WWWF United States Tag Team Championship

Last updated
WWWF United States Tag Team Championship
WWWF United States Tag Team Championship belt.png
Details
Promotion Capitol Wrestling Corporation
World Wide Wrestling Federation
Date establishedJuly 1958 [1] [2]
Date retiredJuly 29, 1967 [1] [2]
Other name(s)
  • NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast) [1] [2]
Statistics
First champion(s) Mark Lewin and Don Curtis [1] [2]
Final champion(s) Bruno Sammartino and Spiros Arion [1] [2]
Most reignsAs tag team (4 reigns):

As individual (6 reigns):

Longest reign The Fabulous Kangaroos
(Al Costello and Roy Heffernan)
(3rd reign, 399 days) [1] [2]
Shortest reign Bruno Sammartino and Spiros Arion
(5 days) [lower-alpha 1] [1] [2]

The WWWF United States Tag Team Championship was the first version of the main tag team title in the World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1963 until 1967. Originally, the WWWF was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance operating out of the Northeast and was called the Capitol Wrestling Corporation. The championship began as Capitol Wrestling's territorial version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship from 1958 until 1963. [1] [2]

Contents

Reigns

Mark Levin Wrestling News 1960.jpg
Don Curtis and Mark Lewin, the inaugural holders of the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship, at the time known as a version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship.

Over the championship's nine-year history, there were 31 reigns between 23 teams composed of 36 individual champions and one vacancy. Don Curtis and Mark Lewin were the inaugural champions, while Bruno Sammartino and Spiros Arion were the final. As a team, The Golden Grahams (Eddie Graham and Dr. Jerry Graham) have the most reigns at four, while individually, Jerry has the most reigns at six. The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello and Roy Heffernan) had the longest reign at 399 days for their third reign, while Sammartino and Arion have the shortest determinable reign at 5 days; The Golden Grahams possibly have the shortest reign at 2 days for their third reign, but the reign length is undeterminable, lasting anywhere from 2 days to 32 days.

