The World's Greatest Tag Team

Infobox Wrestling team
article_name=The World's Greatest Tag Team
type=T

---

caption= Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas as members of Team Angle
members=Shelton Benjamincite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/w/worlds-greatest-tag-team.html|title=The World's Greatest Tag Team Profile|accessdate=2008-09-19|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling]
Charlie Haas
names=Team Angle
The Best Damn Tag Team Period
The (Self-Proclaimed) World's Greatest Tag Team
heights=6 ft 2 in (188 cm) - Benjamin
6 ft 2 in (188 cm) - Haas
weights=497 lb (226 kg)
billed=
hometown=
former_members=Kurt Angle (Leader)
debut=December 26 2002
promotions=WWE
disbanded=2007
trainer=OVW Training staff|

The (Self-Proclaimed) World's Greatest Tag Team was a professional wrestling tag team in World Wrestling Entertainment. The team consisted of Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, and started out captained by Kurt Angle, during which time they were known as Team Angle.

History

Initial run (2002-2004)

The tag team made their debut on the December 26, 2002 edition of WWE's "SmackDown!". Paul Heyman introduced the team under the name "Team Angle" as a "gift" to his top client Kurt Angle.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/benjamin.html|title=Shelton Benjamin|last=Milner|first=John|accessdate=2008-09-19|publisher=SLAM! Sports] The team won the WWE Tag Team Championship on February 6, 2003 by defeating Los Guerreros. On May 18, they lost the titles to Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri at Judgment Day in a Ladder Match. [cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/05/19/90523.html|title=J-Day just pure vomit|date=2003-05-18|last=Powell|first=John|accessdate=2008-09-19|publisher=SLAM! Sports] On June 12, Angle confronted Benjamin and Haas about the losing streak they had been in for a couple of weeks, and he fired them both from Team Angle.

Soon after the breakup, Benjamin and Haas referred to themselves as The Best Damn Tag Team Period (a reference to the Fox Sports Net show "The Best Damn Sports Show Period") and then The Self-Proclaimed World's Greatest Tag Team, or The World's Greatest Tag Team for short, and went on to recapture the WWE Tag Team Championship from Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri on July 3, but lost them just after two months to Los Guerreros on September 18.

The group stayed together until March 22, 2004 when, during the "Draft Lottery", Benjamin was drafted to the Raw brand, thus breaking up The World's Greatest Tag Team. The two briefly reunited in the 2005 Royal Rumble match, performing their various double team moves on other superstars. Haas was kept on "SmackDown!" until his release in July 2005. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/releases|title=WWE releases several Superstars|date=2005-07-08|accessdate=2008-09-19|publisher=WWE]

Reformation (2006-2007)

On April 17, 2006, Haas returned to WWE as part of the "Raw" brand, defeating his former tag team partner, Benjamin, the very same night. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04172006/|title=A sign of what's to come?|date=2006-04-17|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=WWE] On the December 4 edition of "Raw", after Benjamin pinned Super Crazy, Haas entered the ring, berated Crazy, and celebrated with a bewildered Benjamin. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12042006/|title=Divide and conquer|date=2006-12-04|last=Hoffman|first=Brett|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=WWE] The next week, Shelton announced The World's Greatest Tag Team was officially back in a segment with Cryme Tyme.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12112006/|title=Cena stands tall|date=2006-12-11|last=Zeigler|first=Zack|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=WWE] They defeated The Highlanders in a match later that same night. They then feuded with Cryme Time, but were largely unsuccessful, including a tag team turmoil match at New Year's Revolution. [cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/01/08/3235732.html|title=Cena retains, Triple H injured at Revolution|date=2007-01-07|last=Plummer|first=Dale|coauthors=Tylwalk, Nick|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=SLAM! Sports] They finally pinned Cryme Tyme, however, ending their undefeated streak, on the January 29, 2007, edition of "Raw". [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/01292007/|title=Has he made his decision?|date=2007-01-29|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=WWE]

On April 2, The World's Greatest Tag Team was unsuccessful in defeating the team of Ric Flair and Carlito, but defeated them in a rematch on April 16 when Haas distracted Carlito, setting him up for a T-Bone suplex by Benjamin. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04022007/|title=HBK dumps Cena|date=2007-04-02|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04162007/|title=Italian Intercontinental surprise|date=2007-04-16|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-09-20|pulisher=WWE] They won again when Carlito turned on Flair, leaving The World's Greatest Tag Team to pick up the count out victory. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04302007/|title=Khali's claim|date=2007-04-30|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=WWE] They then challenged The Hardy Boyz for the World Tag Team Championship at One Night Stand in a ladder match, but came up short. [cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/06/03/4231367.html|title=One Night Stand a PPV gong show|date=2007-06--03|last=MacKinder|first=Matt|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=SLAM! Sports]

The World's Greatest Tag Team then went into a feud with Paul London and Brian Kendrick after losing to the duo on their debut match on "Raw". [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070618.html|title=WWE Raw results - June 18, 2007|date=2007-06-18|accessdate=2009-09-20|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] The next week, London defeated Benjamin, while Haas was able get singles wins over Kendrick and London on "WWE Heat". [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/07092007/|title=Bulldozed in the Bayou|date=2008-07-09|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|accessdate-2008-09-20|publisher=WWE] On the July 23 edition of "Raw", The World's Greatest Tag Team got a tag team win over London and Kendrick.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/07232007/|title=One bad apple leads to Dominator destruction|date=2007-07-23|last=Clayton|first=Corey|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=WWE] They were once again also known as The (Self-Proclaimed) World's Greatest Tag Team.

On the night before Benjamin moved to "ECW", on "Heat", The World's Greatest Tag Team had their final match for the World Tag Team Championship against Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch, but failed to capture the victory. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/071119.html|title=WWE Raw Results - November 19, 2007|date=2007-11-19|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling] The team was disbanded when Benjamin joined the ECW roster, while Haas remained on the Raw roster. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/11202007/|title=Heating up for the holidays|date=2007-11-20|last=Rote|first=Andrew|accessdate=2008-09-20|publisher=WWE]

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature maneuvers
**Double team finishing and signature moves
***Inverted atomic drop (Haas) followed by a superkick (Benjamin) into a jackknife pin (Haas)
***Superkick (Benjamin) followed into a Bridging German suplex (Haas)
***Leapfrog stun gun
***Powerbomb (Haas) into a Diving lariat (Benjamin)
***Double arm drag onto the knees
***Gutbuster by Benjamin onto Haas's knee.

*Managers
**Kurt Angle
**Paul Heyman

Championships and accomplishments

*World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWE Tag Team Championship (2 times)cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/330086|title=History Of The WWE Tag Team Championship - Benjamin & Haas|date=2003-02-06|accessdate=2008-04-19|publisher=WWE] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/330136|title=History Of The WWE Tag Team Championship - Benjamin & Haas|date=2003-07-03|accessdate=2008-04-19|publisher=WWE]

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI Tag Team of the Year (2003) [cite web|url=http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=weitereawards&award=10&sort=0&jahr=2003|title=Awards der Pro Wrestling Illustrated: 2003|accessdate=2008-04-19|publisher=Genickbruch: Die Wrestlingseite des alten Europa|language=German]

References

External links

* [http://www.haasofpain.com HaasOfPain.com (Official Website of Charlie Haas)]
* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/charliehaas/ Charlie Haas' WWE Profile]
* [http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/superstars/sheltonbenjamin/ Shelton Benjamin's WWE Profile]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/w/worlds-greatest-tag-team.html Online World Of Wrestling Profile]