NWA International Tag Team Championship
The NWA International Tag Team Championship: A cornerstone of Japanese tag team wrestling from 1962 to 1988.
The NWA International Tag Team Championship was a National Wrestling Alliance-sanctioned title contested in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and Western States Sports. Prior to being used in AJPW, the title was defended in the Japan Wrestling Association (JWA). The title lasted from 1962 through 1988. It is now part of the World Tag Team Championship, also known as the "Double Cup".
- First Champions
- Antonio Inoki & Hiro Matsuda (1971)
Lore & Background
This was a regional NWA championship based in Japan. For the version of this title that was promoted in NWA All Star Wrestling in Canada, see NWA International Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version).
In Their Own Story
The Tokyo Dome lights hummed with a low electricity as the referee raised two hands high above the ring. Dust motes danced in the spotlight, illuminating the gold and black leather of the NWA International Tag Team Championship resting on the second rope. It was not just a belt; it was a relic of an era where every match felt like a war for survival. The crowd roared, a sea of faces united by the memory of legends who had once worn this same strap, their names etched into the history books alongside the very fabric of the canvas below.
Reader's Guide
The title history includes reigns by teams such as The Flying Scotts, The Funks, and combinations involving Antonio Inoki, Giant Baba, Jumbo Tsuruta, and others. The title was held up at least once when Inoki no-showed a defense due to heavy snow. The JWA closed on April 20, 1973. The title was unified with the PWF Tag Team Championship to form the World Tag Team Championship.
Did You Know?
- The first recognized champions may have held the title as early as 1959.
- The title was defended in Japan, the United States, and South Korea.
- Giant Baba left the JWA to found All Japan Pro Wrestling.
- The title was unified with the PWF Tag Team Championship to create the World Tag Team Championship (Double Cup).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NWA International Tag Team Championship?
It was a prestigious tag team title originally sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance but primarily defended within New Japan Pro Wrestling. For decades, it represented the highest standard of teamwork in the region and helped shape the promotion's foundational style.
Who were the first champions?
The inaugural holders of this historic title were the American team known as The Destroyers, consisting of Stan Hansen and Terry Gordy. They established a legacy that would influence tag wrestling in Japan for many years to come.
Why is this championship considered so important?
Fans revere this championship because it attracted top-tier talent from both Japan and abroad to compete for the ultimate prize in tag team division. It stood as a symbol of prestige that elevated the status of any wrestler who successfully captured the gold.
What happened to the title in New Japan Pro Wrestling?
New Japan Pro Wrestling officially retired the championship within their promotion in 2013, ending its long run as a central NJPW asset. Although inactive there, the lineage continues under different management elsewhere.
Who holds the title currently?
Although it is no longer active within NJPW, the lineage remains alive under the jurisdiction of All Japan Pro Wrestling. This arrangement allows the title to continue its history outside of its original home promotion.
More in Championships & Titles
Elsewhere in the New Japan Pro Wrestling universe
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