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10 Old-School Wrestling Stables Nobody Remembers

Posted: Aug 10th 2024 By: Eric Blattberg - TheSportster.com

Stables in wrestling are practically as old as wrestling itself. From groups like The Moondogs in Memphis to brother stables like The Golden Grahams and up all they until today’s more pronounced groups like The Bloodline; a good stable can get almost anyone watching the show.

A good stable, if it does what it’s supposed to, will break up in the name of getting several guys over as superstars. These stables did actually accomplish that feat, or were put together with already established stars. But thanks to so much wrestling and the hot period that followed - The Monday Night Wars between WWE & WCW - they have been lost to time.

The Dudes With Attitude (NWA)
Sting's Allies Celebrated His First World Heavyweight Title Win With Him

-During this time, backstage, Ric Flair refused to drop the title to anyone but Sting.
-The Stinger was injured months prior, forcing this angle to be put on hold.
-Sting and Ric Flair remained great friends all the way to the end of Sting's career

When most of a wrestling roster is plagued by the miscreant antics of a stable, such as The Four Horsemen, alliances must be formed. That's when Surfer Sting had his pals, The Junkyard Dog, Paul Orndorff, El Gigante, Lex Luger, and The Steiners unite to become The Dudes With Attitude. The loosely formed stable’s high watermark came at the 1990 Great American Bash, when they helped keep The Horsemen at bay, so Sting could finally defeat Ric Flair for the NWA World Title.

The Dangerous Alliance (ECW)
WCW's Version Of The Dangerous Alliance Was So Much Better

-Members in WCW: Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko.
-Members in ECW: 911, The Dark Patriot, Don Muraco, Eddie Gilbert, Jimmy Snuka, Sabu & Taz.
-The group lasted from 1993 until 1995 in ECW.

Perhaps the greatest and most-underrated WCW faction of all time was The Dangerous Alliance. They participated in one the greatest WarGames Matches in history when they lost to Sting's Squadron at WrestleWar 1992.

Perhaps the greatest and most-underrated WCW faction of all time was The Dangerous Alliance. They participated in one the greatest WarGames Matches in history when they lost to Sting's Squadron at WrestleWar 1992.

Devastation Incorporated (WCCW)
The Undertaker, Steve Austin & Mick Foley Were Members

-Skandor Akbar (the group's manager) helped a lot of Texas wrestlers, ranging from The Undertaker to Jacqueline Moore to Ember Moon.
-Akbar is one of the last remaining nationally known Territory stars not in the WWE Hall Of Fame.
-Ted DiBiase, Abdullah the Butcher, Dusty Rhodes & Kamala are other notable members.

In some ways, Devastation, Inc. might be the greatest roster of heels ever assembled. Combining remnants of Akbar’s Army from Mid-South, the group was rechristened in World Class. Akbar managed a group of dangerous misfits to do battle with The Von Erichs and other babyfaces . Future legends like Steve Austin, Cactus Jack, King Kong Bundy, and the future Undertaker working under a hood as The Punisher all experienced a modicum of success in World Class. All thanks to their alignment with Akbar.

Camp Cornette (WWE)
Many Top WWE Heels Were Managed By Jim Cornette During The 1990s

-A fan since nine, Corny claims he installed an antenna to get as much wrestling as possible.
-Cornette has been in the business since 14, first as a photographer.
-Cornette agreed to come to WWE if he could promote Smoky Mountain.

After almost a decade of Jim Cornette being one of the best managers in the game , ol’ Corny was finally persuaded to join WWE. He wasn’t coming alone, either. He brought The Heavenly Bodies and began to establish a new faction - Camp Cornette. That also would include Yokozuna and, several years later, the likes of Owen Hart, The British Bulldog & Vader joined the group as well.

The Diamond Exchange / Mine (AWA & WCW)
DDP Was A Manager Before He Became A Top Star

-The Diamond Exchange lasted from 1988 to 1989 in the AWA.
-The Diamond Mine lasted from 1991 to 1992 in WCW.
-DDP managed the likes of Curt Hennig, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall & Raven.

Perseverance? Thy name is Diamond Dallas Page. As a kid, he once tried to get into the wrestling business but turned to the nightclub life instead. When he finally decided to jump back in, he actually did it as a manager. He would land first in AWA and manage one of the most underrated tag teams of all time - Badd Company (later known in WWE as The Orient Express).

Page always had an eye for talent. When he took his managerial skills over to WCW, he helped carve Razor Ramon out of The Diamond Studd. He also managed Kevin Nash, who was then known as Vinnie Vegas, right before he joined WWE as Diesel.

The First Family (CWA)
Jimmy Hart Led Across Promotions And Years

-Jimmy Hart formed the group after turning on Jerry Lawler.
-They were involved in the feud between Jerry Lawler and Andy Kaufman.
-The First Family won nearly 40 titles in CWA.

In the pantheon of great WWE managers, 'The Mouth Of The South' Jimmy Hart certainly ranks among the top ten. But he spent several years honing his craft in Memphis as his annoying twerp of a character . He devoted most of his time in Memphis to ruining Jerry Lawler’s life as head of The First Family; leading charges like Randy Savage, Eddie Gilbert, Andy Kaufman, and even Hulk Hogan.

Hot Stuff And Hyatt International (UWF)
Eddie Gilbert And Missy Hyatt Versus The World

-The group was around from 1986 until 1987 in the UWF.
-Notable members: Sting, Rick Steiner, Eddie Gilbert & Missy Hyatt.
-Eddie Gilbert was once a booker for ECW.

Universally Regarded as having one of the best minds in the wrestling industry, Hot Stuff Eddie Gilbert brought his mind to the UWF and formed his own stable. Hot Stuff And Hyatt International combined the managerial efforts of both Gilbert and the original diva, Missy Hyatt . The duo gave fans early glimpses of future legends like Sting and Rick Steiner, who combined forces to become the UWF tag team champions.

The Varsity Club (JCP & NWA)
Kevin Sullivan Leads Shooters Into Battle

--Prior to this, Kevin Sullivan made the Satanic gimmick famous.
-Notable members: Rick Steiner, 'Dr. Death' Steve Williams, Dan Spivey & Mike Rotunda.
-Mike Rotunda won the NWA World TV Championship twice during this time.

Speaking of Rick Steiner, his next high profile gimmick was being part of The Varsity Club . Led by Kevin Sullivan, the original group consisted of Sullivan, Steiner, and Mike Rotunda. Together, the trio boasted their shooter superiority until Steiner and Iron Mike began to argue over who the captain of the squad.

J-Tex Corporation (WCCW & WCW)
Also Known As Gary Hart International

-Members: Terry Funk, The Great Muta, Dick Slater, Buzz Sawyer & The Dragonmaster.
-Gary Hart is widely regarded as the best manager to have never worked for WWE.
-Funk & Muta main evented NWA Halloween Havoc 1989 against Ric Flair & Sting.

Gary Hart is another manager from the Territory Era who didn’t get enough flowers. Mostly making his name in World Class, he did bring his unique brand of business acumen to the NWA towards the latter days.

As the manager of the J-Tex Corporation, he led men like The Great Muta and Terry Funk into battle against the likes of The Four Horsemen and Sting.

The Legion Of Doom (Georgia)
More Than Just The Road Warriors; Jake Roberts Was Also A Member

-Group members: The Road Warriors, Jake Roberts, King Kong Bundy & The Spoiler.
-Paul Ellering started managing the group all the way back in 1983.
-Hawk & Animal kept using the name as a tag team over the years.

It is true that Hawk and Animal, The Road Warriors were also affectionately referred to as The Legion Of Doom. But when they were coming up in the industry through the territories, The Legion Of Doom was actually a name for an entire stable. The group, managed by Paul Ellering, originally included Jake Roberts, King Kong Bundy & The Spoiler alongside The Road Warriors.