- NWA National Tag Team Championship
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The NWA National Tag Team Championship was the major tag team title in the NWA-affiliated Georgia Championship Wrestling from 1980 until 1986.
The championship was introduced in November 1980 when Georgia Tag Team Champions the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Buddy Roberts, and Terry Gordy) won a tournament to determine the first champions, defeating Stan Frazier and Robert Fuller in the final. They were introduced as the Georgia and National Tag Team Champions and carried a trophy to the ring representing the National title as they wore belts which represented the Georgia title.
The National Tag Team Championship continued to be represented by a trophy until Thanksgiving Night in 1981, when the promotion awarded newly-made belts (modeled after the old Georgia tag team belts, which the National title replaced) to the winners of its annual turkey night tag team tournament. The father and son duo of Bob and Brad Armstrong defeated Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in the final to win the vacant NWA National Tag Team Championship.
When Vince McMahon bought Georgia Championship Wrestling, Inc., the champions at that time were Ron Garvin & Jerry Oates. Since Oates and Garvin did not sign with McMahon's WWF, and McMahon chose not to continue recognizing the National Tag Team Championship, that version of the title basically ended on the day known as Black Saturday.
However, a new startup group called Championship Wrestling from Georgia decided to recognize the NWA National Tag Team Championship. They put the belts on Garvin and Oates, carrying on the lineage started with Georgia Championship Wrestling.
When Jim Crockett Promotions bought the TBS slot from the WWF in 1985, it essentially merged with Championship Wrestling from Georgia (getting CWG's Saturday morning timeslot as well) and continued on with CWG's National Tag Team Championship. The National Tag Team Championships were stripped from the Andersons and renamed the U.S. Tag Team team title and re-established in a tournament.
This version of the U.S. Tag Team title continued on after Turner Broadcasting bought out JCP and started World Championship Wrestling but was abandoned for good in 1992[1].
Title history
Wrestler: Times: Date: Location: Notes: Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy) 1 November 27, 1980 Atlanta, GA Defeat Stan Frazier & Robert Fuller in tournament final Ted DiBiase & Stan Frazier 1 January 26, 1981 Augusta, GA Fabulous Freebirds 2 January 31, 1981 Atlanta, GA Ted DiBiase & Steve Olsonoski 1 June 10, 1981 Marietta, GA Terry Gordy & Jimmy Snuka 1 July 6, 1981 Augusta, GA Tommy Rich & Ted DiBiase defeat Gordy & Snuka but the belts are returned after the NWA finds out that Michael Hayes counted the pinfall Michael Hayes & Otis Sistrunk 1 September 27, 1981 Atlanta, GA Vacant 1981 Sistrunk quits Bob & Brad Armstrong 1 November 25, 1981 Atlanta, GA Defeat Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito in tournament final Super Destroyer & Masked Superstar 1 January 22, 1982 Columbus, GA Super Destroyer & Big John Studd 1 March 1982 Masked Superstar gives his half of title to Studd Fabulous Freebirds 3 July 2, 1982 Chattanooga, TN Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) 1 August 29, 1982 Atlanta, GA Vacant January 1983 Samoans leave Georgia The Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk) 1 June 11, 1983 Atlanta, GA Win tournament Buzz & Brett Sawyer 1 November 27, 1983 Cincinnati, OH The Road Warriors 2 November 1983 ? Buzz & Brett Sawyer 2 December 27, 1983 Canton, OH The Road Warriors 3 January 28, 1984 Awarded titles when Buzz Sawyer is fired King Kong Bundy & Masked Superstar 1 May 6, 1984 Atlanta, GA Vacant May 1984 Superstar is "injured" (went to Japan) The Road Warriors 4 May 20, 1984 Atlanta, GA Defeat Junkyard Dog & Sweet Brown Sugar in tournament final Ron Garvin & Jerry Oates 1 July 4, 1984 Columbus, GA The Hollywood Blonds (Rip Rogers & Ted Oates) 1 September 20, 1984 ? Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner) 1 November 1, 1984 ? Vacant November 1984 Horner is injured The Long Riders (Bill & Scott Irwin) 1 November 18, 1984 Atlanta, GA Ole Anderson & Thunderbolt Patterson 1 January 11, 1985 Cleveland, OH Vacant March 1985 Team splits when Ole turns on Patterson Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Arn & Ole Anderson) 1 March 22, 1985 Charlotte, NC Defeat Patterson & Manny Fernandez Andersons Stripped of the title, belt is renamed the U.S. Tag Team title. February 1986 Ole is injured by the Road Warriors & Dusty Rhodes Title revived in 1997 Death & Destruction(Frank Parker & Roger Anderson) 1 May 17, 1997 ? See also
References
Categories:- Georgia Championship Wrestling championships
- Jim Crockett Promotions championships
- National Wrestling Alliance championships
- Regional professional wrestling championships
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