NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) explained

Championshipname:NWA World Tag Team Championship
(Detroit version)
Promotion:Big Time Wrestling/NWA Detroit
Created:1965
Firstchamp:Chris and John Tolos
Shortestreign:Lou Klein and Ed George
Titleretired:October 1980

The Detroit version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was the top ranked professional wrestling championship for tag teams in the Detroit, Michigan-based promotion Big Time Wrestling, sometimes referred to as NWA Detroit, between 1965 and 1980.[1] [2] As a member of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), All-Star Wrestling was entitled to promote their own local version of the championship as the NWA bylaws did not restrict its use in the way they restricted the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to one nationally recognized championship.[3] Because individual NWA members, referred to as NWA territories, were allowed to create their own version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship, at least 22 different versions existed between 1949 and 1991.[3] As it is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won or lost competitively, but instead is determined by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The title is awarded after the chosen team "wins" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.[4]

The first championship team recognized in Detroit was that of the Tolos brothers (Chris and John Tolos), who were introduced as champions around February 1965 as having "recently won" the championship, though no records of a tournament exists.[1] [2] Kurt Von Hess and Karl Von Shotz held the championship five times as a team, the record for the 25-year history of this version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship, while Fred Curry holds the record for most overall reigns (9) with different partners.[1] [2] The shortest reign belongs to Lou Klein and Ed George, as Klein announced his retirement right after the match, making their reign only minutes long.[1] [2] The longest reign lasted at least 196 days as The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Don Kent) won the championship on December 18, 1971, and held it until May 1972.[1] [2]

Title history

Key
No.The overall championship reign
ReignThe reign number for the specific wrestler listed.
EventThe event promoted by the respective promotion in which the title changed hands
N/AThe specific information is not known
—Used for vacated reigns in order to not count it as an official reign
 Indicates that there was a period where the lineage is undocumented due to the lack of written documentation in that time period.
width=0 data-sort-type="number" scope="col"No.width=14% scope="col"Championswidth=0 scope="col"Reignwidth=16% scope="col"Datewidth=0 data-sort-type="number" scope="col"Days heldwidth=14% scope="col"Locationwidth=17% scope="col"Eventwidth=51% class="unsortable" scope="col"Noteswidth=0 class="unsortable" scope="col"
scope=row11[5] Live eventRecords are unclear on how the Tolos brothers won the championship, listed as "having recently won" in a Detroit newspaper on this day
scope=row2 and Magnificent Maurice1Live event [6]
scope=row3 and Sailor Art Thomas11960s[7] Live event 
scope=row411960sLive event 
scope=row5 and Billy Red Lyons1Live event 
scope=row
(Al Costello and Karl Von Brauner)		Live eventThis championship change was only recognized in Ohio, not Detroit. Possible that this was supposed to start a separate Ohio lineage.
scope=rowBill Miller and Dan MillerColumbus, OhioLive event
scope=row
(Al Costello and Ray St. Cair)		Live eventThe Ohio branch was not mentioned after August, 1967, Cury and Lyons were recognized as champions in Detroit for this period of time
scope=row6
(Al Costello and Ray St. Clair)		11960sLive event 
scope=row7 (2) and Dan Miller11968Live event 
scope=row8Hell's Angel
(Ron and Paul Dupree)		11968Live event 
scope=row9 and Ben Justice1Detroit, MichiganLive event [8]
scope=row10Hell's Angel
(Ron and Paul Dupree)		21969Live event 
scope=row111Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row12Skull Brothers11969Live event 
scope=row13 (2) and 1Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row14Texas Outlaws
(Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch)		1Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row15 (2) and Lord Athol Layton1Detroit, MichiganLive event 
N/AN/AN/AChampionship vacated after Layton was injured by The Sheik.
scope=row16
(Al Costello (2) and Don Kent)		1Detroit, MichiganLive eventDefeated Ben Justice and The Mitchell in a tournament final.
scope=row17 (3) and 2Live event 
scope=row18
(Al Costello and Ray St. Clair)		2Detroit, MichiganLive event
scope=row19 (3) and 3Detroit, MichiganLive event
scope=row20 and Karl Von Shotz1Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row21 (3) and Tony Marino1Live event 
scope=row22 and Karl Von Shotz2Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row23 (4) and Tony Marino2Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row24 and Karl Von Shotz3Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row25 (5) and Luis Martinez1Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row26 (4) and Killer Tim Brooks11973Live event 
scope=row27 (3) and 1Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row28 (4) and Killer Tim Brooks2Live event 
scope=row29 (4) and Tex McKenzie1Live event 
scope=row30 and Killer Tim Brooks3Live eventChange took place between October 22 and November 13, 1973
scope=row31 (6) and Tony Marino3Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row32 and Karl Von Shotz4Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row33 (7) and Tony Marino4Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row34 and Karl Von Shotz5Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row35 (4) and Tony Marino (5)1Detroit, MichiganLive event 
N/AN/AN/AChampionship held up after match against Ben Justice and Killer Tim Brooks.
scope=row36 (5) and Tony Marino (6)2Live eventWon the rematch against Justice and Brooks
scope=row37Abdullah the Butcher and Killer Tim Brooks (3)11974Live event 
scope=row38 (6) and Tony Marino (7)31974Live event 
scope=row39
(Geeto Mongol and Bolo Mongol)		11974Live event [9]
scope=row40 (8) and Bobo Brazil (7)1Live eventAwarded when The Mongols no-show title defense.
scope=row411Live event 
scope=row42 and Mighty Igor11975Live event 
scope=row43
(Afa and Sika)		1Live event 
scope=row44 (8) and Hank James (2)1Live event 
scope=row45
(Afa and Sika)		2Live event 
scope=row46The Von Brauners
(and Kurt Von Brauner)		1Toledo, OhioLive event 
scope=row47 and Count Drummer1Live event 
scope=row48 and Lanny Poffo (2)1Live eventDrummer gave his half of the championship to Poffo after being injured.
scope=row49 and Chris Markoff1Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row50
(Al Costello (3) and Tony Charles)		11976Live event 
scope=row51 and Ripper Collins1Live event 
scope=row52 (3) and Ed George11977Live event 
scope=row53Bounty Hunters11977Live event 
scope=row54 and Ed George (2)10Live event 
N/AN/AN/AKlein retired after the match.
scope=row55 and Ed George (3)1Live eventRecords are unclear as to whom they defeated for the championship
scope=row56John Bonello and Randy Scott1Live eventDefeated Pat and Mike Kelly to win the championship
scope=row57 and George Steele1Detroit, MichiganLive event [10]
scope=row58John Bonello and Randy Scott2Detroit, MichiganLive event 
scope=row59 and Jumbo Tsuruta1Detroit, MichiganLive event 
N/AN/AN/APromotion closed

Team reigns by combined length

Key
data-sort-type="number" scope="col" RankTeamdata-sort-type="number" scope="col"
  1. of reigns
data-sort-type="number" scope="col" Combined days
scope=row1
(Afa and Sika) 		2
scope=row2 and 3
scope=row rowspan=23 and 5

(and) 		1
scope=row5Texas Outlaws
(and) 		1 140
scope=row6 and 1
scope=row7 and 1
scope=row8
(and) 		2
scope=row9 and 4
scope=row10John Bonello and 2
scope=row11 and 1 33
scope=row12 and 1
scope=row13 and 1
scope=row rowspan=314 and 3
and 1
and 1 21
scope=row rowspan=217 and 3
and 1
scope=row19Hell's Angel
(and) 		2
scope=row rowspan=720 and 1
and 1 1
and 1
and 1
1
and 1
Skull Brothers 1
scope=row rowspan=1627Abdullah the Butcher and 1
and 1
and 1
Bounty Hunters 1
and 1
and 1
and 1
and 1
1
and Magnificent Maurice 1
and 1 0
and 1
and 1
1

(and) 		1

(and) 		1

Individual reigns by combined length

Key
data-sort-type="number" scope="col" RankWrestlerdata-sort-type="number" scope="col"
  1. of reigns
data-sort-type="number" scope="col" Combined days
scope=row rowspan=212
2
scope=row34
scope=row rowspan=247
5
scope=row rowspan=375
5
1
scope=row rowspan=2101 140
1 140
scope=row rowspan=2121
1
scope=row147
scope=row rowspan=2151
1
scope=row167
scope=row172
scope=row182
scope=row rowspan=2192
2
scope=row211 33
scope=row222
scope=row rowspan=3231
1 21
1 21
scope=row 269
scope=row rowspan=2271
4
scope=row rowspan=229) 2
2
scope=row rowspan=8313
2
1
1
1 1
1
Skull Brother #1 1
Skull Brother #2 1
scope=row rowspan=22381
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Bounty Hunter #1 1
Bounty Hunter #2 1
Magnificent Maurice 1

Notes and References

  1. Book: Royal . Duncan . Gary . Will . Wrestling title histories: Professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present . Pennsylvania . 2000 . Archeus Communications . 0-9698161-5-4 . (Detroit) Michigan: NWA World Tag Team Title [Farhat & Flesher].
  2. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [Detroit] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  3. Book: Hornbaker, Tim . National Wrestling Alliance, The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling . ECW Press . 2007 . 978-1-55022-741-3. The Origins of a Wrestling Monopoly.
  4. Book: Mazer. Sharon. Professional Wrestling: Sport and Spectacle. February 1, 1998. University Press of Mississippi. 1-57806-021-4. 18–19. June 19, 2016.
  5. The location of the match was not captured as part of the documentation.
  6. Web site: Daily Pro Wrestling History (03/05): The Hardy Boyz win WWF tag team gold . March 5, 2017 . March 5, 2017 . Brian . Hoops . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online.
  7. The length of this championship reign is too uncertain to calculate.
  8. Web site: Pro wrestling history (01/18): Ivan Koloff defeats Bruno Sammartino for WWWF title . January 18, 2019 . January 18, 2019 . . Brian . Hoops.
  9. Book: The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: The Tag Teams. Oliver, Greg. ECW Press. 2005. 238.
  10. Web site: On this day in pro wrestling history: Low Ki Vs. Dewitt, Punk wins OVW title, Mutoh wins IWGP belt, Bret wins NA title, Dibiase and Dr. Death, Sheik, Watts, Fargos. May 3, 2015 . February 11, 2017 . F4W Staff . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online.

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