Mexican National Tag Team Championship

The Mexican National Tag Team Championship (Campeonato Nacional de Parejas) is a national Mexican professional wrestling championship controlled by the Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. (Mexico City Boxing and Wrestling Commission) and competed for by two-man tag teams. The championship was created in 1957, promoted regularly until 2003, and intermittently until 2011 when the last known defense took place. Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL) had control of the championship from its creation until 1992,[b] at which point it was transferred to AAA.[c] The championship history up until 1982 is only partially known, with periods of times where it is unclear who held the championship, but it is generally accepted that the lineage began in 1957 when Los Hermanos Shadow (The Shadow Brothers; Blue Demon and Black Shadow) won an eight-team tournament to be crowned champions.[1] The championship was reintroduced in 2020 after previously being abandoned in 2011.

Mexican National Tag Team Championship
Close up of the front plate of one of the championship belts
Details
Promotion
Date establishedJune 14, 1957
Current champion(s)Los Depredadores
(Rugido and Magnus)
Date wonJuly 9, 2023
Statistics
First champion(s)Los Hermanos Shadow
(Blue Demon and Black Shadow)
Most reigns
  • Team: Los Destructores (Tony Arce and Volcano; 3)
  • Individual: Tony Arce (4)
Longest reignOctagón and La Parka (3,110 days)[a]
Shortest reignLos Metálicos (6 days)
(Oro and Plata)[a]

In the mid-1990s there was confusion about who was recognized as champions for a period of time. In December 1995, one half of then-championship team Los Guerreras, Fuerza Guerrera, left AAA, which led to the promotion declaring the title vacant.[2] On January 12, 1996, new champions were crowned as Juventud Guerrera and Psicosis defeated Volador and El Mexicano to claim the titles.[3] When Juventud also left AAA, the Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre decided that Los Guerreras were never officially stripped of the championship, refusing to recognize Juventud Guerrera and Psicosis as champions.[4] In August 1996, the commission finally declared the championship vacant and returned the championship belts to AAA for future use.[4]

The last championship team under AAA's control was Octagón and La Parka,[d] who won the championship on June 20, 2003, when they defeated Electroshock and Chessman. In early 2009, AAA stopped promoting all Mexican National Championships, opting to focus on their AAA branded championships.[6] Octagón and La Parka were never stripped of the championship, but did not defend them on any AAA shows after late 2007. From that point on the championship was only defended twice on the Mexican independent circuit, in March 2009,[7] and then in December 2011.[e] The championship was inactive after the last known defense.[e] until February 19, 2020 when Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL; formerly EMLL) announced that they were bringing the championship back.[9]

Los Depredadores (Magnus and Rugido) are the current champions. They defeated Esfinge and Fugaz on July 9, 2023. There have been at least 44 championship reigns since 1957. Los Destructores (Tony Arce and Vulcano) held the championship three times,[10][11][12] the most of all recognized champions, while Tony Arce holds the individual record with four reigns.[13] Los Metálicos (Oro and Plata) had the shortest verified reign, six days in December 1991.[14] Octagón and La Parka's reign lasted 3,110 days, the longest known reign of any champions.[15] As with all professional wrestling championships, matches for the Mexican National Tag Team Championship were not won or lost competitively, but by a pre-planned ending to a match, with the outcome determined by the CMLL bookers and match makers.[f] On occasion a promotion declared the championship vacant, which meant there was no champion at that point in time. This was either due to a storyline,[g] or real life issues such as a champion suffering an injury being unable to defend the championship,[h] or leaving the company.[i] All title matches took place under two out of three falls rules.[j]

Tournaments

1997

In 1997, the then-reigning champions Fuerza Guerrera and Juventud Guerrera began working for different promotions, causing the championship to be vacated by AAA.[2] They held a one-night eight-team tournament on July 20, 1997, at the El Toreo de Naucalpan bullfighting arena in Naucalpan, Mexico State.[21] Some sources mistakenly list the AAA "Young Stars Tag Team" tournament held on May 15, 1997, and broadcast on June 7, as the championship tournament, which was won by the same team, but was not for the vacant championship.[22]

First roundSemifinalsFinal
         
Dos Caras and Heavy Metal[21]
Fuerza Guerrera and Mosco de la MercedW
Fuerza Guerrera and Mosco de la MercedW
El Canek and El Hijo del Fantasma[21]
El Canek and El Hijo del FantasmaW
Cibernético and Shu el Guerrero[21]
Fuerza Guerrera and Mosco de la MercedW
Perro Aguayo and Perro Aguayo Jr.[21]
El Cobarde Jr. and Gran Markus Jr.W
Mil Máscaras and Kato Kung Lee[21]
El Cobarde Jr. and Gran Markus Jr.[21]
Perro Aguayo and Perro Aguayo Jr.W
Perro Aguayo and Perro Aguayo Jr.W
El Signo and Sangre Chicana[21]

