The Curious Case of the NWA World Tag Team Championship

Rob Faint

From 1949 through 1982 the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) was the largest governing body in professional wrestling.  They decreed that all NWA territories had to recognize 2 championships, the NWA World Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight titles.  (They were controlled by the board and could be voted on).

At this time tag team wrestling was not as popular as singles so the board decided that each territory could designate their own World Tag Team champions.  Therefore, when one would look at the history of a certain title (The Mid-Atlantic area, for example) it might say NWA World Tag Team Titles (Mid-Atlantic version). 

Here is a list of territories with a version of the NWA World Tag Team titles, the years active, and any notable teams.

Los Angeles-1949 to 1967

Notable Teams-Dory and Terry Funk, the Twin Devils

San Francisco-1950 to 1979

Notable Teams-Ben and Mike Sharpe, Ray Stevens and Pat Patterson. The Kangaroos, the Valiants

Central States-1950 to1979

Notable Teams-The Duseks, The Interns, Harley Race and Pat O’Connor

Chicago-1953 to1960

Notable Teams-Verne Gagne and Edouard Carpenter, Reggie (the Crusher) and Stan Lisowski

Ohio-NY-1953 to 1970

Notable Teams-Ben and Mike Sharpe, Chris and John Tolos, the Kangaroos

Montreal-1954 to 1954

Georgia-1954-1969

Notable Teams-the Assassins, the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, Paul and Stan Vachon

Iowa-Nebraska-1955 to 1959

Notable Teams-Ben and Mike Sharpe, the Kalmikoffs

Indianapolis-1956 to 1960

Notable Teams-Ben and Mike Sharpe, the Fargos

Idaho-1956 to 1959

Notable Teams-Guy Brunetti and Joe Tangaro, Johnny and Jessie James

West Texas-1955 to 1968

Notable Teams-the Kangaroos, the Funks, Harley Race and Larry Hennig

Northeast-1957 to 1961

Notable Teams-Don Stevens/Jackie Fargo, Antonio Rocca and Miguel Perez (only 2 champions)

Minneapolis-1957 to1960

Notable Teams-the Kalmikoffs, Murder Inc, the Lisowski Brothers

East Texas-1957 to 1982

Notable Teams- the Kangaroos, the Von Brauners, the Infernos, the Von Erichs

Mid-America-1957 to 1977

Notable Teams-the Fargos, the Corsicans, the Von Brauners

Florida-1961 to 1969

Notable Teams- the Von Brauners, the Assassins, the Kangaroos

Detroit-1964 to1980

Notable Teams-the Kangaroos, The Millers, the Tolos Brothers

Vancouver-1966 to 1967

Notable Teams-the Tolos Brothers, the Assassins

Mid-Atlantic-1975 to 1991

Notable Teams-the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, Ric Flair and Greg Valentine, Rick Steamboat and Jay Youngblood, Jack and Jerry Brisco

Los Angeles-1979 to 1982

Notable Teams-the Duseks, the Funks, the Twin Devils