NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship

The NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship[1] was a tag team title created in 1962, and contested in the National Wrestling Alliance's Tri-State territory, which was promoted by Leroy McGuirk (Arkansas and Oklahoma) and Jack Curtis and Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith (Louisiana). For most of its existence, the title was the Tri-State version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship.[2]

NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship
Details
PromotionNWA Tri-State
Date established1962
Date retired1982
Other name(s)
  • NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version)
Statistics
First champion(s)Jan Madrid and Louie Tillet
Most reignsThe Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts) and The Medics (Billy Garrett and Jim Starr) (4 reigns)
Longest reignTom Jones and Billy Red Lyons (295 days)
Shortest reignLuke Brown and Danny Hodge (2 days)

This group of promoters existed until Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling bought out the majority of the Tri-State territory, and also Gil Culkin and George Gulkin's Mississippi territory, in August 1979.[1] After Watts took over, McGuirk took the title to Oklahoma, the only part of the Tri-State territory not owned by Watts. The U.S. Tag Team Championship's name was then changed to the Tri-State Tag Title in 1980.[3]

The title lasted until Tri-State closed in 1982, when Mid-South Wrestling took over Oklahoma from McGuirk.[2]

Title history

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version)
1Jan Madrid and Louie Tillet1962Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2]Records are unclear as to whom they defeated.[2]
2Alberto and Ramon Torres1962Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2]
3The Dirty Daltons
(Jack and Jim Dalton)
July 2, 1962Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma1[Note 2]
Championship history is unrecorded from July 2, 1962 to September 2, 1963.
4Jerry Kozak and Bill WattsSeptember 2, 1963Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma1[Note 2]Defeated The Bolos to win the championship
Championship history is unrecorded from September 2, 1963 to April 1966 (NLT).
VacatedApril 1966 (NLT)Championship vacated for undocumented reasons
5The Assassins
(Assassin 1 and Assassin 2)
May 10, 1966Tri State showLittle Rock, Arkansas1[Note 2]Defeated Stan Kowalski and The Great Matsuda in a tournament final.
Championship history is unrecorded from May 10, 1966 to 1966/1967.
6Jack Brisco and Haystacks Calhoun1966/1967Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2]Records are unclear as to whom they defeated. According to his answer to a question on the Wrestlingclassics.com website from 08-01-2002, Jack Brisco said that they beat the Assassins.
Championship history is unrecorded from 1966/1967 to March 10, 1967.
7The Assassins
(Assassin 1 and Assassin 2)
March 10, 1967Tri State showOklahoma City, Oklahoma260Defeated Skandor Akbar and Swede Karlson.
8Jack Brisco (2) and Gorgeous George, Jr.May 9, 1967Tri State showLittle Rock, Arkansas17
9Togo Shikuma and Chati YokouchiMay 16, 1967Tri State showLittle Rock, Arkansas1[Note 3]
10Skandor Akbar and Danny HodgeOctober 1967Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 4]
11Chuck Karbo and Chati YokouchiDecember 1967Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 5]
12Jack Donovan and Ron ReedApril 1968Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma1[Note 6]
Championship history is unrecorded from April 1968 to May 4, 1968.
13Skandor Akbar and Danny HodgeMay 4, 1968Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana2[Note 7]Defeated Chuck Karbo and Chati Yokouchi.
Championship history is unrecorded from May 4, 1968 to December 3, 1968.
14Danny Hodge (3) and Lorenzo ParenteDecember 3, 1968Tri State showLittle Rock, Arkansas1[Note 8]Records unclear as to whom they defeated.
15Treach Phillips and Karl Von StroheimJanuary 1969Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 9]
16Alberto and Ramon TorresMay 6, 1969Tri State showLittle Rock, Arkansas2[Note 10][4]
17The Medics
(Billy Garrett and Jim Starr)
October 1969Tri State showLittle Rock, Arkansas1[Note 11][5]
18Alberto and Ramon Torres1969Tri State show[Note 1]3[Note 12]
19The Medics
(Billy Garrett and Jim Starr)
1969Tri State show[Note 1]2[Note 13][5]
20Tarzan Baxter and Karl KarlsonNovember 2, 1969Tri State showLittle Rock, Arkansas191
21Luke Brown and Dutch SavageFebruary 1, 1970Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma159
VacatedApril 1970Championship vacated when Dutch Savage left the promotion
22The Hollywood Blonds
(Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts)
May 8, 1970Tri State show[Note 1]119Records unclear as to whom they defeated.
23Luke Brown (2) and Danny Hodge (4)May 27, 1970Tri State showSpringfield, Missouri12
24The Hollywood Blonds
(Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts)
May 29, 1970Tri State showOklahoma City, Oklahoma2[Note 14]
25Billy Red Lyons and Bill Watts (2)January 1971Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 15]
26Karl Von Brauner and Waldo Von ErichMarch 1971Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 16]
27The Kentuckians
(Luke Brown (3) and Grizzly Smith)
April 1971Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 17]
28The Spoilers
(Spoiler #1 and Spoiler #2)
1971Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 18][6]
29Tom Jones and Billy Red Lyons (2)May 31, 1971Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana1295
30The Continental Warriors
(Bobby Hart and Lorenzo Parente)
March 21, 1972Tri State showMonroe, Louisiana1153
31Tom Jones (2) and Ken MantellAugust 21, 1972Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana17
32Terry Garvin and Duke MyersAugust 28, 1972Tri State showMonroe, Louisiana1[Note 19]This was a disputed victory. Garvin and Myers defeated The Continental Warriors and Tom Jones and Ken Mantell in a three-team tournament on September 4, 1972 in Shreveport, Louisiana, making them the rightful champions.
33Yasu Fuji and Chati YokouchiDecember 1972Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 20]The title change occurred no later than this date.
34Bull Bullinski and Dennis StampFebruary 13, 1973Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana17
35The Hollywood Blonds
(Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts)
February 20, 1973Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma3[Note 21]
36Eddie Sullivan and Rip Tyler1973Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 22]
37Dewey Robertson and Dennis Stamp (2)May 1973Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 23]
38Alex Perez and El Gran TapioJuly 1973Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 24]
39Kim Duk and Stan KowalskiSeptember 1973Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 25]
40Luke Brown (4) and Klondike BillJanuary 1974Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 26]
41Brown and Siegfried StankeMarch 1974Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 27]Brown and Stanke also defeated Bob Kelly and Rocket Monroe in March 1974 in Shreveport, Louisiana, unifying the Gulf Coast version of the U.S.Tag Team Championship.
42Chief Thundercloud and Chief White CloudJune 1974Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 28]
43Steve Lawler and Jim WhiteSeptember 1974Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 29]
44Johnny Eagles and Terry LathanOctober 1974Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 30]
45Frank Goodish and Stan HansenOctober 1974Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 31]
46Jay Clayton and Danny Hodge (5)July 9, 1975Tri State showFort Smith, Arkansas1[Note 32]
47Killer Karl Kox and Dick MurdochOctober 1975Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 33]
vacatedDecember 1975N/AN/AChampionship vacated when Knox and Murdoch broke up the team
48Greg Valentine and Bill Watts (3)January 7, 1976Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 34]Defeated The Hollywood Blonds.
49Greg Valentine and Gorgeous George Jr.January 1976Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 35]Watts was injured, and Gorgeous George, Jr. replaced him.
50The Hollywood Blonds
(Jerry Brown and Buddy Roberts)
March 18, 1976Tri State showNew Orleans, Louisiana411
51Buck Robley and Bob SlaughterMarch 29, 1976Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma130
52Ted DiBiase and Dick Murdoch (2)April 28, 1976Tri State showFort Smith, Arkansas113
53Killer Karl Kox (2) and Bob SweetanMay 11, 1976Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana1161[7]
54Killer Karl Kox (3) and Ken PateraOctober 19, 1976Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 36]Defeated Bob Sweetan and Randy Tyler
55Billy Robinson and Bill Watts (4)1976Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana1[Note 37]
56Skandor Akbar (2) and Choi SunJanuary 1977Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana1[Note 38]
57Tony Rocco and Bob SweetanMarch 16, 1977Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana110
58The Medics
(Billy Garrett and Jim Starr)