2020

In 1992, then reigning Mexican National Tag Team Champions Los Destructores, left CMLL and doing so taking the championship with them to AAA.[11][23] The championship was defended in AAA from 1992 until 2007,[6] and subsequently only defended twice more on the independent circuit before becoming dormant.[7][e] La Parka, one half of the last recognized championship team, died on January 11, 2020. A couple of weeks later CMLL officially announced that they had regained control of the Mexican National Tag Team Championship and would be holding a tournament for the championship in February and March.[9][24] The tournament ran from February 28 to March 13, and saw Atlantis Jr. and Flyer defeated El Hijo de Villano III and Templario to win the championship.[25]

Tournament brackets
Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
Disturbio and VirusW
Pegasso and Stigma[26]Disturbio and Virus[26]
El Hijo del Villano III and TemplarioWEl Hijo del Villano III and TemplarioW
Dulce Gardenia and Fuego[26]El Hijo del Villano III and TemplarioW
Black Panther and Blue Panther Jr.[26]Soberano Jr. and Titán[26]
Ephesto and LucifernoWEphesto and Luciferno[26]
Misterioso and El Sagrado[26]Soberano Jr. and TitánW
Soberano Jr. and TitánWEl Hijo del Villano III and Templario[25]
Rey Cometa and Star Jr.WAtlantis Jr. and FlyerW
Pólvora and Vangellys[27]Atlantis Jr. and FlyerW
Atlantis Jr. and FlyerWRey Cometa and Star Jr.[27]
Cancerbero and Raziel[27]Atlantis Jr. and FlyerW
Audaz and Fugaz[27]El Felino and Tiger[27]
El Felino and TigerWRey Bucanero and Shocker[27]
Rey Bucanero and ShockerWEl Felino and TigerW
Esfinge and Drone[27]