Names

NameYears
NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version)July 1, 1958 – April 1963
WWWF United States Tag Team ChampionshipApril 1963 – July 30, 1967
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
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC)
1 Don Curtis and Mark Lewin July 1, 1958 House show Kansas City, MO 165 [lower-alpha 2] Defeated Dick the Bruiser and Hans Schmidt in a tournament final to become the inaugural champions. [1] [2]
2The Golden Grahams
(Eddie Graham and Dr. Jerry Graham)		September 4, 1958 House show Washington, D.C.198  [3]
3 Don Curtis and Mark Lewin December 11, 1958 House show Washington, D.C.2167  [1] [2]
4The Golden Grahams
(Eddie Graham and Dr. Jerry Graham)		May 27, 1959 House show Bridgeport, CT 266–96 [lower-alpha 3]   [4]
— Vacated August 1959————Championship was vacated when Eddie Graham left the promotion.. [1] [2]
5 Dr. Jerry Graham (3) and Johnny Valentine November 14, 1959 House show West Hempstead, NY 1108–138 [lower-alpha 4] Defeated Don Curtis and Mark Lewin to win the vacant championship. [5]
6The Golden Grahams
(Dr. Jerry Graham (4) and Eddie Graham)		March 1960 House show New Haven, CT 32–32 [lower-alpha 5] Eddie Graham returned and took over Johnny Valentine's half of the championship. [6]
7The Bastiens Brothers
(Lou Bastien and Red Bastien)		April 2, 1960 House show New Haven, CT 114  [7]
8The Golden Grahams
(Eddie and Dr. Jerry Graham (5))		April 16, 1960 House show New Haven, CT 47  [8]
9The Bastiens Brothers
(Lou Bastien and Red Bastien)		April 23, 1960 House show Chicago, IL 289  [9]
10 The Fabulous Kangaroos
(Al Costello and Roy Heffernan)		July 21, 1960 House show Washington, D.C.118  [10]
11The Bastiens Brothers
(Lou Bastien and Red Bastien)		August 8, 1960 House show Washington, D.C.316  [1] [2]
12 The Fabulous Kangaroos
(Al Costello and Roy Heffernan)		August 24, 1960 House show Bridgeport, CT 287  [1] [2]
13 Buddy Rogers and Johnny Valentine (2)November 19, 1960 House show Teaneck, NJ 119  [1] [2]
14 The Fabulous Kangaroos
(Al Costello and Roy Heffernan)		December 8, 1960 House show Washington, D.C.3399Defeated Chief Big Heart and Johnny Valentine to win the championship. [1] [2]
15 “Cowboy” Bob Ellis and Johnny Valentine (3)January 11, 1962 House show Washington, D.C.1175  [1] [2]
16 Buddy Rogers (2) and Johnny Barend July 5, 1962 Washington DC TV Washington, D.C.1245  [1] [2]
World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF)
17 Buddy Austin and The Great Scott March 7, 1963 Washington DC TV Washington, D.C.170The Championship was renamed the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in April 1963 [1] [2]
18 Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy May 16, 1963 Washington DC TV Washington, D.C.1182  [1] [2]
19 Gorilla Monsoon and Killer Kowalski November 14, 1963 Washington DC TV Washington, D.C.144  [1] [2]
20The Tolos Brothers
(John Tolos and Chris Tolos)		December 28, 1963 House show Teaneck, NJ 135–62 [lower-alpha 6]   [1] [2]
21Don McClarity and Vittorio Apollo February 1964 House show New Haven, CT 121–48 [lower-alpha 7]   [1] [2]
22 Dr. Jerry Graham (6) and Luke Graham March 20, 1964 House show New Haven, CT 1321  [1] [2]
23 Gene Kiniski and Waldo Von Erich February 4, 1965 Washington DC TV Washington, D.C.163  [1] [2]
24 Bill Watts and Gorilla Monsoon (2)April 8, 1965 Washington DC TV Washington, D.C.1119  [1] [2]
25The Miller Brothers
(Bill Miller and Dan Miller)		August 5, 1965 Washington DC TV Washington, D.C.1200  [1] [2]
26 Antonio Pugliese and Johnny Valentine (4)February 21, 1966 House show New York City, NY 1213 [1] [2]
27 Baron Mikel Scicluna and Smasher Sloan September 22, 1966 Washington DC TV Washington, D.C.177This was a two-out-of-three falls match. Scicluna and Smasher Sloan were given the belts by heel-turned Antonio Pugliese when Johnny Valentine was injured in the second fall after winning the first fall. [1] [2]
28 Antonio Pugliese (2) and Spiros Arion December 8, 1966 Washington DC TV Washington, D.C.1175–204 [lower-alpha 8]   [1] [2]
29 Arnold Skaaland and Spiros Arion (2)June 1966 House show Atlantic City, NJ 110–39 [lower-alpha 9] Antonio Pugliese left the WWWF and Skaaland was awarded half of the title. [1] [2]
30The Sicilians
(Lou Albano and Tony Altimore)		July 10, 1967 House show Atlantic City, NJ 114Defeated Arnold Skaaland and Chuck Richards to win the championship. [1] [2]
31 Bruno Sammartino and Spiros Arion (3)July 24, 1967 House show Atlantic City, NJ 15  [1] [2]
—DeactivatedJuly 29, 1967———— Bruno Sammartino was also the WWWF champion and thus unable to defend both championships. [1]

Combined reigns

By team

¤The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used.
RankTeamNo. of
reigns		Combined
days
1 The Fabulous Kangaroos
(Al Costello and Roy Heffernan)		3514
2 Dr. Jerry Graham and Luke Graham 1321
3 Buddy Rogers and Johnny Barend 1245
4 Mark Lewin and Don Curtis 2232
5 Antonio Pugliese and Johnny Valentine 1213
6 Dr. Bill Miller and Dan Miller1200
7 Skull Murphy and Brute Bernard 1182
8 Johnny Valentine and Bob Ellis1175
Spiros Arion and Antonio Pugliese 1175¤
10The Grahams
(Jerry and Eddie)		4173¤
11The Bastiens
(Red and Lou)		3119
Gorilla Monsoon and Bill Watts 1119
13 Jerry Graham and Johnny Valentine 1108¤
14 Baron Mikel Scicluna and Smasher Sloan 177
15 Buddy Austin and Great Scott 170
16 Gene Kiniski and Waldo Von Erich 163
17 Killer Kowalski and Gorilla Monsoon 144
18The Tolos Brothers
(John and Chris)		135¤
19Don McClarity and Vittorio Apollo 121¤
20The Sicilians
(Lou Albano and Tony Altimore)		114
21 Spiros Arion and Arnold Skaaland 110¤
22 Johnny Valentine and Buddy Rogers 19
23 Bruno Sammartino and Spiros Arion 15