March 26, 1977Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana3143[5]
59Porkchop Cash and Mike GeorgeAugust 16, 1977Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana17
60The Medics
(Billy Garrett and Jim Starr)
August 23, 1977Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana435[5]
61Porkchop Cash and Dr. XSeptember 27, 1977Tri State showShreveport, Louisiana130
62Ciclón Negro and Dr. XOctober 27, 1977Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 39]Defeated Ray Candy and Porkchop Cash after Cash and Dr. X split up.
63The Brute and Dr. X1977Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 40]
64Ray Candy and Steven Little BearFebruary 22, 1978Tri State showBaton Rouge, Louisiana142[8]
65The Assassin (3) and Ernie LaddApril 5, 1978Tri State showBaton Rouge, Louisiana118
66Ray Candy and Steven Little BearApril 23, 1978Tri State showBaton Rouge, Louisiana212
67Jerry Brown (5) and Bobby JaggersMay 5, 1978Tri State showOklahoma City, Oklahoma1197[9]
68Mike George (2) and Randy TylerNovember 18, 1978Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma1[Note 41]
vacatedDecember 1978N/AN/AChampionship vacated after a match against Jerry Brown and Bobby Jaggers ended inconclusively.
69André the Giant and Dusty RhodesDecember 25, 1978Tri State showNew Orleans, Louisiana1[Note 42]Defeated Stan Hansen and Ernie Ladd in the finals of the 10-team tournament.
70Dusty Rhodes and The Spoiler (2)January 1979Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 43]The Spoiler took the place of André the Giant.
71The Angel and The Assassin (4)January 25, 1979Tri State showNew Orleans, Louisiana1177The Spoiler turned on Rhodes.
72Buck Robley and Bill Watts (5)July 21, 1979Tri State showNew Orleans, Louisiana127
vacatedAugust 17, 1979N/AN/AChampionship vacated when Robley was injured by Angelo Mosca during a match. At this point Bill Watts formed Mid-South Wrestling and introduced the Mid-South Tag Team Championship.
73Sugar Bear Harris and Oki ShikinaOctober 1979Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 44]Records are unclear as to whom they defeated.
74Herb Calvert and Jimmy GarvinNovember 5, 1979Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma1[Note 45]
75Steve Lawler and Siegfried StankeDecember 1979Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 46]
76Eddie Gilbert and Tommy GilbertMarch 3, 1980Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma1[Note 2][3]
NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship
77Ron McFarlane and Doug Somers1980Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2][3]
78Hector Guerrero and Ron Sexton1980Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2][3]
79Ron McFarlane and Doug Somers1980Tri State show[Note 1]2[Note 2][3]
80Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Gilbert1980Tri State show[Note 1]2[Note 2][3]
Vacated1980Championship vacated when Tommy Gilbert was injured.
81Chief Frank Hill and Terry Orndorff1981Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2]Won a tournament.[3]
Championship history is unrecorded from 1981 to 1981.
Vacated1981Championship vacated after a match against The Akbar Army (Jerry Brown and Ron McFarlane).
Championship history is unrecorded from 1981 to 1981.
82The Akbar Army
(Jerry Brown (6) and Ron McFarlane (3))
1981Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2]Records unclear as to whom they defeated.[3]
83Eddie Gilbert (3) and Ricky MortonMay 16, 1981Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma1[Note 47][3]
84Mike George (3) and Ed WiskoskiJuly 11, 1981Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma114[3]
85Eddie Gilbert (4) and Ricky MortonJuly 25, 1981Tri State showTulsa, Oklahoma2[Note 2][3]
Championship history is unrecorded from July 25, 1981 to 1981.
86Dave and Joel Deaton1981Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2]Records unclear as to whom they defeated.[3]
87Eric Embry and Chief Frank Hill1981Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2][3]
88Porkchop Cash and Doug Somers1981Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2][3]
Vacated1981Championship vacated when Cash and Somers broke up the team
89Turk Ali Bey and El Toro1981Tri State show[Note 1]1[Note 2]Records unclear as to whom they defeated.[3]
Championship history is unrecorded from 1981 to 1982.
Deactivated1982NWA Tri-State closed, territory was taken over by Mid-South Wrestling.[3]

Footnotes

References

  • Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Louisiana and Oklahoma) Louisiana/Oklahoma: US Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 232. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.