Title history

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
N/AUnknown information
(NET)Championship change took place "no earlier than" the date listed
Championship change is unrecognized by the promotion
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1Los Hermanos Shadow
(Black Shadow and Blue Demon)
June 14, 1957Live eventMexico City1[k]Defeated Tarzán López and Enrique Llanes in an eight-team tournament final[1]
Championship history is unrecorded from June 14, 1957 to 1958.[28]
2Espectro I and Ray Mendoza1958Live eventN/A1[k]Uncertain whom Espectro and Mendoza defeated to win the championship[29]
Championship history is unrecorded from 1958 to 1959.[28]
3Tarzán López and Henry Pilusso1959Live eventN/A1[k][30]
Championship history is unrecorded from 1959 to 1962.[28]
4Los Rebeldes
(Rene Guajardo and Karloff Lagarde)
1962Live eventN/A1[k][31]
Championship history is unrecorded from 1962 to October 16, 1964.[28]
5Los Espantos
(Espanto I and Espanto II)
1960sEMLL eventMexico City1[k]Unclear whom Los Espantos won the championship from[32]
6Rayo de Jalisco and El SantoOctober 16, 1964Live eventN/A1[k][33]
Championship history is unrecorded from October 16, 1964 to April 22, 1966.[28]
7Rayo de Jalisco and El SantoApril 22, 1966Live eventN/A2[k]Defeated Rene Guajardo and Karloff Lagarde in the final of a tournament[34][35]
Championship history is unrecorded from April 22, 1966 to 1967.[28]
8La Ola Blanca
(Ángel Blanco and Dr. Wagner)
1967Live eventN/A1[k][36]
Championship history is unrecorded from 1967 to 1972.[28]
9Los Villanos
(Villano I and Villano II)
1972EMLL eventN/A1[k]Uncertain whom Los Villanos defeated to win the championship[l]
10Bruno Victoria and Dr. O'Borman1972EMLL showN/A1[k][l]
Championship history is unrecorded from 1972 to 1980.[28]
11El Halcón and Falcón1980EMLL showN/A1[k][32]
Championship history is unrecorded from 1980/1981 to 1981.[28]
12Los Brazos
(Brazo de Oro and Brazo de Plata)
1981EMLL showN/A1[k][37]
Championship history is unrecorded from 1981 to June 18, 1982.[28]
13Cachorro Mendoza and Ringo MendozaJune 18, 1982EMLL showMexico City11,029Defeated Los Infernales (El Satánico and Espectro Jr.)[38][39]
14Cien Caras and Sangre ChicanaApril 12, 1985Super ViernesMexico City1199[40][41]
15Tony Benetto and Rayo de Jalisco Jr.October 28, 1985EMLL showNuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas1170[42][43]
16Los Hermanos Dinamita
(Cien Caras (2) and Máscara Año 2000)
April 16, 1986EMLL showCuernavaca, Morelos1344[44]
17Los Infernales
(Masakre and MS-1)
March 26, 1987EMLL showCuernavaca, Morelos1377[45][46]
18Ángel Azteca and AtlantisApril 6, 1988EMLL showMexico City1780[47][48][49]
19Bestia Salvaje and Pierroth Jr.May 26, 1990EMLL Sabados Arena PueblaPuebla, Puebla1287[50]
20Ángel Azteca and VoladorMarch 9, 1991EMLL Sabados Arena PueblaPuebla, Puebla181[51]
21Los Destructores
(Tony Arce and Volcano)
May 29, 1991EMLL showAcapulco, Guerrero1189[10]
22Los Metálicos
(Oro and Plata)
December 4, 1991CMLL showAcapulco, Guerrero16[14][32][52]
VacatedDecember 10, 1991Championship held up after a match against Los Destructores[53]
23Los Destructores
(Tony Arce and Volcano)
December 17, 1991CMLL Martes De ColiseoMexico City282Defeated Los Metálicos in the rematch[11]
24Misterioso and VoladorMarch 8, 1992CMLL Domingos Arena MexicoMexico City1142[23]
25Los Destructores
(Tony Arce and Volcano)
July 28, 1992AAA showMonterrey, Nuevo León373[12]
26Misterioso and VoladorOctober 9, 1992Sin LimiteAguascalientes2127[54]
27Los Destructores
(Tony Arce (4) and Rocco Valente)
February 12, 1993Sin LimiteMexico City1574[13]
28Heavy Metal and Latin LoverSeptember 9, 1994AAA showMonterrey, Nuevo León184[55]
29Fuerza Guerrera and Juventud GuerreraDecember 2, 1994Sin LimiteMexico City1181[56]
30Latin Lover (2) and Panterita del RingJune 1, 1995AAA Television tapingTexcoco, Mexico State1109[57][58]
31Fuerza Guerrera and Juventud GuerreraSeptember 18, 1995Sin LimiteNuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas274[m][59]
VacatedDecember 1995Championship vacated when Promo Azteca and AAA split which meant Fuerza Guerrera left the promotion[2]
Juventud Guerrera and PsicosisJanuary 12, 1996AAA showNezahualcoyotl, Mexico State1Defeated Volador and El Mexicano for vacant title, the Mexican wrestling commission returns belts to Guerreras stating that they never lost the titles[3]
VacatedAugust 1996Championship vacated when Fuerza and Juventud Guerrera wrestle for different organizations[4]
32Fuerza Guerrera (3) and Mosco de la MercedJuly 20, 1997Top Win Promotions showNaucalpan, Mexico State1323Defeated Perro Aguayo and Perro Aguayo Jr. in tournament final. The original Mosco de la Merced left AAA in the fall of 1997 and was replaced by Mosco de la Merced (II), without the promotion ever acknowledging the switch.[60]
33Perro Aguayo and Perro Aguayo Jr.June 7, 1998Triplemanía VIChihuahua, Chihuahua1329[61][62]
34Los Vipers
(Abismo Negro and Electroshock)
May 2, 1999Sin LimiteManzanillo, Colima1189[63]
35Hator and The PantherNovember 7, 1999Sin LimiteMonterrey, Nuevo León1182[64]
36Los Vipers
(Abismo Negro and Electroshock)
May 7, 2000Sin LimiteMonterrey, Nuevo León263[65][66]
37Perro Aguayo Jr. (2) and Héctor GarzaJuly 9, 2000AAA showOsaka, Japan161[67][66]
38Los Consagrados
(Pirata Morgan and El Texano)
September 8, 2000Sin LimiteTijuana, Baja California1429[68][66]
39Máscara Sagrada and La Parka Jr.November 11, 2001Sin LimiteMonterrey, Nuevo León1159[69]
40Chessman and Electroshock (3)April 19, 2002AAA showTorreón, Coahuila1427[70][71]
41Octagón and La Parka (2)June 20, 2003Sin LimiteXalapa, Veracruz13,110La Parka was previously known under the name La Parka Jr.[15]
DeactivatedDecember 25, 2011 (NET)December 25, 2011 is the date of team's last title defence.[72]
42Atlantis Jr. and FlyerMarch 13, 2020Super ViernesMexico City, Mexico1483Defeated El Hijo de Villano III and Templario in a 16-team tournament final[25]
43Atrapasuenos
(Espiritu Negro and Rey Cometa)
July 9, 2021CMLLMexico City, Mexico187[73]
44Felino Jr. & PolvoraOctober 4, 2021CMLLMexico City, Mexico1167[74]
45Esfinge & FugazMarch 20, 2022CMLLMexico City, Mexico1769[75]
46Los Depredadores (Magnus & Rugido)June 9, 2023CMLLMexico City, Mexico1323+

