WWF International Tag Team Championship

Last updated
WWF International Tag Team Championship
Details
Promotion World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Federation (WWWF/WWF)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Date establishedJune 1, 1969 (original)
May 24, 1985 (second)
Date retired1972 (original)
October 31, 1985 (second)
Other name(s)
  • WWWF International Tag Team Championship (1969-1972)
  • WWF International Tag Team Championship (1985)
Statistics
First champion(s)Rising Suns
(Mitsu Arakawa and Toru Tanaka)
Final champion(s) Tatsumi Fujinami and Kengo Kimura
Most reignsAs tag team (2 reigns):

As individual (3 reigns):

Longest reignThe Mongols
(Bepo and Geeto Mongol)
(1st reign, 368 days)
Shortest reign Bruno Sammartino and The Battman
(0 days) [lower-alpha 1]
Oldest champion Tarzan Tyler
(43 years, 343 days)
Youngest champion Bepo
(22 years, 244 days)
Heaviest championThe Mongols
(Bepo and Geto Mongol)
(563 lbs combined)
Lightest champion Kengo Kimura and Tatsumi Fujinami
(463 lbs combined)

The WWF International Tag Team Championship was a tag team championship in the World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1969 to 1972 and in the renamed World Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro-Wrestling for a short time in 1985.

Contents

Reigns

Over the championship's 16-year history, there were eight reigns between seven teams composed of 13 individual champions. The Rising Suns (Mitsu Arakawa and Toru Tanaka) were the inaugural champions. As a team, The Mongols (Bepo and Geeto) has the most reigns at two times, while individually, Geeto has the most reigns at three times. The Mongols' first reign was the longest at 368 days, while Bruno Sammartino and Dominic DeNucci's reign was the shortest at 14 days. Tarzan Tyler was the oldest champion at 43 years old, while Bepo was the youngest at 22 years old.

Kengo Kimura and Tatsumi Fujinami were the final champions with a reign that lest for 159 days, before the title was deactivated for the second time in its history.

Names

NameYears
WWWF International Tag Team ChampionshipJune 1, 1969 – 1972
WWF International Tag Team ChampionshipMay 24, 1985 – October 31, 1985
Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific team—reign numbers for the individuals are in parentheses, if different
DaysNumber of days held
Championship change is unrecognized by the promotion
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1The Rising Suns
(Mitsu Arakawa and Toru Tanaka)
June 1, 1969 Japan 1190Were announced as having won a (fictitious) tournament in Japan to become the first champions.
2 Tony Marino and Victor Rivera December 9, 1969 House show New York, NY 1188This was a two-out-of-three falls match.
Bruno Sammartino and The Battman December 13, 1969 House Show Pittsburgh, PA 1Defeat the Rising Suns (Mitsu Arakawa and Toru Tanaka) to win the championship; the title change four days prior in New York City was not recognized in Pittsburgh. Despite this match, Victor Rivera and Tony Marino continued to be recognized as champions in all areas of the WWWF territory outside of Pittsburgh.
3The Mongols
(Bepo and Geto)
June 15, 1970 House show New York, NY 1368This was a two-out-of-three falls match. The Mongols began defending the championship solely in Pittsburgh beginning in February 1971.
4 Bruno Sammartino (2) and Dominic DeNucci June 18, 1971 House show Pittsburgh, PA 114This was a two-out-of-three falls match.
5The Mongols
(Bepo and Geeto)
July 2, 1971 House Show Pittsburgh, PA 2133 
6 Luke Graham and Tarzan Tyler November 12, 1971 House Show Pittsburgh, PA 136Graham and Tyler additionally held the WWWF World Tag Team Championship during this reign, having previously won that title on June 3, 1971.
7 Geeto Mongol (3) and Johnny DeFazio December 18, 1971 House show Pittsburgh, PA 1197  
DeactivatedJuly 2, 1972The championship was abandoned when the WWWF's local Pittsburgh partner promotion was sold to the National Wrestling Federation.
8 Kengo Kimura and Tatsumi Fujinami May 24, 1985IWGP and WWF Championship Series Kobe, Japan 1159Defeated Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch in a tournament final to win the revived championship. [1]
DeactivatedOctober 31, 1985The championship was abandoned when the WWF ended its partnership with NJPW. 

Combined reigns

By team

Record two-time champions The Mongols (Bepo (left) and Geeto (right)) The Mongols portrait - Heavyweight Wrestling - 31 August 1970.jpg
Record two-time champions The Mongols (Bepo (left) and Geeto (right))
RankTeamNo. of
reigns
Combined
days
1The Mongols
(Bepo and Geeto)
2501
2The Rising Suns
(Mitsu Arakawa and Toru Tanaka)
1190
3 Tony Marino and Victor Rivera 1188
4 Kengo Kimura and Tatsumi Fujinami 1159
5 Luke Graham and Tarzan Tyler 136
6 Bruno Sammartino and Dominic DeNucci 114
Bepo Mongol and Johnny De Fazio 114

By wrestler

RankWrestlerNo. of reignsCombined days
1 Geeto 3698
2 Bepo 2501
3 Mitsu Arakawa 1190
Toru Tanaka 1190
5 Tony Marino 2188
6 Victor Rivera 1185
7 Kengo Kimura 1159
Tatsumi Fujinami 1159
9 Luke Graham 136
Tarzan Tyler 136
11 Bruno Sammartino 214
Dominic DeNucci 114
Johnny De Fazio 114

See also

Footnotes

    1. The WWWF/WWF (now WWE) did not recognize the title reign of Bruno Sammartino and The Battman and instead recognized the reign of Sammartino and Dominic DeNucci as the shortest at 14 days.

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    References

    1. Hoops, Brian (May 24, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 24): Harley Race wins NWA title due to interesting circumstances, Ric Flair beats Kerry Von Erich in Japan". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
    Sporting positions
    Preceded by World (Wide) Wrestling Federation Tag Team Championship
    1969–1972
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by New Japan Pro-Wrestling Tag Team Championship
    1985
    Succeeded by