The WWE Hall of Fame class of 2017 is starting to take shape.  While Kurt Angle will be the headliner, the company announced on Monday that he will be joined by the legendary tag-team duo the Rock 'n' Roll Express. 

Together, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson set a standard for a true babyface team, having runs in WCW, WWE and, most notably, the NWA.  The duo won the NWA tag team titles on eight occasions and became one of the most popular acts for Jim Crockett Promotions during the 1980s. 

While far from the biggest guys in the ring, Morton and Gibson used teamwork to combat bigger opponents as they kept the pace fast and furious while frequently tagging in and out to keep their advantage and utilize double-team moves.  And being smaller guys and the perennial underdogs helped make them heartthrobs with the ladies. 

Their most famous rivalry happened during the mid-80s when they squared off against the Midnight Express with manager Jim Cornette in their corner.  They also had memorable matches with the Four Horsemen, The Andersons along with the Russian team of Ivan and Nikita Koloff.  Plus, they inspired many other teams including The Rockers — made up of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty — and current NXT team The Revival. 

"It was a surprise," he said. " I had a message on my phone [from WWE] to call the number back.  I think they got ahold of Robert at the time.  When they called, it was just like a suckerpunch.  It just knocked us off our feet." 

Even more than three decades since the team formed, the Rock 'n' Roll Express are still doing their thing on the independent scene.