TNA World Tag Team Championship
Encyclopedia
The TNA World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling
world tag team
championship
owned by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
(TNA) promotion
. It is primarily contested within TNA's tag team division
. It was created and debuted on May 14, 2007 at the taping of TNA's primary television program, TNA Impact!
. It was officially introduced worldwide on the May 17, 2007 edition of TNA's online podcast
TNA Today
.
Like most professional wrestling championships, the title is won as a result of a scripted match. There have been a total of 22 reigns shared between 28 wrestlers and 18 teams. The current champions are Crimson
and Matt Morgan.
and World Tag Team Championships
by the National Wrestling Alliance
(NWA) governing body; subsequently becoming an official NWA territory as NWA–TNA. On June 19, 2002, NWA–TNA held its first show; a weekly pay-per-view (PPV) event. The main event
of the telecast was a twenty–man Gauntlet for the Gold
match—involves all twenty men trying to throw each other over the top rope and down to the floor in order to eliminate them, until there is two men left who wrestle a standard match—to become the first ever TNA–era NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Ken Shamrock
defeated Malice
to win the vacant championship with Ricky Steamboat
as Special Guest Referee at the event. TNA crowned the first TNA–era NWA World Tag Team Champions at their third weekly PPV event on July 3, 2002, when the team of A.J. Styles
and Jerry Lynn
defeated The Rainbow Express (Bruce
and Lenny Lane
) in a tournament final to win the championship.
and the Team 3D
pairing of Brother Devon and Brother Ray, then-NWA World Tag Team Champions, were stripped of their respective championships. The motivation behind these actions was because Cage refused to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against wrestlers from NWA territories. That same day, TNA were scheduled to produce their Sacrifice 2007 PPV event, in which both Cage and Team 3D were to defend their respective championships. On the card
, Cage was scheduled to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Kurt Angle
and Sting in a match involving three competitors, also known as a Three Way match. Team 3D were set to defend the NWA World Tag Team Championship against the team of Scott Steiner
and Tomko
and the team made up of Hernandez
and Homicide, who were known as The Latin American Xchange (LAX), in another Three Way match.
That night before each contest, the onscreen graphic used to refer to the champions and their respective championships, credited both Cage and Team 3D as still being NWA Champions. However, the ring announcer
s for the encounters proclaimed the matches as being strictly for the "World Heavyweight Championship" or the "World Tag Team Championship". Team 3D defeated Steiner and Tomko and LAX in the first Three Way championship bout to retain the "World Tag Team Championship". In the second Three Way championship encounter, Angle defeated Cage and Sting to win the "World Heavyweight Championship".
On May 17, 2007, Jeremy Borash
and TNA's primary authority figure at the time, Jim Cornette
, unveiled the TNA World Tag Team Championship belt on that day's edition of TNA's online podcast
TNA Today
and awarded it to Team 3D; in the process making them the first official champions.
centered in the middle with TNA's official logo at the top of each. The center golden plate of the belt also has an imprint of a globe, with TNA's official logo engraved over it. The words "World Tag Team" is placed above the globe, while the words "Wrestling Champion" is placed below it.
's (Bobby Roode and James Storm
) fourth reign is the longest in the title's history. Eric Young/Super Eric
's and Kaz
's only reign holds the record for shortest reign in the title's history at less than one day. Beer Money, Inc. hold the record for most reigns, with four. Roode and Storm are also tied for most reigns by a single competitor, with four apiece. As of , Crimson
and Matt Morgan are the current champions in their first reign. They defeated Mexican America
(Anarquia
and Hernandez) on November 14, 2011, at the taping of the November 17 edition of Impact Wrestling to win the title. Individually this is Crimson's first and Morgan's second reign. Although the title is a World Tag Team Championship
, supposedly only intended for tag team
s, three different wrestlers have held the championship by themselves—Samoa Joe
, Kurt Angle
, and Matt Morgan. Joe held the championship during his entire reign alone; however, Angle held the championship alone for 15 days until Sting won a match involving three other competitors to become Angle's partner, and Morgan held the title after turning on and (kayfabe
) injuring his tag team championship partner Hernandez. Overall, there have been 22 reigns shared between 28 wrestlers and 18 teams.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
world tag team
World Tag Team Championship
The World Tag Team Championship was the original professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in World Wrestling Entertainment . It served as the premier title for tag teams in WWE from 1971 until 2002 when a second WWE Tag Team Championship was established...
championship
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
owned by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
(TNA) promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
. It is primarily contested within TNA's tag team division
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
. It was created and debuted on May 14, 2007 at the taping of TNA's primary television program, TNA Impact!
