Bubba Ray Dudley spent the majority of his career alongside his "brother" D-Von Dudley as The Dudley Boyz, but in recent years he has increasingly been featured as a singles wrestler in promotions like TNA and ROH.
From his initial 2002 singles run to his Aces & Eights leadership under the moniker Bully Ray, Bubba now has a plethora of experience in both singles and tag team action from which to draw from and ask the question, once and for all, of whether he was better suited as a solo artist or as a tag-team member in The Dudley Boyz.
10 Better Solo: The Bully Ray Character
Much of the success that Bubba Ray Dudley has achieved in his singles career has been down to the effort he put into his "Bully Ray" character, primarily in TNA. Bubba renamed himself Bully Ray in 2010 when he embarked on a singles run in the company, the beginning of which saw him split from his brother D-Von, defeated him in a blood feud. The Bully Ray character was such a strong one because Bubba was given a great deal of promo time to sell his new image and persona. It's a shame that WWE never introduced the character to their programming, as it proved a successful transformation for Bubba in TNA.
9 Better With D-Von: Get The Tables!
Perhaps the most enduring aspect of The Dudley Boyz' careers, which contributed heavily to their 2018 Hall of Fame induction, was their prominent use of tables as a foreign object in their matches, both illegally and otherwise. This was preceded by Bubba yelling the immortal line "D-Von... GET THE TABLES!" a quote that will get the blood pumping of any wrestling fan who remembers the days of the Attitude Era. It's one of the most lauded catchphrases in all of wrestling, and a key factor in why Bubba was better off beside D-Von in his career.
8 Better Solo: Heel Promos
What made the Bully Ray character work so well, and what continues to propel Bubba's post-WWE career, are his heel promos.
A classic that aired on Impact Wrestling had Bully yelling "You have no heroes left," to an infuriated crowd as he played them like a fiddle. Few have managed to incite such rage in an audience as Bubba/Bully can. His singles promos in TNA are what allowed him to set the internet ablaze during his TNA World Championship reign, and are one of the most memorable aspects of his run as a singles performer.
7 Better With D-Von: Their ECW Promos
If you thought that the Bully Ray TNA promos were good at inciting a reaction, then you'll be in for a shock when you see some of the late Dudley Boyz promos in ECW, where they practically defined the division. Bubba originally debuted in ECW as a stuttering character (hence his name being Buh Buh at first), though he left this by the wayside during his later years in the company. One of the most memorable of these promos occurred at ECW Heatwave 1999, which could never have occurred in a wrestling promotion today, let alone on television. But if you're of age and would like to see a wrestling stable earn some serious heat, it's worth seeking out.
6 Better Solo: Leading The Aces & Eights
The Aces & Eights angle in TNA is a storyline of three parts. Initially, the group was a joke, with members Wes Brisco and DOC (Luke) Gallows who, at the time, were far from setting the wrestling world on fire. Then Bully Ray became involved with the group, earning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in the process and making the whole angle worth something thanks to his leadership role and promos. The angle would eventually fizzle out with more forgettable members and a decline in purpose, but there's a specific moment in TNA history when Bully Ray is standing in the center of a cage, berating Hulk Hogan, having fooled everyone into believing he wasn't the leader of the group when the whole concept became something special.
5 Better With D-Von: 3D/Dudley Death Drop
The Dudley Boyz have the most memorable tag-team finishing maneuver in all of wrestling, no debate. The 3D is more entwined with their characters as a tag team than their love of tables and the accompanying catchphrase.
It isn't hard to see why. The move is just great to watch, with D-Von hoisting a wrestler up to have Bubba catch them in a cutter on the way down. It is one of the most famous of the Attitude Era and is one of very few finishers that remain protected to this day. So popular in fact, that its one of the most lauded aspects of their careers as a tag-team.
4 Better Solo: ROH Legend
Bubba Ray Dudley now performs in Ring of Honor, where he's been wrestling sporadically since 2017. As a singles star, Bubba is able to adopt a position on the card that is vital for independents like ROH, as he provides a recognizable name to fans. Not just that, but he can still go in the ring, meaning he can help push younger talents, something he has done for the likes of Dalton Castle and Flip Gordon in recent years. He adopts a vital role in the continued growth of ROH today.
3 Better With D-Von: Elevating TNA's Tag Team Division
During their time in TNA, The Dudley Boyz were prominently featured in TNA's tag team division, including holding the titles twice during their tenure. They were able to work with homegrown TNA teams like The Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money, two teams who would go on to be arguably the most popular in all of wrestling at the time (though not in the 2010s). This was in large part thanks to their ability to wrestle with The Dudley Boyz (then Team 3D). They even allowed MCMG to kick out of the 3D, an unprecedented decision that truly elevated the team in the eyes of many fans.
2 Better Solo: The Long Lost Triple H Feud
In 2002, the WWF became the WWE and the company decided to split its massive roster into two brands, RAW and SmackDown. D-Von was drafted to SmackDown, leaving Bubba to pursue a singles career for the first time on RAW.
In an angle almost nobody remembers, Bubba was actually positioned opposite Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship, even facing The Game in a singles match for the title. This extremely shortlived and forgotten run showed the potential Bubba had to become a top player in the company, and its a shame we never saw the rivalry go further.
1 Better With D-Von: TLC
The biggest reason why Bubba Ray Dudley's career was better accompanied by D-Von was thanks to the unforgettable TLC matches the two of them participated in alongside The Hardy Boyz and Edge and Christian. The first TLC match between these three teams at SummerSlam 2000 is almost twenty years old, yet it's still remembered as one of the best examples of the match type. Many cite TLC II to be one of their favorite tag matches of all time, and it's hard to argue even when re-watching the match today.