The AWA World Tag Team Championship was one of the most prestigious tag team titles in professional wrestling history, primarily defended in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) from its inception in 1960 until the promotion’s closure in 1991. This championship highlighted some of the greatest tag teams in wrestling, playing a crucial role in establishing the AWA as a major wrestling territory in the United States.
1. Establishment of the AWA World Tag Team Championship (1960-1970):
Creation and Early Years:
Founding of the AWA and Inaugural Champions (1960): The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo in 1960 after breaking away from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). The AWA immediately established its own championships, including the AWA World Tag Team Championship, to solidify its position as an independent wrestling promotion.
Inaugural Champions - Murder Inc. (1960): The first recognized AWA World Tag Team Champions were Murder Inc. (Tiny Mills and Stan Kowalski), who were awarded the titles in August 1960 after the AWA's formation. They were presented as the top heel (villainous) team and played a key role in establishing the prestige of the newly formed tag team division.
Title Establishment and Early Feuds (1960s):
Early Notable Reigns (1960s): The AWA World Tag Team Championship quickly became a coveted title, defended regularly throughout the AWA's territories. Teams such as The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser, and The Vachons (Mad Dog Vachon and Butcher Vachon), played key roles in building the reputation of the championship.
The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser (1963-1966): The popular brawling team of The Crusher (Reggie Lisowski) and Dick the Bruiser (William Afflis) dominated the tag team scene in the early 1960s. Their rugged style and popularity with fans made them two-time AWA World Tag Team Champions. They held the titles for extended periods, defeating notable teams like Murder Inc., The Vachons, and others, cementing their status as the top team in the AWA.
The Vachons’ Impact (1960s): Another dominant team of the era was The Vachons, with Mad Dog Vachon and his brother Butcher Vachon. They held the titles multiple times throughout the 1960s and engaged in memorable feuds with Crusher and Bruiser and other top teams, bringing a rugged, violent style to the tag team division.
2. Growth and Peak Popularity (1970-1980):
Tag Team Wrestling Renaissance (1970s):
Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens (1971-1974): The team of Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens emerged as one of the most skilled and cunning tag teams in AWA history. Known for their technical prowess and underhanded tactics, Bockwinkel and Stevens held the AWA World Tag Team Championship three times between 1971 and 1974. They engaged in notable feuds with teams like The Crusher and Billy Robinson and Red Bastien and Hercules Cortez, solidifying their place as one of the premier teams of the decade.
Blackjack Lanza and Bobby Duncum (1975-1977): The AWA continued to showcase powerful and popular tag teams throughout the 1970s. Blackjack Lanza and Bobby Duncum, managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship in 1975. They were known for their rough, aggressive style and their bitter rivalry with teams like The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser.
The High Flyers and Other Dominant Teams (1970s):
The High Flyers (Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell) (1977-1981): The High Flyers, consisting of Greg Gagne (Verne Gagne’s son) and Jim Brunzell, brought a more athletic, high-flying style to the AWA’s tag team division. They won the AWA World Tag Team Championship for the first time in 1977 by defeating Blackjack Lanza and Bobby Duncum. Their reigns were characterized by matches against larger teams like The East-West Connection (Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura) and The Sheiks (Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera).
The East-West Connection (1979-1980): The team of Adrian Adonis and Jesse "The Body" Ventura, known as The East-West Connection, captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship in 1979. They brought a colorful, flamboyant style and had memorable feuds with The High Flyers and other teams, contributing to the popularity of the tag team division.
3. National Expansion and Decline (1980-1991):
Changes in the Tag Team Division (1980s):
The High Flyers’ Second Reign (1981): The High Flyers regained the AWA World Tag Team Championship in 1981 and held the titles for an extended period, becoming one of the most popular and long-standing teams in the promotion's history. They were known for their athleticism, sportsmanship, and entertaining matches.
Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissy's Army (1980s): The AWA tag team scene in the early 1980s saw the rise of Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissy's Army, which included teams like Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera, and The Sheiks (Blackwell and Boris Zhukov). These teams dominated the tag team division for several years, and their intense feuds with other teams brought significant attention to the titles.
AWA Faces Competition and Struggles (1980s):
The Road Warriors (1984-1985): One of the most dominant and popular tag teams in wrestling history, The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal), won the AWA World Tag Team Championship in August 1984 by defeating The Crusher and Baron Von Raschke. The Road Warriors, with their intense power-based style and charismatic presence, brought a new level of excitement to the AWA’s tag team division. However, they eventually lost the titles to Jimmy Garvin and Steve Regal in September 1985.
The Midnight Rockers (1986-1987): The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) became one of the most popular teams in the AWA in the late 1980s. Their high-energy style, charisma, and chemistry made them fan favorites. They won the AWA World Tag Team Championship in 1987 and had notable feuds with teams like Buddy Rose and Doug Somers.
Destruction Crew and Other Teams (1989-1990): The late 1980s and early 1990s saw teams like The Destruction Crew (Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos), who won the AWA World Tag Team Championship in 1989. Despite their efforts, the AWA was losing ground to the WWF (now WWE) and Jim Crockett Promotions (later WCW), as both had gone national and drawn away much of the talent.
Decline and Closure of the AWA (1990-1991):
AWA's Struggles and Final Champions (1990-1991): By the early 1990s, the AWA was struggling financially and faced declining attendance and television viewership. The AWA World Tag Team Championship was still defended, but the promotion was no longer the powerhouse it had been in the 1960s and 1970s.
Last AWA World Tag Team Champions (1991): The final recognized AWA World Tag Team Champions were The Destruction Crew (Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos), who were awarded the titles on August 11, 1990, after defeating the Texas Hangmen. The AWA ceased operations in early 1991, and the championship was officially retired.
4. Legacy of the AWA World Tag Team Championship:
Legacy and Influence: The AWA World Tag Team Championship was known for showcasing some of the greatest tag teams in professional wrestling history, from the brawling style of The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser to the technical finesse of Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens and the dynamic energy of The High Flyers and The Midnight Rockers. The championship played a significant role in popularizing tag team wrestling in North America and left a lasting impact on the sport.
AWA's Decline and Enduring Impact: Despite the AWA's decline and eventual closure, the promotion and its championships remain fondly remembered by fans and historians for their role in shaping professional wrestling. Many of the tag teams and wrestlers who held the AWA World Tag Team Championship went on to achieve further success in other promotions, helping to carry forward the legacy of the AWA into the modern era.
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