A popular duo never won WWE’s tag titles due to politics, despite being supremely over for their act.
JTG was a guest on the Rewind Recap Relive podcast recently, where he reflected on the 3 years and 7 months he spent in WWE with his late tag team partner, Shad Gaspard. The duo, known together as Cryme Tyme, parodied the street thugs gimmick. While it was stereotypical and raised eyebrows, both men garnered a decent fan following.
In 2008, they formed an alliance with John Cena while Cena feuded with John “Bradshaw” Layfield. At one point, The Greatest Of All Time even claimed that they had formed a faction called CTC, otherwise “Cryme Tyme Cenation.” They also simultaneously feuded with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase, Jr at that time over the World Tag Team Championship.
JTG Says Backstage Politics In WWE Was The Reason They Never Held Gold
JTG expressed disappointment to Rewind Recap Relive’s host R3 Jonah that he and Gaspard never won the tag titles.
Jonah described their run as spectacular, so they did not need the belts. The former WWE star recalled that it was the same thing those in the company told them, but he feels it was a missed opportunity and bemoaned the backstage heat and politics.
There were a few times [when WWE considered putting the titles on Cryme Tyme], but you know, politics, heat–looking back, lessons learned,” JTG said.
“That’s exactly what they told us, ‘You guys don’t need the titles, you guys are already over.’ No, but still, I want validation,” he added laughing, as the train had left the station on that one.
JTG and Shad Gaspard split in 2010 and feuded with each other before the former embarked on a solo run.
As for Gaspard, he passed away in 2020, drowning while trying to save his son. He was posthumously awarded the Warrior Award at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in 2022.