TNA iMPACT!
Impact Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling that currently airs in the United States and Canada on Spike...
. It was officially introduced worldwide on the May 17, 2007 edition of TNA's online podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
TNA Today
TNA Today
TNA Today was a free online professional wrestling program produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . It is hosted by TNA interviewer Jeremy Borash, with occasional appearances by Don West...
.
Like most professional wrestling championships, the title is won as a result of a scripted match. There have been a total of 22 reigns shared between 28 wrestlers and 18 teams. The current champions are Crimson
Tommy Mercer
Tommy Mercer is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Crimson. He is currently one half of the TNA World Tag Team Champions with Matt Morgan...
and Matt Morgan.
History
The Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion formed in May 2002. Later that same year TNA were granted control over the NWA World HeavyweightNWA World Heavyweight Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and...
and World Tag Team Championships
NWA World Tag Team Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
by the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
(NWA) governing body; subsequently becoming an official NWA territory as NWA–TNA. On June 19, 2002, NWA–TNA held its first show; a weekly pay-per-view (PPV) event. The main event
Main Event
Main Event is Australia's only pay-per-view channel. It transmits through Foxtel, Optus Television and Austar, which jointly own the channel...
of the telecast was a twenty–man Gauntlet for the Gold
Gauntlet for the Gold
The Gauntlet match as defined by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, is a battle royal-style match. When it involves title implications, such as a title on the line or contendership for a title, it is called a Gauntlet for the Gold...
match—involves all twenty men trying to throw each other over the top rope and down to the floor in order to eliminate them, until there is two men left who wrestle a standard match—to become the first ever TNA–era NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
defeated Malice
Jerry Tuite
Jerry Tuite was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring names, The Wall in World Championship Wrestling and Malice while performing for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Career:...
to win the vacant championship with Ricky Steamboat
Ricky Steamboat
Richard Henry Blood , better known by his ring name Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, is a retired American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He was one of the few wrestlers who stayed a babyface throughout his career...
as Special Guest Referee at the event. TNA crowned the first TNA–era NWA World Tag Team Champions at their third weekly PPV event on July 3, 2002, when the team of A.J. Styles
A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and Jerry Lynn
Jerry Lynn
Jeremy "Jerry" Lynn is an American professional wrestler who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
defeated The Rainbow Express (Bruce
Alan Funk
Alan Eric Funk is an American professional wrestler, who has previously worked in promotions such as World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, often with comedic personas...
and Lenny Lane
Lenny Lane
Leonard "Lenny" Carlson is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Lenny Lane. During his time tenure in WCW, he was a one time Cruiserweight Champion....
) in a tournament final to win the championship.
Creation
The NWA World Heavyweight and World Tag Team Championships were contested for in TNA until the morning of May 13, 2007. On that day, NWA's Executive Director Robert Trobich announced that the NWA were ending their five–year agreement with TNA, which had allowed them full control over both titles. Trobich went on to state that effective that morning, then-NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian CageJason Reso
William Jason Reso is a Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring names Christian and Christian Cage...
and the Team 3D
Dudley Boyz
Team 3D was a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Brother Ray and Brother Devon, formerly sporadically joined into a stable by Brother Runt on several intervals...
pairing of Brother Devon and Brother Ray, then-NWA World Tag Team Champions, were stripped of their respective championships. The motivation behind these actions was because Cage refused to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against wrestlers from NWA territories. That same day, TNA were scheduled to produce their Sacrifice 2007 PPV event, in which both Cage and Team 3D were to defend their respective championships. On the card
Card (sports)
In sports, a card comprises a listing of the matches taking place in a title-match combat-sport event. Organizers divide overall cards into a main-event match and the undercard, which encompasses the rest of the matches. One can also further subdivide the undercard into midcard and lower card,...
, Cage was scheduled to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
and Sting in a match involving three competitors, also known as a Three Way match. Team 3D were set to defend the NWA World Tag Team Championship against the team of Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner
Scott Carl Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Scott Steiner. Steiner is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling alongside his older brother Rick as the Steiner Brothers and as a member of the New World Order...
and Tomko
Travis Tomko
Travis David Tomko is an American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Tomko, who most recently worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he previously was a member of Christian's Coalition and the Angle Alliance and often worked alongside A.J. Styles. He was also notable for his...
and the team made up of Hernandez
Shawn Hernandez
Shawn Hernandez is an American professional wrestler of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, better known by his ring names, "Hotstuff Hernandez" and "Hernandez"....
and Homicide, who were known as The Latin American Xchange (LAX), in another Three Way match.