By wrestler

RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns		Combined
days
1 Dr. Jerry Graham 6632¤
2 Al Costello 3514
Roy Heffernan 3514
4 Johnny Valentine 4505¤
5 Antonio Pugliese 2388¤
6 Luke Graham 1321
7 Buddy Rogers 2254
8 Johnny Barend 1245
9 Mark Lewin 2232
Don Curtis 2232
11 Spiros Arion 3219¤
12Dan Miller1200
Dr. Bill Miller 1200
14 Skull Murphy 1182
Brute Bernard 1182
16Bob Ellis1175
17 Eddie Graham 4171¤
18 Gorilla Monsoon 2163
19 Red Bastien 3119
Lou Bastien 3119
Bill Watts 1119
22 Baron Mikel Scicluna 177
Smasher Sloan 177
24 Buddy Austin 170
Great Scott 170
26 Gene Kiniski 163
Waldo Von Erich 163
28 Killer Kowalski 144
29 John Tolos 135¤
Chris Tolos 135¤
31Don McClarity121¤
Vittorio Apollo 121¤
33 Lou Albano 114
Tony Altimore 114
35 Arnold Skaaland 110¤
36 Bruno Sammartino 15

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Golden Grahams (Eddie Graham and Dr. Jerry Graham) possibly have the shortest reign at 2 days for their third reign, but the reign length is undeterminable, lasting anywhere from 2 days to 32 days.
  2. ↑ The exact date that Don Curtis and Mark Lewin won the championship is uncertain, which means the reign lasted between 35 and 65 days.
  3. ↑ The exact date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means The Golder Grahams' second reign lasted between 66 and 96 days.
  4. ↑ The exact date that Dr. Jerry Graham and Johnny Valentine's championship reign ended is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 108 and 138 days.
  5. ↑ The exact date where The Golden Grahams won the championship is uncertain, which means that the championship reign lasted between 2 and 32 days.
  6. ↑ The exact date that the Tolos Brothers lost the championship is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 35 and 62 days.
  7. ↑ The exact date that Don McLarity and Vittorio Apollo won the championship is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 21 and 48 days.
  8. ↑ The exact date that Antonio Pugliese and Spiros Arion's reign ended is uncertain, which means that the championship reign lasted between 175 and 204 days.
  9. ↑ The exact date that Arnold Skaaland and Arion became champions is uncertain, which means that the championship reign lasted between 375 and 404 days.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "United States: 19th century & widely defended titles - NWA, WWF, AWA, IWA, ECW, NWA: WWWF U.S Tag Team Title [McMahon]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. p. 28. ISBN   0-9698161-5-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 "= WWWF United States Tag Team Title [Capitol / WWWF]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  3. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 4, 1958). "NWA Capitol Wrestling - Event @ Capitol Arena in Washington, District Of Columbia, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  4. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (May 27, 1959). "NWA Capitol Wrestling - Event @ Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  5. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 14, 1959). "NWA Capitol Wrestling - Event @ Island Garden in West Hempstead, New York, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  6. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 10, 1960). "NWA Capitol Wrestling TV - TV-Show @ Capitol Arena in Washington, District Of Columbia, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  7. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 2, 1960). "NWA Capitol Wrestling - Event @ New Haven, Connecticut, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  8. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 16, 1960). "NWA Capitol Wrestling - Event @ New Haven, Connecticut, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  9. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 23, 1960). "NWA Capitol Wrestling - Event @ Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  10. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 21, 1960). "NWA Capitol Wrestling TV - TV-Show @ Capitol Arena in Washington, District Of Columbia, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
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