The American Wrestling Association (AWA) World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.
History When the NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club operated by Verne Gagne withdrew from the National Wrestling Alliance in May 1960, Stan Kowalski and Tiny Mills were the recognized champions of the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version). At the time, the AWA continued to recognize the NWA champions as their World champions. However, by August 1960, and having recently recaptured the NWA Tag Team championships for a second time, Kowalski and Mills were recognized as the first AWA World Tag Team Champions when AWA stopped recognizing NWA champions.
As the promotion grew, the AWA World Tag Team Championship became one of the most coveted tag team titles in the United States from the beginning until the late 1980s, when the AWA's talent roster was depleted by the World Wrestling Federation and Jim Crockett Promotions. This led to the retirement of the titles when the AWA closed.
Title history
List of top combined reigns
By team RankTeam# Of ReignsCombined Days1.The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser51,3252.Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens31,2023.The High Flyers21,1854.Harley Race and Larry Hennig / Chris MarkoffChris Markoff replaced Larry Hennig in their third reign. 37775.The Butcher26236.Verne Gagne and Mad Dog Vachon14107.The Road Warriors 14008.Mitsu Arakawa and Dr. Moto 13929.The Badd Company137110.Bobby Duncum and Blackjack Lanza134911.The East-West Connection 132912.The Sheiks 131513.The Destruction Crew 131414.Art and Stan Nielson 125915.Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens 125616.Buddy Rose and Doug Somers 125517.Red Bastien and Hercules Cortez/The Crusher*The Crusher replaced Hercules Cortez after Cortez died from injuries sustained in a car accident. 1250
By wrestler RankWrestler# Of ReignsCombined Days1.The Crusher91,717Combined length may not be correct. See above.2.Ray Stevens41,4583.Dick the Bruiser51,3254.Nick Bockwinkel31,2025.Jim Brunzell21,1855.Greg Gagne21,1857. Mad Dog Vachon3 10338.Larry Hennig47979.Harley Race377710.Butcher Vachon2623
Footnotes
References
External links AWA World Tag Team Title History