The TNA World Tag Team Championship is the premier tag team title in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), now known as Impact Wrestling. Introduced in 2007 after TNA’s departure from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), the championship has been contested by some of the most renowned teams in professional wrestling, featuring a mix of established veterans and emerging talents.
2007: Establishment of the TNA World Tag Team Championship
End of the NWA Affiliation: Prior to 2007, TNA had used the NWA World Tag Team Championship as its top tag team title due to its affiliation with the National Wrestling Alliance. When this relationship ended in May 2007, TNA lost the rights to use the NWA title belts.
Creation of the New Title: To replace the NWA World Tag Team Championship, TNA created its own TNA World Tag Team Championship. The first champions were determined in a tournament that culminated at the "Slammiversary" pay-per-view in June 2007.
First Champions (Team 3D): Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon, also known as Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley), who had previously held the NWA titles, were officially recognized as the first TNA World Tag Team Champions upon the title's creation. They were the most decorated tag team in TNA at that time, adding credibility to the newly minted championship.
2007-2009: Early Reigns and Establishing Prestige
Prominent Early Reigns: The early years of the TNA World Tag Team Championship saw a variety of teams competing for the belts, including notable duos like The Latin American Xchange (LAX) (Homicide and Hernandez), who were heavily featured in the division. LAX defeated Team 3D to win the titles in July 2007, becoming one of the first teams to hold the new TNA belts.
The Impact of Beer Money and Motor City Machine Guns:
Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode) became a defining team of the division during this period. Formed in 2008, they quickly became fan favorites despite their heel persona. Their chemistry and combination of Roode's technical skill with Storm's brawler style made them a dominant force. They captured the TNA World Tag Team Championship for the first time in July 2008 and went on to have multiple reigns, including memorable feuds with teams like LAX, The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), and Team 3D.
The Motor City Machine Guns were another cornerstone team of the division, known for their innovative, fast-paced offense and team coordination. Their matches against Beer Money, Inc. became some of the most talked-about bouts in TNA’s tag team history.
2009-2013: Growing the Division and Memorable Matches
Continued Rivalries and Title Changes: The TNA World Tag Team Championship continued to be the focal point of TNA’s tag team division, with new teams and rivalries being introduced. Teams like The British Invasion (Doug Williams and Brutus Magnus), The World Elite, and The Beautiful People (an all-female team, during an intergender storyline) added diversity and intrigue to the tag team scene.
Motor City Machine Guns’ Breakthrough: The Motor City Machine Guns had a major moment in July 2010, when they finally captured the TNA World Tag Team Championship by defeating Beer Money, Inc. at Victory Road 2010. This victory marked the beginning of one of the most beloved reigns in the title’s history, with a series of classic matches against Beer Money in a best-of-five series that showcased the depth and quality of TNA's tag team division.
Mexican America and Fortune: Teams like Mexican America (Hernandez and Anarquia) and members of the Fortune faction, such as Kazarian and AJ Styles, also held the titles during this period, adding to the evolving landscape of TNA’s tag division. Mexican America held the titles twice and had notable feuds with teams like Ink Inc. (Shannon Moore and Jesse Neal) and The British Invasion.
2013-2017: Hogan-Bischoff Era and Impact Wrestling Rebranding
Title Reign Disruptions and New Teams: The arrival of Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff in 2010 shifted the creative direction of TNA, and the tag team division experienced some changes. However, the division still showcased great matches and feuds, featuring teams like Bad Influence (Christopher Daniels and Kazarian), who became two-time champions and delivered memorable promos and matches during their run.
The BroMans and The Wolves:
The BroMans (Robbie E and Jessie Godderz), an entertaining heel team, captured the titles at Bound for Glory 2013 and held them for several months, bringing a different flavor to the division with their comedic style.
The Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards) debuted in TNA in 2014 and quickly became a dominant force. Known for their hard-hitting style and in-ring chemistry, they held the titles multiple times and had memorable matches against teams like The Hardys (Matt and Jeff Hardy) and Team 3D in a series of three-way matches that revived interest in the division.
2017-Present: Impact Wrestling and Continued Evolution
Rebranding to Impact Wrestling: After rebranding to Impact Wrestling in 2017, the promotion continued to focus on its tag team division, with the TNA World Tag Team Championship being renamed the Impact World Tag Team Championship. The division saw a resurgence in quality matches and storytelling.
New Champions and Renewed Focus: Teams such as The Latin American Xchange (LAX) (Santana and Ortiz), who took over the mantle from the original LAX, were heavily featured and became multi-time champions. LAX's rivalry with The OGz (Homicide and Hernandez) in 2018 brought back a sense of intensity and nostalgia to the division.
The North and The Good Brothers:
The North (Ethan Page and Josh Alexander) became one of the most dominant teams in recent Impact history, holding the titles for a record-setting reign of 380 days, the longest in the championship's history. They were known for their blend of power, technical skill, and in-ring psychology.
The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows), former WWE and NJPW stars, joined Impact Wrestling in 2020 and quickly captured the Impact World Tag Team Championship, bringing star power and experience to the division.
Diverse Teams and Contemporary Competitors: In recent years, Impact Wrestling has showcased a diverse array of teams, from established veterans to newer teams like Violent By Design (Eric Young, Joe Doering, Rhino, and Deaner), who utilized the Freebird Rule to defend the titles, to teams like The Motor City Machine Guns, The Rascalz, and Decay (Crazzy Steve and Black Taurus), maintaining the division's excitement and unpredictability.
Legacy and Significance of the TNA World Tag Team Championship
The TNA World Tag Team Championship has been integral to TNA/Impact Wrestling’s history, symbolizing excellence in tag team wrestling. From its inception, the championship showcased a diverse range of talents and styles, from technical and high-flying teams to powerful and brawling combinations. It has featured legendary teams, unique stipulation matches, and innovative storytelling, contributing significantly to the promotion's identity and its reputation for quality tag team wrestling.
The division's ability to mix established names with emerging stars, and its continued focus on competitive, entertaining tag team matches, has ensured that the title remains a vital part of Impact Wrestling’s programming today.
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