A Look Back On The Forgotten WWE Attitude Era Tag Team
Owen Barnes 
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The Attitude Era was a glorious period of wrestling that fans will certainly never forget. While it is mostly remembered for its edgier product, anti-establishment ideals, and larger-than-life superstars like Stone Cold Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker, Mick Foley, and a myriad of others, it also featured some pretty dang good tag team wrestling, especially in the World Wrestling Federation.
RELATED:10 Tag Teams You Completely Forgot Competed In WWE During The Attitude Era
The WWF Had A Strong Tag Team Division During the Attitude Era
Everyone remembers the breathtaking TLC matches between Edge & Christian, the Hardy Boys, and the Dudley Boys. The New Age Outlaws of "Road Dogg" Jesse James and "Bad Ass" Billy Gunn dominated the beginning of the Attitude Era with five World Tag Team Championship reigns totaling 468 days. There was the sizzling match between the Two Man Power Trip of Stone Cold and HHH against Chris Jericho & Chris Benoit on Monday Night Raw in one of the best television matches of all time. Then there were teams like The Rock 'n' Sock Connection, The Acolytes/APA, and Too Cool that were staples of the era. But there's one tag team that's often forgotten that played a key role as WWF was transitioning into the Attitude Era: The Headbangers.
RELATED: The Headbangers & 8 Other Underrated Tag Teams Of The '90s
The Headbangers Almost Weren't The Headbangers
Mosh and Thrasher were a couple of goofy metalheads with black face paint, piercings, goatees and shaved heads, while sporting heavy metal T-shirts and, of course, kilts. Their boisterous appearance and attitude were definitely indicative of the time, and they were able to stand out and form an immediate connection with the WWF audience. Believe it or not, they actually had two even sillier gimmicks before the Headbangers gimmick was finally settled upon.
The Headbangers debuted in the WWF in November of 1996, but shortly thereafter, they began wearing nun clothes and became known as the Flying Nuns. They were briefly managed by Brother Love, who renamed them the Sisters of Love. Both gimmicks were short-lived, and they returned to the original Headbangers gimmick in January of 1997 for the next couple of years.
Winning the WWF World Tag Team Championship
The Headbangers earned their first signature win at WrestleMania 13, defeating Doug Furnas & Philip LaFon, The Godwinns and The New Blackjacks to become No. 1 contender for the World Tag Team Championships. They battled the champs Owen Hart & the British Bulldog the next night on Monday Night Raw and got a disqualification victory, but as a result, did not win the titles. They unsuccessfully challenged Owen & Bulldog one more time, before finally getting a taste of the gold later in 1997.
In September of 1997, then tag team champs Dude Love & Steve Austin were forced to vacate the titles due to Austin's neck injury suffered at the hands of Owen Hart at Summerslam. The stage was set for In-Your House 17: Ground Zero as the Headbangers took part in a four-way elimination match against Owen Hart & The British Bulldog, The Godwinns, and the Legion of Doom (LOD) for the vacant tag titles. After an early disqualification to LOD, the Bangers eliminated the Godwinns and got the decisive pinfall on former rivals Owen and Bulldog, and hoisted WWF tag team gold, along with their trademark boombox.
They held the belts for only 28 days in their lone tag title reign, before dropping them to The Godwinns at In Your House 18: Badd Blood. They challenged the New Age Outlaws for the titles multiple times over the next year, but were never able to recapture the gold. However, they did remain a fixture of the tag team division until early 1999.
Beaver Cleavage & Other Zany Antics
After Thrasher suffered a knee injury, Mosh was repackaged as Beaver Cleavage in what was one of the most dubious gimmicks in WWF/E history. Thrasher returned in late 1999, and the Headbangers reunited and began dressing in drag and wearing breast cones. Around this time, the Hardcore Title 24/7 rule was in effect, and the Headbangers and referee Earl Hebner hilariously accosted Hardcore Champion Crash Holly at arcade and theme park Fun Time U.S.A. in Long Island, NY. And who could forget the time in 1997 when Thrasher was pouring hot wax on himself and Mosh puked right in his face!?
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That Time The Headbangers & Spirit Squad Returned To Smackdown In 2016
Still Bangin'
The Headbangers were released from WWF in 2001 but came back for a few appearances on Smackdown in 2016. They have continued wrestling on the indies, and are currently tag team champions for two different promotions. While they were never top of the card due to a loaded WWF roster during the Attitude Era, they were a solid midcard team that stood out due to their unique look and zany behavior. They should not be forgotten — well, except for Beaver Cleavage.