That night before each contest, the onscreen graphic used to refer to the champions and their respective championships, credited both Cage and Team 3D as still being NWA Champions. However, the ring announcer
Ring announcer
A ring announcer is a paid in-ring employee for a boxing, professional wrestling, or mixed martial arts event or promotion...
s for the encounters proclaimed the matches as being strictly for the "World Heavyweight Championship" or the "World Tag Team Championship". Team 3D defeated Steiner and Tomko and LAX in the first Three Way championship bout to retain the "World Tag Team Championship". In the second Three Way championship encounter, Angle defeated Cage and Sting to win the "World Heavyweight Championship".
On May 17, 2007, Jeremy Borash
Jeremy Borash
Jeremy Borash , is an American professional wrestling play-by-play commentator, announcer, ring announcer, booker, interviewer, producer and website designer...
and TNA's primary authority figure at the time, Jim Cornette
Jim Cornette
James Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
, unveiled the TNA World Tag Team Championship belt on that day's edition of TNA's online podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
TNA Today
TNA Today
TNA Today was a free online professional wrestling program produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . It is hosted by TNA interviewer Jeremy Borash, with occasional appearances by Don West...
and awarded it to Team 3D; in the process making them the first official champions.
Belt designs
During the championship's four year history, it has had one design. It begins with a leather strap that is covered with four small gold plates that has an imprint of the earthEarth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
centered in the middle with TNA's official logo at the top of each. The center golden plate of the belt also has an imprint of a globe, with TNA's official logo engraved over it. The words "World Tag Team" is placed above the globe, while the words "Wrestling Champion" is placed below it.
Reigns
The inaugural champions were Team 3D (Brother Devon and Brother Ray), who were awarded the championship on the May 17, 2007 edition of TNA Today. At days, Beer Money, Inc.Beer Money, Inc.
Beer Money, Inc. was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Robert "Bobby" Roode and James Storm in the professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where they are former four-time TNA World Tag Team Champions, while also holding the record for the longest reign as...
's (Bobby Roode and James Storm
James Storm
James Allen Cox is an American professional wrestler who competes under the ring name "The Cowboy" James Storm. Since 2002, Storm has been employed by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he, along with A.J...
) fourth reign is the longest in the title's history. Eric Young/Super Eric
Eric Young (wrestler)
Jeremy Fritz is a Canadian professional wrestler, best known under his ring name Eric Young. He currently performs for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he has gained popularity using a variety of comic relief gimmicks....
's and Kaz
Frankie Kazarian
Frank B. Gerdelman is an Armenian-American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Frankie Kazarian or simply Kazarian. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
's only reign holds the record for shortest reign in the title's history at less than one day. Beer Money, Inc. hold the record for most reigns, with four. Roode and Storm are also tied for most reigns by a single competitor, with four apiece. As of , Crimson
Tommy Mercer
Tommy Mercer is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Crimson. He is currently one half of the TNA World Tag Team Champions with Matt Morgan...
and Matt Morgan are the current champions in their first reign. They defeated Mexican America
Mexican America (professional wrestling)
Mexican America is a professional wrestling stable in the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion. It currently consists of leader Hernandez, Anarquia, Rosita and Sarita, who are portrayed as villainous anti-Americans, promoting the superiority of Mexican-Americans...
(Anarquia
Matt Barela
Matthew Ramón Barela is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Anarquia. In TNA, he is currently a member of the Mexican America stable with Rosita, Sarita and Hernandez...
and Hernandez) on November 14, 2011, at the taping of the November 17 edition of Impact Wrestling to win the title. Individually this is Crimson's first and Morgan's second reign. Although the title is a World Tag Team Championship
World Tag Team Championship
The World Tag Team Championship was the original professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in World Wrestling Entertainment . It served as the premier title for tag teams in WWE from 1971 until 2002 when a second WWE Tag Team Championship was established...
, supposedly only intended for tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
s, three different wrestlers have held the championship by themselves—Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe
Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
, Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle
Kurt Steven Angle is an American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and 1996 Olympic gold medalist. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is recognized as a 15-time World Heavyweight Champion...
, and Matt Morgan. Joe held the championship during his entire reign alone; however, Angle held the championship alone for 15 days until Sting won a match involving three other competitors to become Angle's partner, and Morgan held the title after turning on and (kayfabe
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
) injuring his tag team championship partner Hernandez. Overall, there have been 22 reigns shared between 28 wrestlers and 18 teams.
Footnotes
- 1. - This description is based on the current design of the TNA World Tag Team Championship, as seen in the images throughout the article.
See also
- NWA World Tag Team ChampionshipNWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
- List of NWA World Tag Team Champions
- History of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling