), this team of underappreciated wrestlers were primarily used for filler content.
The Blue World Order
During the wrestling craze of the ’90s, if one company started a trend, many others would follow suit. This is exactly what happened with the Blue World Order, a humorous group formed by ECW talents like Stevie Richards and The Blue Meanie, among others. While it was amusing to see ECW mocking one of the most popular aspects of wrestling, it seemed to go on for far too long.
The Misfits
Not only are The Misfits considered among the most impactful horror-punk bands ever, but they also had a brief stint in WCW. Towards the end of the company, Vampiro formed an infamous alliance with “Martians” that ranks as one of the messiest and least remembered partnerships in wrestling lore. It was terrible, and not the kind of terrible that’s entertaining.
The Cosmic Wasteland
Reflecting on the time when Cody Rhodes, as Stardust, joined forces with The Ascension to create The Cosmic Wasteland – a spectacle you’re better off not having witnessed. This outlandish, eccentric, and downright absurd group didn’t last long, but even their brief existence was excessive.
Retribution
The faction called Retribution could have been incredibly exciting in wrestling when they first appeared in August 2020, but unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned for this six-member group. Led by Mustafa Ali, the villainous team comprising of T-Bar, Mace, Slapjack, Reckoning, and Retaliation (why didn’t these names gain more popularity?) had a striking appearance but not much else. They seemed like less compelling versions of Tom Hardy’s Bane character from The Dark Knight Rises, lacking the depth and credibility that director Christopher Nolan brought to the role.
3 Count
In late 1999, Shane Helms, Shannon Moore, and Evan Karagias were rising stars within World Championship Wrestling (WCW). They were later grouped as the trio known as 3 Count. This team was designed to resemble a blend of the WWE’s Hardy Boyz and popular boybands like N’SYNC and Backstreet Boys. However, this imitation of those successful acts didn’t last long; by the time WCW ceased operations in March 2001, the 3 Count act had already fizzled out.
The Union
Interested in discussing lesser-known groups from the Attitude Era’s peak? Let’s delve into The Union – a quartet comprising Mankind, The Big Show, Test, and Ken Shamrock. Formed in May 1999, they attempted to overpower The Corporate Ministry for just over a month. However, when Mankind was sidelined due to injuries, the team gradually slipped into obscurity without much fanfare.
Mean Street Posse
In March 1999, Pete Gas, Joey Abs, and Rodney – collectively known as The Mean Street Posse – entered WWE storylines as Shane McMahon’s muscle in various feuds. Originating from Greenwich, Connecticut, this group of tough guys were primarily used as disposable fighters or temporary holders of the rotating Hardcore Championship.
The New Nexus
Following The Nexus, Wade Barrett’s popular faction faced a decline after encountering John Cena during his “Super Cena” era. Before the infamous Pipe Bomb incident by CM Punk, he took over the group. However, their tenure was brief, and they had already started to disband by the time the “Summer of Punk” reached its peak.
The Corre
After The Nexus disintegrated due to burnout, some of its members such as Wade Barrett, among others, banded together to create The Corre. However, alongside Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater, and Ezekiel Jackson, Barrett’s subsequent group was generally ineffective upon their debut and ultimately achieved little.
Misfits In Action
In a more casual and straightforward manner: During its experimental stage, WCW unveiled a team called Misfits in Action (distinct from The Misfits). This group boasted big names like Booker T. and Chavo Gurrero Jr., but their wrestler aliases such as G.I. Bro, Lt. Loco, Sgt. AWOL, Major Gunns were more fitting for a prank call by Bart Simpson than professional wrestlers. The outcome wasn’t positive.
Aces & Eights
Did you know how Sons of Anarchy took over the cultural scene, making everyone from grandmothers to teenagers fascinated with motorcycle gangs? Well, this trend even made its way into wrestling when TNA unveiled Aces & Eights. Notable stars like Bully Ray, D’Lo Brown, Devon, Taz, and others were associated with the gang at some point, but it all seemed excessive and rather friendly.
Truth Commission
Reimagined as a team of South African commandos, the Truth Commission traveled from USWA to WWF in 1997. Initially presented as a tough and formidable group, ready to take on tasks others wouldn’t, they were eventually assigned to tag team matches instead.
The Oddities
At the heart of Oddities’ arena, it seemed as if someone had gathered all a teenage boy’s favorite ’90s nostalgia and formed a wrestling gang. The presence of Insane Clown Posse, wrestlers sporting Cartman attire (and even carrying Cartman plush toys), and those peculiar dance routines turned Monday Night Raw into something akin to a circus rather than a typical weekly wrestling event.
The Natural Born Thrillers
During the final days of WCW, numerous factions and teams emerged, among them was a group known as Natural Born Thrillers. Named after Oliver Stone’s 1994 film, Natural Born Killers, this team, comprised of wrestlers such as Chuck Palumbo, Mark Jindrak, and Johnny the Bull, initially appeared poised for success, potentially becoming the next sensational act. However, their momentum waned, eventually slipping into obscurity.
The Welcoming Committee
Over the last ten years or so, women’s wrestling has seen significant advancements, but there have been occasional misjudgments along the way. One such instance was The Welcoming Committee, a group headed by Natalya that emerged during SmackDown Live. Unfortunately, they didn’t make much of an impact when facing off against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair.
The League Of Nations
The League of Nations – consisting of Sheamus, King Barrett, Rusev, and Alberto Del Rio – had the potential to be a major sensation in wrestling, but unfortunately, this didn’t come to fruition. Each member boasted significant success within WWE before their formation in November 2015, however, things didn’t go as planned. They parted ways shortly after suffering an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Mick Foley, Steve Austin, and Shawn Michaels during WrestleMania 32.
The New Breed
In the latter part of 2007, a group known as The New Breed – consisting of Elijah Burke, Marcus Cor Von, Matt Striker, Kevin Thorn, Ariel, and CM Punk – attempted to establish their reputation in the restructured ECW. Regrettably, their efforts were mainly limited to confronting the ECW Originals at WrestleMania 23 that year. Despite CM Punk achieving immense stardom within wrestling, the rest of the team didn’t experience similar success.
Immortal
Combining the top talents from WCW and WWE into a super-group of heavyweights and legends might seem like a path to victory, but that’s not exactly how it played out in 2010. Immortal, featuring Hulk Hogan, Jeff Jarrett, Kurt Angle, Bully Ray, Ric Flair, Scott Steiner, Tommy Dreamer, Jeff Hardy, and more, was one of the most inflated factions ever assembled. While Immortal did achieve some level of success, it was bittersweet to watch these once-great wrestlers from yesteryear struggle to recreate their past glories.
The Mexicools
If you found it disappointing when certain popular wrestlers from the ’90s removed their masks, you’ll be even more disheartened by what WWE did to Psicosis, Juventud Guerrera, and Super Crazy in 2005. The Mexicools, who emerged on lawn equipment, were portrayed as comedic characters, which is unfortunate given their impressive wrestling abilities.
Dogs Of War
Over the years, numerous teams have attempted but failed to claim The Shield. Among them was a short-lived and seemingly unnecessary group known as the Dogs of War. Comprising Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, and Dolph Ziggler, this trio formed in 2018 with the goal of challenging the “Hounds of Justice.” However, their presence was prolonged before they were metaphorically sent to a farm-like setting.
The Cabinet
During JBL’s initial phase as SmackDown’s main antagonist, it was logical for him to assemble “The Cabinet” since he required individuals to absorb the blows when he eluded the good guys. Regrettably, this collection of mid-card talents (at most) achieved very little in terms of boosting themselves or JBL before disbanding.
X-Factor
In the vibrant year of 2001, I found myself joining forces with Justin Credible and Albert, forming the dynamic trio known as X-Factor. It was an exhilarating time, and I couldn’t help but envision a fun and exciting journey ahead for us. Regrettably, our group didn’t manage to stay together for too long, disbanding prematurely due to the tumultuous Invasion storyline that unfolded.
The NWA
It seems there’s a misunderstanding regarding the New World Order (NWA) in wrestling. You might be thinking about the group that invaded WWE in 1997-1998, which included Jeff Jarrett, the Rock n Roll Express, and others, not to be confused with the original NWA alliance of territories. This invasion attempt, reminiscent of the New World Order (NWO) from WCW, unfortunately didn’t succeed.
Los Boricuas
Following his exit from the Nation of Domination in 1997, Savio Vega established Los Boricuas, a squad made up of Puerto Rican wrestlers including Miguel Perez, Jose Estrada Jr., and Jesus Castillo. Much like many teams during the Attitude Era in WWE, Los Boricuas were often used as cannon fodder in multi-person matches and battle royals.
The Alliance
Instead of The Alliance, a group formed by ECW, WCW, and some WWE defectors, promising to ignite one of the most exciting storylines in wrestling through Invasion, its success was hindered as prominent stars from WCW such as Sting, Goldberg, and The NWO chose not to participate. Consequently, it became a platform for less recognized wrestlers.
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2024-12-14 23:38