Combined reigns

Fuerza Guerrera, who held the championship with his son Juventud Guerrera and Mosco de la Merced.

By team

Key
Indicates the current champion
¤The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain.
RankTeamNo. of
reigns
Combined days
1Octagón and La Parka13,110
2Cachorro Mendoza and Ringo Mendoza11,029
3Ángel Azteca and Atlantis1780
4Los Destructores
(Tony Arce and Rocco Valente)
1574
5Atlantis Jr. and Flyer1483
6Esfinge and Fugaz1476
7Los Consagrados
(Pirata Morgan and El Texano)
1429
8Chessman and Electroshock1427
9Los Infernales
(Masakre and MS-1)
1377
10Los Hermanos Dinamita
(Cien Caras and Máscara Año 2000)
1344
Los Destructores
(Tony Arce and Volcano)
3344
12Perro Aguayo and Perro Aguayo Jr.1329
13Fuerza Guerrera and Mosco de la Merced1323
14Bestia Salvaje and Pierroth Jr.1287
15Misterioso and Volador2269
16Fuerza Guerrera and Juventud Guerrera2255¤
17Los Vipers
(Abismo Negro and Electroshock)
2252
18Cien Caras and Sangre Chicana1199
19Hator and The Panther1182
20Tony Benetto and Rayo de Jalisco Jr.1170
21Felino Jr. and Polvera1167
22Máscara Sagrada and La Parka Jr.1159
23Los Depredadores
(Magnus and Rugido)
1293+
24Latin Lover and Panterita del Ring1109
25Heavy Metal and Latin Lover184
26Atrapasuenos
(Espiritu Negro and Rey Cometa)
187
27Ángel Azteca and Volador181
28Perro Aguayo Jr. and Héctor Garza161
29Los Metálicos
(Oro and Plata)
16

By wrestler

Atlantis held the championship for 780 days with Ángel Azteca.
Máscara Año 2000 held the championship with his brother Cien Caras.
Héctor Garza (black shirt) was a one-time champion.
RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns
Combined days
1La Parka Jr./La Parka23,269
2Octagón13,110
3Cachorro Mendoza11,029
Ringo Mendoza11,029
5Tony Arce4918
6Ángel Azteca2861
7Atlantis1780
8Electroshock3679
9Fuerza Guerrera3578¤
10Rocco Valente1574
11Cien Caras2543
12Atlantis Jr.1483
Flyer1483
14Esfinge1476
Fugaz1476
16El Texano1429
Pirata Morgan1429
18Chessman1427
19Perro Aguayo Jr.2390
20Masakre1377
MS-11377
22Volador3350
23Máscara Año 20001344
Volcano3344
25Perro Aguayo1329
26Mosco de la Merced1323
27Bestia Salvaje1287
Pierroth Jr.1287
29Misterioso2269
30Juventud Guerrera2255¤
31Abismo Negro2252
32[[[Sangre Chicana]]1199
33Latin Lover2193
34Hator1182
The Panther1182
36Rayo de Jalisco Jr.1170
Tony Benetto1170
38Felino Jr.1167
Polvera1167
40Máscara Sagrada1159
41Panterita del Ring1109
42Magnus †1293+
Rugido1293+
44Espiritu Negro184
Rey Cometa184
46Heavy Metal184
47Héctor Garza161
48Oro16
Plata16

Footnotes

References

  • Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  • "Los Reyes de Mexico: La Historia de Los Campeonatos Nacionales" [The Kings of Mexico: The history of the National Championships]. Lucha 2000 (in Spanish). December 20, 2004. Especial 21.
  • Hornbaker, Tim (2016). "Statistical notes". Legends of Pro Wrestling – 150 years of headlocks, body slams, and piledrivers (Revised ed.). New York, New York: Sports Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61321-808-2.

External links