Nerima Wrecking Crew

The Nerima Wrecking Crew is a moniker given for some of the cast in Ranma ½ fandom. Which cast members compose the Nerima Wrecking Crew is something I have wondered more than once. In addition to who, I also wonder why they were given this title. While it is true that many of the characters can cause a lot of property damage, if they so choose, most really do not (going by the manga).

By my definition the only characters I would say were part of it are Shampoo and Ryoga, seeing as to how they are the only two regular cast members who regularly go around breaking things. Shampoo purposely breaks through walls and things when entering and Ryoga has very poor control of his strength (doesn't even make an attempt to not break things). Even Ryoga is debatable since he does not spend the majority of his time in Nerima and while his house's exact location is not given it probably is not in Nerima (since Akane took a bus to get there). The more destructive characters do not live in Nerima. Pantyhose Taro, Ryu Kumon, Saffron, Herb, etc. do not and never have lived in Nerima.

That is not to say that others do not cause damage, they do occasionally and can be incredibly destructive if they make any attempt to do so, but it is not a common thing for the others to do so. The amount of property damage they do is blown out of proportion in fanon. Most of the people who live in the area do not purposely cause damage and a couple of them have berated the others who do so for doing so and/or can be seen repairing damage (Ranma for example can be seen fixing the damage occasionally such as the Tendo's roof).

The most destructive battles do not occur within Nerima, they are in isolated places: Breaking Point Battle - out in the mountains, battle versus Herb - in the mountains, battle versus Saffron - mountains again, Ryu Kumon battle - at a shrine away from people with no witnesses except Soun, Genma, and Akane, etc. Other battles are most commonly at two locales - Tendo property and Furinkan High.

Most of the battles are not spontaneous bouts of aggression. Challenges are often issued in advance. There are a lot of prearranged affairs in which everyone knows about them before hand. Rhythmic gymnastics, martial arts dining, martial arts cheerleading, Ranma and Ryoga's ki blast battle, Martial arts skating, Ukyo's intro battle (she set up the ring before hand), Mousse's battle against female form Ranma, the takeout race (this one was even televised), etc. all were organized planned events.

For the most part, at least in the manga, the characters get along with one another and spend time doing other things besides fighting/destroying things. They do have berserker buttons but when those aren't pushed they can be civil to one another. Ranma has had polite conversations with Mousse, Tatewaki Kuno, Ryoga, all of his fiancees, etc. It is strange seeing somethings in fan fics like Ukyo and Akane fighting, since they did not have a fight in the manga and besides the issue with Ranma they get along with one another (even cut class together and help each other). The characters who attack Ranma, for the most part, do not do so every day. Ryoga and Mousse both leave to spend time training, the principal takes time to set up his ridiculous challenges, etc.

If you haven't figured it out yet, I dislike them being called the Nerima Wrecking Crew since it is not an apt nickname for them and it is unclear as to which characters are actually part of it.