NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) explained

Championshipname:NWA World Tag Team Championship
(Mid-America version)
Promotion:NWA Mid-America
Created:February 5, 1957
Mostreigns:As a team: The Von Brauners (Kurt and Karl Von Brauner) (12 reigns)
Individually Len Rossi (17 reigns)
Firstchamp:The Corsicans (Corsica Joe and Corsica Jean)
Titleretired:1977

The Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was a regional professional wrestling championship for tag teams that was used in the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) NWA Mid-America professional wrestling promotion from 1957 until 1977. The championship, promoted by Nick Gulas, was one of many NWA World Tag Team Championships in existence in the period between 1949 and 1992, each of which was a regional championship restricted to an NWA territory and not a true "world" championship.[1] At one point in 1957 there were at least 13 different, concurrently promoted NWA World Tag Team Championships across the United States. The Mid-America version was in use for 20 years, the second longest of any of the NWA World Tag Team Championships of that era, only behind the Central States version. Being a professional wrestling championship, the NWA World Tag Team Championship was not won or lost in competitive matches, but determined by the decision of the bookers of NWA Mid-America.[2]

The Mid-America version was primarily defended in the Tennessee/Alabama territory, occasionally also being defended in surrounding states. The first recognized champions of the Mid-America branch of the championship were the Corsicans (Corsica Joe and Corsica Jean), who were presented as champions on February 5, 1957. Records do not specify if the team won a tournament of if they were simply awarded the championship by promoter Nick Gulas. There were at least 148 championship reigns between 1957 and 1977, when the championship was abandoned, split between 77 different teams and a total of 99 individual wrestlers. Mike Graham and Kevin Sullivan were the last Mid-America-recognized NWA World Tag Team Champions, having won the championship in April 1977, a short time before NWA Mid-America abandoned the championship. At that point the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship became the main championship in the territory.[3]

The reign of Len Rossi and Bearcat Brown from October 2, 1969, until some time in May 1970, lasted at least 211 days and possibly as long as 241 days, making it the longest individual reign on record. The Von Brauners (Kurt Von Brauner and Karl Von Brauner) hold the records for most championship reigns, a total of 17 reigns that combined to at least 510 days, probably more.[4] Karl Von Brauner also held the championship with Luke Graham, making his 18 individual championship reigns the most of any wrestler. Due to lack of detail on a multiple championship reigns, it is impossible to determine which team had the shortest reign; the shortest confirmed reign of seven days belonged to Yvon Robert and Billy Wicks, who held the championship from January 5 to January 12, 1959.

Team reigns by combined length

Key

data-sort-type="number" scope="col" RankTeamdata-sort-type="number" scope="col" No. of reignsdata-sort-type="number" scope="col" Combined days
scope=row117
scope=row28
scope=row38
scope=row43 234
scope=row57
scope=row61
scope=row76
scope=row83
scope=row92 161
scope=row103 147
scope=row112
scope=row123
scope=row132
scope=row141 102
scope=row153
scope=row162
scope=row174
scope=row182
scope=row191 64
scope=row203
scope=row212 51
scope=row221 49
scope=row rowspan=2232
4
scope=row rowspan=2252
2
scope=row rowspan=2272
1 44
scope=row291 43
scope=row301 36
scope=row311 35
scope=row324
scope=row331
scope=row rowspan=2341 28
2 28
scope=row rowspan=3361 21
1 21
1 21
scope=row391 20
scope=row401 16
scope=row rowspan=5441 14
1 14
1 14
1 14
1 14
scope=row491 10
scope=row503
scope=row rowspan=2511
1 8
scope=row rowspan=7531 7
1 7
1 7
1 7
1 7
1 7
1 7
scope=row602
scope=row611
scope=row rowspan=2622
1
scope=row rowspan=13641
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1

Individual reigns by combined length

Key

data-sort-type="number" scope="col" RankWrestlerdata-sort-type="number" scope="col" No. of reignsdata-sort-type="number" scope="col" Combined days
scope=row118
scope=row217
scope=row316
scope=row415
scope=row511
scope=row68
scope=row711
scope=row84 241
scope=row rowspan=394
Corsica Jean 8
Corsica Joe 8
scope=row123 234
scope=row137
scope=row rowspan=214Masked Superstar #1 1
Masked Superstar #2 1
scope=row166
scope=row173
scope=row182 161
scope=row rowspan=2193 147
3 147
scope=row21Big Bad John 3
scope=row rowspan=2222
7
scope=row rowspan=224Mighty Yankee #1 3
Mighty Yankee #2 3
scope=row rowspan=2262
2
scope=row285
scope=row291 102
scope=row305
scope=row313
scope=row323 92
scope=row324
scope=row343
scope=row356
scope=row364
scope=row375
scope=row rowspan=2384
4
scope=row rowspan=240Blue Inferno #1 2 51
Blue Inferno #2 2 51
scope=row421 49
scope=row rowspan=343Intern #1 2
Intern #2 2
Mighty Atlas 4
scope=row462
scope=row rowspan=2471 44
1 44
scope=row rowspan=2491 43
1 43
scope=row rowspan=2512 42
3 42
scope=row531 36
scope=row541 35
scope=row554
scope=row rowspan=256Great Kojika 1
1
scope=row582 27
scope=row rowspan=2591 21
1 21
scope=row611 16
scope=row621 14
scope=row634
scope=row641 10
scope=row rowspan=265Dante 3
3
scope=row rowspan=3672
1 8
1 8
scope=row rowspan=5701 7
1 7
1 7
1 7
1 7
scope=row752
scope=row761
scope=row rowspan=3771
2
2
scope=row rowspan=1880Disciple #1 1
Disciple #2 1
1
1
1
Great Yamaha 1
Masked Assassin #1 1
Masked Assassin #2 1
1
Mystery Man #1 1
Mystery Man #2 1
Spoiler #1 1
Spoiler #2 1
1
1
1
1
1

See also

Concurrent championships

Sources for 13 simultaneous NWA World Tag Team Championships

References

General sources

Notes and References

  1. 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.
  2. Book: Mazer. Sharon. Professional Wrestling: Sport and Spectacle. February 1, 1998. University Press of Mississippi. 1-57806-021-4. 18–19. June 19, 2016.
  3. 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 . Alabama & Tennessee: Mid-America Tag Team Title [Gulas and Welsh] .
  4. Due to lack of information of many of the Von Brauners' reigns, it is impossible to determine the length of most of them; the 510 days represent the minimum number of days possible.
  5. 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 . (Los Angeles) California: NWA World Tag Team Title [Nichols, Doyle & Eaton].
  6. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [Los Angeles – 1950s| work=Wrestling-Titles | access-date=February 21, 2017].
  7. 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 . (San Francisco) California: NWA World Tag Team Title[Joe Malcewicz].
  8. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [San Francisco 1950s] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  9. 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 . (Kansas and Western Missouri) Kansas City: NWA World Tag Team Title [Karras & Geigel].
  10. Web site: NWA World Tag Team Title [Central States] ]. wrestling-titles.com . March 24, 2015.
  11. 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. (Chicago) Illinois: NWA World Tag Team Title [Kohler].
  12. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [Illinois & Wisconsin] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  13. 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 . Ohio and Upstate New York: NWA World Tag Team Title [George & Bruins].
  14. Web site: NWA World Tag Team Title [Ohio / Northern New York] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  15. 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 . Georgia: NWA World Tag Team Title [Gunkel & Barnett].
  16. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [Georgia] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  17. 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 . Iowa / Nebraska: NWA World Tag Team Title [George & Clayton].
  18. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [Iowa/Nebraska] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  19. 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 . (Indianapolis) Indiana: NWA World Tag Team Title [Kohler, Patton & Estes].
  20. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [Indianapolis] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  21. 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 . Idaho / Utah: NWA World Tag Team Title [Reynolds].
  22. Web site: World Tag Team Title [Northwest Tri-State] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  23. 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 . (Amarillo) Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Sarpolis and Funk].
  24. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Titles [W. Texas] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  25. 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 . (Minneapolis) Minnesota: NWA World Tag Team Title [Karbo & Gagne].
  26. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [Minneapolis] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.
  27. 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 . Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore].
  28. Web site: National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas] ]. Wrestling-Titles . February 21, 2017.

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